Simferopol

Coordinates: 44°57′7″N 34°6′8″E / 44.95194°N 34.10222°E / 44.95194; 34.10222
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Simferopol
  • Сімферополь (
    State Medical University
    , Trinity Cathedral, Salgirka Park
Flag of Simferopol
Flag
Coat of arms of Simferopol
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
Город пользы  (in Russian)
The City of Usefulness  (translation)
Simferopol is located in Ukraine
Simferopol
Simferopol
Simferopol is located in Crimea
Simferopol
Simferopol
Coordinates: 44°57′7″N 34°6′8″E / 44.95194°N 34.10222°E / 44.95194; 34.10222
Country (de jure)1Ukraine Ukraine
RegionAutonomous Republic of Crimea Autonomous Republic of Crimea
Country (de facto)Russia Russia
Federal Subject (de facto)Autonomous Republic of Crimea Republic of Crimea
MunicipalitySimferopol Municipality
Founded215th century
Boroughs
List
  • Zheleznodorozhnyi District
  • Tsentralnyi District
  • Kievskyi District
Government
 (
Sister cities
Heidelberg, Kecskemét, Salem, Bursa, Eskişehir, Ruse, Nizhny Novgorod
Websitesimgov.ru (Russian administration)
1 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262
2 Founded in 1784 as Simferopol, a Russian city. The settlement was previously known by the Crimean Tatar name Aqmescit.

Simferopol (

2014 Census).[2]

After the 1784

annexation of the Crimean Khanate by the Russian Empire, the Russian empress decreed the foundation of the city with the name Simferopol on the location of the Crimean Tatar town of Aqmescit
("White Mosque").

Etymologies

The name Simferopol (Ukrainian: Сімферо́поль [sʲimfeˈrɔpɔlʲ] ⓘ; Russian: Симферо́поль [sʲɪmfʲɪˈropəlʲ]) comes from the Greek Sympheropoli (Greek: Συμφερόπολη, romanized: Symferópoli, lit. 'city of common good'. The spelling Symferopil (Ukrainian: Симферопіль) is also used.[3]

In Crimean Tatar, the name of the city is Aqmescit (

cardinal points among the Turkic peoples
, where white is the west. Thus, the exact translation of the name of the town is "the Western Mosque."

In English, the name was often given as Akmechet or Ak-Mechet (e.g. in Encyclopædia Britannica),[4] a transliteration from Russian spelling of Crimean Tatar word Акмечет, Ак-Мечеть, where Mechet (Мечеть) is the Russian word for "mosque".

History

Early history

The city in 1856, by Carlo Bossoli.

Archaeological evidence in the

Scythians who lived in the territory from the 3rd century BC to the 4th century AD.[5]

Later, the Crimean Tatars founded the town of Aqmescit. For some time, Aqmescit was the residence of the Qalğa-Sultan, the second most important position in the Crimean Khanate after the Khan himself.[6] The area of the city once known as Aqmescit is today called Old Simferopol.

Russian Empire

Ruins of Greek chapel near Simferopol and Chatyr-Dag, pictured in 1810

In 1784 modern Ukrainian[

Russian Imperial Army
reserves and a hospital were stationed in the city. After the war, more than 30,000 Russian soldiers were buried in the city's vicinity.

20th-century wars

In the 20th century, Simferopol was once again affected by wars and conflicts in the region. At the end of the

Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
.

OT-34
, monument of World War II

During World War II, Simferopol was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1 November 1941 to 13 April 1944. Retreating NKVD police shot a number of prisoners on 31 October 1941 in the NKVD building and the city's prison.[8] Germans perpetrated one of the largest war-time massacres in Simferopol, killing in total over 22,000 locals—mostly Jews, Russians, Krymchaks, and Romani.[9] On one occasion, starting 9 December 1941, the Einsatzkommando 11b, which was under the command of Werner Braune, whose main unit and superior were Einsatzgruppe D and Otto Ohlendorf, respectively, command killed an estimated 14,300 Simferopol residents, mostly Jewish.[10]

In April 1944 the Red Army liberated Simferopol. On 18 May 1944 the Crimean Tatar population of the city, along with the whole Crimean Tatar nation of Crimea, was forcibly deported to Central Asia as collective punishment for the perceived collaboration of Tatars with Nazi Germany.[11]

Ukraine

On 26 April 1954, Simferopol, together with the rest of the

transferred from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev
.

An

2141 Simferopol).[12]

Following a

Crimean Oblast was upgraded to an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic on 12 February 1991 by the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR.[13]
Simferopol became the capital of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

After the

collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Simferopol became the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within newly independent Ukraine. Today, the city has a population of 340,600 (2006) most of whom are ethnic Russians, with the rest being Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar
minorities.

After the Crimean Tatars were allowed to return from exile in the 1990s, several new Crimean Tatar suburbs were constructed, as many more Tatars returned to the city compared to number exiled in 1944. Land ownership between the current residents and returning Crimean Tatars is a major area of conflict today with the Tatars requesting the return of lands seized after their deportation.[14]

Russian annexation

Further information: Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

After Russia occupied and formally

Russian Federation encompassing the majority of the peninsula by decree of Russian president Vladimir Putin, with the exception of Sevastopol, which became a federal сity.[15]

Prior to the seizure of the city by Russia, a mass protest was organised by the city's Crimean Tatars in support of Crimea remaining as part of Ukraine.[16]

Geography and climate

The Simferopol Reservoir provides clean drinking water to the city.

Location

Simferopol is located in the south-central

Salhir River
near the artificial Simferopol Reservoir, which provides the city with clean drinking water. The Simferopol Reservoir's earth dam is the biggest in Europe.

Climate

The city experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa),[17] near the boundary of the humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa).[17] The average temperature in January is 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) and 23 °C (73 °F) in July. The average rainfall is 501 millimetres (19.7 in) per year, and there is a total of 2,529 hours of sunshine per year.

Climate data for Simferopol (1991–2020, extremes 1886–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.8
(69.4) 		21.9
(71.4) 		28.7
(83.7) 		31.5
(88.7) 		34.2
(93.6) 		37.7
(99.9) 		39.3
(102.7) 		39.5
(103.1) 		37.2
(99.0) 		33.3
(91.9) 		28.0
(82.4) 		25.4
(77.7) 		39.5
(103.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.1
(39.4) 		5.5
(41.9) 		10.2
(50.4) 		16.3
(61.3) 		21.9
(71.4) 		26.5
(79.7) 		29.8
(85.6) 		29.7
(85.5) 		24.0
(75.2) 		17.5
(63.5) 		11.1
(52.0) 		6.1
(43.0) 		16.9
(62.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.4
(32.7) 		1.1
(34.0) 		4.8
(40.6) 		10.2
(50.4) 		15.6
(60.1) 		20.2
(68.4) 		23.0
(73.4) 		22.8
(73.0) 		17.6
(63.7) 		11.8
(53.2) 		6.4
(43.5) 		2.4
(36.3) 		11.4
(52.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.9
(26.8) 		−2.6
(27.3) 		0.4
(32.7) 		4.8
(40.6) 		9.9
(49.8) 		14.5
(58.1) 		17.0
(62.6) 		16.6
(61.9) 		12.1
(53.8) 		7.2
(45.0) 		2.7
(36.9) 		−0.8
(30.6) 		6.6
(43.9)
Record low °C (°F) −26.0
(−14.8) 		−30.3
(−22.5) 		−18.4
(−1.1) 		−11.1
(12.0) 		−8.4
(16.9) 		0.7
(33.3) 		3.6
(38.5) 		3.8
(38.8) 		−5.1
(22.8) 		−11.4
(11.5) 		−21.7
(−7.1) 		−23.2
(−9.8) 		−30.3
(−22.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 42
(1.7) 		34
(1.3) 		36
(1.4) 		33
(1.3) 		40
(1.6) 		58
(2.3) 		39
(1.5) 		47
(1.9) 		40
(1.6) 		45
(1.8) 		44
(1.7) 		43
(1.7) 		501
(19.7)
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 12 11 11 11 10 11 8 7 10 11 13 14 129
Average snowy days 11 11 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 9 44
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		85 81 75 68 69 67 63 61 68 76 82 85 73
Mean monthly sunshine hours 80.7 109.9 160.2 227.6 299.2 321.3 358.5 332.6 259.1 190.2 115.2 74.1 2,528.6
Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net[18]
Source 2:
NOAA[19]

Politics and administrative divisions

See also:
Simferopol municipality
Simferopol's city centre
The Crimean Trolleybus runs from Simferopol to Yalta.

As the capital of Crimea, Simferopol houses its political structure including the

Simferopolskyi District (raion
), but is directly subordinate to the Crimean authorities rather than to the district authorities housed in the city itself.

The city of Simferopol is administratively divided into three urban districts (Zaliznychnyi, Kyivskyi and Tsentralnyi), four urban-type settlements[citation needed] (Ahrarne, Aeroflotskyi, Hresivskyi, Komsomolske) and the village of Bitumne.[20]

Viktor Ageev became city mayor on 11 November 2010 and was then elected chairman of the Simferopol City Council on 29 September 2014.[21]

Igor Lukashyov was installed as the head of Simferopol City administration (i.e. local executive) after Russia annexed the region in 2014. He served in this position until his dismissal on 9 November 2018.[22]

Transportation

Simferopol has a

major railway station, which serves millions of tourists each year. In December 2014 Ukraine cut the railway line to Crimea at the border with mainland Ukraine (Kherson Oblast). Currently, the station serves only a commuter (regional) passenger train
and the Moscow – Simferopol train every day.

The city is also connected via the

Zavodskoye Airport
is situated southwest of Simferopol.

The city has several main bus stations, with routes towards many cities, including

Yevpatoriya. The Crimean Trolleybus connects Simferopol to the city of Yalta on Crimean Black Sea coast. The line is the longest trolleybus line in the world with a total length of 86 kilometres (53 mi)[24]
(since 2014 again 96 kilometres (60 mi)).

The streets of Simferopol have a rare house numbering – the odd numbers are on the right side of the road, looking in the direction in which the numbers increase.

Demographics

At the last census in 2014, the population of Simferopol was 332,317, the highest of any city in the Republic of Crimea and second only to Sevastopol within the Crimean peninsula.

Economy

When it existed,

Simferopol Airport.[25] A new 19-gate terminal for the airport finished construction in 2018. The terminal was designed in the shape of a wave by Samoo Architects & Engineers, after their successful bid as part of an international competition.[26]

Industry

Simferopol is home to a number of industrial plants, including the following:

Education

The largest collection of higher education institutions in Crimea is located in Simferopol. Among them is the largest university in Simferopol and Crimea, the

new federal university
campus was opened 4 August 2014.

Sports

Simferopol is home to the football club

Ukraine Premier League, and also won the Ukrainian Cup
in 2010.

Houses of worship

Notable people

Alisa Melekhina, 2014
Oleg Sentsov
, 2018

Sport

Yana Klochkova, 2010

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Simferopol is currently twinned with:

Notes

  1. ^ See § Etymologies for other names

References

  1. ^ Для крымских автомобилистов приготовили новые номера. Segodnya (in Russian). 2 April 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. Federal State Statistics Service
    . Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Map from 1918 showing the name "Symferopil"". uinp.gov.ua. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Simferopol" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 122;see para 2. Afterwards the Tatar settlement of Ak-mechet.....
  5. ^ "Simferopol". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Simferopol". Vacation in Crimea (in Russian). Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  7. ^ "Russian cities with Greek names". Sevastopolskaya gazeta (in Russian). 20 July 2006. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  8. ^ Kirimal, Edige. "Complete Destruction of National Groups as Groups". International Committee for Crimea. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  9. ^ "Simferopol". simferopol.ws (in Russian). Retrieved 13 May 2008.
  10. ^ Das Personenlexikon zum Dritten Reich. Wer war was vor und nach 1945. Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Zweite aktualisierte Auflage, Frankfurt am Main 2005, page 72
  11. ^ Mark A. Green. "Crimean Tatars and Russification". Wilson Center.
  12. ISBN 3-540-00238-3
    .
  13. ^ "Day in history – 20 January". RIA Novosti (in Russian). 8 January 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
  14. ^ "Tatars push to regain their historic lands in Crimea". Today's Zaman. 31 March 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  15. ^ "Russian President Vladimir Putin signs laws completing annexation of Crimea". Deutsche Welle. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Russia puts military on high alert as Crimea protests leave one man dead". the Guardian. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  17. ^
    doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130
    . Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Climate Averages for Simferopol" (in Russian). Weather and Climate (Погода и климат). Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  19. National Centers for Environmental Information
    . Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  20. ^ "City of Simferopol Autonomous Republic of Crimea". Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  21. ^ "Биография". Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  22. ^ Russia-Installed Head Of Crimea's Capital Removed
  23. ^ "Welcome to the International Airport "Simferopol"". Simferopol International Airport. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  24. ^ "The longest trolleybus line in the world!". blacksea-crimea.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  25. ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 27 March – 2 April 2001. 57.
  26. ^ "Новый терминал аэропорта Симферополь". Гид Крыма (in Russian). Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  27. ^ "Main page". Vernadskiy Tavricheskiy National University. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  28. ^ "Twinning". City of Heidelberg. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2009.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simferopol&oldid=1216444857"