Moscow Ring Road facts for kids
The Moscow Automobile Ring Road, often called MKAD (pronounced "em-kad"), is a very important road that circles the city of Moscow, Russia. Its full Russian name is Moskovskaya Koltsevaya Avtomobilnaya Doroga. Think of it like a giant circle that helps define the edge of Moscow. It was officially opened in 1961. This road is known as the third major ring road built around the city.
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What is the MKAD?
The MKAD is a huge highway that goes all the way around Moscow. It's like a big belt around the city. This road helps drivers get around Moscow without going through the busy city center. It also helps people travel between different parts of Moscow quickly.
How Long is the MKAD?
The MKAD is about 109 kilometers (or 68 miles) long. That's a really long circle! It has many lanes, usually 10 lanes in total, with 5 lanes going in each direction. This makes it a very wide and busy road.
Why is it Important?
The MKAD is super important for Moscow. It helps manage the huge amount of traffic in the city. Trucks and cars can use it to bypass the crowded downtown area. For many years, the MKAD also acted as the official boundary of Moscow. Most of the city's growth has happened inside this ring road.
History of the MKAD
Building such a large road was a big project. The idea for a ring road around Moscow came about much earlier. But construction really started in the 1950s.
When Was it Built?
Work on the MKAD began in 1956. It took about five years to build the entire circle. The road was officially opened to traffic in 1961. This was a big moment for Moscow's transportation system.
What Was Moscow Like Before?
Before the MKAD, all traffic, including heavy trucks, had to go through the city center. This caused a lot of traffic jams and made travel slow. The new ring road helped to solve these problems. It made it much easier to move goods and people around the city.
Life Around the MKAD
The area around the MKAD has changed a lot over the years. Many new buildings and businesses have grown up near the road.
Shopping and Business
Because the MKAD is so easy to reach, many large shopping malls, car dealerships, and business centers have been built along its sides. This makes it a popular place for people to work and shop. It's a busy area, full of activity.
City Expansion
Even though the MKAD used to be the city limit, Moscow has grown beyond it in some places. New neighborhoods and towns have developed outside the ring road. However, the MKAD still remains a key landmark and a major transport artery for the city.
Images for kids
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Interchange of MKAD and Volgogradsky Prospekt in Moscow
