Khimki
Encyclopedia
Khimki is a city in Moscow Oblast
, Russia
, situated just northwest of Moscow
, at the west bank of the Moscow Canal
. Population: 207,125 (2010 Census preliminary results); 141,000 (2002 Census
); 106,000 (1977); 23,000 (1939).
Khimki was the site of the closest German advance to Moscow in November–December 1941. A memorial marking this in a form of a giant tank trap is located at the "Kilometer 23" point (55°54´46.103"N, 37°24´10.577"E) of Leningradskoye Highway, the highway to St. Petersburg, just short of an intersection with the Moscow-St.Petersburg railroad, and close to an IKEA
shopping center.
After World War II
, Khimki became home to several Soviet aerospace defense development centers, which became the principal employers for the majority of the city population. This included R&D enterprises which designed surface-to-air missiles for S-75
, S-125
, S-200, S-300 Soviet air defense systems, engines for intercontinental ballistic missiles and satellite launch vehicles
and other types of equipment. For this reason, Khimki was off limits for all foreigners visiting the country, despite its location on a highway between Moscow and its major international airport.
megapolis which is densely populated and needs new areas for expansion.
The city enjoys a great deal of commercial activity due to its location between Moscow
and one of its main airports, Sheremetyevo
. Some aerospace development centers located in Khimki currently contribute to a program of the International Space Station
.
The city is home to one of the largest shopping malls in Russia
, which features French chain store Auchan
and Swedish furniture retailer IKEA
.
In 2010 the city was the location of protests over the new Moscow – Saint Petersburg motorway
being built through the Khimki Forest
.
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast , or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject of Russia . Its area, at , is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, situated just northwest of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, at the west bank of the Moscow Canal
Moscow Canal
The Moscow Canal , named the Moscow-Volga Canal until the year 1947, is a canal that connects the Moskva River with the main transportation artery of European Russia, the Volga River. It is located in Moscow itself and in the Moscow Oblast...
. Population: 207,125 (2010 Census preliminary results); 141,000 (2002 Census
Russian Census (2002)
Russian Census of 2002 was the first census of the Russian Federation carried out on October 9 through October 16, 2002. It was carried out by the Russian Federal Service of State Statistics .-Resident population:...
); 106,000 (1977); 23,000 (1939).
History
Khimki was officially founded in 1939. It was established around a railroad station with the same name which had existed since 1850 on the Moscow – Saint Petersburg Railway. Currently, the city of Khimki is directly adjacent to the territory of the city of Moscow.Khimki was the site of the closest German advance to Moscow in November–December 1941. A memorial marking this in a form of a giant tank trap is located at the "Kilometer 23" point (55°54´46.103"N, 37°24´10.577"E) of Leningradskoye Highway, the highway to St. Petersburg, just short of an intersection with the Moscow-St.Petersburg railroad, and close to an IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
shopping center.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Khimki became home to several Soviet aerospace defense development centers, which became the principal employers for the majority of the city population. This included R&D enterprises which designed surface-to-air missiles for S-75
S-75 Dvina
The S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system...
, S-125
S-125
The Isayev S-125 Neva/Pechora Soviet surface-to-air missile system was designed to complement the S-25 and S-75. It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than either of its predecessors and also flies slower, but due to its two-stage design it is more effective against more...
, S-200, S-300 Soviet air defense systems, engines for intercontinental ballistic missiles and satellite launch vehicles
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
and other types of equipment. For this reason, Khimki was off limits for all foreigners visiting the country, despite its location on a highway between Moscow and its major international airport.
Present day
In recent years, the population of the city of Khimki has continued to grow rapidly due to massive residential building construction driven by its proximity to the MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
megapolis which is densely populated and needs new areas for expansion.
The city enjoys a great deal of commercial activity due to its location between Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and one of its main airports, Sheremetyevo
Sheremetyevo International Airport
Sheremetyevo International Airport , is an international airport located in the Moscow Oblast, Russia, north-west of central Moscow. It is a hub for the passenger operations of the Russian international airline Aeroflot, and one of the three major airports serving Moscow along with Domodedovo...
. Some aerospace development centers located in Khimki currently contribute to a program of the International Space Station
ISS
The ISS is the International Space Station.ISS may also refer to:* I See Stars, an American electronic rock band* ISS A/S, a Danish service company* Idea Star Singer, a Malayalam music reality show by Asianet TV...
.
The city is home to one of the largest shopping malls in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, which features French chain store Auchan
Auchan
Groupe Auchan SA is a French international retail group and multinational corporation headquartered in Croix, France. It is one of the world's principal distribution groups with a presence in 12 countries and 175,000 employees....
and Swedish furniture retailer IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
.
In 2010 the city was the location of protests over the new Moscow – Saint Petersburg motorway
Moscow – Saint Petersburg motorway
The Moscow – Saint Petersburg motorway is a planned toll road between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The first section of the motorway is to be finished in 2013. The road will run parallel to the M10 highway. Its construction has been met with strong protest from environmentalist groups and...
being built through the Khimki Forest
Khimki Forest
Khimki Forest is a birch tree forest in the Russian city of Moscow covering about 1000 hectares. It is part of the so-called "Green Belt" around Moscow. An $8 billion dollar high speed road has been proposed to go through the forest to connect Moscow and Saint Petersburg. For this purpose, part of...
.