Stary Oskol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stary Oskol (English)Старый Оско́л (Russian) |
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| Administrative status | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Belgorod Oblast |
| Administratively subordinated to | city of oblast significance of Stary Oskol |
| Municipal status | |
| Urban okrug | Starooskolsky Urban Okrug |
| Administrative center of | Starooskolsky Urban Okrug |
| Head | Andrey Chesnokov |
| Statistics | |
| Population (2010 Census, preliminary) |
221,085 inhabitants |
| - Rank in 2010 | 84th |
| Time zone | MSK (UTC+04:00) |
| Founded | 1593 |
| Postal code(s) | 309530 |
| Dialing code(s) | +7 4725 |
Stary Oskol (which means Old Oskol in Russian) is a city in Belgorod Oblast, Russia. It is located about 618 kilometers (384 miles) south of Moscow. The city's name helps tell it apart from Novy Oskol (New Oskol), which is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south. Both cities are located on the Oskol River. As of 2021, about 221,678 people live in Stary Oskol.
Contents
History of Stary Oskol
Early Mentions and Founding
The area of Oskol was first mentioned in an old record called the Ipatiev Chronicle in 1185. It was a meeting spot for armies led by princes Igor and Svyatoslav. They were preparing for a fight against the Polovtsians. The city of Oskol itself was mentioned in a list of cities in 1432. There are also mentions of it in 1497 and 1506.
Around the 1430s, the city was briefly called Yagoldai-sarai. This name honored a Tatar leader named Yagoldai. At that time, it was the main city of a Tatar principality.
Rebuilding and Fortification
In the early 1500s, the city was destroyed during attacks by the Crimean Tatars. But in 1593, the Russian government, led by Tsar Feodor Ioannovich, rebuilt it. They used its old name, Oskol.
The city was important because it was near the Muravsky Trail. This trail was often used by Crimean and Nogai groups to raid Muscovy. To protect the area, a fort was built nearby in 1571. This fort was later abandoned, but patrols continued. In 1593, Oskol was rebuilt as a strong fortress.
Challenges and Renaming
In 1617, Polish forces burned the city. The surrounding area often faced attacks from the Tatars. In 1655, the city was renamed Stary Oskol. This was to make sure people knew it was different from the newer fort built at Novy Oskol.
Later, Stary Oskol was affected by the Russian Civil War in 1919. It also saw fighting during World War II, when Hungarian troops captured it. After World War II, the city grew a lot. New industries started, and more people moved there.
What's in a Name? The Etymology of Oskol
The exact meaning of the name Oskol is not fully clear. Some historians believe it comes from the Turkic language. This is because the land where Stary Oskol is now was once part of the Khazar Kaganate in the early Middle Ages.
One idea suggests that "Oskol" has two parts: "Os" and "kol." "Os" might mean "Ros" or "Rus," referring to the Russians. "Kol" could mean "pond," "lake," or "river." In Turkic languages, the "r" sound can sometimes be softened or changed.
Another idea is that "Oskol" comes from a Slavic word. This word might mean "splitting" or "crushing." This could refer to how iron ore was crushed before it was melted down. The ancient city of Oskol was very close to a large deposit of iron ore.
Economy and Industry
Stary Oskol is a very important center for iron ore mining. It is located near the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly. This is one of the biggest iron ore deposits in the world. More than eight million tons of iron ore are dug up here every year! Because of this important industry, a branch of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys is located in the city. This school helps train people for jobs in the metal industry.
Education in Stary Oskol
Stary Oskol has several schools. One of the oldest music schools for children in the city is in the city center, on Lenina Street.
Famous People from Stary Oskol
Many interesting people have come from Stary Oskol:
- Vasili Eroshenko: A writer, translator, and teacher who knew many languages.
- Alexander Emelianenko: A mixed martial artist.
- Fedor Emelianenko: Also a mixed martial artist, known worldwide.
- Denis Lebedev: A famous boxer.
Friendship Cities
Stary Oskol has "twin towns" or "sister cities" in other countries. These are cities that have special friendly relationships.
Salzgitter, Germany (since 1987)
Asenovgrad, Bulgaria (since 1989)
Mänttä-Vilppula, Finland (since 1989)
