Gomel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gomel Гомель |
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  Gomel
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| Coordinates: 52°26′43″N 30°59′03″E / 52.44528°N 30.98417°E | |||
| Country Subdivision |
 BelarusHomiel |
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| Founded | 1142 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Alexander Belyev | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 113 km2 (43.6 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - City | 481,197 | ||
| - Density | 4,258.4/km2 (11,029.2/sq mi) | ||
| - Metro | 527,886 | ||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||
| Area code(s) | +375 232(2) | ||
| License plate | 3 | ||
| Website | www.gorod.gomel.by | ||
Gomel (pronounced /ˈɡoʊmel/),[1] also Homiel, Homel (Belarusian, Russian: Гомель, IPA: [ˈɣomʲelʲ] (Bel.), [ˈɡomʲelʲ] (Rus.),[1] translit: Homieĺ; is the administrative center of Homiel Voblast and the second-largest city in Belarus. It has a population of 479,935 (2006 estimate). Gomel is situated in the southeastern part of the country, on the right bank of Sozh river, close to the border with Ukraine, in close proximity to Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Although it has been heavily contaminated with radioactive debris following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, residents were never evacuated from Gomel and general population continued to grow. The city is serviced by Gomel Airport.
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[edit] History
The exact date when Gomel was founded is not known. Gomel was first mentioned in the chronicles in the first half of the 12th century; the officially accepted date is 1142. In 1854 Gomel merged with the neighbouring town of Bielica located across Sozh, on the left bank of the river. Now Bielica is one of four boroughs of Gomel.[2]
Until the Second World War and the Holocaust, Gomel, like many other cities in eastern Europe, had a significant Jewish population: according to Russian census of 1897, out of the total population of 37,800, Jews constituted 8,400 (around 25% percent).[3] On the eve of World War II, the Jewish population had grown to fifteen thousand. Some Jewish residents fled in the early months of the war, but those who remained were later confined to ghettos and most eventually executed by the Nazis.
[edit] Transportation
Public transportation is represented by over 1,000 city buses and trolleybuses. Public transportation is generally inexpensive ($14 monthly). Over 210 million passenger rides were registered in 2006.[4] Taxi services ($10 for a one-way intra-city ride) are available 24 hours a day. The city is an important railroad hub in the southeastern part of Belarus being positioned midway on the Minsk-Kiev railroad link. Strategic location of Gomel near the border with Russia and Ukraine provides a direct connection to the vast railroad network.
Gomel Airport is located 8 kilometers north-east from the city.
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[edit] Culture
- Gomel Regional Russian Drama Theatre
- Puppet Theatre
- Youth Theatre
- Gomel Regional Library
- Palace-and-Park Ensemble
- Art Gallery
- Gomel State Circus
- etc.
[edit] Educational center
Gomel is a well-known educational center. The following universities are located in Gomel:
- Francysk Skaryna Homiel State University
- Homiel State Medical University
- P.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical University
- Belarusian State University of Transport
- Belarusian Trade-Economic University of Consumer Cooperation (private school)
- Educational Center Leader
Since 1990, P.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical University and Homiel State Medical University have been attracting many international students from countries around world, including United States, Germany, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran and Latin America. Homiel State Medical University provides classes in both English and Russian. Many famous scientists work here as senior lecturers.
[edit] People
- Andrei Gromyko, Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Soviet Union (1957–1985) and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1985–1988)
- Iryna Yatchanka, Belarusian Olympic medal winner
- Siarhiej Sidorski, Belarusian prime-minister (2003 to present time)
- Seryoga, rapper (who once challenged Eminem to a one-on-one rap competition)
- Igar Polotski, famous watchmaker
- Kanstantsin Siutsou, professional road cyclist
- Harry and Bryna Danielovich, the parents of Kirk Douglas emigrated from Gomel, although he was born in Amsterdam, New York
- Yuri Sharapov and Elena Sharapova, the parents of Maria Sharapova, left Gomel after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986
- Mikhas Brusovanik, pioneer of Belorussian Rock Music, leader of the band Accent
- Uladzimir Sharyber, BART Senior-Engineer
[edit] International relations
[edit] Twin towns and Sister cities
Gomel is twinned with:
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[edit] References
- ^ a b Definition of Homyel' - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
- ^ Gomel: History
- ^ Joshua D. Zimmerman, Poles, Jews, and the politics of nationality, Univ of Wisconsin Press, 2004, ISBN 0299194647, Google Print, p.16
- ^ Gomel Transportation Statistics (Russian language)
- ^ "Twinning". Aberdeen City Council. http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ACCI/web/site/Tourism/SL/tur_TownTwinning.asp. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
- ^ "Radom Official Website - Partner Cities".
(in English and Polish) © 2007 Urząd Miasta Radom. http://www.radom.pl/_portal/118786399846cd5dbe4a35e/Miasta_partnerskie.html. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Homel |
- Photos on Radzima.org
- History of Gomel
- The Korma-Report (Korma-Studie) of the German Research Center Juelich (Forschungszentrum Jülich) published new data on internal radiation exposure of the inhabitants of a region close to gomel more than 20 years after the Chernobyl disaster. The data show a significant decrease of the exposure. Resettlement may even be possible in prohibited areas provided that people comply with appropriate dietary rules.
- Statistical information about Gomel
- Map of Gomel
- All about Gomel
- Real Estate in Gomel
- Infobelarus
- Gomel State Circus
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