Krasnodar was founded in the end of the 18th century by the Cossacks upon the order of Russian Empress Catherine the Great. The fortress that they built was the center of the Chernomorsky Cossacks' army. The city is located on the banks of the Kuban river. By the end of the 19th century Krasnodar was turned into trading, industrial and transport center of the Kuban region. The industries of Krasnodar include food processing, engineering and oil refining. It is linked by pipeline with the Caspian oilfields. Nowadays Krasnodar is the religious center of Kuban region. It is famous for its beautiful Orthodox churches and cathedrals. In the museums of Krasnodar the visitors can see archeologists' finds and outstanding works of art, which allow learning more about the history of Krasnodar.
Krasnodar, the capital of the Kuban region, is the most southerly district capital of Russia. This metropolis on the banks of the River Kuban, whose waters flow into the Sea of Azov, today has over 765,000 inhabitants, citizens with nationalities ranging from Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian to Greek and German. All around this city lying between Caucasus and the Black Sea stretches an extremely fertile region of agricultural land: an area which is able to profit as much from the rich soil as it can from the mild climate which prevails. And, thus, around Krasnodar is where the most northerly tea-producing area of the world can be found. Cereals, sunflowers, fruit and rice are all exported to 69 countries.
Krasnodar stands at a central crossroads. In addition to the important main roads whose paths meet there, the city is served by two major railway stations and an international airport. During the era of the former Soviet Union, the city was systematically developed into an industrial centre; today industry in Krasnodar concentrates on refineries as well as on large firms specialising in the manufacture of tools and agricultural equipment. However, industry and farming are not the only facets of the city on the River Kuban - Krasnodar is patron to both the arts and sciences. Since 1920 the city has been the home of the Kuban University with its twelve faculties. Moreover, five other higher education establishments are located there and also a whole range of institutions working on scientific research, particularly in the realms of agricultural production and foodstuff technologies. And art and cultural events find many avenues of expression in the city's theatres, libraries and museums.
