Geography of Nizhniy Novgorod
Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, the nation's third largest city. It lies at the junction of the Oka and Volga rivers, about 250 miles (400 km) east-northeast of Moscow. Nizhniy Novgorod is a major industrial center, noted for the production of automobiles, trucks, locomotives, and aircraft. Heavy machinery, processed foods, and textiles are also produced.
The most prominent structure in Nizhniy Novgorod is the kremlin, a walled citadel built between 1374 and 1511. Other notable buildings include several 17th- and 18th century churches. The city has a theater company, a university, a medical school several research institutes, and art and history museums.
Nizhniy Novgorod was founded in 1221 as a frontier outpost. It became a major trading center and by the 1300's rivaled Moscow in importance. The Muscovites annexed the city in 1392. An annual trade fair, founded at nearby Makaryev in 1525 and moved here in 1817, spurred Nizhniy Novgorod's growth. The fair was Russia's largest until abolished in 1930. Industrialization began in the 1800's with the establishment of flour mills and shipyards. The greatest development, however, came after 1930. In 1932 the city was renamed Gorkiy in honor of the writer Maxim Gorky, who was born there. In 1991 the city's name was changed back to Nizhniy Novgorod.
Population: 1,438,000.