Tula, Russia

Tula (English)
Тула (Russian)
-  City[1]  -
Tulsky kreml.jpg
Tula Kremlin
Map of Russia - Tula Oblast (2008-03).svg
Location of Tula Oblast in Russia
Tula is located in Tula Oblast
Tula
Location of Tula in Tula Oblast
Coordinates: 54°12′N 37°37′E / 54.2°N 37.617°E / 54.2; 37.617Coordinates: 54°12′N 37°37′E / 54.2°N 37.617°E / 54.2; 37.617
Coat of Arms of Tula.png
Flag of Tula.png
Coat of arms
Flag
Administrative status (as of December 2011)
Country Russia
Federal subject Tula Oblast[1]
Administratively subordinated to Tula City Under Oblast Jurisdiction[1]
Administrative center of Tula Oblast,[1] Tula City Under Oblast Jurisdiction[1]
Municipal status (as of July 2011)
Urban okrug Tula Urban Okrug[2]
Administrative center of Tula Urban Okrug[2]
Mayor[citation needed] Alisa Tolkachyova[citation needed]
Representative body City Duma[3]
Statistics
Area 145 km2 (56 sq mi)[citation needed]
Population (2010 Census,
preliminary)
501,129 inhabitants[4]
Rank in 2010 37th
Population (2002 Census) 481,216 inhabitants[5]
Rank in 2002 36th
Density 3,456 /km2 (8,950 /sq mi)[6]
Time zone MSK (UTC+04:00)[7]
First mentioned 1382[citation needed]
Postal code(s) 300000–300999[8]
Dialing code(s) +7 4872[9]
Official website
Tula on WikiCommons

Tula (Russian: Ту́ла; IPA: [ˈtulə]) is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia, located 193 kilometers (120 mi) south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: 501,129 (2010 Census preliminary results);[4] 481,216 (2002 Census);[5] 539,980 (1989 Census).[10]

History

Tula was first mentioned in the Nikon Chronicle in relation to a military operation conducted in 1146.[citation needed] However, since the chronicle was written in the 16th century, the date is disputed. The first confirmed mention of Tula dates back to 1382.[citation needed]

The name of the city is of pre-Russian, probably Baltic, origin.[11] In the Middle Ages, Tula was a minor fortress at the border of the Principality of Ryazan. As soon as it passed to the Grand Duchy of Moscow, a brick citadel, or kremlin, was constructed in 1530. It was a key fortress of the Great Abatis Belt and successfully resisted a siege by the Tatars in 1552. In 1607, Ivan Bolotnikov and his supporters seized the citadel and withstood a four-months siege by the Tsar's army. In the 18th century, some parts of the kremlin walls were demolished. Despite its archaic appearance, the five-domed Assumption Cathedral in the kremlin was built as late as 1764.

In 1712, Tula was visited by Peter the Great, who commissioned the Demidov blacksmiths to build the first armament factory in Russia. Several decades later, Tula was turned by the Demidovs into the greatest ironworking center of Eastern Europe. The oldest museum in the city, showcasing the history of weapons, was inaugurated by the Demidovs in 1724, and Nicholas-Zaretsky Church in the city houses their family vault. The first factory to produce samovars industrially was also established there in the course of the 18th century. After the Demidovs moved the center of their manufacture to the Urals, Tula continued as a center of heavy industry, particularly in the manufacture of matériel.

In the 1890's Ivan Saveliev, a medical orderly, became the founder of Social Democracy in Tula, and set up a workers' study circle[12]

The city grew rapidly in the early 20th century as a result of arms production during the 1905 Russo-Japanese War and World War I. Tula's factories also manufactured weapons for the Red Army during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1921.

During the Great Patriotic War (World War II) of 1941-1945, the city was important in the production of armaments. Tula became the target of a German offensive to break Soviet resistance in the Moscow area between October 24 and December 5, 1941. The heavily fortified city held out, however, and Guderian's Second Panzer Army was stopped near Tula. The city secured the southern flank during the Battle of Moscow and the subsequent counter-offensive. Tula was awarded the title Hero City in 1976. It is home to Klokovo air base.

Administrative and municipal status

Administratively, it is incorporated as Tula City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.[1]Municipally, Tula City Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as Tula Urban Okrug.[2]

Culture

A musical instrument, the Tula accordion, is named for the city, which is a center of manufacture for such instruments sold throughout Russia and the world. Tula is also renowned for traditional Russian pryaniki (gingerbread), cookies made with honey and spices (see Tula gingerbread). In the West, Tula is perhaps best known as the center of samovar production: the Russian equivalent of "coals to Newcastle" is "You don't take a samovar to Tula".

The most popular tourist attraction in Tula Oblast is Yasnaya Polyana, the home and burial place of the writer Leo Tolstoy. It is situated fourteen kilometers south-west of the city. It was here that Tolstoy wrote his celebrated novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

Education

Tula is home to:

Transportation

Tula is a major railway junction with trains to Moscow, Orel, Kursk and Kaluga. The Moscow to Simpheropol M2 motorway runs past the city. City transport is presented by trams, trolleybuses, buses and marshrutkas. Tula trams, trolleybuses and 14 of 26 bus routes are operated by "Tulgorelectrotrans" (Tula city electrotransport company), other 12 bus routes are operated by "Tulaavtotrans" (Tula automobile transport company).

Sports

In Russian fist fighting Tula was considered to have some of the most famous fighters.[13][14]

The city association football club, FC Arsenal Tula, plays in the Russian Amateur League.

Climate

Climate data for Tula
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 7.0
(44.6)
7.1
(44.8)
19.0
(66.2)
25.9
(78.6)
33.2
(91.8)
35.0
(95.0)
39.0
(102.2)
39.2
(102.6)
29.7
(85.5)
23.6
(74.5)
15.2
(59.4)
9.3
(48.7)
39.2
(102.6)
Average high °C (°F) −4
(24.8)
−3.8
(25.2)
2.3
(36.1)
11.9
(53.4)
19.1
(66.4)
22.6
(72.7)
25.2
(77.4)
23.2
(73.8)
17.0
(62.6)
9.4
(48.9)
1.3
(34.3)
−3.6
(25.5)
10.1
(50.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.8
(19.8)
−7.3
(18.9)
−1.7
(28.9)
6.9
(44.4)
13.3
(55.9)
16.9
(62.4)
19.5
(67.1)
17.5
(63.5)
11.7
(53.1)
5.6
(42.1)
−0.8
(30.6)
−5.7
(21.7)
5.8
(42.4)
Average low °C (°F) −9.7
(14.5)
−10.8
(12.6)
−5.5
(22.1)
1.8
(35.2)
7.4
(45.3)
11.4
(52.5)
13.9
(57.0)
12.0
(53.6)
7.1
(44.8)
2.3
(36.1)
−3.4
(25.9)
−8.7
(16.3)
1.5
(34.7)
Record low °C (°F) −34.3
(−29.7)
−36.1
(−33.0)
−32.2
(−26.0)
−15
(5.0)
−4.3
(24.3)
1.9
(35.4)
4.6
(40.3)
−1.1
(30.0)
−6.8
(19.8)
−13
(8.6)
−26.3
(−15.3)
−33.2
(−27.8)
−36.1
(−33.0)
Precipitation mm (inches) 42
(1.65)
35
(1.38)
30
(1.18)
40
(1.57)
43
(1.69)
76
(2.99)
79
(3.11)
66
(2.6)
59
(2.32)
58
(2.28)
42
(1.65)
44
(1.73)
614
(24.17)
Source: Pogoda.ru.net[15]

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Tula is twinned with:[16]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Law #954-ZTO
  2. ^ a b c Law #553-ZTO
  3. ^ Official website of the Tula City Duma (Russian)
  4. ^ a b Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2011). "Предварительные итоги Всероссийской переписи населения 2010 года (Preliminary results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis-2010.ru/results_of_the_census/results-inform.php. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  5. ^ a b Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (May 21, 2004). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  6. ^ The value of density was calculated automatically by dividing the 2010 Census population by the area specified in the infobox. Please note that this value may not be accurate as the area specified in the infobox does not necessarily correspond to the area of the entity proper or is reported for the same year as the population.
  7. ^ Правительство Российской Федерации. Постановление №725 от 31 августа 2011 г. «О составе территорий, образующих каждую часовую зону, и порядке исчисления времени в часовых зонах, а также о признании утратившими силу отдельных Постановлений Правительства Российской Федерации». Вступил в силу по истечении 7 дней после дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Российская Газета", №197, 6 сентября 2011 г. (Government of the Russian Federation. Resolution #725 of August 31, 2011 On the Composition of the Territories Included into Each Time Zone and on the Procedures of Timekeeping in the Time Zones, as Well as on Abrogation of Several Resolutions of the Government of the Russian Federation. Effective as of after 7 days following the day of the official publication.).
  8. ^ Почтовые индексы России
  9. ^ Деловой город: Телефонный код Тулы
  10. ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  11. ^ Е. М. Поспелов. "Географические названия мира". Москва: Русские словари, 1998, p. 423: "The earliest etymologies derived the place name from Russian dialectal tulá 'hidden, unreachable place'... The pre-Russian origin of the name of the river and town is no longer doubted [Maiorova 1985].... Since the name of the river Upa is certainly Baltic..., its tributary *Tula [the presumed earlier form of Tulitsa] may also be of Baltic origin, which is supported by a series of parallels in Lithuanian toponymy: the river Tule, the Tulis swamp, the Tulyte field, the meadow Tulejos, the valley Tulija, etc. [Vanagas, 1981]; the meaning of these toponyms is not entirely clear...."
  12. ^ Biggart, John (1989), Alexander Bogdanov, Left-Bolshevism and the Proletkult 1904 - 1932, University of East Anglia 
  13. ^ Русский кулачный бой: "Tula's fighters were always glorious, but every place had its heroes."
  14. ^ Сказания о русских народных играх "Tula's fighters were considered the best one on one."
  15. ^ "Pogoda.ru.net" (in Russian). http://www.pogoda.ru.net/climate/27719.htm. Retrieved September 8, 2007. 
  16. ^ "Всего три побратима Тулы осталось в мире". Tula.rfn.ru. 2005-04-29. http://tula.rfn.ru/rnews.html?id=2673&cid=9. Retrieved March 23, 2012. 

Sources