Izhevsk

For other uses of "Izhevsk", see Izhevsk (disambiguation).
Izhevsk (English)
Ижевск (Russian)
Иж, Ижкар (Udmurt)
-  City[1]  -

View of Izhevsk

Location of the Udmurt Republic in Russia
Izhevsk
Location of Izhevsk in the Udmurt Republic
Coordinates: 56°50′N 53°11′E / 56.833°N 53.183°E / 56.833; 53.183Coordinates: 56°50′N 53°11′E / 56.833°N 53.183°E / 56.833; 53.183
Coat of arms
Flag
City Day June 12[2]
Administrative status (as of March 2011)
Country Russia
Federal subject Udmurt Republic[1]
Administratively subordinated to city of republic significance of Izhevsk[1]
Capital of Udmurt Republic[1]
Administrative center of city of republic significance of Izhevsk[1]
Municipal status (as of June 2006)
Urban okrug Izhevsk Urban Okrug[3]
Administrative center of Izhevsk Urban Okrug[3]
Head[4] Alexander Ushakov[4]
Representative body City Duma[5]
Statistics
Area (City) (2011) 315.15 km2 (121.68 sq mi)[6]
Population (2010 Census) 627,734 inhabitants[7]
- Rank in 2010 19th
Population (2015 est.) 642,024 inhabitants[8]
Density 1,992/km2 (5,160/sq mi)[9]
Time zone SAMT (UTC+04:00)[10]
Founded April 10, 1760[2]
Previous names Izhevsky Zavod (until February 21, 1918),[11]
Izhevsk (until 1984),[12]
Ustinov (until 1987)[12]
Postal code(s)[13] 426000, 426003, 426004, 426006–426011, 426015, 426016, 426019, 426021, 426023, 426025, 426027, 426028, 426030, 426032–426036, 426038, 426039, 426041, 426049–426054, 426056–426058, 426060–426063, 426065, 426067–426070, 426072–426077, 426700, 426880, 426890, 426899, 426910, 426960–426965, 426970, 426999, 901009, 901143, 901145, 901147, 993100
Dialing code(s) +7 3412[14]
Official website
Izhevsk on Wikimedia Commons

Izhevsk (Russian: Иже́вск; IPA: [ɪˈʐɛfsk]; Udmurt: Иж, , or Ижкар, Ižkar) is the capital city of the Udmurt Republic, Russia, located along the Izh River in the Western Urals. Its population is 629,455 (2012 est.),[6] up from 627,734 recorded in the 2010 Census, making it the nineteenth largest city in Russia and the largest in the republic.[7]

From 1984 to 1987, the city was called Ustinov (Russian: Усти́нов).[12] The city is a major hub of industry, commerce, politics, culture, and education in the Volga Region. It is famous for its defense, engineering, and metallurgy industries. Izhevsk has the titles of the Armory Capital of Russia and the City of Labor Glory.

History

Bazarnaya Street and Saint Michael's Cathedral in 1918

Pioneer settlements

The pioneer settlements on the territory where modern Izhevsk now stands were founded by Udmurts in the 5th century. There were two fortified settlements situated on the banks of the Karlutka River. Later, this territory joined the Khanate of Kazan. In 1552, Russians conquered the Khanate and, in 1582, Ivan the Terrible conferred the lands by the Karlutka and Izh Rivers on Bagish Yaushev, a Tatar morza. The quit-rent had been imposed on the Udmurt population ever since. The Yaushevs owned the land till the times of Peter the Great.

Ironworks construction

On September 15, 1757, Count Pyotr Shuvalov, owner of seven factories in the Urals, bought land in the Kama Region and got permission from Empress Elizabeth to build three ironworks there. In those days, ironworks were powered with steam, and wood was the only heat energy source. For that reason it was decided to build one of the plants on the forest-rich land near the Izh River. It was planned that iron bands and anchors would be made of delivered cast iron here. Another ironworks was built on the Votka River.

In April 10, 1760, serfs from neighboring villages and artisans from other Shuvalov's plants began the dam construction under the direction of Alexey Moskvin, a mining engineer and a trustee of Shuvalov. This date is considered to be Izhevsk's foundation date.[2]

The construction was going at a slow pace. The serfs were discontent with being separated from their villages, with arduous duties and regular physical punishment. As a consequence, rebellions were often excited.

In 1762, Shuvalov died. The plants went to his son Andrey. In accordance with the ukase of Catherine the Great dated November 15, 1763, all Shuvalov's ironworks including one in Izhevsky Zavod lapsed to the Crown for debts. Since that time, it was under the authority of the Collegium of Mining, an institution in charge of the mining industry in Russia. The ironworks on the Izh and Votka Rivers were called Kama Plants.

In 1763, construction of the dam and ironworks was completed and the first bloomery iron was smelted. As a result of the dam construction, one of the biggest reservoirs in Europe was formed. Near the ironworks, the settlement was built. This settlement was named Izhevsky Zavod, meaning "the plant on the Izh" in Russian.

First time, the ironworks made palm-wide iron bands from three to six meters long. These bands were supplied to Moscow for the Kremlin renewal. The iron from Izhevsky Zavod was used for construction in St. Petersburg.

Pugachev's Rebellion

In October 1773, the news of the popular revolt against Catherine II on the Yaik and the manifestos of Yemelyan Pugachev reached Izhevsky Zavod. The Cossak passing himself off as Peter III proclaimed liberty for serfs and called to kill nobles and factory owners. This calls had the backing of the serfs and artisans. Thereby, Colonel Feodor Wenzel, the manager of Goroblagodat and Kama plants, and Aleksey Alymov, the manager of Izhevsky Zavod iromworks, were forced to escape to Kazan.

On January 1, 1774, a detachment of the Pugachev's rebel army came into the town. The rebels destroyed the ironworks, burned its office buildings, wrecked houses of the managers. The food from the demolished depot was distributed to the people, the ironworks money was sent to the staff of the rebel army in the environs of Ufa. The serfs were let go home, some of them joined the detachment. Thus, the iron production was stopped for a while.

In April 1774, Pugachev's army fought losing battles everywhere and was forced to leave Izhevsky Zavod. The managers went back to the town. They cowed serfs and artisans into submission and forced them to pledge allegiance to Catherine the Great. The list of workers who had joined the rebel army was made for future reprisal.

In spite of opposition from the forces of Wenzel and Alymov Brothers, Pugachev's army occupy the town again on June 27, 1774. The crowds hailed Yemelyan Pugachev. He dealt with complains of serfs and workers for two days. Forty-two persons, including Wenzel and Alymovs, were executed.

On June 29, Pugachev left Izhevsky Zavod and set out for Kazan. Many workmen of Izhevsky Zavod joined his detachments and fought selflessly in last battles of the Rebellion, which was mostly crushed by early September 1775. In spite of defeat of the rebel army and execution of its leader, separate bands of rebels continued resistance. New managers of the ironworks suppressed serfs and returned artisans by force. The bands were cracked down.

The ironworks was restored and began to function by the end of 1775. The former order was reseated. The forced workers did not hold an interest in productivity raising and fell into decay by the 19th century.

Arms factory foundation

In 1800, Emperor Paul I ordered to build an arms factory in Urals considering mounting threat from Napoleonic France. Siting was given to Andrew Deryabin, a mining engineer, chief of Goroblagodat, Perm, Kama and Bogoslov Plants. He saw several places in the Perm and Vyatka Governorates and drew a conclusion that the most suitable place for plant foundation was Izh Zavod. It occurred to him to turn the ironworks into the armory.

Alexander I approved of Deryabin's project and arms factory building began on June 10, 1807. Thus 1807 is considered the year of Izhevsk's second birth.

Dudin's plan

There was a shortage of manpower at the new factory. Staff vacancies were filled by serfs, workmen from Urals mining plants and recruits. Armorers were transferred from other arms factories and employed from Europe, mainly from Denmark and Sweden.

The population of the settlement grew quickly so that by the end of 1808 there were more than 6,000 inhabitants. Because of housing requirements, people had to build their houses after work, at night. Houses were made from wood found in forests near the factory. At the same time, workers built new barracks for the soldiers and housing for factory employees, officers and officials, the hospital, schools and other social facilities.

The settlement was built according to the master plan. Architect Feodor Dudin was an author of this plan and a director of all construction works. The principle of an urban grid was the basis of the new master plan. Wide and straight streets crossed side streets running perpendicular to them. Their accurate network formed small rectangular blocks.

On May 18, 1810, a major fire burned in Izhevsky Zavod. 174 houses, the warehouse, and two wooden churches were destroyed.

After the fire, implementation of Dudin's plan began. The houses were made of pinewood logs. As a rule, a house consisted of two izbas, joined together with an inner porch. Houses of the poor consisted of one izba. Armorers and officials erected two-storied and five-wall log houses. There were 15 streets in Izh by the 1820s.

In 1812, Izhevsky Zavod was divided into three administrative parts because of growth in population and territory.

In 1816, there were 1,710 houses, 8 factory stone buildings, a prison, a cemetery, a stone church and a school in the settlement. The population was 8,324.

In the 1820s, 1830s, and 1840s, a number of large stone building was erected. St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built between 1818 and 1823, and visited by Tsar Alexander (who considered Alexander Nevsky his patron saint) shortly after its completion. Other noteworthy large stone buildings which still remain from that era include the Arsenal (1823–25), Public Offices (1843–45) and house of contractor Egor Novikov. All improved Izhevsk's appearance.

By 1850, the settlement had more than doubled, to population of 19,163. Its territory was about 6200 square miles. 3499 buildings were wooden, and 27 others, including three churches, were made of stone. The settlement had 1066 wells.

Izhevsky Zavod after the Emancipation Reform of 1861

On February 19, 1861, Emperor of Russia Alexander II carried out the Emancipation Reform. On October 9, 1865, Berg-kollegia apprehending the prospective cost increase leased the Arms Factory to the Partnership of Industrialists.

In 1866, serfs of the Factory received their liberty according with 1861 Emancipation Manifesto and got self-government. Izhevsky Zavod was divided into two volosts: Nagornaya and Zarechnaya, or Zareka. Each volost had its board of administration and consisted of rural societies. Rural society was headed by a starosta, selected in the gathering. There were seven rural societies in Nagornaya Volost; Zarechnaya Volost consisted of four.

Administrations of volosts reported to the Board of Sarapul Zemstvo. They were led by volost starshinas, elected for three years. Volost administrations were in the charge of duty acting and tax payment by people. They issued passports, managed improvement of territory and other local affairs.

Administrative and police oversight was carried out by the factory administration. Besides the administration delivered documents of title to land and house. The ponds, pastures and hayfields were turned over to the armorers and artisans.

The abolition of serfdom aggravated property inequalities between the inhabitants of Izhevsky Zavod. Well-to-do sections of population were the factory management, skilled armorers and artisans, administrative professionals, officials, clergy and merchants. Such stratification had an influence on view of the settlement. The labor were driven out of Nagornaya Part and settled in boggy Zareka. At that time, Koltoma, another working-class locality, grew.

In the early 1870s, there were about twenty private stone buildings in Izhevsky Zavod. In Zarechnaya Part all houses were made of wood.

Civic life depended on government contractual works. In the years of war or army re-equipment, the quantity of orders grew. There was an increase in the workforce size and people's earnings. After the order was filled and wages were cut, most of the workmen left the Arms Factory. As a result, the settlement fell into decay to the next government contractual work.

Enterprises in Izhevsky Zavod

In 1872, the steel works was founded in Izhevsky Zavod. In 1884, the arms factory and the steel works passed to the state.

Private armories appeared in Izhevsky Zavod. In 1860, an armorer Ivan Fyodorovich Petrov began to make hunting rifles at small armory in Zareka. Later, he set up shops in Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Nizhny Novgorod, and in the Caucasus. He and his sons also sold gunpowder in Izhevsky Zavod. One of his sons, Vasily, later opened his own armory.

Adrian Nikandrovich Yevdokimov was a competitor of the Petrovs. He had the armory on Bazarnaya Street.

Nikolay Ilyich Berezin built his enterprise on Bazarnaya Street, too. He produced guns. Besides, Nikolay Berezin owned small iron foundry in the northeast suburbs.

Merchants Porsev and Kilin were the owners of two brick factories.

There were twelve private industrial enterprises in Izhevsky Zavod by 1914.

Izhevsky Zavod merchants

In the 1870s, trade blossomed in Izhevsky Zavod. Bodalev Brothers, Mokletsov, Ogloblin, Sveshnikov, and Sozykin were the most successful merchants. It was profitable to deal in spirits. There were three vodka distilleries, four wine warehouses, three wine cellars, and about fifty taverns in 1872. This year Ivan Bodalev opened his brewery on the bank of the reservoir.

Religious buildings

At the turn of the 19th century there were four temples in Izhevsky Zavod. St. Michael's Cathedral was built between 1897 and 1915.

Izhevsky Zavod was one of the residence centers of the Udmurt Jews, who spoke Udmurtish Yiddish.[15] In the workmen's settlement since 1849 under the Jewish religious needs the house of worship was allocated.[16][17][18] A second prayer house was opened in 1917. Both synagogues were closed in 1930 (by the Soviet authorities).[16][17]

The Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War

On March 5, 1917, workers at the plant formed a worker's soviet, which included representatives of the workers, the army, and of other citizens. Two days later the factory administration resigned and was replaced with elected officials. By the middle of September of the same year, Bolsheviks took under control both the council and the council's influential newspaper.

On October 27, 1917, Soviet government was officially announced, with the council officially dissolved soon thereafter. The former leaders of the council were arrested in June 1918, contributing to the beginning of an uprising against Bolshevik rule. The struggle for control of the city continued until the arrival of the Red Army, which took Izhevsk on November 7. On April 13, 1919, the city was occupied by units of Admiral Kolchak's White Army, only to fall again, this time decisively, to another assault by the Red Army in June 8 of the same year.

The Soviet period

The Soviet period saw significant growth in the size and importance of Izhevsk.

In 1921, the city became the administrative center of Votsk Autonomous Oblast, a precursor to the Udmurt Republic. On December 28, 1934, Izhevsk received status of capital of the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

The first tramline was opened in 1935. It was 5 kilometres in length.

On March 14, 1937, the Republic's Constitution was adopted. It consolidated the capital status of Izhevsk.

In the autumn of 1941 several defense-related plants evacuated to Izhevsk.

In June, 1943, Izhevsk Mechanical Plant was founded. During the World War II Izhevsk plants produced 12 and a half million small arms.

New City Circus was opened on November 29, 1943.

World War II had a profound effect on the city, with much of the industrial infrastructure evacuated from the western regions of the Soviet Union, being relocated to the city. Elements of the evacuated enterprises were used to create the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, which remains an important manufacturer of military components.

Military industry remained the core of the local economy after the war, leading to Izhvesk being designated a closed city, inaccessible to foreigners. The city's Izhmash factory began manufacturing the AK-47 automatic rifle in 1948, and continues to produce modern variants of the design to this day. The rifle's designer, Mikhail Kalashnikov lived in Izhevsk until his death in 2013. In 1966, Izhmash began manufacturing the Izh brand of automobiles.

In 1984, the city was renamed Ustinov; in honor of former minister of defense Dmitry Ustinov.[12] Three years later, in spite of vocal protests by a significant number of citizens, Izhevsk regained its historical name.[12]

Izhevsk weathered the turbulent post-Soviet years reasonably well, carried through by the continued demand for its military products. The city remains an important industrial and military center of the country, being referred to as the "Armory of Russia" (a title it shares with the city of Tula).[19]

Administrative and municipal status

Izhevsk is the capital of the republic.[1] Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as the city of republic significance of Izhevsk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.[1] As a municipal division, the city of republic significance of Izhevsk is incorporated as Izhevsk Urban Okrug.[3]

Demographics

Population: 629,455 (2012 est.);[6] 627,734(2010 Census);[7] 632,140(2002 Census);[20] 635,109(1989 Census).[21]

In the capital of Udmurtia today there are live more than 100 ethnicities. According to the 2010 Census results, more than two-thirds of residents are Russians (68.8%), Udmurts in Izhevsk constitute about 14.8%, the third largest ethnicity is Tatars (8.9%), the others 7.5% are Ukrainians, Belarusians, Mari people, Bashkirs, Chuvash people, Armenians, Jews, Germans and some other groups.[22]

Noteworthy that Izhevsk was one of the residence centers of the Udmurt Jews.[15] Jews in Izhevsk live from the 1830s.[16][17][18] They had some features in their language, traditions and religious characteristics.[23][24]

Economy

Izhevsk is the most important economic center of the Udmurt Republic, with the majority of financial and industrial activity concentrated in the city. Military industry remains the backbone of the local economy, with a number of enterprises operating in the city. By far the most important of these is Izhmash, which produces small arms and assault rifles popular both in Russia and abroad. The plant also produces motorcycles and automobiles under IZH brandname.

In 2006, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez visited Izhevsk to tour the Izhmash manufacturing center where he announced his government's intention to purchase a large number of Izhevsk-produced rifles.

Transport

City public transport included buses, trolleybuses, trams and marshrutkas (fixed-route cabs).

Climate

Izhevsk has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with long cold winters and warm summers.

An extreme temperature of +37.0 °C (98.6 °F) was recorded during the 2010 Northern Hemisphere summer heat waves.

Climate data for Izhevsk
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 3.6
(38.5)
5.8
(42.4)
10.1
(50.2)
27.5
(81.5)
31.1
(88)
35.6
(96.1)
37.0
(98.6)
37.0
(98.6)
33.0
(91.4)
22.4
(72.3)
12.7
(54.9)
4.5
(40.1)
37.0
(98.6)
Average high °C (°F) −8.9
(16)
−7.7
(18.1)
−0.7
(30.7)
8.8
(47.8)
18.2
(64.8)
23.2
(73.8)
25.1
(77.2)
21.9
(71.4)
15.2
(59.4)
6.9
(44.4)
−2.4
(27.7)
−7.5
(18.5)
7.7
(45.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −12.4
(9.7)
−11.7
(10.9)
−5.0
(23)
3.7
(38.7)
11.7
(53.1)
17.0
(62.6)
19.0
(66.2)
16.0
(60.8)
10.2
(50.4)
3.4
(38.1)
−5.1
(22.8)
−10.6
(12.9)
3.0
(37.4)
Average low °C (°F) −16.1
(3)
−15.5
(4.1)
−9.2
(15.4)
−0.6
(30.9)
5.9
(42.6)
11.2
(52.2)
13.4
(56.1)
11.1
(52)
6.2
(43.2)
0.4
(32.7)
−7.8
(18)
−14.0
(6.8)
−1.3
(29.7)
Record low °C (°F) −46.8
(−52.2)
−40.4
(−40.7)
−32.1
(−25.8)
−23.9
(−11)
−9.4
(15.1)
−2.4
(27.7)
4.3
(39.7)
−1.7
(28.9)
−5.5
(22.1)
−21.3
(−6.3)
−33.5
(−28.3)
−47.5
(−53.5)
−47.5
(−53.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 30
(1.18)
21
(0.83)
22
(0.87)
26
(1.02)
48
(1.89)
62
(2.44)
59
(2.32)
67
(2.64)
55
(2.17)
51
(2.01)
40
(1.57)
30
(1.18)
511
(20.12)
Average rainy days 4 3 5 12 18 18 16 18 19 18 9 6 146
Average snowy days 27 23 18 7 2 0.1 0 0 1 11 23 27 139
Average relative humidity (%) 84 80 76 69 61 68 71 74 78 82 85 84 76
Mean monthly sunshine hours 44 85 148 201 282 298 292 246 143 73 41 28 1,881
Source #1: Pogoda.ru.net[25]
Source #2: NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)[26]

Life and culture

Education

Presidential Palace of the Udmurt Republic, located in Izhevsk

Izhevsk is the scientific and cultural center of the Udmurt Republic. Early on, the state took a leading role in childcare and education. 320 Public kindergartens/ preschools provide affordable childcare for 32,000 children. 100 Public schools provide free general education to over 100,000 Izhevsk students. A wide variety of technical colleges and two-year professional schools award associate degrees, most notably in medical assistance, performing arts and teaching.

The Ural department of the Russian Scientific Academy is represented in Izhevsk by several institutions, specializing in physics, applied mechanics and technical sciences, and economics, and the Institute of History, Language and Literature of Udmurtia does the same. Four out of five higher education institutes in the Udmurt Republic are located in Izhevsk: Udmurt State University, Izhevsk State Technical University, Agricultural Academy, and Medical Academy. Each of these educational institutions admits foreign students.

Udmurt State University celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2006. It is the oldest educational institution in the Udmurt Republic. Some 28,000 students are currently studying at the University, which offers 86 different majors. The university has thirteen departments and seven institutes. Out of 1,000 faculty members 130 hold Doctor of Science (Dr.Sc.) degrees, and 460 are Candidates of Sciences (Cand.Sc., equivalent to first year of Ph.D.). UdSU graduate school offers 11 attestation committees qualified to award Cand.Sc. and Dr.Sc. degrees in ecology, economics, law, psychology, pedagogics, ethnology, history, culture, linguistics of the Ural region, and Udmurt linguistics.

Izhevsk is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and European Commission Intercultural cities programme.

Museums and galleries

There are about fifty museums and galleries in Izhevsk. The most popular of them are:

The Kalashnikov Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms, or the Kalashnikov Museum, was appeared in 2004. Its expositions tell about Izhevsk as one of the most important center of Russian arms production. The main person of the museum narration is Mikhail Kalashnikov. The museum and exhibition complex holds the permanent exposition devoted to this legendary Russian armourer. There are temporary expositions in addition to the permanent exposition launched in 2004. The Museum has the demonstration hall, including the shooting gallery where different models of historical and contemporary arms are presented, and the pneumatic shooting gallery.

17 kilometers from Izhevsk the Ludorvay Architectural and Ethnographic Open-air Museum is situated. It was founded in 1990 on the premises of the former Russian settlement Ilyinka. Total area of the culture preserve is about 40 hectares. It divided into 5 exhibition parts: the Sector of Central Udmurts, the Sector of Southern Udmurts, Russian sector, the Windmill, and the Mushtor Apiary Complex.

Theaters and philharmonics

Izhevsk has a number of theaters, among the most prominent of which are:

Circus

One of the integral parts of Izhevsk cultural life is the State Circus of the Udmurt Republic. Residents of Izhevsk have liked circus throughout the history of the city. In olden days the settlement was visited by vagrant performers — skomorokhs with mountain bears, strongmans and fakirs. Since the turn of the 19th century, shows took places in booths — temporary structures with benches for the rich and standing rooms for the poor.

The first Izhevsk circus was built by Aleksandr Koromyslov in 1895. It had existed till the Civil War began. On 21 September 1926, the Kolart Circus was opened. It was made of wood and seated 1,500 spectators.

In 1943, at the height of The Great Patriotic War, the stone circus building was erected in the Kolart's place. It was designed by P.M. Popov after the pattern of Ciniselli Circus in Saint Petersburg. On 29 November 1943, the wounded soldiers saw the first show there. The Circus seated 1,800 spectators and was considered one of the best ones in the Soviet Union.

On January 14, 1990, the Circus was shut down because of dilapidation. On 29 December 1999, the building was razed.

On January 17, 2000, a cornerstone of new circus was laid. The project was designed by Moscow architect Mikhail Vesnin. In September 2003, first formers from the whole of Udmurtia saw the show at the new circus. In the judgment of specialists, the contemporary building of the Circus is one of the best in Russia. It seats 1,800 spectators like the predecessor and have current technologies and high-performance audio and light equipment. The Circus has its own hotel called the Arena Hotel.

The International Circus Art Festival is held at the State Circus of the Udmurt Republic yearly on March since 2008. Circus stars come to Izhevsk from every corner of the globe. Members of leading world's circus art festivals and circus managers and producers from the United States, Germany, Italy, France and other countries enter into the festival jury.

Sports

The Izhvesk ice hockey team HC Izhstal plays in the Supreme Hockey League. In the season 2013-14 the team finished the regular season 19th and did not qualified for the playoffs.

The football club Zenit-Izhevsk plays in the Professional Football League. In the season 2013-14 the team finished 5th in the zone Ural-Povolzhye.

The women's handball team Universitet plays in Russian Superleague.

The sledge hockey team Udmurtia is the twice champion of Russia (2010, 2014).

Entertainment

In the post-Soviet period Izhevsk became known as home to a vibrant art and music scene. Izhevsk is sometimes referred to as "the capital of Russian electronic music".[27][28][29] The most well-known Izhevsk electronic act was Стук Бамбука в XI Часов (Stuk Bambuka v XI Chasov), whose only album Лёгкое дело холод (1991) is now considered classic.[30]

Currently the music scene continues to evolve creating new talents such as Anna Krab calling itself the Electronic Queen of Udmurtia and Distract-a-bee with a dick-logo tending to release an album every week.

Some of the most famous institutions include the Italmas, an Udmurt folk theater and dance company, and the local circus. In 2001–2004, a beautiful new auditorium was built in the center of town to serve as a permanent home for the city circus. Today circus acts from Izhevsk and other Russian and European cities entertain visitors at the Izhevsk Circus.

Cityscape

Notable buildings and structures

Izhevsk Pond

Main article: Izhevsk Reservoir

Izhvesk City Pond is now one of the city's most popular places for recreation. Its area is over 22 km2, yet it was artificially constructed (in parts dug by hand) in the 1760s for industrial needs. Empress Elizabeth of Russia granted Count Peter Shuvalov official permission to create three factories in the Kama River region September 15, 1757.

Udmurtia State Circus

Construction of the three-step industrial dam at the critical point where the two rivers (Izh and Yagul/Podborenka) join started both the pond and the city in April 1760.

The dam was reconstructed in 1809–1815 when Alexander Deryabin converted the original metalworking factory into the new arms producing facility. It was subsequently modernized again in 1983–1984 in order to extend the dam. Today a number of major Izhevsk industrial plants are still located along the pond.

In 1972, the Izhevsk Pond Embankment, a three-mile-long walkway and a system of boulevards and squares, was extended along the pond. Some consider the resulting esplanade and pond embankment one of Izhevsk finest attractions. The "Friendship of Nations" Square, with its central monument celebrating 400 years of Udmurtia's union with Russia, is a focal point of the esplanade and a hip place for youth recreation. During the summer months excursion boats operate from Izhevsk to the village of Volozhka.

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Izhevsk is twinned with:[33]

Notable people

Sciences and technologies

Sports

Others

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Law #46-RZ
  2. 1 2 3 Official website of Izhevsk. History of the city.
  3. 1 2 3 Law #17-RZ
  4. 1 2 Official website of Izhevsk. Alexander Alexandrovich Ushakov, Head of Izhevsk
  5. Official website of Izhevsk. City Duma (Russian)
  6. 1 2 3 Official website of Izhevsk. Our city (Russian)
  7. 1 2 3 Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1" [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  8. The value of density was calculated automatically by dividing the 2010 Census population by the area specified in the infobox. Please note that this value may not be accurate as the area specified in the infobox does not necessarily correspond to the area of the entity proper or is reported for the same year as the population.
  9. Правительство Российской Федерации. Федеральный закон №107-ФЗ от 3 июня 2011 г. «Об исчислении времени», в ред. Федерального закона №271-ФЗ от 03 июля 2016 г. «О внесении изменений в Федеральный закон "Об исчислении времени"». Вступил в силу по истечении шестидесяти дней после дня официального опубликования (6 августа 2011 г.). Опубликован: "Российская газета", №120, 6 июня 2011 г. (Government of the Russian Federation. Federal Law #107-FZ of June 31, 2011 On Calculating Time, as amended by the Federal Law #271-FZ of July 03, 2016 On Amending Federal Law "On Calculating Time". Effective as of after sixty days following the day of the official publication.).
  10. Official website of Izhevsk. History of the city
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Izhlife.ru. Как Ижевск 900 дней был Устиновым (Russian)
  12. Почта России. Информационно-вычислительный центр ОАСУ РПО. (Russian Post). Поиск объектов почтовой связи (Postal Objects Search) (Russian)
  13. Russia Dial Codes
  14. 1 2 Altyntsev A.V., "The Concept of Love in Ashkenazim of Udmurtia and Tatarstan", Nauka Udmurtii. 2013. № 4 (66), p. 131. (Алтынцев А.В., "Чувство любви в понимании евреев-ашкенази Удмуртии и Татарстана". Наука Удмуртии. 2013. №4. С. 131: Комментарии.) (Russian)
  15. 1 2 3 Карпенко И., "В окрестностях Хаимграда". Лехаим. 2009. №1 (201). (Russian)
  16. 1 2 3 Шумилов Е.Ф., "Евреи на Ижевском оружейном заводе". (Russian)
  17. 1 2 Ренев Е.,"Шалом. Народ Торы в старом Ижевске. Инвожо. 2012. № 8. С. 46. (Russian)
  18. "Importing Russia's Top Gun". New York Times. August 14, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-16. The nickname of this town, home of the factory that makes Kalashnikov rifles, is the 'Armory of Russia'...
  19. Russian Federal State Statistics Service (May 21, 2004). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек" [Population of Russia, Its Federal Districts, Federal Subjects, Districts, Urban Localities, Rural Localities—Administrative Centers, and Rural Localities with Population of Over 3,000] (XLS). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года [All-Russia Population Census of 2002] (in Russian). Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  20. Demoscope Weekly (1989). "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров" [All Union Population Census of 1989: Present Population of Union and Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs, Krais, Oblasts, Districts, Urban Settlements, and Villages Serving as District Administrative Centers]. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года [All-Union Population Census of 1989] (in Russian). Институт демографии Национального исследовательского университета: Высшая школа экономики [Institute of Demography at the National Research University: Higher School of Economics]. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  21. Национальный состав г. Ижевска (Russian)
  22. Goldberg-Altyntsev A.V., "A short ethnographic overview of the Ashkenazic Jews' group in Alnashsky District of Udmurt Republic". Die Sammlung der wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten der jungen jüdischen Wissenschaftler. Herausgegeben von Artur Katz, Yumi Matsuda und Alexander Grinberg. München, Dachau, 2015. S. 51-52.
  23. Altyntsev A.V., "The Concept of Love in Ashkenazim of Udmurtia and Tatarstan", Nauka Udmurtii. 2013. № 4 (66), p. 127-132. (Алтынцев А.В., "Чувство любви в понимании евреев-ашкенази Удмуртии и Татарстана". Наука Удмуртии. 2013. №4. С. 127-132: Комментарии.) (Russian)
  24. "Pogoda.ru.net" (in Russian). Weather and Climate (Погода и климат). Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  25. "Izevsk (Izhevsk) Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  26. The Capital of Russian Electronic Music The Capital of Russian Electronic Music on RussiaJournal.com
  27. VA – Izhevsk Dance Machine on Kama Records website: release info and review excerpts
  28. An article on "Izhevsk phenomenon" on ClubConcept.ru
  29. Стук бамбука в 11 часов – Легкое дело холод (1991)
  30. http://vcfm.ru/vc/Foto/izhevsk_pesochnaya_03.jpg
  31. Council of Europe (2011). "Intercultural city: Izhevsk, Russian Federation". coe.int. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  32. Izhevsk twinning

Sources

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