Novosibirsk

As a modern, vibrant city, Novosibirsk has a lot to offer. It's the largest city in Siberia with many attractions and historical sites. Tourists can find out more about Russia at the USSR Museum, take a fun trip to the zoo or spend a fabulous evening at the Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Novosibirsk is located on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway. The city was built on the banks of the Ob - the longest river in Russia. Novosibirsk is famous for its amazing theaters, for example, the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is known as the Siberian Colosseum - to match Novosibirsk itself, which is unofficially called the "capital of Siberia".

Novosibirsk received the status of the city quite recently by the standards of history: the date of foundation of the city is considered to be 1893. Despite this, now Novosibirsk is the third largest city in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg. The reason for this was, first of all, the good location of the city: the Trans-Siberian Railway connected it with Moscow and Vladivostok, and the Ob River made it possible to merge cargo from the distant taiga. Now Novosibirsk is the largest industrial and commercial center in the Asian part of Russia; more important, however, is the cultural component of city life.

In the middle of the last century, Akademgorodok was built in Novosibirsk - the area where universities, research institutes and their campuses are located. Novosibirsk was and still remains one of the most important scientific centers in Russia - for example, the most important laboratory where fundamental virological researches are carried, is located there.

Of course, the role of Novosibirsk as a scientific and educational center affects all spheres of life in the city. A significant part of its population are students who come to study in Novosibirsk universities and institutes from all over Siberia, and this, in turn, leaves its mark on the atmosphere and cultural life of the city. For example, Novosibirsk is the first city whose inhabitants hold a "monstration": as opposed to demonstrations, the participants of which make demands, protest or at least express their position on an important issue, the participants of the monstration are deliberately apolitical and usually go to their march with absurd and funny posters.

Far Novosibirsk might seem a terrible place to live in or to visit with it's cold winters (the temperature often drops to -30) and short summers - but only until you meet its residents. Warm-hearted and calm Siberians truly love their city and are happy to share this love with all the guests of Novosibirsk, making it cozy and warm.