MY NATIVE TOWN (KIROV)

The city of Kirov is the centre of Kirov region. It was founded in 1374 on the banks of the Vyatka river. Its territory is about 132 square kilometers. Its first name was Khlynov. In 1780 the town was named Vyatka. Vyatka was a small provincial town with dirty narrow streets and small wooden houses. It was a place of exile for many outstanding people: famous democratic writers Hertsen, Korolenko, Saltykov-Shchedrin, architect Vitberg and others. The Vyatka land gave birth to many great sons of Russia: artists Vasnetsov, singer Shalyapin, writer Grin, marshal Konev and other outstanding figures.

In 1934 the town was named after S.M. Kirov. After the October revolution the town began to develop quickly. Now its population is more the half a million people. It is an important industrial and commercial centre. There is a great number of modern industrial enterprises in it, such as the tyre plant, several machinebuilding plants and others. Kirov is also a cultural and scientific centre. There are several higher schools in it: 2 state universities, the Agricultural Academy, the Medical Academy and others, several scientific research institutes, a number of technical and music schools, libraries and museums. In the halls of the Vasnetsov Brothers Art museum one can see pictures of many famous Russian artists and a fine collection of Dymkovo toys.

The Drama Theatre, the Theatre for Young Spectators, the Puppet Theatre, the Circus and the Philharmonic Concert Hall are very popular with the Kirovites. There are many places of interests in Kirov. The centre of the city is the Theatre Square. In summer there are always a lot of people around the fountain in the middle of the square. From the Grin Embankment you can have a good view of the river and its green banks. You can also see the monuments to the Kirovites who perished in the Great Patriotic War and the Eternal Flame there.

One of the most beautiful streets is October Avenue with its green boulevards. The city is growing from year to year. New districts are well planned and green with wide streets and high modern apartment houses.

MOSCOW

Moscow is the capital of our country. It is a political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. The city was founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruky. Now it is one of the largest cities in Europe. Its total area is about 900 square kilometres. Ancient Moscow occupied the territory of the preset-day Kremlin. The population of the city is over million.

The heart of Moscow is Red Square. The square has witnessed many historic events. Here ceremonies, national celebrations and executions took place. The Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral are architectural masterpieces. The main Kremlin Tower, Spasskaya Tower, has become the symbol of the country. There is a legend that Ivan the Terrible blinded the architects Barma ad Postnik, because he didn’t want them to create another masterpiece. On the territory of Kremlin you can also see the Bell Tower, of Ivan the Great, the Tzar-Cannon and the Tzar-Bell, the biggest cannon and the bell in the world.

There are more than 80 museums in Moscow. The largest museums are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the State Tretyakov Gallery. Besides, Moscow is famous for its theaters. The best-known of them is the Bolshoi Opera House.

Moscow is a city of students. In the south-west of the city we can see a 32-storey building of Moscow University with the monument to M. Lomonosov in front of it.

Moscow is the seat of the Russian Parliament (the Duma) and the centre of political life of the country.