Petrozavodsk

 The history of Petrozavodsk, a contemporary of Saint Petersburg, dates back to 1703 when Peter the Great ordered the construction of an iron foundry and cannon factory on the shores of Lake Onega. During the 18th century, this facility was the first of its kind in Europe to utilize a new cutting-edge iron production technology. The factory's production included thin-walled cast-iron cannons, wedge gates, balls and shells, anchors, steam engines, and more. Here, skilled craftsmen created masterpieces of art castings that surpassed their contemporaries. At present, Petrozavodsk is the capital of Karelia and the industrial, cultural, and scientific center of the Northwestern Region. The city, with a population of about 280,000 residents, occupies 121.8 square kilometers. Petrozavodsk boasts a favorable geographic location near Russia's main cities and the border of the European Union. It is located 1,091 km from Moscow, 412 km from Saint Petersburg, and about 350 km from Finland. 

	Area:		113 sq km
	Location:		Located on the lake terraces along the Petrozavodsk Bay. It is a port on the Lake Onega.
	Geographic coordinates:		61 42 N, 34 22 E
	Population:		approx 266,000 (2005 est.)
	Foundation:		1703
	Climate:		The climate is temperate continental, nautical. The average temperature in January -7 C, in July +15 C.
	UTC/GMT Offset:		UTC/GMT + 3 hours
	Area code:		8142
	Major attractions:		Round Square, Monument to Peter I, Rotunda.