Komsomolsk-on-Amur

From World travel guide

Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Template:Lang-ru; often transliterated directly as Komsomolsk-na-Amure) is a city located in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia on the left bank of Amur River. It is located on the BAM railway line, Template:Convert northeast of Khabarovsk. Population: 281,035 (2002 Census); 315,325 (1989 Census).

1 Geography and Climate
2 History
3 Economy and Infrastructure
4 Sister cities
5 References
6 External links

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Geography and Climate

Komsomolsk and its suburbs stretch for over 30km along the left bank of the Amur River. The river at this point is up to 2.5 km wide.

The distance to the regional capital Khabarovsk is 348km, to the Pacific Ocean around 300km. The nearest other major city is Amursk, around 45km south.

Temperatures in the area of the city can range up 50°C over the course of the year, with a daily average of –29°C in January, compared with 26°C in July.

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History

Image:Street komsomolsk.jpg

A street in Komsomolsk-on-Amur

The future site of Komsomolsk was conquered by Mongol invaders in the 1200s, becoming part of imperial China under the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and remaining under Chinese rule as "Gunkhing Cheng" until 1858 treaty of Aigun ceded the area to the Russian Empire.

The village of Permskoye (Template:Lang) was established on the later site of Komsomolsk in 1860 by migrant peasants from Perm Krai.

The government of the Russian SFSR announced in 1931 plans to construct a shipyards on the Amur at the present site of Komsomolsk, with construction beginning in 1932. The town was largely built using volunteer labour from the Communist youth organisation Komsomol, thus receiving the name Komsomolsk. The suffix on Amur was added to differentiate from other towns with the same name.

By the end of the 1930s, the shipyards along with facilities for other heavy industry had been completed. The city developed into a regional centre for industries such as metallurgy, machinery, oil refining, and shipbuilding.

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Economy and Infrastructure

Image:Sukhoi Superjet 100 prototype.jpg

Test flight of a Sukhoi Superjet 100 prototype in Komsomolsk-on-Amur

Komsomolsk-on-Amur is an important industrial centre of Khabarovsk Krai and of the Russian Far East.<ref name="gov">Komsomolsk-on-Amur сity</ref> It has a diversified economy where machine building, metallurgy and timber enterprises dominate.<ref name="fas">KOMSOMOLSK-ON-AMUR REGIONAL OVERVIEW</ref>

The city's most notable company is Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association, Russia's largest aircraft-manufacturing enterprise. It is among Khabarovsk Krai's most successful enterprises, and for years has been the largest taxpayer of the territory.<ref name="globalsecurity">Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Manufacturing Association</ref> It has manufactured hundreds of civil aircraft and thousands of various-role military aircraft from the first recon aircraft to modern Su- series fighters and light amphibian aeroplanes.<ref name="uac">JSC “Komsomolsk-on Amur Aircraft Production Association named after Yu.Gagarin”</ref> The company is hugely important to the city's economy, contributing 45% of all payments into the local budget.<ref>Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Manufacturing Association</ref>

Also based in the city is Amur Shipbuilding Plant, an important producer of ships and submarines.<ref name="rian_nerpa">Crew member 'tampered with temperature sensor on Nerpa sub'</ref>

Two air bases are located near the city, Khurba to the south and Dzemgi to the north.

The city is an important rail junction, situated at the end of a branch line from Khabarovsk to the Baikal Amur Mainline.

The city is served by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Airport

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