General Information

Moscow Today

Moscow is the capital of Russia, centre of the Moscow region. Moscow is located at 55.55’of northern latitude and 37.37’ to the east of the Greenwich’s meridian, in the centre of the East-European plain in the zone of mixed forests.
It’s intersected by the Moscow river, which takes a number of tributaries between the Oka and the Volga. The largest of the tributaries are the Yausa and Setun’.
Moscow is one of the world biggest megapolis. Its population was equal to 9,011,000 people. The territory of Moscow was 878,7 square kilometres. The boundary of Moscow (since 1960) corresponds to the Moscow ring road that is situated at 17-21 kilometres from a city centre.
Local authorities are, since 1991, Moscow Mairia and Moscow government.
In terms of urban ecology, Moscow was advertised as a very clean city during the stagnation period, but recently, with positive political changes the real situation became known: air and water pollution by chemicals is rather heavy, in the southern and south-eastern parts of the town, specifically. This is explained by the pattern of enterprises and by the predominant winds. Moreover, information on radioactive pollution is now available, and separate strongly polluted sites have been discovered. Unfortunately, they are dispersed all over the territory of the town including its public gardens and densely populated blocks («sleeping regions»).

People and language

More than 9 mln people are living in Moscow, and more than 11mln in Moscow with its suburbs. Initially, Russians predominated, and this is true now as well, although there are some changes in proportions between Russians, Tatars, Jews and people from the Caucasus republics. Moscovites by birth are not so numerous now.
The Moscow dialect was specific: a tendency to use the sound «a» instead of «O» was recorded by scientists and writers; in the same time, the Moscow dialect is thought to be the closest to the correct «pure» language.

Location and Climate

Moscow is located at 55.55’of northern latitude and 37.37’ to the east of the Greenwich’s meridian, in the centre of the East-European plain.
There is a folk saying about seven hills supporting Moscow. In reality, hilly are only some parts of former Moscow area, and the highest is the south-western part of the town. Geographically, it is defined as Teplostanskaya upland; the central and eastern parts of the town’s area are more flat and low, and its major part is occupied by the valley of Moskva river with its tributaries.
The Moscow climate is moderately continental, although it is more then in other European cities. Temperature amplitude is 28 C. The cool period of the year starts in September, 29 and ends in May,10. Normally, the rainfall ranges within 540...650mm per year. The rainy period lasts from April to October. The duration of the severe snow period is estimated thus: November, 26 - April, 11. The height of the snow cover reaches 35 cm in the end of winter. Atmospheric pressure, that doesn’t strongly change during the year, is 747mm. Winds in Moscow may blow in any direction, but during periods of warm weather the north-western ones prevail, while the south-western winds are proper to cool seasons.
Weather is rather unstable in Moscow, and the weather forecast service is the most common object for jokes. One of possible reasons justifying not quite reliable forecasts is a considerable temperature amplitude between parts of Moscow, it may reach 10¸C in spring or autumn.

Religion

Christianity is a predominant religion in Moscow. Russian Orthodox Church is most popular, other religious sociteies are active: Moslems, Protestants, Old-belivers, Single-belivers, Judaism. Each religious confession has its own church, or synagogue, or any other house for praying, as well as a school and publishing house.

Vegetation and Animals

The position of Moscow in the mixed-forest zone determines the type of original (primary) vegetation. Oak and lime were growing in the south, spruce and oak - in the north-west, pine - in east and north-east, spruce and deciduous tree species are common in the north. Among grasses those, typical for forests, prevail: aegopodium, pulmonaria, asarum, centaurea etc.
Original vegetation on the city’s territory is almost eliminated. There are only some oldest gardens with rare original plants having survived.
There are over 160 species of birds, 34 species of mammals, 15 species of fishes and some species of amphibias. Among birds sparrow, pigeon, jackdaw, swallow, rook, craw are common.
The most widely spread among mammals are squirrel and hare, as well mole, mouse, rat. Bream, crucian, ruff, perch, pike are predominant in the fish communities.
Green frogs and tritons may be encountered in Moscow and its surroundings.

History

First tribes appeared on the territory of the future Moscow in the neolitic epoch. The oldest settlments, dated as three thousands years before our era, were discovered within the area of the present-day city.
In the second half of the first millenia of our era slavic tribes occupied areas near Moscow, these were «vjatichi», who are regarded as a kernel of the future Moscow population.
The reference to a Moscow, as to a town, is registrated in the old manuscript of 1147. In 1156, prince Yury Dolgoruky constructed timber walls around Moscow with a moat. He is frequently regarded as a founder of Moscow, and his monument is among the most honored in Moscow. Tatar-mongolian invasion in 1237-38 produced a great destruction of Moscow.
However, Moscow recovered rather rapidly (in the second half of 13 century), and became capital of the independent Moscow principality.
During the 14 and the first half of 15 centuries Moscow was a relativly large city with big industrial/trade population.
Development of commerce and trade served impetus for new advance in the science and arts. So, a number of fundamental manuscripts (like «Domostroy», «Stoglav»), great architectural buildings (like «Kremlin» and «Pokrovsky chirch») and the first Russian printed book - «Apostol» by Ivan Feodorov were created.
Moscow has been attacked by Polish-Lithunian army in 17th century and was conquered by them. Then salesman Minin and prince Pozharsky organized people’s militia, and Moscow was liberated in 1612.
During the reign of Peter the First, arts and science in Moscow, and in Russia in whole, progressed strongly. In 1755 Moscow University was opened, in 1703 the first printed newspaper («Vedomosti») appeared.
Moscow architecture reached its peak level of perfection in the second half of 18th century due to advanced Russian architects V.I.Bazhenov (Pashkov’s house), M.F.Kazakov (Senat bilding).
In 19th century Moscow remains an importantly political, govermental and economical centre. During French innvasion Napoleon said: «If I’ll capture Kiev, I’ll take Russia by it’s feet, if I’ll capture Petersburg, I’ll take it by it’s head and if I’ll capture Moscow, I’ll destroy it’s heart».
Folk army has been organized in 1812 to withstand the French invasion, and a famous Borodino battle took place in August not far from Moscow. This battle is thought to be a prerequisite for the victory in the War, although the battle itself was more a failure than a victory. Moscow was left to Napoleon’s troops, but before that it was burnt by moscovites almost entirely. Fires and hunger compelled the French army to leave Moscow, where the Russian army entered very soon - in October. After the liberation of the city a commission was authoritized for Moscow reconstruction after the fire, and talented architects were its members (Beauve, Grigoriev).
The present-day appearance of Moscow centre was founded in those times. Thus, Alexandrov Garden, Theatre Square appeared with Bolshoi and Maly theatres, as well as the buildings of Manezh and the First gradskaya hospital.
A new manner of living became usual inm Moscow after its reconstruction. Earlier, at the turn of the centuries Moscow was a feudal town, whereas after the 1812 it lost features of the aristhocratic town and acquired those of a bourgeois one. To the end of the 19 century it became the second industrial centre in Russia (after Saint-Petersburg), partially due to the rapid growth of railway communication.
A first telegraph line was constructed in 1852, it connected two Russian capitals, and the town railway with horses («konka») started operating in 1872. In 1867 gas illumination of many streets has been initiated, and the first electric lanterns appeared in Prechistenka gates in 1883. First telephone lines were organized between Moscow and Petersburg in the late 90-ies.
The XIX century is known to be a «golden age» for arts and science, and Moscow was a birthplace for many famous artists, writers, painters and scientists; a number of outstanding politicians were also moscovites. You are, of course, familiar with the following names, whose talent and ideas made the glory of Russia: Pushkin, Gogol’, Tolstoi, Chekhov, Herzen, Pirogov, Sklifosofsky, Vasnetsov, Serov, Levitan and many others.
Communistic ideas of Karl Marx became popular in Moscow, they were studied in secret meetings by workers and intelligentsia, who became very enthusiastic about them and organized revolutionary groups. Their activities resulted in a series of rebellions, one of them was mentioned frequently as a most successful - Krasnaya Presnya rebellion of 1905. July strikes of 1914 were the next conspicuous stage in the revolutionary process, which was finalized by the
February and the «Great October» Revolution of 1917. The new government was headed by V.Lenin and the capital was again transferred from Petersburg-Petrograd to Moscow.
The Soviet Union was announced December,30, 1922 by the All-Russia Communist Party of Bol’sheviks (VKPB) and Moscow became it’s capital. The social structure of Moscow inhabitants started to change in the 20-ies on the account of peasants leaving their villages in search of job and «new life»; later on the most poor part of population came to Moscow as non-qualified workers on factories and in
house building. Thus, the percentage of workers living within the Garden Ring (central region) increased from 5% to 45% during this first decade. Hence, Moscow architecture changed: the proportion of blocks inhabited by workers increased drastically, the city sprawled outside, many churches were destroyed or transformed into «Palaces of Culture», clubs, stores for vegetables or for building materials. The most active construction of living blocks was initiated by Niklita Khruschev in the 60-ies, and many families moved from extremely overcrowded multi-family apartments, where more than 5 persons were living in one small room to individual, although small apartments. They were constructed quickly to meet the urgent demands, and, therefore, they are far from being beautiful and diverse.
The «opening» of Russia to the West and changes in politica situation caused many changes in the attitude of people to their town, its ecology and nature, national and cultural traditions. Therefore, looking forward it is possible to feel optimistic about the future of our city.