Kurgan, Kurgan Oblast

Kurgan ( _ru. Курга́н) is the administrative center of Kurgan Oblast, Russia; one of the oldest cities in Siberia (geographical position: coord|55|28|N|65|21|E|). It was founded in 1663, then called Tsaryovo Gorodishche ( _ru. Царёво Городи́ще), and acquired its present name in 1782. Kurgan is on the Trans-Siberian railway line, between Yekaterinburg and Omsk. It is served by two train stations, Kurgan Airport and was home to Kurgan West air base during the Cold War. It is also a home to Ilizarov’s Scientific Center of Reparative Traumatology and Orthopedics, KAvZ autobus plant, and a machine building plant that produces widely known bmp-1, bmp-2 and bmp-3 infantry fighting vehicles .

Educational institutes

*Agricultural academy
*Kurgan State University
*Kurgan International Universiry
*Military Academy
*Railroad school Academy
*Various theaters.

Born in Kurgan

*Elena Temnikova
*Yulia Savicheva
*Maxim (Max) Fadeev

Population: 345,515 (2002 Census); 361,500 (2001 est.); 368,300 (1998 est.); 106,100 (1956; 10,600 (1897).