General Information

Stavropol city is the capital of the Stavropol Territory of Russia situated on the Northern Caucasus. The area of the region is 80 600 sq. km and the population is about 2 650 300 people, which is l.79% of Russia’s total. The chief towns are Stavropol, the capital, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk and Cherkessk. The Karachay-Cherkess Republic is also a part of the territory.

Stavropol is the administrative centre of the Stavropol Territory and has a population of 328,000. Urban population is considered to be 53.7% of Stavropol Territory population comprises a rich mixture of ethnicities, languages, religions and cultural traditions. The city occupies the territory of 242 square kilometers.

City telephone code: +7 (8652)

Climate and Nature

The Stavropol Territory with the northern foothills of the main Caucasian range and dry steppes to the northeast boasts numerous mineral spas and is a major resort area. The climate of the Stavropol Territory is moderate, with warm summer days, cool evenings and relatively mild winters.

History

The Stavropol Territory was founded in 1924. At that time it was called the North Caucasus Territory. It was renamed Ordzhonikidze Territory in 1937 and was given its present name in 1943. Stavropol means the ‘city of cross’ in Greek.

Located on the northern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, between the Caspian and the Black sea, Stavropol was founded in 1777 around one of a series of fortresses. It was an important base for the subsequent Russian conquest of the Caucasus. It gained the status of the city in 1785. Between 1935 and 1943 the city was called Voroshilovsk.
Today Stavropol is the administrative, economic and cultural centere of the Stavropol Territory. The population is for the most part Russian and Ukrainian. Minority groups are Circassians, Karachay, and Nogay Tatar herders.

Economy

Apart from the semi-desert east, the extensive Stavropol Plain is covered with fertile soil used for highly developed agriculture. The Stavropol Krai produces l.92% of Russia’s agricultural output. Principal agricultural crops are sunflowers, sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, dairy, fruit, vegetables, wine. Cattle, hogs and sheep are bred.
The Stavropol Territory produces 0.73% of Russia’s industrial output. There are oil and natural-gas deposits in the central part of the region. There are also machine-tool, wool, leather, grain milling, and food-processing industries. Several mineral water bottling plants work in the Krai (region). These mineral waters are said to have certain curative powers and are distributed in Europe and the Middle East.

Transportation

The Caucasian Mineral Waters Area has a major regional airport at Mineralny Vody. Federal highways and passenger train service link the territory to major cities in the Russian Federation and other countries.
The major airlines serve Moscow and the connections from European cities are no problem. To get from Moscow to Stavropol, it is possible to use the train (36 hours) or fly 1.5 hours.

Places To See

There are 2 theatres, 6 museums, the Philharmonic Hall and the Circus in Stavropol. The first Russian Drama Theatre and the first Museum of Local Lore in Stavropol made an important contribution to development of the Northern Caucasus culture.

Hotels

There are several hotels in Stavropol some of which are listed below.

Intourist Hotel is a popular 100 room hotel. Address: Karl Marx Avenue, 42. Phone: +7 8652 946946, +7 8652 942489. Fax: +7 8652 946221.
Stavropolhotel is located in the city center in 8 km from the railway station and 27 km from the airport. Address: Kominterna str., 1. Phone: +7 8652 342426, +7 8652 393861.
Tourist Hotel is also located in the city center. Address: Lenina str., 273. Phone: +7 8652 360009.

Evgeniya Stroganova