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'Cheboksary' (; , ''Shupashkar'') is a city and the capital of the Chuvash Republic, Russia. It is a port on the Volga River. Population: 453,700 (2004 est.); 440,621 (2002 Census); 419,592 (1989 Census). There is a satellite city Novocheboksarsk about six kilometers east with a population of 125,857 (2002 Census).
Cheboksary is divided into three city districts: Kalininsky, Leninsky, and Moscovsky.

Contents

History

Culture

Education

Economy

Transportation

Sister cities

External links

History

Cheboksary was first mentioned in written sources in 1469, when Russian soldiers passed here on their way to the Khanate of Kazan. According to archaeological excavations, however, the area had been populated considerably earlier. The site hosted a Bulgarian city of Veda Suar, which appeared after Mongol-Tatars defeated major Volga Bulgarian cities in XIII century. During the Mongol-tatar Khanate period the town is believed by some to have had a Turkic name 'Çabaqsar' and that the current Russian and English names originate from it. However, in maps by European travelers it was marked as 'Cibocar' (Pizzigano, 1367), 'Veda-Suar' (Fra Mauro, 1459). 'Shupashkar', the Chuvash name literally means the Fortress of the Chuvash.
In 1555, the Russians built a fortress and established a settlement here. In 1625, there were 458 soldiers quartered in Cheboksary, and in 1646 there were 661 males living in the settlement. At the end of the 17th century, Cheboksary was regarded as a major commercial city of the Volga region, and in 1781 it received the status of a city of the Kazan province. In the beginning of the 19th century the population was about 5500, the town had a sawmill and several small manufactures.
Cheboksary also was noted for its 25 churches and four monasteries, and Cheboksary bells were known in London and Paris.

In the 16th and first half of the 17th century the Vvedensky cathedral, four monasteries and eighth churches had been built, in the 18th century the stone buildings of treasury and archive, magistracy, court, and 10 churches. In 1880 here were counted 783 houses (33 of them from stone), 91 stores, three schools, two hospitals and a bank.
In the beginning of the 20th century, 5100 people were living in Cheboksary. In 1965 the population was 163.000.

Culture

Like many Russian cities, Cheboksary possesses excellent cultural opportunities. There is an opera-ballet theatre, a philharmonic orchestra, and numerous theaters (showing productions in both Russian and Chuvash languages). However, a very popular gathering place for the locals is the recently completed ''zaliv'' (bay), beautifully situated in the middle of the city. There people gather to stroll, visit cafes, and socialize. Cheboksary also has beautiful boardwalks and beaches along the Volga River, where people swim in the summer. There are also a number of heated pools, health clubs, and museums (including Russia's only beer museum).

Education

Educational institutions include the Chuvash State University, Chuvash State Agriculture Academy and the Chuvash State Pedagogical University.

Economy

Cheboksary is located near a hydro-electric power station generating up to 1404 MW, with a reservoir of 2,274 km².

Transportation

The Cheboksary Airport (IATA CSY, ICAO UWKS, international airport since 1995) receives both cargo and passenger aircraft of practically all types and sizes. There are regularly scheduled flights to Moscow and other destinations. Chuvashia Airlines is based at this airport.
Cheboksary is located about a two-hour drive from Nizhny Novgorod, a city with international air connections through Lufthansa.
Because the Volga River runs through Chuvashia, Cheboksary is a frequent stop on the many boat tours that travel along the major cities up and down the Volga.
To the south, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Astrakhan, the Caspian Sea, and Black Sea are directly reachable. To the west, the Volga River connects Cheboksary with Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Moscow, and the northern regions of Russia. By using river-sea vessels, it is possible to take cargo from Chuvash riverports all the way to Saint Petersburg, Novorossiysk (on the Black Sea), Astrakhan, and ports situated on the Danube river. However, the river is frozen from December through April.
Public transportation within Cheboksary is among the best in Russia. An extensive system of trolleybuses, autobuses, and minibuses covers the city, providing quick, convenient access to all parts of the city. For those who prefer taxis, there are several taxi agencies available, but the favorite means of transportation among locals are so-called "Gypsy" cabs. In Russia, anybody who owns a car is potentially a taxi. This can be a convenient way to get around but it is also potentially dangerous. Official taxis cost less than two dollars for travel between most points within the city.

Sister cities

Cheboksary is twinned with

★ Eger in Hungary

★ Antalya in Turkey

★ Santa Clara in Cuba

External links

★

★ Map of Cheboksary and environs

★ Photos from Cheboksary

★ Cheboksary travel info