Moscow:

History. The first reference to a Moscow, as to a town, is found in the old manuscript of 1147. In 1156, prince Yury Dolgoruky erected timber walls around Moscow with a moat. He is frequently regarded as a founder of Moscow, and his monument is among the most honoured ones in Moscow. The invasion of Mongols and Tatars in 1237-38 almost ruined the city, but 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 relatively large city with big industrial/trade population. In the end of 15th century, during Ivan III reign, Moscow becomes the capital of Russia. Moscow Kremlin, which was built in the beginning of the XV century, is a benchmark of that epoch. In 18th century tsar Peter the Great transferred the capital to St. Petersburg, but Moscow remained an important political, governmental and economical centre. In 1812 muscovites burned their native city almost entirely in order not to surrender it to French invaders. But the city was rebuilt very soon and by the end of the 19th century it became the second industrial centre in Russia after Saint Petersburg. After the communist revolution of the capital was again transferred to Moscow.

Now Moscow is the capital of Russia and centre of the Moscow region. The boundary of the city (since 1960) corresponds to the Moscow ring road that is situated at 17-21 kilometres from a city centre. The population of Moscow is 14 million people. It is divided into 10 administrative districts and 128 local districts, has 5 major airports, 8 major train stations.

Moscow has a large concentration of educational institutions, and its centres of higher education draw students from throughout Russia. Moscow State University (1755) is the leading educational institution. The city's many specialized educational institutions include the Moscow Timiryazev Academy of Agriculture and the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory. Scientific research is conducted by the Academy of Sciences of Russia and many institutions linked to industry. The city's libraries include the V.I. Lenin State Library.

Theatre, music, and art are important in the city's life. The State Academic Bolshoi ("Great") Theatre (1825), Maly ("Little") Theatre, and Moscow Art Theatre are especially renowned. Of the many museums and galleries, the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery are notable.

Few people in Moscow own automobiles, necessitating heavy reliance on public transportation provided by the Metropolitan (Metro) subway, buses, streetcars, and trolleybuses. The Metro system, which reflects the city's street patterns, is known for the elaborate architecture of its stations. Moscow is the centre of the country's rail network, on which freight transport is heavily dependent. Trunk rail lines radiate from the city in all directions to major Russian population and industrial centres, to Ukraine, Belarus, and eastern Europe, and to Central Asia. Suburban commuter traffic is facilitated by the Moscow Little Ring Railway (1908) and the Greater Moscow Ring Railway, which link radial lines. Passenger trains connect to destinations throughout Russia and Europe. Moscow is also a major river port and is served by the Moscow Canal. The Volga's various canals link Moscow to all the seas surrounding European Russia.

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").