Rostov-on-Don facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rostov-on-Don (English)Ростов-на-Дону (Russian) |
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Don River Embankment
Rostov City Hall
Rostov-on-Don Cathedral
Theatre Square
Rostov Arena
Voroshilovsky Bridge and Don River
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| City Day | Third Sunday of September |
| Administrative status | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Rostov Oblast |
| Administratively subordinated to | Rostov-na-Donu Urban Okrug |
| Municipal status | |
| Urban okrug | Rostov-na-Donu Urban Okrug |
| Head | Zinaida Neyarokhina |
| Representative body | City Duma |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 348.5 km2 (134.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2010 Census, preliminary) |
1,089,261 inhabitants |
| - Rank in 2010 | 10th |
| Population (January 2017 est.) | 1,125,000 inhabitants |
| Density | 3,126/km2 (8,096/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MSK (UTC+04:00) |
| Founded | 1749 |
| City status since | 1796 |
| Postal code(s) | 344000–344002, 344004, 344006, 344007, 344009–344013, 344015, 344016, 344018–344023, 344025, 344029, 344030, 344032–344034, 344037–344039, 344041, 344045, 344048, 344050, 344052, 344055, 344056, 344058, 344064, 344065, 344068, 344069, 344072, 344079, 344082, 344090–344095, 344101, 344103, 344111–344114, 344116, 344700, 344880, 344890, 344899, 344960–344965, 344999, 901078, 995100 |
| Dialing code(s) | +7 863 |
| Official website: http://www.rostov-gorod.ru | |
Rostov-on-Don is a big port city in Russia. It is the main city of Rostov Oblast and the Southern Federal District. The city is located in the southeastern part of the East European Plain. It sits on the Don River, about 32 kilometers from the Sea of Azov. Rostov-on-Don is directly north of the North Caucasus region.
More than one million people live in Rostov-on-Don. It is a very important cultural center in Southern Russia.
Contents
History of Rostov-on-Don
Early Beginnings
For a very long time, the area near the Don River's mouth has been important for culture and trade. Ancient tribes like the Scythians and Sarmatians lived here. There were also old Greek and Genoese settlements.
In 1749, Empress Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, ordered a custom house to be built on the Temernik River. This helped control trade with Turkey. A fortress was also built there. It was named after Dimitry of Rostov, a bishop from an older town called Rostov the Great.
Over time, the nearby town of Azov became less important for trade. The new fortress area grew instead. In 1796, the settlement became an official town. In 1806, it was officially named Rostov-on-Don.
Growth and Industry
During the 1800s, Rostov-on-Don grew into a major trade and transport center. This was because of its river connections to other parts of Russia. Railway lines were built, connecting it to cities like Kharkiv in 1870.
Heavy industries also started to develop. Coal from the Donets Basin and iron ore from Krivoy Rog helped set up an iron foundry in 1846. By the end of the 1800s, Rostov had almost 120,000 people and many factories. Its harbor became one of the biggest trade hubs in southern Russia. It was especially important for exporting wheat, timber, and iron ore.
In 1779, a settlement for Armenian refugees from Crimea was founded nearby. It was called Nakhichevan-on-Don. In 1928, Rostov-on-Don and Nakhichevan-on-Don joined together. By then, Rostov was the third-largest city in Russia.
20th Century Events
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During World War I, German forces briefly took over Rostov-on-Don in 1918.
During the Russian Civil War, the city was fought over by the Whites and the Reds. Rostov-on-Don was the most industrial city in Southern Russia at that time. By 1928, Rostov-on-Don became the regional government center.
In the Soviet era, some important landmarks were destroyed. These included the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and St. George Cathedral.
During World War II, German forces occupied Rostov-on-Don twice. First, for a short time in late 1941, and then for seven months from July 1942 to February 1943. The city was very important because it was a railway hub and a river port. It allowed access to the Caucasus region, which had lots of oil and minerals. The city was badly damaged during the war. It took ten years to rebuild it.
21st Century Events
On March 19, 2016, a plane from Dubai crashed at Rostov-on-Don Airport. Sadly, all 62 people on board died.
Rostov-on-Don was one of the cities that hosted games for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The city is also home to the Russian Southern Military District. This made it an important place during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In June 2023, the Wagner Group, a private military company, briefly took control of Rostov-on-Don. They later left the city after talks with the Russian government.
Population and People
The 2021 census showed that Rostov-on-Don had 1,142,162 people. This makes it the 11th most populated city in Russia.
| Ethnicity | Population | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Russians | 960,883 | 90.1% |
| Armenians | 41,553 | 3.4% |
| Ukrainians | 16,249 | 1.5% |
| Azerbaijanis | 6,739 | 0.6% |
| Tatars | 5,291 | 0.5% |
| Georgians | 3,960 | 0.4% |
| Belarusians | 2,874 | 0.3% |
| Koreans | 2,792 | 0.3% |
| Others | 26,182 | 2.5% |
Geography and Climate
City Location
Rostov-on-Don is located in a humid continental climate zone. This means it has warm, humid summers and moderately cold winters.
Weather Patterns
The average temperature in January is about -3.0 degrees Celsius. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -31.9 degrees Celsius in January 1940.
Summers are warm and humid. The average temperature in July is about +23.4 degrees Celsius. The hottest temperature ever recorded was +40.2 degrees Celsius on July 7, 2020. The city gets about 604 millimeters of rain each year. The air is usually quite humid, around 72%.
| Climate data for Rostov-on-Don (1991–2020, extremes 1881–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) |
19.8 (67.6) |
26.0 (78.8) |
33.6 (92.5) |
35.6 (96.1) |
38.4 (101.1) |
40.2 (104.4) |
40.1 (104.2) |
38.1 (100.6) |
31.0 (87.8) |
25.0 (77.0) |
18.5 (65.3) |
40.2 (104.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.1 (31.8) |
1.2 (34.2) |
7.8 (46.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
22.9 (73.2) |
27.5 (81.5) |
30.2 (86.4) |
29.6 (85.3) |
23.1 (73.6) |
15.2 (59.4) |
6.6 (43.9) |
1.4 (34.5) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.0 (26.6) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
3.1 (37.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
17.0 (62.6) |
21.6 (70.9) |
24.0 (75.2) |
23.3 (73.9) |
17.1 (62.8) |
10.3 (50.5) |
3.1 (37.6) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
10.3 (50.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.2 (22.6) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
6.1 (43.0) |
11.3 (52.3) |
15.7 (60.3) |
17.9 (64.2) |
17.5 (63.5) |
12.1 (53.8) |
6.5 (43.7) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−3.6 (25.5) |
6.1 (43.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −31.9 (−25.4) |
−30.9 (−23.6) |
−28.1 (−18.6) |
−10.4 (13.3) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
7.6 (45.7) |
2.6 (36.7) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−10.4 (13.3) |
−25.1 (−13.2) |
−28.5 (−19.3) |
−31.9 (−25.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 58 (2.3) |
48 (1.9) |
50 (2.0) |
38 (1.5) |
58 (2.3) |
59 (2.3) |
50 (2.0) |
43 (1.7) |
43 (1.7) |
48 (1.9) |
51 (2.0) |
58 (2.3) |
604 (23.8) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 5 (2.0) |
7 (2.8) |
4 (1.6) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2 (0.8) |
7 (2.8) |
| Average rainy days | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 142 |
| Average snowy days | 16 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 62 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 84 | 81 | 76 | 66 | 63 | 64 | 61 | 59 | 67 | 75 | 84 | 86 | 72 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 64 | 82 | 128 | 189 | 265 | 286 | 314 | 293 | 240 | 159 | 64 | 38 | 2,122 |
| Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (sun, 1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
City Symbols
In December 1996, Rostov-on-Don chose its official symbols: a coat of arms, a flag, and a special mayoral decoration. The first coat of arms was designed in 1811. It shows a tower, which stands for the St. Dimitry Rostovsky Fortress. This symbol reminds everyone of Rostov's role in defending Russia's borders.
Flag of Rostov-on-Don
The flag of Rostov-on-Don was approved on September 20, 1864. This flag was used by soldiers who protected Russia's southern borders. The original "Flag of Rostov" is kept safely in the city's main building. It is only brought out on special days like Victory Day and Rostov-on-Don Day.
City Awards
Rostov-on-Don has received several important awards:
- December 1970: Order of Lenin
- 1982: Order of the Great Patriotic War 1st class
- 2008: Given the status of a City of Military Glory
Economy and Trade
Rostov's location is great for trade. The Don River is a major route for ships, connecting southwestern Russia with the north. Rostov-on-Don is a busy trading port. Merchants from Russia, Italy, Greece, and Turkey sell goods like wool, wheat, and oil here. It's also an important river port for people traveling. The area around Rostov-on-Don produces a lot of vegetable oil from sunflowers.
Port of Five Seas
After the Volga-Don Shipping Canal was built in 1952, Rostov-on-Don became known as a "port of five seas." This means ships can reach it from the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Caspian Sea, White Sea, and Baltic Sea.
Modern Industries
Rostov-on-Don's economy has been growing. Many new companies have started in the city. People's incomes are rising, and the city is becoming a modern hub for industry and technology. For example, Rostov-on-Don is a center for making helicopters and farm machines.
Transportation Hub
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Public transport in Rostov-on-Don includes buses, trolleybuses, trams, and marshrutkas (minibuses). A new high-speed tramway system is being developed.
The Rostov-on-Don Airport handles flights within Russia and to other countries. Platov International Airport opened in late 2017. It was built to help with the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The city also has a busy international river port. It handles minerals and timber. The main railway stations are "Rostov-Glavny" and "Rostov-Prigorodny." Several important highways also pass through Rostov.
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New LiAZ-5292 buses
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AKSM-321 low-floor trolleybus
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KTM-19 tram
Greater Rostov Area
The Russian government plans to create large city areas called 'super cities.' Rostov Oblast will be one of these. The "Greater Rostov" area will include Rostov-on-Don and nearby cities like Novocherkassk, Taganrog, Aksay, Bataysk, and Azov.
Communications
In 1929, Rostov-on-Don had Russia's first automatic telephone exchange. Today, phone numbers in Rostov-on-Don have seven digits and start with "2." The city's dialing code is "863."
Financial Services
Rostov-on-Don is home to many banks. The largest bank in the Rostov region is Center-Invest. There are about 50 banks and their branches in the city.
Education in Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don has many schools and universities. These include:
- Southern Federal University
- Don State Technical University
- Rostov State University of Economy
- Rostov State Transport University (The Railway Engineers' University)
- Rostov State University of Civil Engineering
- Rostov State Medical University
- Rostov State Conservatory named after Sergei Rachmaninoff
- Rostov Institute of Foreign Languages
- Rostov Juridical Institute of Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation
- North-Caucasian Academy of Public Service
- The Modern University for the Humanities
- Russian State University of Trade & Economy
- Institute of Management, Business and Law
- Rostov State Academy of Architecture and Arts
The city also has cultural centers for French, British, German, and Korean languages and cultures.
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Southern Federal University
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Rostov State Transport University
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Don State Technical University
Culture and Arts
The most famous building in the city center is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was designed by Konstantin Thon and built between 1860 and 1887.
Libraries for Learning
Rostov-on-Don has many libraries, including:
- The Don State Public Library
- Central Library named after Maxim Gorky
- Regional Children's Library named after V.M. Velichkina
- Scientific Library of the Medical University
Theaters for Entertainment
The city has several theaters where you can enjoy plays and performances:
- Maxim Gorky Academic Drama Theater
- Rostov State Puppet Theater
- Rostov Regional Academic Theater of the Youth
- Rostov Musical Theater
- Philharmonic centre
Museums to Explore
Rostov-on-Don's museums offer a look into art and history:
- Museum of Local Lore
- Rostov Regional Museum of Fine Arts
- Museum of Russian & Armenian Friendship
- Pioneer and Railway Museum and Children's Railway
Other Fun Places
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The city also has seven stadiums, a Palace of Sports, a circus, a zoo, botanical gardens, and parks. Rostov-on-Don is home to a science center and research institutes.
Religious Buildings
Rostov-on-Don has many different places of worship. These include churches for the Russian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, and Old Believers. There is also a synagogue, a mosque, and a Buddhist Center. Several Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches are also in the city. The Armenian Holy Cross Church is the oldest building still standing in Rostov.
Russian Orthodox Churches
- Church of the Intercession
- Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
- St. Alexandra's Church
- Ascension Church
- Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Old Believers Churches
- Old Believers Pokrovsky Cathedral
Armenian Apostolic Church
- Church of the Resurrection, Rostov-on-Don
Synagogues
- Soldier Synagogue, the only active synagogue in Rostov-on-Don.
Mosques
- Cathedral Mosque
Mass Media
The first television program in Rostov-on-Don was broadcast on April 30, 1958. Color television started in 1974. Radio began broadcasting in 1975. In 2009, there were fourteen FM radio stations in the city.
Sports in Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don was one of the cities that hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
| Club | Sport | Founded | Current League | League Tier |
Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Rostov | Football | 1930 | Men's Premier League | 1st | Rostov Arena |
| SKA Rostov-on-Don | 1937 | Men's Professional Football League | 3rd | SKA SKVO Stadium | |
| Rostov-Don | Basketball | 2006 | Women's Super League | 2nd | Express CSC |
| Rostov-Don | Handball | 1965 | Woman's Handball Championship | 1st | Rostov-on-Don Palace of Sports |
| HC Rostov | Ice hockey | 2004 | Men's Hockey League | 2nd |
2018 FIFA World Cup Matches
For the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Rostov Arena was built. It can hold 45,000 people. The stadium hosted five World Cup games:
- June 17: Brazil vs. Switzerland
- June 20: Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia
- June 23: South Korea vs. Mexico
- June 26: Iceland vs. Croatia
- July 2: Belgium vs. Japan (Round of 16)
During the World Cup, Teatralnaya Square became a FIFA Fan Fest area. It could hold 25,000 fans who watched games on a big screen. The city also built new hotels and improved roads and bridges for the event. A new airport, Platov International Airport, was also opened.
Famous People from Rostov-on-Don
Writers and Poets
Many famous writers and poets are from Rostov-on-Don or lived there. These include Anton Chekhov, Mikhail Sholokhov, and Alexander Pushkin. Pushkin wrote a poem called "The Don" after visiting in 1831. A monument to him stands on Pushkin Boulevard. Maxim Gorky worked as a docker in Rostov when he was young. A monument to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who studied mathematics at Rostov University, is also planned.
Musicians and Singers
Rostov-on-Don has produced many talented musicians. Some well-known names are violinist Efrem Zimbalist, jazz musician Kim Nazaretov, and pop singer Irina Allegrova.
Actors and Directors
Famous actors and directors from the city include Alexander Kaidanovsky, Evgeny Shvarts, and Konstantin Lavronenko. Kirill Serebrennikov, a film and theater director, won an award at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Scientists and Explorers
Notable scientists and explorers from Rostov-on-Don include Dmitri Mendeleev (known for the periodic table), A. S. Popov (a pioneer in radio), and Yuri Oganessian (a nuclear physicist who has an element named after him).
Other Notable People
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- Tatiana Kotova (born 1985), a beauty pageant winner (Miss Russia 2006).
- Svetlana Boyko (born 1972), an Olympic fencer.
- Victoria Lopyreva (born 1983), a model and TV host.
Things to See and Do
- Central Market for local goods
- Don River embankment and bridges
- Armenian Holy Cross Church
- River Steamboat rides
- Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin
- Pushkinskaya Street
- Maxim Gorky Park
- Traditional Cossack villages (stanitsas)
- National Sholokhov Museum-Reserve
- Azov ancient fortress
- Rostov circus
- Rostov state opera and ballet theatre
- Rostov Zoo
- Museum of North Caucasus Railway
- Botanical Garden of Southern Federal University
- Alexander Column
- Grigory and Aksinya in a boat sculpture
Historic Buildings to Visit
- Argutinsky-Dolgorukov House
- Bahchisaraytsev House
- Chernov House
- F. N. Solodov House
- Gavala House
- Gench-Ogluev House
- Gymnasium №36
- Ivan Zvorykin House
- Kramer Mansion
- Kushnarev House
- Main building of Warsaw University
- North Caucasus Railway Administration Building
- Paramonov Mansion
- Paramonov Mill
- Paramonov Warehouses
- Popov Mansion
- Shirman House
- Spielrein Mansion
Sister Cities
Rostov-on-Don has "sister city" relationships with many cities around the world. This helps promote cultural exchange and friendship.
Images for kids
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New LiAZ-5292 buses
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AKSM-321 low-floor trolleybus
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KTM-19 tram
- Rostov on Don Picture Gallery
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Don River embankment and Old Voroshilovsky Bridge
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Left bank of Don River
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Don River embankment
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Rostov-on-Don at night
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Voroshilovsky Bridge at night
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Barge on Don River
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Rostov-on-Don building
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Rostov-on-Don building
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Rostov-on-Don building
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Maxim Gorky theater
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Rostov-on-Don circus
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Gorky Park
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Aerial view of Rostov at night
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Railway bridge over the Don at night
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Cossacks of Rostov
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Chirikov Revenue House
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Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy Cross (built in 1792)
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Orthodox Church of Great-Martyr Panteleimon
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Orthodox Church of Saint Dimitri of Rostov
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Orthodox Church of Saint George
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Orthodox Church of the Intercession of the Theotokos
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Cathedral Mosque
_(1792%D0%B3.)_%D0%B2_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B5_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%83.jpg)
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See also
In Spanish: Rostov del Don para niños
