Yoshkar-Ola is the main city of the Mari Republic. The city got its unusual name for a Russian-speaking person from the Mari language and literally translates as "red city".
City Information
On the eastern territory of Russia is a small republic of Mari El. Its capital is Yoshkar-Ola.
Yoshkar-Ola began its existence in 1584, when it was laid by Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich in order to create a defensive fortification on the Kokshaga River. Its initial name is Tsarevokokshaysk, it was valid until 1919.
From 1919 to 1927 the city was remade to Krasnokokshaysk, and only after to the now existing Yoshkar-Ola.
Since its founding, Yoshkar-Ola has grown, developed, and improved. However, he could not boast of a large number of inhabitants. By the end of the 19th century, the population of Yoshkar-Ola did not exceed 2000 people.
During the Second World War, when many Russian cities were bombed and, accordingly, destroyed, the Mari Republic was at a relatively safe distance from the front line. This influenced the fact that many large and significant factory industrial enterprises were relocated to the main city of the republic. In the post-war years they did not begin to be transferred, and this influenced the active development of the city and, as a consequence, the increase in population growth.
The dynamic arrangement of the city began only at the beginning of the 21st century, when the head of the republic, Mari El, assured the start of construction and reconstruction of many historical, cultural and recreational facilities. Moreover, different styles were used, which any visitor can personally see.
Living in Yoshkar-Ola
Until the end of the 19th century, the population of Yoshkar-Ola did not exceed 2000 people. The jump in population growth occurred in the post-war period, when the city was full of developing industry, and, therefore, people began to flock there to work in factories.
According to statistics from the Russian census, Yoshkar-Ola in 2016 was inhabited by 265,044 people. For a territory of 110 km 2 this is a very good indicator.
By the number of people living in Russia, Yoshkar-Ola occupies 74th place. The population density is 2594 per km 2 . As a percentage of gender composition, 45% of men and 55% of women live in the city. Urban population - 57.3% (the amount of the urban population of the republic), 36% is the total population of Yoshkar-Ola.
A special indicator of the city is its low mortality rate.
Diversity of nationalities
As for the ethnic composition of the city, it has 96 different peoples. Most of all, the Russian population lives on the territory - 68%. Next come the Native Maris - 24%. The third place in terms of number is occupied by the Tatar peoples - 4.3%. In addition to the main national composition, the urban population of Yoshkar-Ola is formed by:
- Chuvashs
- Ukrainians;
- Azerbaijanis
- Armenians
- Uzbeks
- Belarusians
- Udmurts
- Georgians
- Germans and many others.
Yoshkar-Ola districts
Having tracked the growth of the territory of Yoshkar-Ola on the map, you can see that over the years, 20 nearby villages and suburbs have been attached to the capital of Mari El.
The district of the city, in addition to Yoshkar-Ola, consists of the following settlements: Apsakbeliak settlement, Semenovka village, villages: Ignatievo, Nolka, Danilovo, Savino, as well as Shoya-Kuznetsovo, Akshubino village, Yakimovo village, Kelmakovo village.
The following microdistricts are distinguished on the city territory: Berezovo, Alenkino, Bolshoy, Bolnichniy, Vostochny, Chigashevo, Dubki, Gomzovo, Zvezdny, Integral, Machine-builder, Leninsky, Youth, Mirny, Nagorny, Myshino, Nikitkino, Orshansky, Oktyabrsky, Coastal, Predzavodskaya , Repair plant, Soviet, Northern, Sports, Szombathely, Central.
The division of the city into districts began in the 20th century. In the 70s, Yoshkar-Ola was on the map and was actually divided into 2 districts: Zavodskoy and Leninsky, which in their composition located residential quarters, as well as rural areas.
The Zavodsky urban district united: Sidorovsky Village Council of Medvedevsky District, Kokshaysky (village of Kokshaysk and a suburban village council, which was subsequently abolished).
Leninsky district consisted of several village councils: Kuyarsky, Solnechny, Kundyshsky and Semenovsky.
sights
Yoshkar-Ola will become an interesting place for visiting tourists. There are a lot of interesting sights in the city that are known not only to local residents, but also to tourists.
"Yoshkin cat"
Sculpture "Yoshkin cat". This young attraction appeared in the city center in 2011. It is dedicated to the character of Russian folklore.
The sculpture is installed at the main building of Mari University. It is made in the form of a park bench on which the yoshkin cat is seated in a businesslike way. The head of the republic contributed to the installation of such an entertaining decoration of the city.
The cat is cast from bronze and weighs 150 kg. Its authors were Yoshkar-Ola sculptors.
Embankment of Bruges
One of the most beautiful streets of Yoshkar-Ola is the Bruges Embankment. This picturesque place of the city is located on the banks of the local Kokshaga River. This "particle of Belgium" is recreated based on the Belgian architecture of the city of Bruges. The real embellishment of the embankment is lined with houses along the entire street with colored roofs, windows of various sizes, tubes and turrets.
The opening of the Bruges Embankment took place in 2010.
What else to look at?
The Yoshkar-Ola registry office is located on the Embankment, which is not only a place of marriage for local residents, but also just a beautiful building and a city attraction built in the Gothic style.
The grand opening of the Wedding Palace took place in 2012.
Opposite the registry office is another local pride - a monument to Prince Rainier 3 and Grace Kelly. This sculpture is an embodiment of marital fidelity.
In the Mari capital there is an incredibly fabulous building with a deviation in the religious direction - the clock "12 Apostles". They show not only the time of Yoshkar-Ola, but also the performance. Every day, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an interval of 3 hours, for 8 minutes a real performance is played on these hours: the gates located on the turret open and a column of apostles led by Jesus appears from them. Judas closes the column holding a bag with 30 silver pieces. The height of each sculpture is 1.5 meters, they are made of bronze.
On the Patriarchal Square of Yoshkar-Ola, there is another attraction - a monument-fountain to Peter and Fevronia.
Tsarevokokshaysky Kremlin is located in the city center. This is not only a favorite place of Yoshkar-Olintsev and tourists, but also a venue for celebrations dedicated to the celebration of May 9, exhibitions and fairs. At the beginning of the 20th century, this place was called Bazaar Square. The complex of Kremlin structures includes: a brick wall with 4 towers, a temple and an internal Kremlin square.
One of the newest sculptures in Yoshkar-Ola was the wooden letter "Y".
In 2007, on the territory of the city, or rather, in its center, an architectural landmark appeared - the Annunciation Tower, the height level of which is 55 meters. The first thing that attracts attention when looking at the tower is a small copy of the Moscow Kremlin chimes.
Theater of Young Spectators. This cultural center, designed for a young audience, was founded in 1991. It hosts theatrical performances in two languages: Russian and Mari.
City industry
Yoshkar-Ola factories are significant industrial enterprises that have important value both for the republic and for the country as a whole. They relate to the engineering, food and manufacturing sectors.
Military and civilian vehicles are manufactured from the conveyors of engineering plants.
In addition to the main enterprises, in Yoshkar-Ola there are many other industrial plants for the production of necessary goods:
- Pharmaceutical that produce vitamin complexes.
- Food enterprises. In Yoshkar-Ola, meat and canned products are produced.
- Yoshkar-Ola candy factory. The company has existed since 1944. Currently, it is engaged in the manufacture of more than 60 items of various confectionery products: various types of wafers, all kinds of sweets, milk toffee, flavored marmalade.
- Furniture factory "Elf". The company is engaged in the manufacture of doors, chests of drawers, kitchen sets, tables, cabinets and many other types of furniture.
- Pump plant OKTB "Crystal". The industrial enterprise was established in 1970.
- Oil refinery Mari oil refinery. The plant started in 1998. Its walls produce various types of fuel.
- Shoe factory (YOOF). The company's products are various types of shoes.
- Sewing factory for the production of hats. It has been operating since 2006 and currently produces about 140 varieties of hats for all categories of citizens.
Conclusion
Yoshkar-Ola performs the function of not only the capital of the Republic of Mari El, but also its main center. It contains the main economic structure of the republic, a large complex of historically significant and modern architecture. The city is of great interest to both Russian and foreign tourists. Time in Yoshkar-Ola will not pass in vain.