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Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk is the capital of Karelia. It is located on the surface of 121.8 km2 at the coast of the lake Onego. The population is 282.7 thousands. Since here a well-developed channel system exists Petrozavodsk have access to the Baltic Sea, White Sea, Barents Sea, Caspian Sea, Black Sea. Distance to Moscow is 1091 km, the St.Petersburg is 412 km, to the border with Finland (along the Blue Road) is 350 km.
Petrozavodsk was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great and the name means "Peter's factory". At the beginning it was just a factory that made cannons for the Russian army while the Northern War between Sweden and Russia was in progress. Around the factory there was a settlement called Petrovskaya Sloboda. There lived workers, soldiers and officials. After the war, the need of cannons disappeared and the factory was closed down. But already in 1773 a new factory which manufactured cast iron and cannons of high quality was built. According to the order of Catherine the Great in 1777 a settlement around the factory got a city status and changed its name to Petrozavodsk. In 1784 it became the capital of new Olonets province.
Petrozavodsk is a major science center. Here the Karelian branch of the Russian Academy of Science is located as well as the State University of Petrozavodsk, the Karelian Pedagogical University, Conservatory. The city has the Russian Dramatic and Musical Theater, the Finnish National Theater, theater for children, many museums.
Petrozavodsk is an industrial city. There are large factories that manufacture paper machines, machine tools, tractors for forestry. At a shipyard new ships are building and repairing. A power and heating plant generates electrical energy and heating for the whole city. Many construction companies have their operations in the city. Residential area is expanded actively, new shopping centers are opened constantly. The city has many restaurants and cafes with different national cuisine - Karelian, Georgian, Armenian, Mexican as well as many shops, galleries and art salons. Some large city markets attract people by all possible items. Petrozavodsk is located in a hub of major transportation routes - here a railway and motorway St.Petersburg - Murmansk meet each other as well as an important waterway from the Baltic to the White Sea. In the city many international conferences, trade fairs, exhibitions are taking their place.