St. Petersburg

The name of our city is well-known throughout the world. Many historic events of crucial importance took place in this city.

Unlike other European cities St. Petersburg is only 290 years old. Founded by Peter I in the early 18th century St. Petersburg was growing so rapidly that by the end of the century it became one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Travellers were aistounded by the unique and charming beauty of its broad avenues, majestic squares, magnificent architectural ensembles, gilded spires and cupolas, numerous rivers and canals, gold-winged lions and stone sphinxes.

The city is situated along the banks of the Neva where it flows into the Gulf of Finland and on the 42 islands in the Neva delta. The largest islands are Vasilyevsky, Petrogradsky, Decembrists', Yealagin and Gutuyev. The length of the river is 74 km of which 32 fall within the the city boundaries. St. Petersburg is the northern-most of the world's greatest cities. It lies in the same latitude as Alaska and the southern tip of Greenland. The mean annual tem­perature is comparatively high +4,2°С largely due to the warm atlantic streams. However in winter the temperature can drop below 40 degrees of frost, while in summer it can rise above 30 of heat.

Inner St. Petersburg has an area of over 600 square km. There are about 2000 streets, squares and thorough­fares in St. Petersburg. Its population is about 5 million. By its area and population St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is one of the major indus­trial, scientific and cultural centres of the country, an im­portant railway junction and airport. St Petersburg is also a major river and sea port on the Baltic.

By the number of rivers, islands and bridges it excels any other city in Russia and is among the first in the world. There are 86 rivers and canals and over 100 ponds in the city.

St. Petersburg is often called a museum of bridges and rightly so, for it has more than 300. The longest bridge over the Neva, one km-long Alexander Nevsky bridge was built in our times.

Present-day St. Petersburg is not only a city of beau­tiful ensembles and historical monuments, but also of huge factories and shipyards, one of the most important centres of scientific and technological progress in Russia. Its enter­prises produce turbines and turbogenerators, tractors, ships, instruments and apparatus, unique machinery as well as fabrics, clothing, footwear and other consumer goods.

St. Petersburg has more than 300 research institutes, design and technological organizations and 30 institutes of the Academy of Science. Petersburg scientists have made new discoveries in the fields of physics, mathematics, chem­istry, geology and medicine. About 300 thousand students attend 41 education establishments of St. Petersburg.

Our city is also one of the major cultural centres in Russia. There are more than 30 theatres and concert halls there, including such well-known companies as the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theatre, The Musorgsky Theatre of Op-em and Ballet, The Tovstonogov Academic Bolshoi Drama Theatre, The Shostakovich Philharmonia and many, many others. There are 70 cinemas and 2500 libraries in St. Petersburg.

The large-scale construction that has taken place in the city in our times has greatly changed its appearance. Comfortable residential houses, schools, stadiums, gar­dens and parks have transformed the former outskirts into beautiful, well-appointed districts. In the post-war years new housing development was concentrated in the east, southeast, south and southwest of the city. In recent years | a large number of buildings have been erected to individual designs, with expressive facades, improved layout and modern conveniences. Extensive construction is being car­ried on the shore of the Gulf of Finland.

Exercise 17. Look through the text and find the En­glish for:

к концу столетия; быть пораженным красотой; великолепный архитектурный ансамбль; в пределах города; промышленный, научный и культурный центр; главный речной и морской порт; превосходить любой другой город; музей мостов; исторический памятник; сделать важное открытие; крупномасштабное жилищ­ное строительство; изменить облик города; превратить бывшие окраины в благоустроенные районы; в послевоенные годы.

Exercise 18. Consult the text and answer the follow­ing questions.

1. How old is St. Petersburg? 2. How did it change its % appearance by the end of the 18th century? 3. What were foreign visitors astounded by? 4. How long is the Neva within the city boundaries? 5. Why is our city often called the museum of bridges? 6. What does it excel any other 1 city in Russia by? 7. Why is St. Petersburg regarded to be one of the most important industrial, scientific and cultural centres in our country? 8. What has greatly changed the appearance of our city? 9. When did large-scale housing construction begin in St.Petersburg? 10. What were the former outskirts of the city transformed into in the post­war years?

Exercise 19. Check up your memory. How many questions can you answer off hand?