Vologda

 Vologda is a part of the famous tourist route «Golden Ring», it is often called a contemporary of Moscow as it was founded in 1147 as well by merchants from Novgorod. In the 15-th century the city passed to the Moscow Principality and became a major trade center and a transit point to Siberia and Western Europe. 
A legend states that the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible was going to make Vologda the capital of Russia in the 16th century. But Vologda developed as the city of railroad repair yards, machine factories, lumber mills and flax-processing plants which are necessary for lace making art there. It went into decline in the 18th century but revived in the late 19th century. 
Today Vologda is a center of the Vologda Region, its political, economical and cultural center. It’s a place where the unique spirit of ancient Russia still kept. 

	Area:		100,0 sq km
	Location:		Located in the central part of the Russian Federation, 460 km to the north of Moscow.
	Geographic coordinates:		59 12 N, 39 51 E
	Population:		approx 293,000 (2005 est.)
	Foundation:		1147
	Climate:		Vologda has a temperate continental climate, with an average temperature of +17,3 C in July and an average temperature of -8,5 C in January.
	UTC/GMT Offset:		UTC/GMT + 3 hours
	Area code:		8172
	Major attractions:		Vologda Kremlin, Saint Sophia Cathedral, the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery