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Abakan

Coordinates: 53°43′N 91°27′E / 53.717°N 91.450°E / 53.717; 91.450
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For other uses, see Abakan (disambiguation).

53°43′N 91°27′E / 53.717°N 91.450°E / 53.717; 91.450

Statue of Vladimir I. Lenin in Abakan

Abakan (Russian: Абака́н; Khakass: Ағбан) is the capital city of the Republic of Khakassia in Russia, in South Siberia. It is located in the central part of Minusinsk Depression, at the confluence of the Yenisei and Abakan Rivers, at approximately the same latitude as Hamburg and Minsk. Population: 165,197 (2002 Census);[1] 159,000(1994 est.).

History

Abakan fort (Абаканский острог) was built at this location in 1675, also known as Abakansk. In Russian Empire it belonged to Yenisei gubernia. During 1823–1931 the grown settlement was known as Ust-Abakanskoye, 1914–1925: Abakan, 1925–1931: Khakassk. It received the status of town and its current name in 1931.

Chinese exiles

In 1940, Russian construction workers found ancient ruins during the construction of a highway between Abakan and the nearby district center village of Askyz (Аскыз). When the site was excavated by Soviet archaeologists during 1941-45, they realized that they had discovered a building absolutely unique for the area: a large (1500 square meters) Chinese-style, likely Han Dynasty era palace. The identity of the high-ranking personage who lived luxuriously in Chinese style, far outside of the borders of the Han Empire, has remained a matter for discussion ever since. Russian archaeologist L.A. Evtyukhova surmised, based on circumstancial evidence, that the palace may have been the residence of Li Ling, a Chinese general who had been defeated by the Xiongnu in 99 BC, and defected to them as a result.[2] While this opinion has remained popular, other view have been expressed as well. More recently, for example, it was claimed by A.A. Kovalyov as the residence of Lu Fang (盧芳), a Han throne pretender from the Guangwu era.[3]

Lithuanian exiles

In the late eighteenth and during the nineteenth century, Lithuanian participants in the 1794, 1830-1831, and 1863 rebellions against the Russian czarist rule were exiled to Abakan. A group of camps was established, and prisoners were forced to work in the coal mines. After Stalin's death, Lithuanian exiles from the nearby settlements moved in[4]

Economy

Abakan (together with Tayshet) was a terminal of the major Abakan-Taishet Railway. Now it is an important railway junction.

The city is served by the Abakan International Airport.

The city has a river port, industry enterprises, Khakas State University, and three theatres. Furthermore, it has a commercial center that produces footwear, foodstuffs, and metal products.

The 100th Air Assault Brigade of the Russian Airborne Troops was based in the city until c.1996. (Schofield, The Russian Elite)

Sites

Abakan's sites of interest include Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, "Good Angel of Peace" sculpture, park of topiary art, and many others.

References

  1. ^ Federal State Statistics Service (21 May 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).
  2. ^ L.A. Evtyukhova (Л.А. Евтюхова), Southern Siberia in Ancient Times Южная Сибирь в древности). In: "Tracing Ancient Cultures between the Volga and the Pacific" (По следам древних культур: от Волги до Тихого Океана). Moscow, 1954, pp. 195-224.
  3. ^ A.A. Kovalyov (А.А. Ковалёв), Chinese Emperor on the Yenisy? Once more about the owner of the Tashebik "Palace" (Китайский император на Енисее? Ещё раз о хозяине ташебинского «дворца»), in "Ethnohistory and archaeoilogy of Northern Eurasia: theory, methodology, and the recearch practice" ("Этноистория и археология Северной Евразии: теория, методология и практика исследования"). Irkutsk, 2007, pp. 145-148.
  4. ^ Abakanas. Aldona Juodvalkytė. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija, I t. Vilnius: Science and encyclopedias publishing institute, 2001. T.1: A-Ar.
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