Barnaul
Barnaul (Russian: Барнау́л) is a city in Russia and the administrative center of Altai Krai. Barnaul is in the southwest of Siberian Federal District on the Ob River. Geographical location is 53°21′N 83°45′E. Population—600,749 (2002 Census).
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History
Barnaul is one of the older cities in Siberia, founded in 1730 by the Demidov family of silver-founders. By the 1900s, it had grown into a major center for trade and culture of the region, especially after construction of the Turkestan-Siberia Railway. Barnaul's economy also benefitted from evacuation of major factories from the west of Russia and Ukraine during the World War II.
Transportation
The city lies approximately 220 km south of Novosibirsk, at a junction of the Novosibirsk–Almaty and Biysk train lines. Trains to Moscow Kazan station take 60 hours, 32 hours to Almaty, Krasnoyarsk 23 hours, Irkutsk 42 hours, Bishkek 42 hours and Tashkent 53 hours. There are also irregular trains to Abakan and Novokuznetsk, 24 hours. There are also frequent buses to nearby cities Biysk and Gorno-Altaysk. It takes about four hours to reach the Altai Mountains in the south by car.
A small airport also exists about an hour from the center of the city, which offers daily flights to and from Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Barnaul is approximately four hours by plane to Moscow, and slightly longer to Saint Petersburg.
Any part of the city can be reached using public transportation, whether one decides to use the city's many buses, trolleys, or taxis.
Business
Considering the difficult economic cirumstances in which Siberia finds itself today, business is thriving in remote Barnaul. As a result the city is home to two Rotary clubs, chartered in 1997 and 2005 respectively.
The main business street of the city is Prospekt Lenina which runs between Oktyabrskaya and Sovietov squares. New cafés and clothing stores are opening all the time along Lenina and its surrounding area as Russia's economy continues to develop.
In addition to the smaller shops along Lenina are various sprawling outdoor markets located in other areas off of the main street, where anything from fresh meat to CDs and clothing can be purchased in stalls and from vendors on the streets.
Education and culture
Barnaul is known as a Siberian scientific center. It has five universities (Altai State University, Barnaul State Pedagogical (Teachers' Training) University, etc.) and 35 libraries. It also has five theatres and three museums. The city's Krayevedchesky Museum (Museum of Local Lore) was founded in 1823 and is one of the oldest museums in Siberia, displaying local artists' work as well as unique artifacts from the nearby Altai region and more.
