The origin of the first Russian settlement on the territory of  modern Novosibirsk dates back to the last decade of  XVII century – to the beginning of  Peter the Great’s reign. That village was called Krivoshekovskaya by the name of Fedor Krenitsin - a man from class of workers  in Tomsk, who was also called Krivoshek because of having a sabre scar on his face. And that village functioned as the trade center between russians and the teleuts - people of the land on the other side of the Ob River at least till 1712. This condition defined  the character of settlement at the territory of the future Novosibirsk: the right bank of the Ob River wasn’t very popular among Russian  colonists as there after teleuts had gone away  one fortress with a tribe had remained. (The ruins of that construction were already described in “Reference book of Novo –Nikolaevsk town” by  N.P.Litvinov in 1912). Apparently, the representatives of this tribe (called by Russians “chati”) were not friendly, therefore pioneers of Russian colonization preferred to settle the left bank, where  conglomeration of 20 closely situated villages had formed.

In any event, by the end of XVIII century the territory of modern left bank of Novosibirsk was entirely occupied.

The history of the right bank of future capital of Siberia got developing on 30^th of April in 1893, when the first group of bridge builders had arrived there. That date  is considered to be the official date of foundation of Novosibirsk. The industrial community had grown not far from the remains of Chatskaya fortress near to the mouth of the river Kamenka. This place earlier was of ill repute and was called “Devil’s Settlement” but workers didn’t matter and were building their hutments, to the north from which  a railway station “Ob” with settlement was raised. Soon both settlements had united.

Novosibirsk is Russia’s third-largest city. The population size is 1409137 inhabitants (on 1 January of 2010). The number of it’s citizens reached one million less than in 70 years. For Chicago with  which Novosibirsk  is usually compared it took 85 years to reach one million population, for New York – 250 years, for Moscow -700 years and for Kiev – 900 years. Novosibirsk entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most rapid-growing  millionaire-city.

Today Novosibirsk is Siberian centre of science, culture, industry, transport, trade and business.

In the first place, the city is far-famed  as  a scientific centre. The city got  worldwide fame thanks to it’s Akademgorodok, which was built on initiative of  academician Michael Alekseevitch Lavrentyev’s in 1957 twenty km to south from the centre of Novosibirsk and with preservation of almost all forest zone.

Dozens of  research institutes, Presidium of Siberian Department of Russian Academy of  Sciencies (SDRAS), Novosibirsk State University, Physico-mathematical School are situated in Akademgorodok. It became the first Russian integrated scientific centre and was a model for a number of organizations set up in other countries.

In Novosibirsk you can find perfect places not only for a study but also for a walk. There are many public gardens and parks – Central, Pervomaisk, Zaeltsevsky,where you can enjoy wandering in greenery, fountains and park amusements.

As regards historico- architectural complex, Novosibirsk can please tourists with it’s temple architecture – Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ascension Cathedral, St. Nicolas the Wonderworker’s chapel.

Apart from the architecture, you have a great opportunity to get to know the Siberian flora and fauna by visiting dendrological park and the biggest zoo in Russia.

Also, in Novosibirsk you can find one more natural sight – flower clock. Decorated with plenty buds of various flowers clock dial shows the time to citizens since 2009.

Like every millionaire-city Novosibirsk has it’s most popular  sight – underground. Citizens are reasonably proud of  their underground. Firstly, it has famous covered underground bridge with length of 2145 m –the world’s record! Secondly, this bridge has a unique construction , the method of it’s mounting has no analogs in the world.

The Ob River flows from Altai, where the rivers Biy and Katun confluence. The Ob crosses the Western Siberia from south to north and falls into Kara Sea of Arctic Ocean.  In the southern part of Novosibirsk the river is blocked by a dam. The dam creates the Novosibirsk reservoir storage called Ob Sea.  The length of the reservoir storage is like the way from Kamen-na-Obi to Novosibirsk – 220 km. Gross capacity is 8.8  cubic km. The water area is 1082 square km. The maximum depth is 25 m,   extreme breadth  is 22 km, minimum breadth is 2 km.

Picturesque nature, pure air and closeness to sea attracts here many holidaymakers from other parts of Siberia. The surroundings of Berdsky Bay, where recreation centers, preventive clinics, children’s health camps are situated are no less beautiful. Also there is an artificial beach.

The main cultural attractions of  Novosibirsk are it’s theatres. Tourists – theatergoers and people who just like going to theatres  can satisfy their aesthetic needs by visiting Novosibirsk Drama Theatre, Puppet Show, Theatre “Krasny Fakel”, Youth Theatre “Globus”or Novosibirsk  State Conservatoire.

People who prefer more active and sporty  way of life also have interesting places to visit. The city has 8 big sports complexes, swimming pools, routes for auto racing and for motorcycle races, hippodrome. Novosibirsk has a very famous in Siberia snowboard park “Gorsky”, biathlon complex and  lots of  ski depots.

Being a scientific, cultural, industrial, transport, trade and business center Novosibirsk certainly arouses interest among tourists who travel by Trans- Siberian Railway.

Railway terminal “Novosibirsk - Glavny” is among the biggest in the Russia and is architectural sight of  the city. According to authors’ project the terminal’s building reproduces the form of ancient locomotive.

Thanks to the construction of  the Trans - Siberian Railway in 1893 Novosibirsk now  is a big rail center. Today except the Trans  - Siberian Railway in Novosibirsk Altai directed railways (urksib, the railway traffic was opened in 1913) meet Kuzbas directed railways (built in 1930s, includes
second railway bridge crossing the Ob River called  “KIMovsky” and railway yard called Inskaya).

Highways go from the city into 6 directions (to Omsk, Kolivan, Yurga, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Barnaul and Kamen na Obi). In the very center and in the neighborhoods of the city there are 4 highway bridges and one is under construction now. You can go round Novosibirsk by transit by the northernmost bridge from west to east and backwards. 

The city has 2 airports : Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport,  Novosibirsk Severny Airport (Municipal) and airfield Eltsovka situated at the territory of Chkalov Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association. Novosibirsk  Tolmachevo Airport  is of international status.

GMT +7 hours

City official website: http://www.novo-sibirsk.ru