Samara is the administrative center of the region of the same name, one of the largest cities in Russia. In addition, the settlement is the capital of the Volga administrative district.
Characteristic
The population of the city of Samara is just over 1 million 170 thousand people. By the number of inhabitants, it ranks 9th among the cities of the Russian Federation. The population of the agglomeration of the Samara urban district is more than 2.7 million people. The city is located on the left bank of a large river of the same name, not far from its confluence with the Volga.
History
The history of the city begins in the 16th century. It was in 1586 on the banks of the river. Samara, a guard fortress was built. The building received a name that was retained for a long time outside the city itself - Samara-Gorodok. The settlement was named after the water stream. And the Samara River itself was named in antiquity. This word has Indo-Iranian roots. It means "summer river" in the local dialect.
Samara fortress hadgreat importance for the entire Russian kingdom. The walls were supposed to protect it from the raids of nomads, Nogais and Cossacks. Thanks to the fortified city, trade relations between Astrakhan and Kazan were much easier. Even the place where the fortress was built is known. Now it is the territory of the Samara Valve Plant. However, the fortress has not survived to this day, having survived two fires several centuries ago.
The city of Samara has a very interesting history. At one time, he was drawn into peasant uprisings led by S. Razin and E. Pugachev. And in the 18th century, an architectural expedition settled in the settlement, thanks to which the cities of Stavropol, Orenburg and Yekaterinburg were built. In 1850, the Samara province was created - a major economic and agricultural center of the Russian Empire.
The settlement did not capture the revolutionary period. Soviet power was established in the city without a single shot being fired. A great contribution to this was made by the politician V. V. Kuibyshev, in whose honor the city was renamed. It happened in 1935, and the city existed with that name until the very collapse of the USSR (1991). After that, the former name was returned to him again.
Characteristic
The area of Samara is 541 km². The shape of the city resembles a rectangle, which stretches from north to south for 50 km, and from west to east - for 20 km. The relief of the settlement is a flat area with small hilly areas. Only the northern part is elevated, since the Sokoly Mountains end here (spurZhiguli mountains on the left bank of the Volga). The highest point within the city is Tip Tyav. Its height is 286 m. The minimum level drops to 28 m above sea level off the coast of the Volga.
The center of Samara has a flat relief, sometimes dissected by small ravines. The soil in the city is of two types: from the side of the river. Samara has a clay character, and from the side of the river. Volga - sandy.
Climate
The city of Samara has a typical temperate continental climate. It has cold, snowy winters and hot, moderately humid summers. The average temperature of the coldest month is -9.9 °С, the warmest - +21 °С. The average annual rainfall is in the range of 500-600 mm. They fall evenly throughout the year, only slightly increasing in the summer months in the form of rain. The air flow of the Volga forms the direction of the winds throughout the year. So, in winter, southern ones prevail, in summer - northern ones.
Population
Samara's area allows you to accommodate a decent number of residents on the territory. Population density - 2162, 48 people / km². This is a modern dynamic metropolis. In terms of population, it is considered a millionaire city. The national composition here is diverse. In terms of percentage, there are more Russians - about 90%. The rest are Tatars (10%), Ukrainians (3.5%), Chuvashs (1%), Armenians, Uzbeks, Azerbaijanis, Jews, Belarusians (0.5% each), etc.
Industry
Samara is a typical industrial city, a major technical center of the Volga region. More than 150industrial enterprises, among which mechanical engineering and metalworking, the food industry, as well as space and aviation are developing to a greater extent. During Soviet times, the Kuibyshev aluminum plant produced about 60% of goods for the entire Union. It was also in this city that TU-154 aircraft and Soyuz rockets were assembled.
Samara's area is not very large, but the trade network is well developed in this territory: there are about 40 markets, more than 70 large centers and more than 1 thousand medium and small sites in the city.
Transportation
The city of Samara is a major transport hub. There are two airports here: international and local, there is a railway station and three bus stations. There is also a river station and a port. Federal routes from Central Europe to Siberia, Kazakhstan pass through the city. Public transport is represented by buses, trams, trolleybuses and a metro line.
Regions
The area of Samara allows you to divide the settlement into 9 administrative districts within the city and 2 settlement settlements (the village of Kozelki and the village of Yasnaya Polyana). Leninsky is considered a prestigious and oldest area. It is a cultural and educational center. There are museums and theaters here. But the biggest attraction of the area is Kuibyshevskaya Square. Its length is 174 hectares, the largest in Europe.
Other districts: Kuibyshevsky, Samara, Zheleznodorozhny, Oktyabrsky,Soviet, Kirov, Industrial, Krasnoglinsky. The center of Samara has many historical sights.
Another district is Volzhsky, the administrative center of the Samara region, but it is not part of the city. This municipal territory includes 3 urban and 12 rural settlements. This area is often referred to as the "Volga Switzerland" for the beauty of nature that spreads around.
Samara River
The river of the same name is considered a picturesque place in the region. The length of Samara is 594 km, it is one of the major tributaries of the Volga. In the upper reaches, the river flows in a thin stream. Closer to the city, it spreads several kilometers wide, and during the spring flood it spreads even more. The waters of this river are rich in fish, which often comes here from the Volga. In addition, the left bank is overgrown with dense vegetation and forests. This is a wonderful place to hunt.
Summarize
You definitely need to visit the city of Samara at least once in your life. It will amaze every traveler with its landscapes and views. The population of the city is hospitable. Time in Samara is not very different from Moscow - only an hour difference. Therefore, most travelers from the capital of the Russian Federation will not have to worry about getting used to a different time zone. It's quite convenient.
