Yoshkar-Ola

Yoshkar-Ola (Mari and _ru. Йошка́р-Ола́) is a city in Russia and is the capital of the Mari El Republic. It has a population of 281,165 (2002 Census), which is slowly increasing as people from neighboring areas move to the city.

Yoshkar-Ola means "red city" in Mari. The current name is the third to have been given to the city. The city was known as Tsaryovokokshaysk ( _ru. Царевококшайск) before 1919 and as Krasnokokshaisk ( _ru. Краснококшайск) between the years of 1919 and 1927. These names were derived from the river Small Kokshaga, which runs through the city.

During the Soviet era, especially post-WWII, the city was a regional industrial and transport center and grew to its current size. The collapse of the Soviet Union removed support for state enterprises, and led to the shutdown of most manufacturing activity in the area. Much of the city's economic activity was supported by shuttle traders who would transport (often counterfeit) goods from the bustling markets of Moscow to Yoshkar-Ola's bazaars. The sharp decline in living standards led to the emigration of specialized professionals to larger cities in Russia.

A Strategic Rocket Forces base is located nearby.

Transportation

Yoshkar-Ola is linked to other cities and regions in Russia by a series of train and bus routes. The local train station is currently served by a daily train to and from the capital Moscow with other short-service trains running to and from Kazan. Moscow and various other nearby towns and regions can also be reached by buses departing from the local bus station. The Yoshkar-Ola Airport is also located 9 km north of the city and handles small aircraft Moscow-bound flights (Domodedovo International Airport) since June 2008. It is planned to expand the range of destinations in the near future.

Destinations within the city limits can be reached through a network of buses, trolleys, and route taxis, or "marshrutkas". There are currently seven different bus routes, eleven different trolley routes, and seventeen "marshrutka" routes.Fact|date=June 2008

Climate

The city is situated in a temperate continental climate. The winters are long and cold with high yearly snowfall totals in these regions, in the majority of winter seasons a temperature of -18°C or lower can be expected with January as the coldest month. The area enjoys pleasantly warm summers, marred by only occasional, brief intervals of sultry or rainy conditions with July as the hottest month (+32...+34°C).

Education

Yoshkar-Ola is home to several institutions of higher education:

* [http://www.marsu.ru Mari State University] (Марийский государственный университет)
* [http://www.marstu.ru Mari State Technical University] (Марийский государственный технический университет)
* [http://www.mgpi.mari.ru Mari State Pedagogical Institute] (Марийский государственный педагогический институт) (lately integrated into the Mary State University)

Yoshkar-Ola's Twin Town

Yoshkar-Ola is twinned with:
* Szombathely (Hungary)
* Bourges (France)
* Princeton (USA, West Virginia)

ee also

*Crime in Mari El

External links

* [http://yoshkarola.online.fr/index_en.htm Detailed map of the city of Yoshkar-Ola]
* [http://translate.google.com/translate?u=kb-yola.ru&hl=ru&ie=UTF-8&sl=ru&tl=en Red-White Yoshkar-Ola ENG]
* [http://kb-yola.ru Red-White Yoshkar-Ola RUS]