Samara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Samara (English) Самара (Russian) Kuybyshev
-  City  -
[[File: |250px]] Top: View of Samara skyline along the Volga river Middle: Sacred Heart Church, Soyuz launch vehicle (left to right) Bottom: Samara Railway Station, Samara Regional Art Museum (left to right)
Coat of arms	Flag
Administrative status
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Samara Oblast
Administratively subordinated to	city of oblast significance of Samara
Municipal status
Urban okrug	Samara Urban Okrug
Mayor	Yelena Lapushkina
Representative body	Duma
Statistics
Area	541.382 km2 (209.029 sq mi)
Population (2010 Census, preliminary)	1,164,685 inhabitants
- Rank in 2010	sixth
Density	2,151/km2 (5,571/sq mi)
Time zone	MSK (UTC+04:00)
Founded	1586
City status since	1688
Postal code(s)	443XXX
Dialing code(s)	+7 846

Samara, once called Kuybyshev during the Soviet era, is a large city in Russia. It is the main city of Samara Oblast. Samara is located where the Volga and Samara rivers meet.

More than 1.14 million people live in Samara. It is one of the biggest cities in Russia and the third most populated city along the Volga River. Samara covers an area of about 541 square kilometers.

Samara used to be a closed city, meaning visitors needed special permission to enter. Now, it is an important center for social life, politics, business, industry, and culture in Russia. The city has a climate with hot summers and cold winters. The Volga River has always been very important to Samara. It was a major trade route and is now a popular place for people to relax and enjoy the views.

About the Name

• The city's current name is Samara.
• Its former name was Kuybyshev.

Samara gets its name from the Samara River. The name likely means "summer water" in an old language. This suggests the river would freeze in winter. The area around Samara is linked to the ancient Samara culture from about 5,000 BC.

During Soviet times, the city was renamed Kuybyshev in 1935. This was to honor Valerian Kuybyshev, a Russian Bolshevik leader. On January 25, 1991, the city returned to its original name, Samara.

Samara's Story

How Samara Began

Sobornaya Street and horse tram in 1905

Samara is in the middle of the Idel-Ural historical region. In 921, a traveler named Ahmad ibn Fadlan visited this area.

Legend says that Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow, who is now Samara's Patron Saint, visited the spot in 1357. He predicted that a great city would be built there and would never be destroyed. Samara's port on the Volga River appeared on Italian maps in the 14th century.

Before 1586, the Samara Bend was a hiding place for pirates. The city officially started in 1586 with a fortress built where the Volga and Samara rivers meet. This fortress was a border post. It protected Russia's eastern lands from attacks by nomads. A local customs office was set up in 1600.

As more ships came to Samara's port, the city became a center for trade and diplomacy. It connected Russia with countries to the East. Samara also welcomed peasant rebels led by Stepan Razin and Yemelyan Pugachyov. Important leaders like Peter the Great also visited the town.

In 1780, Samara became a county town within the Simbirsk Governorate. This helped the city grow. On January 1, 1851, Samara became the main city of the Samara Governorate. It had about 20,000 people. This boosted the city's economy, politics, and culture. In 1877, during the Russian-Turkish War, Samara sent a special banner to Bulgaria. This banner became a symbol of friendship between Russia and Bulgaria.

The Soviet Years

In 1935, Samara was renamed Kuybyshev. This was to honor Valerian Kuybyshev, a leader of the Bolsheviks.

During World War II, Kuybyshev was chosen as the backup capital of the Soviet Union. This was in case Moscow was captured by the Germans. Many government offices and foreign embassies moved to the city in October 1941. A special underground shelter for Joseph Stalin, called "Stalin's Bunker," was built but never used.

Kuybyshev was a major industrial center. It played a big role in making weapons for the country during the war. Factories produced aircraft, firearms, and ammunition. Many hospitals became military hospitals. After the war, the defense industry grew quickly. Kuybyshev became a closed city, meaning it was restricted to visitors.

In 1960, Kuybyshev became a center for missile production. The Vostok rocket, which carried the first person into space, was built here. Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, rested in Kuybyshev after his historic flight in 1961. He even spoke to workers at the Progress Plant. There is also a monument in Samara to an Ilyushin Il-2 attack aircraft. This plane was built by Kuybyshev workers during the war.

After the Soviet Union

Ladya apartment complex

The Volga River in Samara

In January 1991, the city's original name, Samara, was restored. Samara is now one of Russia's main industrial cities. It has many different ethnic groups living there. The city is still a leader in its region, especially because of its oil and chemical industries. In 2016, Samara was given the title "City of Labor and Combat Glory."

Samara was one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Matches were played at the Samara Arena stadium. On July 2, 2020, Samara also received the title "City of Labor Valor." A memorial complex was built in 2021 to mark this honor.

City Layout

How the City Grew

The city of Samara began in the 16th century with a fortress. Before that, the area had piers for ships on the Volga River. The official founding date was 1586, by order of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich. The location was chosen for its safety from nomadic tribes. It was also good for trade, being at the meeting point of the Volga and Samarka rivers.

The first fortress was made of wood. It had 11 towers and was surrounded by a wall and a ditch. Over time, more people moved in, and the area grew. By the 17th century, different settlements merged into one city.

In 1688, Samara became an official city. It grew in a narrow strip along the Volga River. In the early 1700s, a new earthen fortress was built. The city's layout was not very organized at first. Most buildings were homes, with offices and shops mainly in the fortress. The riverbanks were used for docks and storage.

Samara city plan in 1886

In 1763, Empress Catherine II ordered that all cities should have special plans. Samara was badly damaged by fires in 1765 and 1772. Despite this, in 1782, Samara got its first master plan. This plan created a grid of streets. Most old buildings were removed, except for some churches and the fortress.

By 1804, Samara had grown. The northern part of the city had a rectangular layout. The southern part kept its less organized shape. Most buildings were small, wooden houses. The city was divided into areas for homes, shops, offices, and religious buildings. Blacksmith shops were on the edge of the city.

In 1840, a new plan was approved. The city continued to grow, keeping its grid layout. By this time, Samara was a major trading center with a railroad. In 1851, it became a provincial city. However, the city started to grow without much control. Many factories appeared, like tanneries and mills. The Volga riverfront became full of docks, warehouses, and factories.

Modern City Planning

The fast growth of Kuybyshev (Samara's old name) led to a new master plan in 1937. This plan, called "Big Kuibyshev," aimed to make the city a major industrial hub by 1956. It planned to expand the city a lot. The plan also included renovating old buildings and removing old cemeteries and churches for new public spaces.

World War II stopped the full plan from happening. During the war, large defense factories moved to Kuybyshev. This made the city's area grow by 50%. New factories were built along the railway, and new neighborhoods for workers appeared around them.

In 1949, another general plan for Samara was adopted. This plan improved the transport system with new roads. It also built a new industrial and residential area called Bezymyanka. The city grew quickly, with new areas like Kirovsky district being built. Parks and squares were also developed.

Until the late 1950s, the city was a mix of separate worker settlements. The "Old City" (the historical center) and the new Bezymyanka industrial area were the two main parts. They were connected by railway and bus routes. This two-part structure lasted until the end of the 20th century.

In the 1950s, new buildings helped connect these worker settlements. Important architectural designs were created around squares like Revolution Square and along main roads. These designs helped link the city's different parts.

Samara's Climate

Samara has a humid continental climate. This means it has very warm summers and very cold winters. The city is far from the ocean, which causes these extreme temperatures. Samara also has higher humidity in the summer than many other Russian cities. This is due to rainfall and its closeness to the Volga River. The humidity usually ranges from 29% to 98% throughout the year. The highest temperature ever recorded was 40.4°C (104.7°F) during a heat wave in 2010.

City Government

How Samara is Organized

Samara is the main city of the Samara Oblast. It also serves as the administrative center for Volzhsky District. However, Samara itself is not part of that district. Instead, it is a "city of oblast significance." This means it has the same status as a district.

As a local government area, Samara is called the Samara Urban Okrug. In April 2015, Samara's nine city districts also gained their own local government status.

Duma of Samara Urban Okrug

The Duma of Samara Urban Okrug is like the city council of Samara. It has 37 members who are elected for five-year terms.

How Elections Work

Since 2015, deputies are chosen in a two-step process. First, people elect district deputies. Then, these district deputies choose the representatives for the Duma. In 2019, the number of representatives was changed from 41 to 37.

History of the Duma

The Samara City Duma was first created in 1870. This happened after some changes to how the government was organized that year.

In 2020, 210 district deputies were elected. They then chose 37 representatives to be part of the Duma. The next election for the Duma will be in 2025.

2020 Election Results

People of Samara

In 2021, the population of Samara was 1,173,393. This was an increase from 1,164,685 people in 2010.

The 2021 Census showed the following main ethnic groups:

Religions in Samara

Church of St. George in Samara

Samara is a city with many different religions. Most people are Orthodox Christians. There are also smaller groups of Armenian Apostolic Christians, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Jews.

Samara's Economy

Kurumoch International Airport

Samara is a major industrial center in the Volga region. It is one of the top ten Russian cities for its income and industrial output. Samara is known for making things like:

• Space rockets and satellites (Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center)
• Engines (Kuznetsov Design Bureau)
• Cables (Volgacable, Samara Cable Company)
• Aircraft (Aviakor)
• Aluminum products
• Power stations
• Oil refining and chemical products
• Gas-pumping units
• Bearings
• Drilling bits
• Automated electrical equipment
• Airport equipment (Start plant)
• Truck cranes
• Building materials
• Chocolates from the Russia Chocolate Factory
• Different kinds of vodka and beer
• Food products

Culture in Samara

Samara has many cultural places. These include an opera and ballet theater, a philharmonic orchestra hall, and five drama theaters. There is also a museum of natural history and local history, a city art museum, and several movie theaters.

To celebrate its role in space exploration, Samara has a space museum called Cosmic Samara. There is also an exhibition about aerospace history at Samara State Aerospace University. In recent years, many modern art galleries have opened.

Samara Regional Museum of Local History named after Pyotr Vladimirovich Alabin is one of the oldest museums in the Volga region. It was founded on November 13, 1886. The museum has large areas for exhibits and a library. It holds about 230,000 items. These include old tools, fossils, minerals, and items about local traditions. Visitors can see exhibits on nature, archaeology, local cultures, and Samara's history.

Alabin Museum Branches

One part of the Alabin Museum is the House-Museum of Vladimir Lenin. This building was once a merchant's home from the late 1800s. The Ulyanov family, including Vladimir Lenin, rented an apartment here in 1893. The museum opened in 1940. The second floor shows how the Ulyanov family lived. The ground floor has a display that looks like a merchant's shop.

Another branch is the Exposition Museum of Art Nouveau, which opened in 2012. This was once the home of Alexandra Kurlina, a merchant's wife. The building's original look and inside design are still there. They show the beautiful Art Nouveau style. The museum hosts exhibits from other major Russian museums and its own collections.

The final branch is the House-Museum of Mikhail Frunze. It opened in 1934. The building itself was built in 1891. In 2004, a new exhibit opened with information that was once secret. This exhibit tells about the Russian Civil War. It shows the fight between the armies of Mikhail Frunze (the "Reds") and Alexander Kolchak (the "Whites"). It also talks about other groups involved.

Fun Events in Samara

Samara hosts many international festivals and other public events. Some of them are:

Grushinsky festival

• Grushinsky festival is an annual Russian folk song festival. It started in 1968 and takes place near Samara, by the Mastryukovo lakes. The festival is named after Valeri Grushin, a singer who died trying to save his friends from drowning.
• Rock over Volga was a big international rock festival. It was held every year from 2009 to 2013 on Russia Day. Famous bands like Skunk Anansie and Rammstein played there.
• Metafest is an annual outdoor music festival. It has been held at the Mastryukovo lakes since 2007. It features different types of music.

Samara's Buildings

The architecture in Samara goes back to the 15th and 16th centuries. The city used to have many wooden buildings with fancy decorations. There were over 2,000 buildings considered cultural heritage sites. However, after the 1990s, many unique old buildings were replaced by modern office and apartment blocks.

Sports in Samara

The Cosmos Arena hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup games

Several sports teams play in Samara:

Samara is also a popular place for Ice speedway races. The city's team won the Russian Ice Speedway Premier League in 2012/13.

Samara was one of the cities that hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Six matches were played at the new Cosmos Arena stadium, which can hold 45,000 people. During the World Cup, a special FIFA Fan Fest was held in Kuibysheva Square. Up to 20,000 fans could gather there at one time. Three new training fields were built for the World Cup. Also, two major roads, the airport road and Moskovskoye Highway, were repaired.

Getting Around Samara

Samara is a big transport hub.

Roads

Samara is located on the M5 highway. This is a major road that connects Moscow to the Ural region.

Trains

There are train connections from Samara to Moscow and other big Russian cities. The city's railway station building was finished in 2001 and has a unique look.

River Travel

Samara is a major river port. This is because it is located where the Volga and Samara rivers meet.

Air Travel

The Kurumoch International Airport has flights to places all over Russia and Central Asia. It also has flights to cities like Frankfurt, Prague, Helsinki, and Dubai.

Public Transportation

Public transport in Samara includes the Samara Metro, trams, city buses, private buses, and trolleybuses. Local trains also serve the areas around the city.

Samara Tram [Wikidata] is a large tram system that covers most of Samara. It first opened in 1915. Today, it has 25 lines and 423 tram cars. Most of the trams are Tatra T3SU models.

Samara Metro is an underground train system with one line. It opened in 1987. The line has been expanded over the years and now has 10 stations. An 11th station, "Teatralnaya," has been under construction since January 2022.

Images for kids

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  Golaz-AKA-6226 bus

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  Scania OmniLink bus

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  ZiU-682 trolleybus

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  AKSM-321 low-floor trolleybus

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  Tatra T3 tram

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  Tatra T3 trams

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  Samara Metro

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  Samara railway station

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  Kurumoch International Airport

Education in Samara

Festival of Science in Samara

Samara has 188 general schools, lyceums, and high schools. It also has a college that offers education from primary to higher levels. Samara is a major center for education and science in the Volga area. There are 12 public and 13 private universities, plus 26 colleges.

Samara State Aerospace University (SSAU) is in Samara. It is one of Russia's top engineering and technical schools. Its teachers and graduates have been very important to Russia's space program. Samara is also home to Samara State University. This is a highly respected university in European Russia. It has strong programs in Law, Sociology, and English.

Scientific research is also done in Samara. The Samara Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences includes branches for physics, engineering, and image processing.

Samara State Technical University (SamGTU) was founded in 1914. It has 11 departments and over 20,000 students. The campus has dorms and study buildings. Samara State Academy of Social Sciences and Humanities started in 1911 as a teachers' institute. Today, it offers 42 different specializations across 12 departments.

Honors for Samara

The asteroid 26922 Samara was named after the city and the river on June 1, 2007.†

Famous People from Samara

Dmitri Shostakovich, 1950

• Violetta Khrapina Bida (born 1994), an Olympic fencer.
• Mark Feygin (born 1971), a lawyer and human rights activist.
• Mimi Kagan (1918–1999), a Russian-born American modern dancer and choreographer.
• Ilya Kan (1909–1978), a chess player.
• Boris Kuftin (1892–1953), an archaeologist and ethnographer.
• Maria Kuncewiczowa (1895–1989), a Polish writer.
• Dmitry Muratov (born 1961), a journalist and winner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (born 1991), a professional tennis player.
• Enrico Rastelli (1896–1931), an Italian performer and actor.
• Gregory Ratoff (1893–1960), a Russian-born American film director, actor, and producer.
• Pavel Romanov (1964–2014), a sociologist and ethnographer.
• David Rudman (1943– 2022), a Russian-American wrestler and champion in Sambo and Judo.
• Sergei Alexander Schelkunoff (1897–1992), a mathematician who worked on antenna theory.
• Olga Sharkova-Sidorova (born 1968), a foil fencer.
• Dmitry Shostakovich (1906–1975), a famous composer and pianist. He lived in Samara during WWII and finished his Symphony No. 7 there.
• Pavel Sukhov (born 1988), an epee fencer.
• Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1882–1945), a writer of science fiction and historical novels.
• Dmitry Ustinov (1908–1984), a Soviet Defence Minister.
• Svetlana Vanyo (born 1977), a Russian-American swimmer and coach.

Samara's Sister Cities

Samara is twinned with these cities:

See also

In Spanish: Samara para niños