Fine Arts Museum

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Kremlin Cathedral

of Spasskaya

the Dormition Tower

Tsar Bell Tsar Cannon

Cathedral Monument

of Christ to Minin & St.Basil’s

the Saviour Pozharsky Cathedral

Answer the following questions in writing and orally:

1. What city was the capital of Russia before 1918?

2. What river does Moscow stand on?

3. What is the total area of Moscow in square kilometers?

4. What is the population of Moscow? How many people live there?

5. Who founded Moscow? When did it happen?

6. What is the heart of Moscow?

7. What are the main masterpieces of ancient Russian architecture in Red Square?

8. Which tower of the Kremlin is the symbol of our country?

9. In what part of Moscow is the seat of President of Russia?

10. What sights are there on the territory of the Kremlin?

11. What are the biggest cannon and bell in the world?

12. When and why was St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square built;

13. By what architects was St. Basil’s Cathedral built?

14. Why is there the monument to Minin and Pozharsky?

15. What is the world`s tallest Orthodox Cathedral?

16. Why was Cathedral of Christ the Saviour built?

17. How many higher educational institutions are there in Moscow?

18. What are the most widely-known art galleries in Moscow?

19. What is the most famous opera house in Moscow?

20. Have you ever been to Moscow?

BASHQORTOSTAN

(Bashkortostan)

Bashqortostan is a constituent republic of the Russian Federation (1991). The Republic of Bashqortostan is situated in the South Urals in the basin of the Belaya River. It has an area of 143 thousand square kilometers. The population of Bashqortostan is over four million of inhabitants (as of 2010 census).

After Ivan IV the Terrible had conquered the Khanate of Kazan the western Bashkir tribes joined the Russian state (1557). The rest of Bashkiria was conquered in the 17^th century. In 1586 Ufa was founded as a fortress upon a mountain at the confluence of the rivers Belaya (in Bashkir: Aghidel - “White River”) and Ufa (Qaraidel – “Black River”).

In the Pugachev Rebellion of 1773-1775 Salawat Yulayev, the national hero of Bashqortostan, led the Bashkir rebels against Tsarina Katherine the Second.

After the October Revolution Bashkiria became the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) as apart of Soviet Russia (1919).

Bashqortostan may be roughly divided into two parts – the plains in the west and the mountains in the east. The longest river is the Belaya. It is 1430 km long. The highest mountain is Mount Yamantaw (1640 metres). Forests make up 40% (per cent) of the area. The main trees are oak, birch, pine, fir, lime. The climate is continental.

Many nationalities live in Bashqortostan, Bashkirs (30%), Russians (36%) and Tatars (24%) among them (as of 2010 census). The followers of two main religions (Islam and Christianity) are Sunni Moslems and Orthodox Christians.

There are many schools, universities, theatres, museums, art galleries, churches, mosques, stadiums and other sports facilities.

Bashqortostan is an industrial republic which manufactures machines, refined petroleum, chemicals, forest products and processed food.

The mining industry extracts oil, natural gas, coal, iron ore, gold and copper.

Bahkortostan`s developed agriculture produces grains (wheat and rye), meat, milk, potatoes. Our Bashkir honey and koumiss are the world-known products.

Since 2010 the President of the Republic of Bashkortostan is Rustam Khamitov.

The Republic's Parliament is the State Assembly - Qoroltai which is elected every five years.

PERM*

UDMURTIA

YEKATERINBURG*

TATARSTAN

REPUBLIC OF BASQORTOSTAN

Belaya Ufa

CHELYABINSK*

TAT. UFA

Oktyabrsky

Yamantaw

1640m

Beloretsk

Sterlitamak

Salawat

Kumertaw Belaya

Sibai

* ORENBURG

Answer the following questions in writing and orally:

1. Where is the Republic of Bashqortostan situated?

2. What is the total area of Bashqortostan?

3. How many people live in our Republic?

4. When did the western Bashkir tribes join the Russian state?

5. Where and when was Ufa founded?

6. Who is Salawat Yulaev?

7. When did Bashkiria become a republic?

8. Name two main parts of Bashqortostan.

9. How long is the Belaya River?

10. What is the highest mountain in our Republic?

11. Name the main trees in Bashkir forests.

12. What are two main religions in Bashqortostan?

13. What does the industry of our Republic manufacture?

14. What natural resources are extracted?

15. What are the world-known products which Bashkir horses and bees give us?

16. What do you know about the Parliament of our Republic?

UFA

The city of Ufa is situated in the Ural Mountains.

It is the capital of the Republic of Bashqortostan, an

autonomous region of the Russian Federation.

Ufa was founded in 1574 by Ivan IV the Terrible as the first Russian town in the area called Bashkiria. It was built as a fortress upon a mountain near the rivers Belaya and Ufa. The Ufa flows into the Belaya. In Bashkir these rivers are called Aghidel (White river) and Qaraidel (Black River). The Belaya is the longest river in Bashqortostan. Its length is over 1400 km.

Ufa occupies the area of about 500 square km. Its population is more than one million.

Ufa is an industrial city. There are many plants and factories. There is an important petrochemical complex consisting of three oil refineries and a chemical plant.

Ufa is a cultural centre. There are many research institutions and the Bashkir branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Thousands of students study at such higher educational institutions as the Bashkir State University, the M.Akmulla Bashkir State Pedagogical University, the Ufa Aviation State Technical University, the Bashkir State Medical University, The Ufa State Academy of Arts, the Bashkir State Agricultural University, the Ufa State Petroleum Technical University, and others.

There are such theatres as the Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Bashkir (Academic Drama) Theatre, the Republican (Academic) Russian Theatre, the Ufa State Tatar “Nur” Theatre, the National Youth Theatre of RB, the Bashkir State Puppet Theatre and some others. Many fine paintings are exhibited at the Nesterov Museum and Gallery. There is the National Museum of Bashqortostan and a lot of libraries in Ufa. There are also many sports facilities.

There are many monuments, and the most famous ones are the Monument of Friendship and the mounted statue of Salawat Yulayev, the national hero of Bashqortostan. The monument on the steep hill overlooks the Belaya embankment.

Answer the following questions in writing and orally:

1. What is the capital of the Republic of Bashqortostan?

2. Where is the city of Ufa situated?

3. When was Ufa was founded?

4. What rivers flow into the Belaya in Ufa?

5. What are the names of the Belaya and the Ufa rivers in Bashkir?

6. How long is the longest river in Bashqortostan?

7. What is the area of Ufa in square kilometers?

8. How many people live in Ufa?

9. What plants does the petrochemical complex consist of?

10. What are the main universities in Ufa?

11. What are the main theatres in Ufa?