Krasnoyarsk (Russian: Красноярск), administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, is the third largest city in Siberia. It lies on the Yenisei River and is an important station on the Trans-Siberian railway. Geographical location The city population is estimated at 911,000 in 2002.

The city was founded in 1628, as a fort on the frontier. Its growth was stimulated by the arrival of the Siberian Post Road, and later by the discovery of gold and by the railroad. It has been the administrative center of the region since 1934, and is also an industrial and cultural center. The major industries include aluminum production, hydroelectric power station (fifth largest in the world), and ship yard. Krasnoyarsk became heavily industrialized during World War II, when dozens of factories were moved into it from the European part of Russia.

A metro system is being constructed and is due for completion in 2005.

The Soviet Union built a radar here that violated the ABM Treaty because the radar faced inward across the Soviet Union rather than towards the international border.

Views of Krasnoyarsk are pictured on a 10 ruble bill.

Education

Krasnoyarsk State University (founded in 1963 as a division of Novosibirsk State University, became standalone university in 1969).

Culture

Krasnoyarsk is the birthplace of a famous painter Vasily Surikov and a world class opera singer Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

Tourism

A few miles away from the city there is a national park Stolby ("Rock Pillars") with numerous rock formations up to 100 meters high. Stolby is a major rock climbing location.