Izhevsk (English) Ижевск (Russian) Иж, Ижкар (Udmurt)
-  City[citation needed]  -
View of Izhevsk
Location of the Udmurt Republic in Russia
Izhevsk Location of Izhevsk in the Udmurt Republic
Coordinates: 56°50′N 53°11′E / 56.833°N 53.183°E / 56.833; 53.183Coordinates: 56°50′N 53°11′E / 56.833°N 53.183°E / 56.833; 53.183
Coat of arms	Flag
City Day	June 12[citation needed]
Administrative status (as of March 2011)
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Udmurt Republic[1]
Administratively subordinated to	city of republic significance of Izhevsk[1]
Capital of	Udmurt Republic[1]
Administrative center of	city of republic significance of Izhevsk[1]
Municipal status (as of June 2006)
Urban okrug	Izhevsk Urban Okrug[2]
Administrative center of	Izhevsk Urban Okrug[2]
Head[3]	Alexander Ushakov[3]
Representative body	City Duma[citation needed]
Statistics
Area	316.66 km2 (122.26 sq mi)[citation needed]
Population (2010 Census, preliminary)	628,116 inhabitants[4]
- Rank in 2010	19th
Population (2002 Census)	632,140 inhabitants[5]
- Rank in 2002	20th
Density	1,984 /km2 (5,140 /sq mi)[6]
Time zone	MSK (UTC+04:00)[7]
Founded	April 10, 1760[citation needed]
Previous names	Ustinov (until 1987)[citation needed]
Postal code(s)	426xxx[citation needed]
Dialing code(s)	+7 3412[citation needed]
Official website
Izhevsk on WikiCommons

Izhevsk (Russian: Иже́вск; IPA: [ɪˈʐɛfsk]; Udmurt: Иж, Ижкар, Iž, Ižkar) is the capital city of the Udmurt Republic, Russia, situated on the Izh River in the Western Urals. Population: 628,116 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[4] 632,140 (2002 Census);^[5] 635,109 (1989 Census).^[8]

From 1984 to 1987, Izhevsk was called Ustinov (Усти́нов, in honor of Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union, Marshal Dmitry Ustinov). The city is an important industrial center, and is the economic, industrial, and administrative hub of the republic. Izhevsk is especially noted for its military industry, with Russia's biggest munitions enterprise, Izhmash, manufacturer of the AK-47, based in the city.

History[link]

Izhevsk was founded on April 10, 1760 as a settlement surrounding a newly built ironworks.^{[citation needed]} The ironworks and the town were built by Count Peter Shuvalov as a private venture and passed to the crown after the count's death in lieu of the latter's large debt to the treasury. The location was selected to better accommodate a dam on the Izh River, which was completed in 1763.

In 1774, the town was taken by Pugachyov's rebel army, which executed the administrative staff of the ironworks and looted the factory.

In 1807, Alexander I ordered the construction of a munitions factory in place of the ironworks. The newly established plant soon dominated the economy of the town. In 1865, the plant passed into private ownership by a group of investors which included Ludvig Nobel. In 1884, the factory returned to government control.

On March 5, 1917, workers at the plant formed a worker's soviet, which included representatives of the workers, the army, and of other citizens. Two days later the factory administration resigned and was replaced with elected officials. By the middle of September of the same year, Bolsheviks took under control both the council and the council's influential newspaper.

On October 27, 1917, Soviet government was officially announced, with the council officially dissolved soon thereafter. The former leaders of the council were arrested in June 1918, contributing to the beginning of an uprising against Bolshevik rule. The struggle for control of the city continued until the arrival of the Red Army, which took Izhevsk on November 7. On April 13, 1919, the city was occupied by units of Admiral Kolchak's White Army, only to fall again, this time decisively, to another assault by the Red Army in June 8 of the same year.

The Soviet period saw significant growth in the size and importance of Izhevsk. In 1921, the city became the administrative center of Votsk Autonomous Oblast, a precursor to the Udmurt Republic.

The first tram lines were opened in 1935, and the now emblematic City Circus was founded in 1943.

World War II had a profound effect on the city, with much of the industrial infrastructure evacuated from the western regions of the Soviet Union, being relocated to the city. Elements of the evacuated enterprises were used to create the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, which remains an important manufacturer of military components.

Military industry remained the core of the local economy after the war, leading to Izhvesk being designated a closed city, inaccessible to foreigners. The city's Izhmash factory began manufacturing the AK-47 automatic rifle in 1948, and continues to produce modern variants of the design to this day. The rifle's designer, Mikhail Kalashnikov still lives in Izhevsk. In 1966, Izhmash began manufacturing the Izh automobiles.

In 1984, the city was renamed Ustinov; in honor of former minister of defense Dmitry Ustinov.^{[citation needed]} Three years later, in spite of vocal protests by a significant number of citizens, Izhevsk regained its historical name.^{[citation needed]}

Izhevsk weathered the turbulent post-Soviet years reasonably well, carried through by the continued demand for its military products. The city remains an important industrial and military center of the country, being referred to as the "Armory of Russia" (a title it shares with the city of Tula).

Administrative and municipal status[link]

Administratively, it is incorporated as the city of republic significance of Izhevsk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.^[1] Municipally, the city of republic significance of Izhevsk is incorporated as Izhevsk Urban Okrug.^[2]

Economy[link]

Izhevsk is the most important economic center of the Udmurt Republic, with the majority of financial and industrial activity concentrated in the city. Military industry remains the backbone of the local economy, with a number of enterprises operating in the city. By far the most important of these is Izhmash, which produces small arms and assault rifles popular both in Russia and abroad. The plant also produces motorcycles and automobiles under IZH brandname.

In 2006, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez visited Izhevsk to tour the Izhmash manufacturing center where he announced his government's intention to purchase a large number of Izhevsk-produced rifles.

Climate[link]

Izhevsk has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with long cold winters and warm summers.

Life and culture[link]

Education[link]

Presidential Palace of the Udmurt Republic, located in Izhevsk

Izhevsk is the scientific and cultural center of the Udmurt Republic. Early on, the state took a leading role in childcare and education. 320 Public kindergartens/ preschools provide affordable childcare for 32,000 children. 100 Public schools provide free general education to over 100,000 Izhevsk students. A wide variety of technical colleges and two-year professional schools award associate degrees, most notably in medical assistance, performing arts and teaching.

The Ural department of the Russian Scientific Academy is represented in Izhevsk by several institutions, specializing in physics, applied mechanics and technical sciences, and economics, and the Institute of History, Language and Literature of Udmurtia does the same. Four out of five higher education institutes in the Udmurt Republic are located in Izhevsk: Udmurt State University, Izhevsk State Technical University, Agricultural Academy, and Medical Academy. Each of these educational institutions admits foreign students.

Udmurt State University celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2006. It is the oldest educational institution in the Udmurt Republic. Some 28,000 students are currently studying at the University, which offers 86 different majors. The university has thirteen departments and seven institutes. Out of 1,000 faculty members 130 hold Doctor of Science (Dr.Sc.) degrees, and 460 are Candidates of Sciences (Cand.Sc., equivalent to first year of Ph.D.). UdSU graduate school offers 11 attestation committees qualified to award Cand.Sc. and Dr.Sc. degrees in ecology, economics, law, psychology, pedagogics, ethnology, history, culture, linguistics of the Ural region, and Udmurt linguistics.

Izhevsk is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and European Commission Intercultural cities programme.

Museums[link]

Izhevsk's most notable museums include the Kalashnikov Museum, the Arsenal Museum, the Galina Kulakova Museum, the National Fine Arts Gallery, the "Galeria" Arts Center, the Izhmash Museum, the National Kuzebai Gerd Museum, and the Gennadiy Krasilnikov Apartment-Museum. The Presidential Palace is also popular with tourists.

Theaters[link]

Izhevsk has a number of theaters, among the most prominent of which are:

• State Opera and Ballet Theater of the Udmurt Republic
• Korolenko State Russian Theater for Drama
• "Young Man" Alternative Theater
• State Puppet Theater of the Udmurt Republic
• National State Theater of the Udmurt Republic
• Academic Choir Chapel
• State Philharmonic of the Udmurt Republic
• Izhevsk Circus

Sports[link]

The Izhvesk ice hockey team HC Izhstal plays in the Russian Major League. The association football club Zenit-Izhevsk plays in the Russian Second Division.

Entertainment[link]

In the post-Soviet period Izhevsk became known as home to a vibrant art and music scene.^{[citation needed]} Some of the most famous institutions include the Italmas, an Udmurt folk theater and dance company, and the local circus. In 2001–2004, a beautiful new auditorium was built in the center of town to serve as a permanent home for the city circus. Today circus acts from Izhevsk and other Russian and European cities entertain visitors at the Izhevsk Circus.

Cityscape[link]

Notable buildings and structures[link]

St. Michael's Cathedral

• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Neoclassical building from 1823 patterned after St. Andrew's Cathedral in Kronstadt (whose architect was Andreyan Zakharov)
• St. Michael's Cathedral was built by the Izhevsk arms works in the early 20th century, destroyed by the Bolsheviks and rebuilt to the original design in 2007
• Pesochnaya TV Mast (195-m tall guyed tubular steel mast built in 1962, which is equipped with 6 crossbars running in 2 levels from the mast structure to the guys^[10])

Izhevsk Pond[link]

Izhvesk City Pond is now one of the city's most popular places for recreation^{[citation needed]}. Its area is over 22 km², yet it was artificially created (in parts dug by hand) in the 1760s for industrial needs. Empress Elizabeth of Russia granted Count Peter Shuvalov official permission to create three factories in the Kama River region September 15, 1757.

Construction of the three-step industrial dam at the critical point where the two rivers (Izh and Yagul/Podborenka) join started both the pond and the city in April 1760.

The dam was reconstructed in 1809–1815 when Alexander Deryabin converted the original metalworking factory into the new arms producing facility. It was subsequently modernized again in 1983–1984 in order to extend the dam. Today a number of major Izhevsk industrial plants are still located along the pond.

In 1972, the Izhevsk Pond Embankment, a three mile-long walkway and a system of boulevards and squares, was extended along the pond. Some consider the resulting esplanade and pond embankment one of Izhevsk finest attractions. The “Friendship of Nations” Square, with its central monument celebrating 400 years of Udmurtia's union with Russia, is a focal point of the esplanade and a hip place for youth recreation. During the summer months excursion boats operate from Izhevsk to the village of Volozhka.

International relations[link]

• Izhevsk is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the EU Intercultural cities programme.^[11]

Twin towns and sister cities[link]

Izhevsk is twinned with:^[12]

References[link]

Notes[link]

Sources[link]

• Государственный Совет Удмуртской Республики. Закон №46-РЗ от 19 октября 2006 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Удмуртской Республики», в ред. Закона №1-РЗ от 29 февраля 2012 г «О внесении изменений в Закон Удмуртской Республики "Об установлении границ муниципальных образований и наделении соответствующим статусом муниципальных образований на территории Балезинского района Удмуртской Республики" и статью 5 Закона Удмуртской Республики "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Удмуртской Республики"». Вступил в силу через десять дней после официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Известия Удмуртской Республики", №185, 12 декабря 2006 г. (State Council of the Udmurt Republic. Law #46-RZ of October 19, 2006 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Udmurt Republic, as amended by the Law #1-RZ of February 29, 2012 On Amending the Law of the Udmurt Republic "On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations and on Granting Appropriate Status to the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Balezinsky District of the Udmurt Republic" and Article 5 of the Law of the Udmurt Republic "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Udmurt Republic". Effective as of the day which is ten days after the official publication.).
• Государственный Совет Удмуртской Республики. Закон №17-РЗ от 12 ноября 2004 г. «Об установлении границы муниципального образования и наделении соответствующим статусом муниципального образования на территории города Ижевска Удмуртской Республики», в ред. Закона №35-РЗ от 30 июня 2006 г «О внесении изменений в некоторые законодательные акты Удмуртской Республики». Вступил в силу через десять дней после официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Собрание законодательства Удмуртской Республики", №5, 25 июля 2005 г. (State Council of the Udmurt Republic. Law #17-RZ of November 12, 2004 On Establishing the Border of the Municipal Formation and on Granting Appropriate Status to the Municipal Formation on the Territory of the City of Izhevsk of the Udmurt Republic, as amended by the Law #35-RZ of June 30, 2006 On Amending Various Legislative Acts of the Udmurt Republic. Effective as of the day which is ten days after the official publication.).

External links[link]

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Izhevsk.

• Official website of Izhevsk
• Official website of Izhevsk (Russian)
• Kalashnikov Museum
• Udmurt State University
• Website of Izhmash
• A guide to the contemporary art, music and culture of Izhevsk (Russian)
• National Library of Udmurt Republic (English) (Russian) (Udmurt)

v t e Administrative divisions of the Udmurt Republic Capital: Izhevsk Cities and towns Glazov · Izhevsk · Kambarka · Mozhga · Sarapul · Votkinsk Administrative districts Alnashsky · Balezinsky · Debyossky · Glazovsky · Grakhovsky · Igrinsky · Kambarsky · Karakulinsky · Kezsky · Kiyasovsky · Kiznersky · Krasnogorsky · Malopurginsky · Mozhginsky · Sarapulsky · Seltinsky · Sharkansky · Syumsinsky · Uvinsky · Vavozhsky  · Votkinsky · Yakshur-Bodyinsky · Yarsky · Yukamensky · Zavyalovsky

vep:Iževsk