Volgograd

 Volgograd, founded in 1589, has changed its name several times through its history. In 1925 a politically dissonant name of the town, Tsaritsyn, was replaced by the more up-dated and Soviet one - Stalingrad. As a result of the dethronement of Stalin personality's cult, in 1961 Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd - "a town on the Volga River". But it was under the name of Stalingrad that the city went down in the world history as a hero-city. During World War II the city turned into the stage of pitched battles that in many aspects determined the victory over the Fascist invaders. By 1945 Stalingrad had been practically levelled and it was among the first Russian towns reconstructed in the first post-war years. Nowadays nothing reminds that this beautiful modern city once was a land of ruins. And only several museums and monuments commemorate the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the peace. 

	Area:		113,9 sq km (territory of Volgograd Oblast)
	Location:		Volgograd is located 670 miles southeast of Moscow in the flatland zone between two major Russian rivers - the Volga River and the Don River. The Volgograd Oblast (region) is the largest in the Volga River basin.
	Geographic coordinates:		48 45 N, 44 30 E
	Population:		approx 999,000 (2005 est.)
	Foundation:		1589
	Climate:		The Volgograd region has a sharp continental climate with hot and dry summers and cold winters with light snowfalls. The average summer temperature is +27,7 C, the average winter temperature is - 16 C.
	UTC/GMT Offset:		UTC/GMT + 3 hours
	Area code:		8442
	Major attractions:		the Mamayev Hill Memorial, the tallest in the world free standing Mother Russia monument.