Krasnoyarsk

Capital, economic and cultural centre of Krasnoyarsk krai (territory), in central Siberia, Russian Federation; population (2002) 909,300. Situated on the Yenisey River and the Trans-Siberian Railway, Krasnoyarsk played a key role in the opening up and industrial development of Siberia. Heavy-engineering works, chemical plants, and a number of light industries (including food processing) are sited within the city. Upstream from Krasnoyarsk lies a large hydroelectric power facility.

Krasnoyarsk was founded in 1628 as a Cossack fort, became the provincial capital in 1822 and grew rapidly as administrative centre of a gold-mining area. Its industrial development dates from the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and was boosted by the relocation of industry here from the west during World War II.

See also Novosibirsk.

The Stolby Nature Reserve is located to the southwest of the city. Krasnoyarsk was a ‘closed city’ during the Soviet period, due to the presence of secret nuclear weapons facilities in the vicinity (there is an early-warning and space-tracking radar phased array at nearby Abalakova).