In Russia today there are about a thousand cities. All of them radically differ in area and in the number of residents.

The smallest city is Chekalin. It is located in the Suvorovsky district of the Tula region and has been known only since the end of the 19th century, but is, nevertheless, one of the historical cities of Russia. Interestingly, before the revolution in the city of Likhvin, Kaluga province (that was the name of the city until 1944, which received its name in honor of the partisan Alexander Chekalin), there were about 1,700 people.

According to the 2010 census, only 994 people live in the city. Despite such a number of indigenous people, the settlement still holds the name of the city. The status of the city was preserved due to the fact that during the reporting activities on the liquidation of small towns, a list with cities that begin with the letters Ch, Sh and Sh was lost.

The largest city in Russia by population

Moscow

The population is more than 15 million people.
Naturally, in terms of population, the largest city in our country is the capital. Much more people live in this metropolis than in a number of European countries, for example, than in Finland and Norway combined. And approximately the same number of inhabitants are located in the Czech Republic and Belgium. And this is only according to official data.

More than 15 million people live in Moscow. Such a number, by the way, is typical for such a not so small country as Kazakhstan. According to experts, at the same time, only about 10 million people have a residence permit in the capital, another million live with temporary registration. The rest are registered foreigners, visitors (migrant workers, guest workers, students) and illegal immigrants. The influx of people to Moscow is constantly observed, mainly residents of other regions come to the capital - Russians, and residents of other countries, come here in search of work. It is worth noting that still more than 90 percent of the population of Moscow are Russians.

Saint Petersburg

The population is over 5 million people.
Fits three times in the northern capital less people than in the capital. The cultural center of the country is inhabited by approximately 5 million people. The five millionth resident of St. Petersburg was born in September 2012. In addition, Peter is the fourth largest city in Europe. By the way, there are more Russians in the northern capital than in Moscow.

The number of people living in other cities of Russia, which can be called large, ranges from 1-1.5 million people.

Novosibirsk

The population is more than 1.5 million people.
The city is quite young. It appeared just over a hundred years ago. The number of people living in the largest city of Siberia has already exceeded 1.5 million people. By the way, Novosibirsk is one of the few world record holders for turning a small town into a millionaire city. And in the 21st century, it became the first Russian city (of course, after the two historical capitals), in which the population exceeded one and a half million. Despite the remoteness from the capital, the city of Novonikolaevsk, as Novosibirsk used to be called, is home to more than 80 representatives different types nationality. These are, including Germans, Tatars, Kazakhs, Finns, Koreans and Poles.

Ekaterinburg

The population is about 1.4 million people.
Yekaterinburg has every chance to remove its predecessor from the pedestal. In the capital of the Urals, according to data for 2012, almost 1.4 million people live. The first five largest cities in Russia are closed by Nizhny Novgorod with a population of about 1.3 million people.

It is worth noting that Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Rostov-on-Don, Ufa, Volgograd, Samara and Kazan were among the million-plus cities. More recently, Perm was in the ranking, however, the city has lost honorary title millionaire. Its place was empty for a relatively short time, Krasnoyarsk became a city with a million inhabitants.

The largest cities in Russia by area

Sochi

The area is 3605 square kilometers.
Sochi is still a record holder among cities in another "nomination". It is the longest city in Russia. The capital of the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches stretches along the Black Sea coast for 145 kilometers, and the lion's share of the distance, namely 118 kilometers, is the beach strip. The resort capital is divided into Central, Khostinsky, Lazarevsky and Adler regions.

Every year the population major cities, which means that their territory continues to grow steadily. Therefore, cities can be compared not only in terms of population, but also in terms of the area they occupy.

1. Moscow (2511 sq. km)

Moscow is gradually expanding and increasing its area. As of 2012, its area was 2511 sq. km, this was announced in the Moscow City Duma by the mayor of the capital, Sobyanin, when he spoke with a report on the results of the work of the city government over the previous two years. In 2012, there was an abrupt increase in the size of the capital, when it was decided to attach a significant piece of the territory of the Moscow region to it. Thus, the area of ​​the metropolis now consists of 780 sq. km, located within the Moscow ring road (which was traditionally considered Moscow) and 1641 sq. km. km of the territory of the region, located outside the Moscow Ring Road in the south-west direction.
More people live in Moscow than in some rather big European countries (for example, Norway and Finland taken together, about the same number lives in Belgium and the Czech Republic). And that's just official statistics. Native Muscovites, visitors for a better life from the Russian hinterland, labor migrants from neighboring states, and students coexist in a giant "anthill". The growth of the population of Moscow is provided not by the birth rate, but by an influx from outside. The main goal of visitors is to earn money.

2. St. Petersburg (1439 sq. km)

This city is the most important after Moscow economic, cultural and science Center country, it is also a major transportation hub. Under the protection of UNESCO is the historical center of the city and the historical and architectural monuments located in it and in the suburbs. Therefore, St. Petersburg is one of the most important tourist routes in Russia. In 2015, the city's population passed the 5 million mark. In terms of population in Europe, it is second only to Istanbul, Moscow and London. Among the northern cities of the world, it is the largest, as well as the first in Europe among the cities that are not capitals. St. Petersburg has the status of a city of federal significance. The population of Leningrad in the 1980s also reached the 5-million mark, but in the crisis years of the 1990s, the depopulation phenomenon took place here - when the death rate began to exceed the birth rate, as a result of which the city's population was significantly reduced. And only in 2012 it again reached the same 5 million mark.

3. Volgograd (859.4 sq. km)

Volgograd - the city-hero, was originally called Tsaritsyn, then for some time Stalingrad. Now it has over a million inhabitants. The city stands on the Volga, along which the most ancient trade routes passed. This city forever associated its name with the largest Battle of Stalingrad in World War II, in which the heroism, courage and unbending will of our fighters were manifested. To perpetuate the memory of this battle in Volgograd, a majestic monument "Motherland" was erected, which has since become calling card cities.

4. Perm (799.7 sq km)

Perm is another Russian city with a population of one million. It is a major industrial and transport center of the country. Peter I ordered to build a city in the place of the Siberian province where copper could be mined, and the specific place was chosen by V. Tatishchev. The year of foundation of Perm is considered to be 1723. First Ural Railway was laid in 1876 through Perm. In 1940, it was renamed Molotov, but in 1957 the historical name was returned. Before the formation of the city, people settled in this place since ancient times; over 130 archaeological sites have been discovered within the city, which date back to the late Middle Ages and even the Stone Age.

5. Ufa (708 sq. km)

About a million people live in modern Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan. If we take into account the population density, then the inhabitants of Ufa live much more freely than other residents of cities - for every Ufa citizen there are approximately 700 square meters cities. This city is a large economic, scientific, cultural and sports center of Russia. Its importance was emphasized by the meetings of the leaders of the SCO and BRICS held here in 2015. A large share of the city is occupied by green spaces, squares and parks. There are many different monuments in the city.

Russia is unique in that, due to its vast territory, it found itself in four climatic zones at once. It is clear that in different parts of it the climate ...

6. Tyumen (698.5 sq km)

The first Russian city founded in Siberia was Tyumen, it happened in the 16th century. The city owes its appearance to the construction of the Tyumen prison, which was ordered to be built by the third son of Ivan IV - Fyodor Ivanovich. The population of Tyumen is now 697,000 people, it is divided into 4 administrative districts. Until 2014, 19 more surrounding villages were part of the urban district and subordinated to the city, but after that they lost the status of independent settlements. The share of urban development from the entire territory of Tyumen accounts for a little more than 160 square meters. km, that is, only 23% of the area of ​​the urban district. Near the city there are at least five geothermal springs with a water temperature of 37 to 50 degrees, they have good balneological properties. Quality of life surveys conducted in Russian cities in 2015-2016 put Tyumen in first place.
It is noteworthy that during the Second World War, the body of Lenin from the mausoleum in Moscow was sent to Tyumen.

7. Orsk (621.3 sq. km)

Orsk is divided into three administrative districts, and its population is only 233,000 people. The city is located in picturesque places - on the spurs of the Ural Mountains. The Ural River, which flows through Orsk, is divided into Europe and Asia. It is mainly an industrial city, the second largest in the Orenburg region. It has industries such as mechanical engineering, non-ferrous metallurgy, mining, petrochemistry, light and food industries. There are about 4 dozen archaeological sites in Orsk. Especially famous is the local multi-colored jasper, the deposit of which is located right within the city, on Mount Colonel. Orsk jasper has the largest variety of color and pattern.

According to a sociological survey, Muscovites perceive their city as a place where they can realize themselves in the spiritual, financial, business and cultural...

8. Kazan (614.2 sq km)

Unofficially, Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, is called the third Russian capital. This ancient city over 1000 years old. It is multinational, 115 nationalities coexist peacefully in Kazan, but the backbone is made up of Russians (48.6%) and Tatars (47.6%). Kazan is a significant cultural, economic, scientific and religious center of Russia, as well as a large river port. Sports in Kazan are also developing very rapidly. The city authorities attach great importance to the development of tourism and encourage the holding of various festivals. The main architectural attraction here is the Kazan Kremlin, which is under the protection of UNESCO.

9. Voronezh (596.5 sq km)

In 2010, over 20 suburban small settlements entered the urban district of Voronezh, which significantly increased the birth rate. As a result, in 2012 the population of the city exceeded the one million mark. From the west, the Don River flows through the city, and to the east, the Voronezh River, turned into a reservoir. This neighborhood allowed Voronezh to become a major river transport hub. Although many remarkable architectural monuments have been preserved in Voronezh, it does not lag behind in modern creativity either: there are sculptures of the White Bim from the famous feature film and a charming kitten from the Soviet cartoon. Also erected in Voronezh and a monument to Peter I.

10. Omsk (572.9 sq km)

During civil war in the 20s of the last century, Omsk was proclaimed the capital of the Russian State, since here was the Headquarters of Admiral Kolchak and the center white movement. Now Omsk is one of the largest Russian cities, and recently it has again become the capital - this time of the Siberian Cossack army. It is the second most populous city in Siberia (1.1 million inhabitants). Many architectural monuments have been preserved in Omsk, the most significant of which is included in the list cultural heritage UNESCO Omsk Fortress and the Assumption Cathedral, included in the catalog of examples of world temple architecture.

Greetings, my dear curiosity! We can rightly be proud of our great Motherland, because Russia occupies the largest area in the world, on which more than a thousand cities are located - large and not very large, with a thousand-year history and very young, recently rebuilt. Each of them is unique in its own way. Can you name the most big cities in Russia? We make an honorary five.

Lesson plan:

Moscow

The city is a hero. Deservesly takes first place among Russian megacities in terms of population and area . And this is not surprising, because our capital is one of the ten world giants.

According to the statistics of 2016, more than 12 million people live in Moscow, founded in 1147, and if we take into account all migrants and temporary visitors, we can assume that the Moscow metropolis has sheltered up to 15 million. To understand how much this is, you can compare our capital in terms of the Moscow population with some European countries, for example, many fewer people live in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Finland.

Located on the Moskva River in the center of the East European Plain between the Oka and the Volga, the historically significant city for Russia stretches over more than 2,500 square kilometers.

The financial, scientific, political, economic, tourist center of our country is one of the twenty richest cities in the world.

This is interesting! According to the construction plan, Moscow has long been built according to a radial layout, when streets and rings stretch from the center. Tverskaya is considered the most expensive Moscow street not only in Russia, but also in the world. Here are the largest shopping centers and places of entertainment.

Saint Petersburg

The second largest Russian metropolis accommodates 5,220,000 people and is rightfully called the "northern capital", because from 1712 to 1918 it really was the center of the Russian Empire.

The city, which appeared in 1703 by decree of Peter I, changed its name more than once:

• St. Petersburg in 1914 became Petrograd;
• in 1924 - Leningrad;
• in 1991 he was given back his original name.

The history of St. Petersburg is rich in events: three revolutions took place here, during the Great Patriotic War Leningrad was cut off from the outside world by the German blockade for 900 days. Peter is honored.

The metropolis stretches in the northwestern part of Russia on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, on the Neva River. Tourists have something to see here: Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia, a huge museum under the sky, covering 1,500 square kilometers of area.

This is interesting! Initially, Peter I wanted to build St. Petersburg like Venice, so that instead of stone-paved streets there were water channels, along which the inhabitants of the city would move on small boats. However new capital as a result, they were built according to the project of an Italian architect with perpendicular streets, wide avenues and geometric squares.

Novosibirsk

The honorable third place belongs to the Siberian metropolis, which is home to 1,585,000 people on an area of ​​more than 500 square kilometers. The provincial settlement appeared in 1893 as a trading center and by 1903 had grown so much that it received the status of a city. Until 1925 it was called Novonikolaevsk.

Novosibirsk is located in the very heart of Siberia, on the Priobskoye Plateau, near the Ob River valley, and is often popularly referred to as the Siberian capital, where industry, science, trade and culture are developed.

The city is rich in different nationalities - Germans, Tatars, Jews, Belarusians, Koreans, Poles, Buryats, Finns and other peoples live here next to Russian Siberians.

This is interesting! There is a Planirovochnaya street in Novosibirsk, which is both perpendicular and parallel to itself and forms an intersection with itself.

Ekaterinburg

The industrial giant appeared in 1723 by order of Peter I on the banks of the Iset River as a site for the construction of an ironworks. Today, the territory of the metropolis is about 490 square kilometers with population in 1,428,200 people. From 1924 to 1991 the city had the name Sverdlovsk.

The entire economic, political and cultural life of the Urals is in full swing here, which is why it is called the “Ural capital”.

Yekaterinburg is located at the crossroads of major transport routes in Russia, so it is not surprising that it is the center of a developed industry, especially metallurgy, heavy engineering, instrumentation, and the optical and mechanical industry.

This is interesting! On the frame for the Statue of Liberty, which is located in America, the metal was made in Yekaterinburg.

Nizhny Novgorod

Entered the top five largest Russian cities with population in 1,267,750 people living in area 450 square kilometers.

Founded in 1221, the metropolis is located on the East European Plain at the place where two rivers join - the Volga and the Oka, and the latter divides it into two parts. In the period from 1932 to 1990, it was called the city of Gorky in honor of the famous Russian writer.

In the 16th century in Novgorod was built stone Kremlin- a defensive structure that has never been taken in the entire history. The city has been a center of trade and merchants since ancient times, its Nizhny Novgorod fair was famous all over the world. During the Great Patriotic War, the metropolis became the main supplier of military equipment.

It was in Nizhny Novgorod that the famous Volga was produced at the first Soviet auto giant, the Gorky Automobile Plant. The modern metropolis is the center of mechanical engineering and metalworking industry. Today, the populous city is one of the main directions of Russian river tourism.

This is interesting! In Nizhny Novgorod, the longest staircase in Russia was built with 560 steps. It was built on the embankment in 1949 with the participation of German prisoners of war in the form of "eight". Tourists often come to the local attraction to admire the views of the Volga.

This is how the honorary five of the largest Russian megacities turned out. I think it can be useful to you when preparing your super-duper research projects!

Until we meet again! I will be glad to see you again to share useful and interesting information.

Success in your studies!

Evgenia Klimkovich.

Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area. But in addition to vast territories, the inhabitants of the country can be proud of the most beautiful cities. Among them there are both very small settlements, such as Chekalin, and megacities.
The largest cities in Russia by area - which major settlements are in the top ten? We will consider only cities whose area is given within their city limits.

10. Omsk | 597 sq. kilometers

It is on the 10th place in the list of the largest cities in Russia in terms of area. The population exceeds one million inhabitants. According to this indicator, Omsk ranks second in terms of population in Siberia. The significance of the city for the region is great. During the Civil War, it was called the Capital of the Russian State. It is the capital of the Siberian Cossack army. Now Omsk is a large industrial and cultural center. One of the decorations of the city is the Assumption Cathedral, which is one of the treasures of world temple culture.
The territory of the city is 597.2 sq. kilometers.

9. Voronezh | 596 sq. km

On the 9th place in the top 10 largest Russian cities is with a territory of 596.51 square meters. kilometers. The population is 1.3 million inhabitants. The city is located in the most beautiful place - on the banks of the Don and the Voronezh reservoir.
Voronezh has many beautiful architectural monuments, but it is also famous for its contemporary art. Sculptures of a kitten from Lizyukov Street were installed in the city - the character of a famous cartoon and White Bim from the film "White Bim, black ear". There is also a monument to Peter I in Voronezh.

8. Kazan | 614 sq. kilometers

The eighth place in the ranking of the largest cities in Russia in terms of area is occupied by the capital of Tatarstan. It is the largest economic, scientific, cultural and religious center in the country. In addition, Kazan is one of the most significant Russian ports. Unofficially bears the name of the third capital of Russia.
The city is actively developing as an international sports center. Great importance Kazan authorities attach to the development of tourism. Every year there are many international festivals. The most significant architectural structure of the city is the Kazan Kremlin, which is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The area of ​​the city is 614 sq. kilometers.

7. Orsk | 621 sq. kilometers

Including three administrative districts with an area of ​​about 621.33 sq. kilometers, ranks seventh in the list of the largest Russian cities. It is located in a picturesque place - on the spurs of the majestic Ural Mountains, and the Ural River divides it into two parts: Asian and European. The main branch developed in the city is industry. There are more than 40 archaeological sites in Orsk.

6. Tyumen | 698 sq. kilometers

In sixth place among the largest settlements in Russia is the first Russian city founded in Siberia - Tyumen. The number of inhabitants is about 697 thousand people. Territory - 698.48 sq. kilometers. Founded in the 16th century, the city now includes 4 administrative districts. The beginning of the future city was laid by the construction of the Tyumen prison, started by decree of Fyodor Ivanovich, the third son of Ivan the Terrible.

5. Ufa | 707 sq. kilometers

Ufa, the territory of which is 707.93 sq. kilometers, is in fifth place in the list of the largest Russian cities. The population is over a million inhabitants. The capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan is a major cultural, scientific, economic and sports center of the country. The importance of Ufa was confirmed by the BRICS and SCO summits held here in 2015.
Despite the fact that Ufa is a millionaire city, it is the most spacious settlement in Russia - there are almost 700 square meters per inhabitant. meters of territory.
Ufa is considered one of the greenest cities in the country - there are a large number of parks and squares. It differs and great variety monuments.

4. Perm | 800 sq. kilometers

In fourth place in the ranking of the largest cities in terms of area is. It occupies an area of ​​799.68 sq. kilometers. The number of inhabitants is more than a million people. Perm is a large industrial, economic and logistics center. The city owes its foundation to Tsar Peter I, who ordered the construction of a copper smelter in the Siberian province to begin.

3. Volgograd | 859 sq. kilometers

Hero City, bearing the name Stalingrad in the Soviet era, ranks third in the list of the largest Russian cities. Area - 859.353 sq. kilometers. The population is just over a million people. The city was founded at the end of the 16th century on the ancient Volga trade route. The first name is Tsaritsyn. One of the most famous historical events associated with Volgograd - the great Battle of Stalingrad, which showed the courage, heroism and perseverance of Russian soldiers. It became a turning point in the war. One of the most famous monuments dedicated to those difficult years is the Motherland Calls monument, which has become its symbol for the residents of the city.

2. St. Petersburg | 1439 sq. kilometers

In second place among the largest cities in Russia in terms of area is the second capital of the country. The favorite brainchild of Peter I occupies an area of ​​​​1439 square meters. kilometers. The population is over 5 million inhabitants. The cultural capital of Russia is known for many magnificent monuments and architectural structures, which hundreds of thousands of tourists come to admire every year.

1. Moscow | 2561 sq. kilometers

The first place in the ranking is occupied by the capital of Russia. Territory - 2561.5 sq. kilometers, the population is more than 12 million people. To understand the full scale of the capital, you need to remember that Moscow is home to more population than in some European countries.

In addition to the largest Russian cities listed above, there are also urban settlements, when the city itself includes other settlements. If we consider these territorial units in our rating, then Moscow or St. Petersburg will not be in the first place at all. In this case, the list of the largest settlements in Russia will be headed by the city of Zapolyarny, whose area is 4620 square meters. kilometers. This is twice as large as the area of ​​the capital. Meanwhile, only 15 thousand people live in Zapolyarny. The polar region is interesting because about 12 kilometers from the city is the famous ultra-deep Kola well, which is one of the deepest points on Earth.
Norilsk urban district can also claim the title of the largest territorial association in Russia. It includes Norilsk itself and two settlements. Territory area - 4509 sq. kilometers.