Kerch
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Kerch
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City | |
Coordinates: 45°21′43″N 36°28′16″E / 45.36194°N 36.47111°E | |
Country | Disputed: |
Sister cities | Mogilev, Smolensk, Çanakkale, Oryol, Odintsovo, Sochi |
Climate | Cfa |
Website | горсовет-керчь.рф (de facto) |
1 Autonomous Republic of Crimea (de jure) or Republic of Crimea (de facto), depending on jurisdiction. |
Kerch (
Founded 2,600 years ago as an ancient Greek colony, Pantikapaion, Kerch is considered to be one of the most ancient cities in Crimea. The city experienced rapid growth starting in the 1920s and was the site of a major battle during World War II.
Today, it is one of the largest cities in Crimea and is among the area's most important industrial, transport and tourist centres. As with the other parts of Crimea, it is currently occupied by Russian forces following the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.
History
Ancient times
Archeological digs at Mayak village near the city ascertained that the area had already been inhabited in the 17th–15th centuries BC. While many finds from Kerch can be found in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and the local museum, a large number of antique sculptures, reliefs, bronze and glassware, ceramics and jewellery were excavated in 1855-1856 during the Crimean War by Dr Duncan MacPherson, a surgeon from the British Army, and later donated to the British Museum in London.[2][3][4]
Kerch as a city starts its history in the 7th century BC, when
In the 1st century AD Panticapaeum and the Kingdom of Bosporus suffered from
Middle Ages
From the 6th century the city was under the control of the
In the 7th century, the Turkic Khazars took control of Bospor, and the city was named Karcha from Turkic "karşı" meaning 'opposite, facing.' The main local government official during Khazar times was the tudun. Christianity was a major religion in Kerch during the period of Khazar rule. Kerch's Church of St. John the Baptist was founded in 717; thus, it is the oldest church in Ukraine.[7] The Church of the Apostles existed during the late 8th and early 9th centuries, according to the Life of the Apostle Andrew by Epiphanius of Salamis.
Following the fall of Khazaria to
expedition in 1016.From the 10th century, the city was a
In the 13th century, Crimea including Korchev was invaded by
In 1475, the city was passed to the
18th–20th centuries
In response to the strengthening of
In 1790 Russian naval forces under the command of admiral
Because of its location, from 1821 Kerch developed into an important trade and fishing port. The state museum of ancient times and a number of educational institutions were opened in the city. The ironwork factory was built in 1846 based on a huge iron ore deposit found on Kerch Peninsula.
During the Crimean War the city was devastated by British forces in 1855.
In the late 19th century, mechanical and cement factories were built, and tinned food and tobacco factories were established. By 1900, Kerch was connected to a railroad system, and the fairway of Kerch Strait was deepened and widened. At this time, the population had reached 33,000.
After suffering a decline during the First World War and the Russian Civil War, the city resumed its growth in the late 1920s, with the expansion of various industries, iron ore, and metallurgy in particular, and by 1939 its population had reached 104,500.
Kerch in World War II
On the
The German invaders killed about 15,000 citizens and deported another 14,000 during their occupation. Evidence of German atrocities in Kerch was presented in the Nuremberg trials. After the war, the city was awarded the title Hero City.
The Adzhimushkay catacombs in the city's suburbs were the site of guerrilla warfare against the occupation. Thousands of soldiers and refugees found shelter inside and were involved in counterattacks. Many of them died underground, including those who died of numerous alleged poison gas attacks. Later, a memorial was established on the site.
Kerch in the Soviet Union
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Kerch in Independent Ukraine
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On 11 November 2007, a powerful storm passed through the city, causing much damage and an ecological disaster as a few ships, including an oil tanker, were shipwrecked and blocked the Kerch Strait.
Russian occupation
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As with the other parts of Crimea, as of 2023[update] Kerch is occupied by Russian forces following the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014.
On 17 October 2018, a student killed 20 people and himself at Kerch Polytechnic College.
Geography
Climate
Kerch has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa)[11] with cool to cold winters and warm to hot summers.
Climate data for Kerch (1991–2020, extremes 1936–present) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 15.6 (60.1) |
17.5 (63.5) |
23.4 (74.1) |
27.6 (81.7) |
30.6 (87.1) |
35.2 (95.4) |
37.7 (99.9) |
37.9 (100.2) |
35.5 (95.9) |
30.9 (87.6) |
23.2 (73.8) |
19.4 (66.9) |
37.9 (100.2) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) |
4.5 (40.1) |
8.8 (47.8) |
14.9 (58.8) |
21.0 (69.8) |
26.0 (78.8) |
29.0 (84.2) |
28.9 (84.0) |
23.4 (74.1) |
16.9 (62.4) |
10.2 (50.4) |
5.8 (42.4) |
16.1 (61.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 0.7 (33.3) |
1.1 (34.0) |
4.7 (40.5) |
10.1 (50.2) |
16.0 (60.8) |
21.2 (70.2) |
24.1 (75.4) |
24.0 (75.2) |
18.6 (65.5) |
12.6 (54.7) |
6.6 (43.9) |
2.8 (37.0) |
11.9 (53.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.0 (28.4) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
1.2 (34.2) |
5.8 (42.4) |
11.3 (52.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
19.1 (66.4) |
19.2 (66.6) |
13.9 (57.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
3.5 (38.3) |
0.1 (32.2) |
7.9 (46.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | −23.7 (−10.7) |
−23.1 (−9.6) |
−15.6 (3.9) |
−6.5 (20.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
2.8 (37.0) |
9.9 (49.8) |
7.5 (45.5) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−17.6 (0.3) |
−23.7 (−10.7) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 38 (1.5) |
29 (1.1) |
33 (1.3) |
29 (1.1) |
31 (1.2) |
53 (2.1) |
33 (1.3) |
41 (1.6) |
35 (1.4) |
31 (1.2) |
39 (1.5) |
37 (1.5) |
429 (16.9) |
Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 1 (0.4) |
2 (0.8) |
1 (0.4) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.4) |
2 (0.8) |
Average rainy days | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 111 |
Average snowy days | 8 | 8 | 5 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 2 | 7 | 30 |
Average relative humidity (%)
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86 | 83 | 79 | 75 | 74 | 70 | 66 | 65 | 71 | 78 | 83 | 85 | 76 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 64.5 | 96.9 | 142.7 | 207.2 | 282.3 | 307.7 | 349.0 | 322.3 | 246.7 | 172.5 | 92.9 | 59.9 | 2,344.6 |
Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net[12] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: World Meteorological Organization[13] |
Administration
The city municipality stretches over a substantial area and includes several separate neighborhoods that are part of the Kerch city: Eltigen (Heroyevskoe), Kamysh-Burun (Arshyntsevo), Port Krym, Adzhimushkai, and Tuzla Island.
Economy
Today Kerch is home to many
Industry
The largest enterprises in the city are:
- Kerch Metallurgical Works Factory launched in 1900[14]
- Kamysh-Burun Iron Ore Plant
- "Zaliv" ("Gulf") shipbuilding factory that produces and repairs tankers and cargo ships.
Construction-materials, food processing, and light industries play a significant role in the city's economy. Kerch is also a fishing fleet base and an important processing centre for numerous fish products.
- Kerch Aircraft Repair Plant KeARZ
- KMZ KMK Metallurgical Plant, Kerch east
- Oil and Gas extraction industry petrochemical and storage
- Zaliv Shipyard, (Kamysh Burun Zheleznogoroda)
- Kvartz Quartz Glass Factory Plant KSZ (Glass (various) and optics, optical materials and instruments) (Kerch)
- PSZ Albatros, PSZ KMPZ Vityaz Priladobudivni (Instruments and Instruments making, Machinery, Engineering)
- Kamysh Burun Iron Metallurgy Plant
- KMZ KMTP SV Fregat floating docks yard and ship repair yard
- KSRZ uvas-trans floating docks yards and ship repair (also lesser Kerch ship repair yards around)
Tourism
Because of its location on the shores of the Azov and Black seas, Kerch became a popular summer resort among people of the former USSR. Also, several mud-cure sources are located near the city. Despite the seaside location, the tourist appeal of Kerch today is limited because of the industrial character of the city and associated pollution. Despite the lack of beaches in the town's area, there are a lot of them at a distance of 20 minutes' travel by bus, train or taxi.
Kerch has a number of impressive architectural and historical monuments. Ancient historical heritage of the city makes it attractive for scientific tourism. The most notable of Kerch's sights are:
- Site of ancient settlement Pantikapaeum (5th century BC–3rd century AD).
- Tsarskiy Kurghan(4th century BC) – burial mound for one of the Bosporian kings
- Church of St. John the Baptist (AD 717)
- Fortress of Yenikale(18th century)
- The Great Mithridates Staircase leading on top of the Mount Mithridat, contains 428 footsteps, built in 1833–1840 under the guidance of Italian architect Alexander Digbi
- Obelisk of Glory on the Mount Mithridat, built after World War II
- Lapidarium
- Memorial of heroic guerilla warfare in Adzhimushkay mines
- Kerch Fortress; restricted area in Soviet times but free to enter in present days. The fortress was built by the Russian military architect Totleben in the middle of 19th century.
- Sites of ancient settlements Mirmecium, Tiritaka and Nimphei. There are also some settlements which have gone underwater due to earthquakes.
- So called Demetra's Crypt, a crypt with numerous frescos dated 1st century BC.
Transport
Kerch has a harbour on the Kerch Strait, which makes it a key to the Sea of Azov, several railroad terminals and a small airport. The Kerch Strait ferry line across the Kerch Strait was established in 1953, connecting Crimea and the Krasnodar Krai (Port Krym – Port Kavkaz line); (as of November 2009) there are also plans for a Kerch-Poti ferry route.[15] Tavrida Highway work in progress along Kerch railway (two rails) highway (four lanes) bridge to connect Rostov Krasnodar with peninsula.
There are several ports in Kerch, including Kerch Maritime Trading Port, Kerch Maritime Fishing Port, Port Krym (ferry crossing), Kamysh-Burun Port.
The railroad terminals include: Kerch, Kerch I, Kerch Factory, Arshyntsevo, and Krym.
Bus network connects Kerch to other cities in Crimea and Krasnodar Krai.
City transport
Kerch has short tram system established in 1935 and destroyed in 1941.
Kerch trolleybus system established in 2004, and have one line.
Crimean Bridge
On 25 April 2010, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed an agreement to build a bridge across the Kerch Strait. In January 2015, with Russia now in control, the contract for the construction of the bridge was awarded to Arkady Rotenberg's S.G.M. Group. In May 2015 construction commenced, and the road section of the bridge was opened to traffic in May 2018. The rail section was opened in 2019, with Russian President Vladimir Putin taking the first train across on 23 December.[16] It was heavily damaged by an explosion on 8 October 2022.
Culture
Festivals and celebrations
- Liberation Day (11 April)
- Day of Fishermen (the second Sunday of July)
- Day of the City (the second Saturday of September)
Education
Kerch hosts (2004):
- 28 schools,
- 9 institutes and branches of Ukrainian and Russian universities,
- shipbuilding and polytechnical colleges,
- medical school,
- 6 PTU schools,
- a number of pre-school child institutions
Archaeology
Archaeological digs in Kerch were launched under Russian auspices in the middle of the 19th century. Since then the site of ancient
Treasures and historical findings of Kerch adorn the Lapidarium in Kerch and the collections of major museums around the world. Such as: the Hermitage, the Louvre, the British Museum, the Berlin Museum, the Moscow State Museum of fine arts and many others.
Currently, excavations at ancient fortresses of Kerch are led by scientists from Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.
Twin towns – sister cities
City | Country | Year |
---|---|---|
Mogilev | Belarus | 1998 |
Smolensk | Russia | 1998 |
Çanakkale | Turkey | 1999 |
Oryol | Russia | 2004 |
Odintsovo | Russia | 2004 |
Sochi | Russia | 2005 |
Kyiv | Ukraine | 1997 |
Tula, Russia | Russia | 2014 |
Notable people
- Luke of Simferopol, (1877–1961), aka Saint Luke the Blessed Surgeon, surgeon and bishop
- Pyotr Voykov (1888–1927), a Ukrainian Bolshevik revolutionary and Soviet diplomat, assassinated in Warsaw
- Yuri Terapiano (1892–1980), a Russian poet, writer, translator and literary critic
- Jia Ruskaja (1902–1970), a Russian dancer and choreographer
- Paul Soskin (1905–1975), Russian born, British screenwriter and film producer.
- Boris Khodorov (1922–2014), physiologist and professor of physiology
- Alime Abdenanova (1924—1944), a Crimean Tatar scout in the Red Army during WWII.
- Volodia Dubinin (1928–1942), a Pioneer Hero of the Soviet Union
- Vasily Filippenko (1936–1968), known as The Leningrad Strangler, a Soviet serial killer
- Anatoliy Kokush (born 1951), a Ukrainian film engineer, businessman and inventor.
- Yuri Adzhem (born 1953), a Russian former football coach and player with over 330 club caps
- Sergey Dorenko (1959–2019), Russian TV and radio journalist, hosted a news commentary program, 1999–2000.
- Mikhail Reva (born 1960), a Ukrainian artist, sculptor, architect and jewelry craftsman
- Ihor Leonov (born 1967), a Ukrainian former football midfielder with 492 club caps and manager.
- Masha Efrosinina (born 1979), a Ukrainian TV host and media personality.
- Ulyana Nesheva (born 1983), a Ukrainian contemporary painter and tattoo artist
- Valeriya Strakhova (born 1995), a Ukrainian tennis player
Honours
A
Gallery
Fortress Kerch | Interior of the Church of Saint John the Baptist | Royal barrow (Royal Kurgan) entrance.
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See also
- Bosporan Kingdom
- Kerch (fortress)
- Kerch Polytechnic College massacre
- Kerch Strait
- Mount Mithridat
- Panticapaeum
- Tuzla Island
- Yeni-Kale
References
- Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ "British Museum Collection".
- ^ "British Museum Collection".
- ^ "Antiquities of Kertch, and Researches in the Cimmerian Bosphorus, with Remarks on the ethnological and physical History of the Crimea by Duncan MacPherson ( 1857 )".
- ^ See Talk:Kerch#Meaning of Greek name? for discussion about the Greek name Panticapaeum.
- ^ Butyagin, Alexander (29 July 2008). "Myrmekion". Foundation of the Hellenic World. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ Cohen, Saul Bernard (2008). The Columbia Gazetteer of the World: A to G. p. 1876.
- ^ Inalcik, Halil (1979). "Servile Labor in the Ottoman Empire". In Ascher, Abraham; Király, Béla K.; Halasi-Kun, Tibor (eds.). The Mutual Effects of the Islamic and Judeo-Christian Worlds: The East European Pattern. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Brooklyn College Press. pp. 25–43. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017.
- ^ "Black Sea Fleet (BSF) Morskoyo Flota ( Naval Force)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ Forczyk, Robert (2014). Where the Iron Crosses Grow. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 103, 110.
- . Retrieved 11 December 2012.
- ^ Климат Керчи. pogodaiklimat.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ L., S. (1 May 1952). "Iron and Steel in the Soviet Union". The World Today. 8 (5): 210–222.
- ^ "Yushchenko says Ukraine to try quickly implement Kerch-Poti ferry route project". Interfax-Ukraine. 19 November 2009 – via Kyiv Post.
- ^ Putin takes first train across Crimea bridge, AFP, 23 December 2019.
- ISBN 3-540-00238-3.
External links
- Моя Керчь multi portal My Kerch: news, photo gallery, announcements, etc.
- Керчь – это город interactive map of Kerch
- Керчь – это мой город unofficial website of Kerch: information, news, photos, forum etc. (in Russian)
- Webcams
- Kropotkin, Peter Alexeivitch; Bealby, John Thomas (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). p. 754.
- Photos of Kerch Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine from Panoramio
- Map of Kerch's Center (by "Kartografia", 2004)
- Infos and photos of Kerch in travelguide around Ukraine
- The murder of the Jews of Kerch during World War II, at Yad Vashem website.