Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city had a population of 5,601,911 residents as of 2021, with more than 6.4 million people living in the metropolitan area. Saint Petersburg is the fourth-most populous city in Europe, the most populous city on the Baltic Sea, and the world's northernmost city of more than 1 million residents. As Russia's former Imperial capital, and a historically strategic port, it is governed as a federal city.
Some of the key events about Saint Petersburg
- 1703The city of Saint Petersburg was founded as the new capital of the Russian Empire
- 1703Thousands of forced laborers died during the construction of the city
- 1724The Russian Academy of Sciences was established in Saint Petersburg
- 1724A devastating flood submerged most of the city, causing significant damage
- 1764The State Hermitage Museum was founded, becoming one of the world's largest and oldest museums
- 1811The Imperial School of Jurisprudence was established, contributing to the development of Russia's legal system
- 1825The Decembrist revolt was violently suppressed in Senate Square
- 1837The first Russian railway was opened, connecting Saint Petersburg to Tsarskoye Selo
- 1862The Saint Petersburg Conservatory, Russia's oldest music school, was founded
- 1905Bloody Sunday massacre occurred when peaceful protesters were fired upon by Imperial guards
- 1907The first electric tram line in Saint Petersburg began operation
- 1917The city became the epicenter of the Russian Revolution, leading to widespread violence and upheaval
- 1941The Siege of Leningrad began, resulting in a 872-day blockade and massive loss of civilian life
- 1942Severe famine struck the besieged city, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths
- 1955The Saint Petersburg Metro opened, becoming the second metro system in the Soviet Union
- 1975A major fire destroyed the upper floors of the Badaev warehouses, a significant architectural landmark
- 1990The historic center of Saint Petersburg was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site
- 2003The city celebrated its 300th anniversary with extensive renovations and cultural events
- 2009The city experienced its worst flooding in decades, causing extensive damage to infrastructure
- 2017A terrorist attack in the Saint Petersburg Metro killed 15 people and injured dozens more
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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