Volgograd , formerly called Tsaritsyn ; 1589–1925 and Stalingrad ; 1925–1961 is an important industrial city and the administrative center of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. It is 80-kilometer long, north to south, situated on the western bank of the Volga River. Population: 1,021,244 ; 1,011,417 ; 1,022,578 . The city became famous for its resistance, extensive damage, and death toll during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II. Although it is possible the city originated in 1555, it was first mentioned documentally in 1589 as Tsaritsyn, located at the confluence of the Tsaritsa... and Volga Rivers. The fortress Sary Su , was established to defend the unstable southern border of the country. It soon became the nucleus of a trading settlement. It was captured twice by Cossack rebels, under Stepan Razin in the rebellion of 1670 and Yemelyan Pugachev in 1774. Tsaritsyn became an important river port and commercial center in the 19th century.
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| Country: | Russia |
| Also known as: | Stalingrad |