Blagoveshchensk
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| Blagoveshchensk (English) Благовещенск (Russian) |
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  Location of Blagoveshchensk on the map of Russia
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| Coordinates 50°22′N 127°31′E / 50.367°N 127.517°ECoordinates: 50°22′N 127°31′E / 50.367°N 127.517°E |
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| Coat of Arms | |
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| Administrative status | |
| Federal subject In jurisdiction of Administrative center of |
Amur Oblast Amur Oblast n/a |
| Local self-government | |
| Charter | n/a |
| Municipal status | Urban okrug |
| Mayor | Aleksandr Migulya |
| Representative Body | n/a |
| Area | |
| Area | n/a |
| Population | |
| 2002 Census - Rank - Density |
219,221 inhabitants n/a n/a |
| Events | |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Town status | 1858 |
| Other information | |
| Postal code | 675000–675029 |
| Dialing code | +7 4162 |
| Official website | |
| http://www.admblag.ru | |
Blagoveshchensk (Russian: Благове́щенск; Chinese: 海兰泡 Hǎilánpào or 布拉戈维申斯克 Bùlāgēwéishēnsīkè) is a city in Russia, the administrative center of Amur Oblast, located 7,985 km east of Moscow. Population: 219,221 (2002 Census);[1] 205,553 (1989 Census).[2]
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[edit] Geography
The city lies 110 km off the Trans-Siberian railroad, at the point where the Zeya River flows into the Amur. The Amur has formed Russia's border with China since the 1858 Aigun Treaty and 1860 Treaty of Peking. The area north of the Amur had previously belonged to imperial China (see Nerchinsk Treaty). It is served by Ignatyevo Airport.
The city of Heihe is sited on the opposite bank of the river in China.
[edit] History
Although Russian settlers had lived in the area as early as 1644 as "Hailanpao", the present-day city began in 1856 as the military outpost of Ust-Zeysky, its name meaning settlement at the mouth of the Zeya River in Russian. Tsar Alexander II gave approval for the founding of the city in 1858, with the town to be named Blagoveshchensk, after the parish Church of the Annunciation (Blagoveshchenie in Russian) and declared to be seat of government for the Amur region.
The city was an important river port and trade center during the late 1800s, with growth further fuelled by a gold rush early in the 20th century and by its position on the Chinese border, just hundreds of metres across from the city of Heihe.
In the course of the Boxer Rebellion, Chinese insurgents shelled the city in July 1900. According to the Orthodox tradition, the city was saved by a miraculous icon of Our Lady of Albazin, which was prayed to continuously during the shelling which lasted almost two weeks. In those days, the police aided by Cossacks, decided to drive the entire ethnic Chinese community, from the Russian bank of the Amur River over to the Chinese side. Civilians were driven into the river at gunpoint and many of them drowned. In total, about 3,000 people were reported to have died[citation needed].
The city was also the site of conflict during the Russian Civil War, with Japanese troops occupying the city in support of the White Army. From 1920 until 1922, the city was declared part of the Far Eastern Republic, an area which was nominally independent, but in reality a buffer zone under control of the Russian SFSR.
The city became capital of the Amur Oblast in the Soviet Union in 1932.
During the Cultural revolution the city was subject to the Maoist propaganda blasted from loudspeakers across the river 24 hours a day.
[edit] Economy and Infrastructure
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the city's economic focus has turned to border trade with China, the town is now home to a large Chinese expatriate community.
Main industries in the town include metal and timber processing, as well as paper production.
The city is served by a branch railway connecting it to the Trans-Siberian railway, as well as a river port and airport.
[edit] Sister city
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Blagoveshchensk |
- Official city website (Russian)
- Blagoveschensk State Pedagogical University
- Amur State University (Russian, English, Chinese, German)
- Blagoveshchensk on My City website (Russian)
- News from Amur Oblast (Russian)
[edit] References
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "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)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved on 2008-07-25.
- ^ "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.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg2.php. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
- ^ Blagoveshchensk and Heihe partner cities
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