Cheboksary

Cheboksary (Russian: Чебоксары; IPA: [tɕɪbɐˈksarɨ]; Chuvash: Шупашкар) is the capital city of Chuvashia, Russia and a port on the Volga River. Population: 453,721 (2010 Census); 440,621 (2002 Census); 419,592 (1989 Census).

Geography

The city is located in the Volga Upland region and stands on the shore of the Cheboksary Reservoir. Its area is 250.9 square kilometers (96.9 sq mi). The satellite city of Novocheboksarsk is located about 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) east of Cheboksary.

History

It was first mentioned in written sources in 1469, when Russian soldiers passed here on their way to the Khanate of Kazan. According to archaeological excavations, however, the area had been populated considerably earlier. The site hosted a Bulgarian city of Veda Suvar, which appeared after Mongols defeated major Volga Bulgarian cities in the 13th century. During Khanate period the town is believed by some to have had a Turkic (probably, Tatar) name Çabaqsar and that the current Russian and English names originate from it. However, in maps by European travelers it was marked as Cibocar (Pizzigano, 1367), Veda-Suar (Fra Mauro, 1459). Shupashcar, the Chuvash name literally means the "fortress" of the Chuvash.