Orsk
Encyclopedia
Orsk is the second largest city in Orenburg Oblast
, Russia
, located on the steppe about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) southeast of the southern tip of the Ural Mountains
. The city straddles the Ural River
. Since this river is considered a boundary between Europe
and Asia
, Orsk can be said to lie in two continents. It is served by Orsk Airport
. Population:
The city is located where the Ural River turns from south to west and where the Or River
comes in from the southeast (whence the name). It was as part of the Orenburg Line of forts.
The mayor of the city is Viktor Frants, who was elected in October 2010.
. The first settlement was founded by an expedition headed by Ivan Kirilov as a military fortification at the Mount Preobrazhenskaya on the left bank of the Yaik River (presently Ural River). Originally called 'Orenburg', it was renamed Orsk in 1739. In 1743, the name of Orenburg was transferred to the town 250 kilometres (155.3 mi) west that is now called Orenburg
. At its foundation it marked a southeastern projection of European Russia toward the steppes of Central Asia. It housed an exchange post and Russian customs that dealt with traders from Kazakhstan
and Asia
.
From June 22, 1847 to May 11, 1848 the fortress of Orsk was home of the exiled Ukrainian
poet and painter Taras Shevchenko
. In 1861, the fortress was decommissioned and became a station of the Orenburg Cossack army. In 1865, Orsk was granted the city status and became the uyezd center in Orenburg Governorate
.
The city grew dramatically starting from the 1870s. The population was mainly occupied with trade in cattle and grain, reprocessing of agricultural products, and various arts and crafts. Many women were involved in the business of weaving famous Orenburg shawl
s. By 1913, the population of Orsk was over 21,000, and by 1917 there were eleven churches and minarets, and sixteen educational facilities of various types and levels. During the Russian Civil War
, from 1918 to 1919, Orsk withstood a three-month long blockade and then four times changed hands between warring sides.
In the 1930s, the construction of large industrial enterprises, which drew their resources from the mineral rich soils of the region, started. One of the most notable stones excavated within the Orsk city line in the Mount Polkovnik is jasper
. Orsk jasper is revered for its variety of natural designs and colors. All colors except for blue are represented in this stone.
, machine building, petroleum chemistry, food and light industries. Most important enterprises are Yuzhuralnikel, Orsknefteorgsintez, and Yuzhuralmashzavod.
Some of the peculiar landmarks of industrial Orsk are forty archeological monuments including ancient settlements, mass and single grave sites. Those that have been excavated became famous in the scientific world. For instance, grave sites in Kumak, that date back to the Bronze Age
provide convincing evidence to the hypothesis of Eastern European roots of Indo-European peoples.
In the grave sites that date back to the early Iron Age
(7th-6th centuries BCE) left by "savromatian
" or "sormatian
" tribes scientists found many ancient items including a clay vessel bearing the name of the Persian ruler Artakserks I
, the sixth such vessel found in the world.
Orenburg Oblast
Orenburg Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Orenburg. From 1938 to 1957, it bore the name Chkalov Oblast in honor of Valery Chkalov...
, 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...
, located on the steppe about 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) southeast of the southern tip of the Ural Mountains
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and northwestern Kazakhstan. Their eastern side is usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia...
. The city straddles the Ural River
Ural River
The Ural or Jayıq/Zhayyq , known as Yaik before 1775, is a river flowing through Russia and Kazakhstan. It arises in the southern Ural Mountains and ends at the Caspian Sea. Its total length is 1,511 mi making it the third longest river in Europe after the Volga and the Danube...
. Since this river is considered a boundary between Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Orsk can be said to lie in two continents. It is served by Orsk Airport
Orsk Airport
Orsk Airport is an airport in Russia located south of Orsk. It services medium-sized airliners....
. Population:
The city is located where the Ural River turns from south to west and where the Or River
Or River
Or is a river in Orenburg Oblast of Russia and Aktobe Province of Kazakhstan. It is a left tributary of the Ural River, and is 332 km long, with a drainage basin of 18 600 km². The river is formed by the confluence of the Shiyli and Terisbutak Rivers, which have their sources on the...
comes in from the southeast (whence the name). It was as part of the Orenburg Line of forts.
The mayor of the city is Viktor Frants, who was elected in October 2010.
History
Orsk was founded in 1735 in the process of the Russian colonization of Bashkiria and the Southern Ural regionBashkirs
The Bashkirs are a Turkic people indigenous to Bashkortostan extending on both parts of the Ural mountains, on the place where Europe meets Asia. Groups of Bashkirs also live in the republic of Tatarstan, Perm Krai, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Tyumen, Sverdlovsk, Kurgan, Samara and Saratov Oblasts of...
. The first settlement was founded by an expedition headed by Ivan Kirilov as a military fortification at the Mount Preobrazhenskaya on the left bank of the Yaik River (presently Ural River). Originally called 'Orenburg', it was renamed Orsk in 1739. In 1743, the name of Orenburg was transferred to the town 250 kilometres (155.3 mi) west that is now called Orenburg
Orenburg
Orenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 546,987 ; 549,361 ; Highest point: 154.4 m...
. At its foundation it marked a southeastern projection of European Russia toward the steppes of Central Asia. It housed an exchange post and Russian customs that dealt with traders from Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
From June 22, 1847 to May 11, 1848 the fortress of Orsk was home of the exiled Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
poet and painter Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
. In 1861, the fortress was decommissioned and became a station of the Orenburg Cossack army. In 1865, Orsk was granted the city status and became the uyezd center in Orenburg Governorate
Orenburg Governorate
Orenburg Governorate was an administrative division of the Russian Empire with the center in the city of Orenburg.The governorate was created in 1744 from the lands annexed from Siberian and Astrakhan Governorates...
.
The city grew dramatically starting from the 1870s. The population was mainly occupied with trade in cattle and grain, reprocessing of agricultural products, and various arts and crafts. Many women were involved in the business of weaving famous Orenburg shawl
Shawl
A shawl is a simple item of clothing, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular or square piece of cloth, that is often folded to make a triangle but can also be triangular in shape...
s. By 1913, the population of Orsk was over 21,000, and by 1917 there were eleven churches and minarets, and sixteen educational facilities of various types and levels. During the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
, from 1918 to 1919, Orsk withstood a three-month long blockade and then four times changed hands between warring sides.
In the 1930s, the construction of large industrial enterprises, which drew their resources from the mineral rich soils of the region, started. One of the most notable stones excavated within the Orsk city line in the Mount Polkovnik is jasper
Jasper
Jasper, a form of chalcedony, is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color; and rarely blue. This mineral breaks with a smooth surface, and is used for ornamentation or as a gemstone. It can be highly polished and is used for vases, seals, and at one time for...
. Orsk jasper is revered for its variety of natural designs and colors. All colors except for blue are represented in this stone.
Economy
Orsk is the most important industrial center of Orenburg Oblast. The main industries are metallurgyMetallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
, machine building, petroleum chemistry, food and light industries. Most important enterprises are Yuzhuralnikel, Orsknefteorgsintez, and Yuzhuralmashzavod.
Culture
There is one major institute in Orsk: Orsk' humanitary-technological institute. There are also a number of different schools and colleges, State Drama Theater, Museum of Local history, Laboratory of Archeological Studies, Children's Art Gallery, Children's Folk Theater "Blue Bird", and a municipal brass band.Some of the peculiar landmarks of industrial Orsk are forty archeological monuments including ancient settlements, mass and single grave sites. Those that have been excavated became famous in the scientific world. For instance, grave sites in Kumak, that date back to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
provide convincing evidence to the hypothesis of Eastern European roots of Indo-European peoples.
In the grave sites that date back to the early Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
(7th-6th centuries BCE) left by "savromatian
Sarmatians
The Iron Age Sarmatians were an Iranian people in Classical Antiquity, flourishing from about the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD....
" or "sormatian
Sarmatians
The Iron Age Sarmatians were an Iranian people in Classical Antiquity, flourishing from about the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD....
" tribes scientists found many ancient items including a clay vessel bearing the name of the Persian ruler Artakserks I
Artaxerxes I of Persia
Artaxerxes I was the sixth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire from 465 BCE to 424 BCE. He was the son of Xerxes I of Persia and Amestris, daughter of Otanes.*Artaxerxes I was the sixth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire from 465 BCE to 424 BCE. He was the son of Xerxes I of Persia and...
, the sixth such vessel found in the world.