Industry
The main feature of Novosibirsk is in its orientation towards the end result, the raw-materials complex being of little importance. The production quality of some enterprises is up to the world standards; it is a science-intensive manufacture which is only possible with a high level of culture in production.The city administration seeks its task in maintaining the level that has been attained and in reforming, at the same time, the production to conform to the tasks of today.
Novosibirsk is a major industrial centre in Siberia. Dozens of factories and plants have been built to produce heavy machine-tools, powerful generators, TV-sets and radio-parts, farm machinery, various apparatus, etc.
Main industries of Novosobirsk: power industry, fuel industry, ferrous metallurgy, nonferrous metallurgy, chemical industry, aircraft industry, timber,woodworking and pulp-and –paper industry, building materials industry, light industry, food industry, flour-and-cereals and feed mill industry, medical industry, microbiological industry, printing industry. Among other industrial productions: Siberia, an electronic musical equipment association; Film-Copying Factory; Pioneer, a toy factory.
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Novosibirsk is steadily growing and confidently striding into the future. Of special pride is “Sibirskaya Yarmarka” (Siberian Fair), the centre of business, commerce and international contacts.
feature-черта
manufacture-производство
seek-искать, стремиться
maintain-поддерживать, сохранять
attain-достигнуть, добиться
at the same time- в тоже время
conform-согласовываться, приспособляться
dozen-дюжина
apparatus-инструменты, машины
machinery-машинное оборудование, детали машин
nonferrous-цветной(о металле)
metallurgy-металлургия
light industry-легкая промышленность
equipment-оборудование
steadily-равномерно, уверенно
confidently-уверенно
stride-шагать(большими шагами)
What is the main feature of Novosibirsk in?
What does the city administration seek ?
Novosibirsk is a major industrial centre in Siberia, isn’t it?
What are the main industries of Novosibirsk?
What is of special pride in Novosibirsk?
GENERAL INFORMATION
Novosibirsk is one of the biggest cities in Russia and considered the third largest city after Moscow and St. Petersburg and the biggest one behind the Urals.
It is situated right in the middle of Russia.
The city lies on both banks of the Ob river.
Today it covers an area of 480 square kilometres.
The birth of its millionth citizen was celebrated in 1965.
Novosibirsk local time is Greenwich Mean Time plus 6.
The Mayor of Novosibirsk is Vladimir Gorodetsky.
Administratively Novosibirsk is segmented into 10 administration districts.
Leninsky and Kirovsky districts are situated on the left bank of the Ob river while Zaeltsovsky, Zheleznodorozhny, Dzerzhinsky, Tsentralny, Oktyabrsky, Kalininsky, Pervomaysky and Sovjetsky are on the right one. In Sovjetsky district, there is Akademgorodok. The principal street of the city is Krasny Prospekt that connects the Ob embankment to Kalinin Square.
cover-покрывать, охватывать
citizen-гражданин
mayor-мэр
district-район
principal-главный
embankment-набережная
connect-соединять
What city is considered the third largest in the country?
What is the area of Novosibirsk?
Who is the mayor of the city?
How many districts are there in Novosibirsk?
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What is the main street of the city?
CLIMATE
The climate is sharply continental. Winters here are very severe, cold and snowy. Summer is
rather hot and dry. Temperatures in summer range from 20 to 22°C, in winter -18,- 20°C, but
sometimes they may go up to -35°C in winter and 35°C in summer. The difference between the highest and the lowest temperature is 88°C. Most of the time the weather is sunny. The spell of sunny weather is 2880 hours a year.
sharply-резко
severe-суровый
range-колебаться в известных пределах
spell-короткий промежуток времени
a year-в год
What is the climate of Novosibirsk?
ALL ROADS LEAD TO NOVOSIBIRSK
A traveller beyond the Urals cannot miss Novosibirsk whether he or she travels east or south and by whatever transport he or she goes. The essential railways from the Kuzbass and Central Asia and the Transsib meet here. The airliners which are bound for the Far East from Europe make a landing in Novosibirsk. Highways from Omsk, Tomsk, Barnaul, Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk meet in Novosibirsk which is situated on the ancient Moscow Highway. Convoys of ships carry the cargo northwards day and night by the mighty Ob to ensure the uninterrupted work of oil-field workers.
beyond-за, по ту сторону
whatever-любой
essential-необходимый, существенный
airliner-пассажирский самолет
make a landing in-совершать приземление в
highway-шоссе
convoy-колонна автотранспорта, сопровождение
uninterrupted-бесперебойный
All roads lead to Novosibirsk, don’t they?
RAILWAY TRANSPORT
It takes certainly the main place. Its share is 87 percent in the total volume of freight turnover, 38 percent of passenger turnover. 84 percent of goods are carried by electric traction. Novosibirsk is the seat of West Siberian Railway Administration. It is one of the most important railways in the country. Its operating length is 4180.7 km, in the first half-year 1993 it conveyed 119 million tons of goods, transit goods having amounted to 70.6 million tons. The volume of traffic is here 2.2 times as high as on the average in the country, the weight of freight cars is 20 percent higher, and the cost price of freightage is 28 percent lower.
Novosibirsk is the largest transport junction of the West Siberian Railway. The city has 4 railway stations: Novosibirsk-Main as well as Novosibirsk-West, -East and South. Over 60,000 passengers set out from these stations daily, 45,000 of them making their way through the large building of the Main Station which is the most striking architectural structure in the city. Local service is done by electric trains.
share-доля
volume-объем
turnover-оборот
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electrictraction-электрическая тяга
amount-быть равным, составлять(сумму)
on the average-в среднем
junction-узел(транспортный)
striking-поразительный, замечательный
structure-структура, строение
electric train-электричка
What place does railway transport take?
What is the volume of traffic?
How many railway stations are there in Novosibirsk?
What can you tell your teacher about the Main Station of the city?
MOTOR TRANSPORT
The length of the motor-road system of the oblast is over 12,000 km, 7500 of them are hard-surface roads. The road transport is mainly traffic inside the oblast, though Novosibirsk itself has about ten large truck fleets which are interurban transport. Motor vehicles run also on an international service (China, European countries). The nature of conveyances can be inferred from the case of the largest motor transport enterprise in the oblast, Motor Transport Combine No.1. Main loads conveyed by the enterprise are foods(chocolate, juice, meat, butter, cheese), television sets, sewing machines, washing machines, computer facilities, machine tools, pipes, raw materials. Monthly traffic volume is 80,000 tons. Bus lines run from Novosibirsk to Tomsk, Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Barnaul. Inside the oblast, practically all localities are covered by the passenger traffic network.
fleet-парк(автомобилей и др.)
conveyance-перевозка, транспортировка
infer-делать заключение, вывод, подразумевать
Combine-комбинат, объединение
sewing machines-швейные машины
pipe-труба
localities-населенные пункты
What is the length of the motor-road system of the oblast?
What do you know about the main loads conveyance in the oblast?
THE FIRST SIBERIAN
In 1979, the building of the underground, the first and the only beyond the Urals, began in Novosibirsk. The building of the first run (Studencheskaya-Krasny Prospekt) was completed in 1985. Novosibirsk metro was put into operation in 1986. The first phase of Project Novosibirsk Metro was completed in April 1992. Its length was 11.5 km, 10 stations, it carried 350,000 passengers daily- 18 percent of total public traffic. Nowdays it includes 12 stations and a metro bridge across the Ob river 2145 meters long. With that, trains run during rush hours at maximum intervals of 3.5 minutes.
Novosibirsk metro will develop: the project, whose implementation is designed to the year 2030, provides for the construction of 70 stations, and the total length will amount to 90km.
rush hour-час пик
implementation-осуществление, выполнение
When did the building of the first Siberian underground begin?
When was the first line completed?
How many stations are there?
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What do you know about the project of Novosibirsk metro development?
SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
Novosibirsk is a scientific and technical centre of world wide importance. Here, there are 43 academic higher and 58 specialized secondary education institutions, including 17 colleges and 20 technical schools.
More than half of all Siberian academic scientists working in the field of fundamental scientific and technological research live in Novosibirsk. About 100 Russian academicians and corresponding members, 600 doctors of science and 3500 candidates of science work in academic research institutes. Developements are under way in all natural-scientific directions:
physics, mechanics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, computer sciences, geology as well as in the fields of economics, agriculture, medicine, linguistics,archaeology, and history.
Institution-учреждение
researchinstitute-научно-исследовательский институт
What is known about scientific and technical importance of Novosibirsk in the world?
Are there any scientists living in Novosibirsk?
What directions are the developments under way in?
HIGHER EDUCATION
Novosibirsk is the city of students. About 70 thousand students in 28 speciality groups are enrolled for study in seventeen institutions of higher education. The most prestigeous of them is Novosibirsk State University founded on the RAS/SD* base, clearing the way for young people to high science. Novosibirsk State Technical University is the largest in the number of students amounting to over 10 thousand. Novosibirsk State Transport University, founded in 1932, has a student body of 6 thousand.
The Novosibirsk institutions of higher education have the big advantage of close relationship with academic and sectoral science. The scientists of academic institutes teach at many of them.
*Russian Academy of Sciences/Siberian Department
Novosibirsk is the city of students, isn’t it?
What are the most prestigeous universities of Novosibirsk?
Fill in the blanks with prepositions (on, over, after, by, behind, of, in etc. ):
Novosibirsk is considered the biggest city ______ the Urals.
Novosibirsk is a major educational centre ______ Siberia.
The fee for one trip by Underground does not depend _____ the length of your route.
The most prestigeous of them is Novosibirsk State University founded _____ the RAS/SD base.
Developements are _____ way _____ all natural-scientific directions.
The building _____ the first run (Studencheskaya-Krasny Prospekt) was completed in 1985.
The length of the motor-road system of the oblast is _____12,000 km.
84 percent of goods are carried _____ electric traction.
The essential railways _____ the Kuzbass and Central Asia and the Transsib meet here.
Administratively Novosibirsk is segmented _____10 administration districts.
Dozens of factories and plants have been built _____ produce heavy machine-tools, powerful generators, TV-sets and radio-parts, farm machinery, various apparatus, etc.
Novosibirsk is the largest industrial, scientific, cultural and administrative centre of Siberia, _____ a population of about 1.7 million.
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Read and translate the information about Siberian Fair.
Make a list of difficult words. Translate and learn them by heart.
Tell a student from a foreign country about its work.
SIBERIAN FAIR,
THE GATE TO SIBERIAN MARKET
-100 industrial exhibitions and commercial fairs a year;
-90 specialized exhibitions in all leading branches of science and technology;
-10 universal internationalfairs in the international town of Siberia, Novosobirsk;
-5 away fairs per year in the main economic areas of Siberia the Urals and the Far East;
-participation in 10 largest foreign exhibitions in Europe and South-East Asia;
-services of the World Computer Commercial Network in the advancement of commodities
to the foreign market, increase in imports;
-customs declaration, transportation of goods and exhibits: Europe-Siberia-Europe;
-all communication facilities and services of the DHL Courier;
-the largest library of the trade directories of Russia and the CIS;
-over 100,000 catalogues of foreign firms;
-a representative collection of World Thesauri containing the addresses of all firms of the
world’s leading countries;
-the largest computer base of 350 thousand firms of Russia and the CIS;
-annual courses of the International Union of Exhibitions and Fairs in exhibition business;
-search for a foreign partner;
-marketing and sociological market research;
-production, hire and realization of exhibition facilities and furniture;
-building and design of exhibitions;
-bank services in the exchange and conversion of currency at exhibitions.
Read the text with the help of a dictionary.
Make a list of difficult words.Learn them by heart.
Tell a friend from abroad about cultural life of the city
CULTURAL CENTRE OF RUSSIA
Novosibirsk is one of the cultural centers of Russia. The cultural portrait of Novosibirsk is multifarious - architecture and painting, music and theatre, high classics and folklore - all kinds of culture and arts have got new development here.
Novosibirsk has six theatres, a philharmonic society, a number of clubs and palaces of culture, the Academy of Music (the Conservatoire), a number of music schools and colleges of music and culture, over 600 libraries. Over 200 schools of the city and nearly 20 higher educational institutions provide general and vocational education.
The Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre has become the architectural symbol of Novosibirsk - one of the most remarkable buildings in the city. It is often called the Bolshoy Theatre of Siberia. Not only the building is unique, but the cast of the theatre as well. The brilliant Siberian Ballet and wonderful opera are known in many countries all over the world.
Each of the 8 city theatres is of high professionalism, has originality and all of them have got their own admires ( Novosibirsk State Academic Theatre “Krasny fakel”, the Youth Theatre Globe, the Theatre of music, songs and dance “Chaldony”, Russian House of Folk Traditions and others).
Graduates of Novosibirsk State Conservatory named after M.I.Glinka, of the Choreographic, Theatrical and Musical Colleges reinforce the creative groups of Novosibirsk and other theatres of Russia. The particular pride of the Conservatory is its violin school having trained a number of world-class violinists.
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In the 90s the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Society has become a real leader in the musical life of
the city and is the only one in Russia to have 13 groups in the staff including The Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arnold Kats; The Chorus Chamber conducted by Igor Yudin; the Music Orchestra Chamber conducted by Honoured Artist of Russia Mikhail Tourich, etc.
Novosibirsk is famous for its jazz groups as well. The city is proud of the biggest Picture Gallery in Siberia. Its exposition includes more than 6 000 works of art of Russian and foreign painters. The pearl of the exhibition is the collection of N. Rerikh's pictures, which was presented to the city by the artist's son.
How is the cultural portrait of Novosibirsk characterized?
Why is Opera and Ballet Theatre unique?
What is Novosibirsk Conservatory famous for?
What does Novosibirsk Philharmonic Society include?
How does the exposition of Novosibirsk Picture Gallery represented?
Read and translate the following text.
AKADEMGORODOK — A NEW TOWN OF SCIENCE AND CULTURE
respond- отвечать, отзываться
spread- распространение, размах
daring- смелый, отважный
assign- назначать, определять, поручать
extend- расширять
canvases- полотна
“Complex” is the best word to describe the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences. In 1956 academicians M. Lavrentyev, S. Sobolev, A. Trofimuk and other leading scientists readily responded to set up in Siberia foreposts of modern science. Soon construction was begun some 25 kilometers from Novosibirsk, in the pinewood and birch coppices spreading along the shore of the man-made Ob sea. This was a daring experiment. Never before had people of science moved so quickly to developing regions. Siberia assigns to the scientists so many tasks that only a complex of researches in many fields can cope with them. Between 1958 and 1968 the Siberian branch developed many large subdivisions with research centers of their own. They extended research centers in Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Ulan-Ude, Yakutsk and Vladivostok, Sakhalin, Chukotka and Kamchatka. The Academic Centre in Novosibirsk studies a wider range of problems. Twenty institutes have been concentrated here, including a computer center, specialized design offices, a university, a botanic garden, and a large technical library.
The closeness of the town to Novosibirsk, a large cultural centre, is an additional blessing. Actors of the best Siberian theatres often visit the town and scientists see the plays, operas, ballets and other performances, and stars on tour also rarely miss the town.
There are cinemas, clubs, shops and cafes like in every other town. The difference is that you can walk in age-old forest just a few steps away from your home. Scientific conferences are held in the halls of the Scientists’ House, heated debates often take place in its cozy rooms. Exhibitions of scientific literature, devices and equipment both Russian and foreign are often organized here. The house has a collection of paintings numbering over 3,000 canvases.
The last link in the training of researchers is Novosibirsk State University. This is where the leading scientists of the Siberian Branch train new generations of researchers.
Answer the questions:
Who was the founder of Akademgorodok?
Where is Akademgorodok situated?
How did Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences develop between 1958 and 1968?
How does the closeness of Akademgorodok to Novosibirsk influence the life of the town?
-23-
Combine the following words into sentences:
Science, to, people, of, so, developing, moved, regions, quickly.
Developed, Siberian, subdivisions, the, many, branch, large.
Technical, the, Novosibirsk, library, a, Academic, has, Centre, large, in.
Theatres, often, the, actors, the, Siberian, of, visit, town, best.
House, the, Scientific, are, in, conferences, Scientists’, held.
Equipment, in, foreign, organized, of, often, exhibitions, Akademgorodok, are.
State, researchers, the, scientists, Novosibirsk, in, leading, University, train.
SUPPLEMENTARY READING*
Read the text to get some new facts about Novosibirsk.
Translate the text with a dictionary.
THE HISTORY OF NOVOSIBIRSK
heir- наследник
insistence- настойчивость, упорство
decline- ухудшаться, уменьшаться
solemn- торжественный, важный, официальный
merit- заслуга
occasion- случай, возможность
deserted- опустошенный
significant- значительный
convenient- удобный
peasant- крестьянин
raise- поднимать, воздвигать, выращивать
foundry- сталелитейная промышленность
commodity- предмет потребления, товар
compulsory- обязательный
More then 100 years ago Russian emperor Alexander III pointed out in his prescript to his heir that it is necessary “to connect by inner railway net the Siberian regions which are the richest with gifts of Nature”. Thus the building of Great Siberian Railway began.
Primarily it was considered that Trans-Siberian Railroad would cross the Ob river near the big age-old Kolyvan village. But owing to insistence of N.G. Garin-Mikhailovsky, the chief of prospecting party and a Russian writer, they took a final decision to build the bridge at the Krivoschokovo village. Garin-Mikhailovsky wrote later: “The change of primary project is my own merit, and I see with pleasure that the railroad is not declined from my idea”. In May, 20, 1893 in a thick pine wood on the bank of the Ob river there was held a solemn church service on the occasion of laying of the bridge, the project of which had been prepared by N.A.Belelubsky, professor of the Petersburg Railway College. Very many workers were required for the bridge building. Thus Novonikolayevsk settlement appeared and became later the largest town of Russian Asia.
In the spring of 1897 the bridge across the Ob river was opened for traffic. By that time the building of railway station and locomotive depot with workshops was completed. After that many builders left for other building sites, but the settlement did not become deserted and the work went on there. That was significantly promoted by convenient, even ideal geographical situation. The peasants from the Altai and the nearest villages brought here the greatest quantities of grain for further transportation by railroad.
The trade capital opened up the region of the Great Siberian Way which in the shortest time made the small settlement grow into a big city; Novonikolayevsk was given the official status of the city in December, 1903.
Novonikolayevsk soon became the place of concentration of banking capital. The population of the town was raising so quickly, that the first head of the city, V. Jernakov, said: “It
-24-
(Novonikolayevsk) has got rightfully the name of American City”. In 1897, when the bridge was
opened for traffic, Novonikolayevsk settlement accounted 7,8 thousand people. In 1903 it was already a town without so called “uezd” – surrounding administrative territory – and accounted 22 thousand people. In 1907 it became the city with all the rights of self-government and population of 47 thousand.
Before February Revolution Novonikolayevsk had already 80 thousand of population and was the largest commercial and industrial center having not only agricultural processing industry, power station, iron foundry, commodity market, banks, commercial companies, but also 7 Orthodox churches, one Roman-Catholic church, several cinemas, 40 primary schools, a high school, teachers’ seminary and the Romanovs’ House non-classical secondary school. It is remarkable that Novonikolayevsk was nearly the first town in Russia which accepted the compulsory primary education in 1913.
Novonikolayevsk continued its safe and successful development even in such storming and tragic years for Russia as 1915-1917. Shops were heaped up with goods; all markets were packed with bread, meat and butter. Merchants of Novonikolayevsk, who had become rich enormously because of military supplies, were thinking of building of a tram line.
The town could not stand aside from social cataclysms. In December, 1917 the Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies of Novonikolayevsk seized the power. And just after that the civil war came to the town. The town became the important strategic place of admiral Kolchak’s
Army. But in December, 1919 Novonikolayevsk was taken by the Red Army.
The civil war acquired monstrous forms. “White” and “red” terror, military actions, terrible typhus and cholera epidemics – all those took off many thousands of lives. The bridge across Ob was blown up. For the first time in the history of Novonikolayevsk the number of town inhabitants decreased.
The town revived only in 1921 after the beginning of Lenin’s New Economic Policy. At that time Novonikolayevsk again was turned up into commercial, industrial and transportation center where many thousands of peasants’ carts brought grain and butter. Workers, who had scampered about surrounding villages before, came now back to their depot and factories. Soon the Bolsheviks’ regional political administration ran over from Omsk to Novonikolayevsk. In 1925 there was formed the vast Siberian Region spreading from the Vasugan swamps up to the Trans-Baikal steppes, and Novonikolayevsk became its administrative center.
In 1925 the town received the new name of Novosibirsk. The status of Novosibirsk as administrative center of Siberia influenced much on the town appearance. Lenin House, Palace of Work, Dwelling House (now Central Hotel), Sibrevkom (now The Picture Gallery) and other buildings were constructed under the projects of talented Siberian architects headed by professor A.D.Kryachkov.
In the years of Industrialization Novosibirsk turned from a large commercial city into a big industrial center of Siberia. Many industrial giants were built here: the Sibkombain plant, mining tools plant, metal processing plant, food processing and other plants and factories, and also a high power station. In 1932-1933, when the terrible hunger broke out into Central Russia, more then 170 thousand refugees arrived at Novosibirsk and settled down in the town outskirts. In 1954 the tram rails were laid in the streets of Novosibirsk: the biggest city of Siberia had already 287 thousand population and needed vitally that kind of transport.
Novosibirsk started as integrated architectural complex only after 1955, when the Kommunalny bridge, the main city bridge across the Ob, was built. Just from that time the town chose the way of total renovation and improvement. Activity of building companies acquired real industrial basis. Large-panel construction became the main kind of house building.
Nature environment of the town was also changing because of industrial development. In the middle of 50s a hydro power station for 400 kilowatts was erected near Novosibirsk, which caused the creation of a new great water reservoir – the Ob Sea
In 1957 the building of a large scientific center was started on the bank of the Ob Sea; it was the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, so called Akademgorodok. That new part of the town included 14 research institutes, a university, dwelling and public buildings, a department store and the Scientists’ House.
The territory of Novosibirsk extended more and more, and the population of the town was rising. In the early 1960s the population of Novosibirsk reached one million. In the subsequent years new architectural sites were created in the town – scientific centers of Academy of Medicine and
-25-
Academy of Agriculture.
The construction of subway was started in Novosibirsk in 1979. The first line was opened in 1985. So 1990s were a turning point for the whole country. But in spite of economic crisis, Novosibirsk goes on developing. Commercial banks, markets, exchanges and private companies have appeared again in the town. Now the future of Novosibirsk is closely connected with a new social economical system of all the country.
Answer the questions:
Why was the construction of Great Siberian Railway important?
How was the place for the bridge across the Ob chosen?
Why did a small settlement grow into a big city so rapidly?
When did the city become self-governed?
Why was Novonikolayevsk the biggest industrial and commercial centre?
How did the city develop during storming years and the Civil War?
When was the Siberian Region formed and what territories did it include?
What plants were built in Novosibirsk in the years of industrialization?
What was the Ob Sea created for?
When was underground constructed in Novosibirsk?
Translate into English:
Транссибирская железная дорога была построена с целью объединить Сибирские регионы, богатые природными ресурсами.
Гарин-Михайловский определил место строительства железнодорожного моста через Обь.
Идеальное географическое положение Новониколаевска способствовало быстрому развитию города.
До 1917 года Новониколаевск был крупнейшим промышленным и торговым центром.
Город был переименован в Новосибирск в 1925 году.
После 1955 года Новосибирск начал развиваться как единый архитектурный комплекс.
Население Новосибирска достигло одного миллиона в начале 1960-х годов.
CHECK YOURSELF
Translate the following text into English.
Новосибирск - один из крупнейших городов России. Он находится на юго-западе Сибири на реке Обь. Его население около 1,7 млн. человек. Новосибирск - крупнейший промышленный центр и важный транспортный узел. Город также является культурным центром и центром образования. Оперный театр города известен за рубежом. Театры, художественные галереи, консерватория, концертные залы удовлетворяют культурные потребности жителей Новосибирска.
Сибирское отделение Академии наук России, университеты, академии, институты, Государственная публичная научно- техническая библиотека способствуют распространению знаний.
Complete the following sentences:
Novosibirsk is the largest city.......... .
Novosibirsk is situated on.......... .
There are many.......... .
The city can boast of.......... .
In area, it is the third.......... .
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Akademgorodok is.......... .
The construction of Akademgorodok began.......... .
Novosibirsk has six theatres.......... .
The building of the underground began.......... .
The city has 4 railway stations: .......... .
Make up a story of your own.
a) The town (city) I like best.
b) Going sightseeing.
c) Impressions of your visit to a town (city).
Read the article from Encyclopædia Britannica
without a dictionary and tell your groupmates the main idea of the text.*
Novosibirsk
city, administrative centre of Novosibirsk oblast (province) and the chief city of western Siberia, in south-central Russia. It lies along the Ob River where the latter is crossed by the Trans-Siberian Railroad. It developed after the village of Krivoshchekovo on the left bank was chosen as the crossing point of the Ob for the Trans-Siberian Railroad in 1893. The settlement was known variously as Gusevka or Aleksandrovsky, but in 1895 it was renamed Novonikolayevsky in honour of the accession of Tsar Nicholas II. The bridge was completed in 1897, and in 1903 town status was conferred.
The continued development of the town was based chiefly on its proximity to the Kuznetsk (Kuzbass) Coal Basin coalfield to the east and the establishment of important railway routes. In 1925 the town was renamed Novosibirsk (“New Siberia”). The city's industry was especially stimulated in World War II, when many factories were evacuated from European Russia to the area. It is now one of the largest cities in Siberia.
Novosibirsk is a major manufacturing centre. Although it has a wide range of industries, metallurgy and engineering predominate. The old, pre-Revolutionary iron industry has been transformed into the modern Kuzmin steelworks. The city also has a large tin smelter and a highly specialized gold refinery. Engineering works produce heavy machinery, hydraulic presses, electrothermal equipment, ore-concentrating and mining machinery, and agricultural machinery. Precision- and light-engineering plants make machine tools, instruments, radios, and automatic looms. There are also ship and locomotive repair shops. The chemical industry has developed rapidly. Consumer products include furniture, pianos, shoes, textiles, knitwear, and foodstuffs. Power is provided by a dam and hydroelectric station above Novosibirsk and several thermal stations in the city itself.
In addition to the trunk railway services via the Trans-Siberian, Kuzbass, and Turksib lines, local electric commuter trains link the suburbs to the city centre. There are two airports, a smaller one serving local air connections and a large main airport with direct flights to Moscow and other major cities of Russia. The Ob River is navigable. Transportation within the city is by bus, streetcar, and trolleybus.
Novosibirsk is the principal cultural and educational centre in Siberia. It has an opera and ballet theatre, botanical gardens, an art gallery, and museums, as well as a symphony orchestra.
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There are many educational institutions, headed by the Novosibirsk State University, founded in 1959; other higher-educational establishments include railway engineering, electrotechnical, medical, agricultural, and teacher-training institutes. The university and a number of these institutes are located in the satellite town of Akademgorodok (“Academic Town”), on the southern outskirts of the city. Also in Akademgorodok are most of the specialist research institutes that the Academy of Sciences of Russia maintains in Novosibirsk. Pop. (1991 est.) 1,446,300.
"Novosibirsk."Encyclopædia Britannica. 20072007. Encyclopædia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD 65 Feb.Feb. 20072007 .
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