Novosibirsk (Новосибирск)

Novosibirsk was founded in 1893 and was originally called Novonikolayevsk in honor of Emperor Nicholas II. It got its current name in 1926. It sat at a crossing of the Ob River and grew rapidly into a major transportation hub during the beginning of the 20th century. The city saw massive destruction during the Russian Revolution of 1917 and later during WWII. After the war it was rebuilt in Soviet style.

There are some interesting sites in Novosibirsk, such as several churches and beautiful buildings. The city boasts many theatres and there are several interesting museums, including the Novosibirsk State Art Museum, Novosibirsk State Museum of Local Lore, Museum of Cossacks glory, Novosibirsk museum of railway equipment, Museum 'Siberian Birch Bark', the Nicholas Roerich Museum, the Museum of the Sun, the Historical and Architectural Museum in the open air and the Siberian Memorial Art Gallery amongst others. There are two planetariums in Novosibirsk, as well as a zoo, which is home to more than 700 animal species.

Novosibirsk has an excellent tram and (trolley)bus network, as well as good rail, road and air connections with the rest of Russia. It straddles the Ob River, about 2750 km east of Moscow. There are many hotels, café's and restaurants in Novosibirsk.