Facts about the City of Yaroslavl
– The population of Yaroslavl is around 650,000.
– Yaroslavl is located in Central part of Russia on the confluence of the Volga and KotoroslRivers, about 150 miles northeast of Moscow, 540 miles from St. Peterburg.
– Yaroslavl is one of the major transportation depots of European Russia: railways connecting Moscow and cities of the north and east of Russia. It is intersected by both the Trans-Siberian train lines and those of the Northern Railroad.
– The city of Yaroslavl was founded in 1010 by one of the princes of Kievan Rus,Yaroslav the Wise.
– During the 16th and 17th centuries, Yaroslavl became Russia’s most important trading center and was the second largest city after Moscow.
– It is an important industrial center (petrochemical plant, tire manufacturing plant, diesel engines plant and many others).
– Yaroslavl was the site of the first professional public theater in Russia, the Volkov Theatre.
– Local jazz and rock organizations are very active. The jazz society sponsors a biannual jazz festival, “Jazz over the Volga”. The next festival will occur in spring of 2013.
– Yaroslavl contains more than 20 churches dating from the 17th century, including the Church of Archangel Michael, the Church of Epiphany, the Church of Elijah the Prophet and the Church of Nicola Rublenny. Of special note is the Church of St. John Baptist, built from 1671-1687 and famous for its unique construction with 15 domes and notable interior frescoes.
1000 years
In 2010 the city of Yaroslavl celebrated its 1000 year anniversary. Considering the historic and cultural importance of Yaroslavl, for its 1000 year anniversary the government undertook numerous construction projects: a new bridge on the Volga river, a zoo, planetarium, golf club, hotels, restaurants, malls, construction of central square, brand new apartment complexes, general improvement of roads and old buildings.
Various activities such as handicrafts convention, air balloon show, retro-car racing competition, movie festivals, gardening, cooking, designers and photography exhibitions took place during the celebrations. The development of international connections and relations is also considered as one of the main priorities. The celebration itself was visited by the President of Russia and many famous people in Russia and around the world, like the first woman in space Valentina Tereshkova, a Yaroslavl native.
