St. Petersburg - the Cultural Capital of Russia
Location
Eastern Europe, the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea (Gulf of Finland)
Time Zone
GMT +3, Eastern +8
Population
5 million
Area
1400 square kilometers
Main river
Neva. The city is located in the delta of the Neva River on numerous islands, a fact which prompted some observers to call it “The City on 101 Islands”
Main natural phenomena
White Nights, Floods
Origin of the name
Named in honor of St. Peter and not Peter the Great, the founder of the city. The name can be translated as “The City of St. Peter”. St. Petersburg, FL was named in honor of St. Petersburg, Russia by Russian-born railroad builder Piotr Dementyev (Peter Demens)
Name changes
May, 1703 - August, 1914 St. Petersburg
August, 1914 - February, 1924 Petrograd
February, 1924 - July, 1991 Leningrad
July, 1991 - Present St. Petersburg
Nicknames
“The Venice of the North” (referring to St. Petersburg’s many rivers and canals)
“The Palmyra of the North”
“The Northern Capital of Russia” (referring to the centuries-old rivalry between St. Petersburg and Moscow)
Symbols
the Angel with a Cross (weather-vane on top of the Peter and Paul Cathedral)
the Little Ship - Korablik (weather-vane on top of the Admiralty tower)
The Seal
A sea anchor and a river anchor with a scepter - a symbol of royal power - on a red fi eld
Local government
The Governor and the Governor’s Office, The Legislative Assembly
Zoning
20 administrative districts, including satellite towns under St. Petersburg’s jurisdiction
Main cultural attractions
The Hermitage Museum
The Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater
The Imperial palace and park ensemble at Peterhof
Airports
Pulkovo-2 International
Sea port
Passenger terminal on Vasilievsky Island
