Barnaul (Russian Барнау́л, pop. 603,500) is a city in Russia and the administrative center of Altai Krai. Barnaul is in the southwest of Siberian Federal District on the Ob River. Geographical location
History
Barnaul was founded in 1739 as a manufacturer of silver. In the 1800s it was a major center for trade and culture of the region, especially after construction of the railroad in the early 1900s. Barnaul began to grow after some major factories moved from the west of Russia in the WWII times.
Transportation
The city lies at a junction of the Novosibirsk-Almaty and -Biysk train lines. Trains to Moscow Kazan station take 60 hours, 32 hours to Almaty, Krasnoyarsk 23 hours, Irkutsk 42 hours, Bishkek 42 hours and Tashkent 53 hours. There are also irregular trains to Abakan and Novokuznetsk 24 hours. There are also frequent buses to Biysk and Gorno-Altaysk. A small airport also exists.
Business
There are many business companies in Barnaul. The main business street of the city is prospekt Lenina which runs between Oktrabrskaya and Sovietov squares.
Education and Culture
Barnaul has 5 universities (Altay State University, Barnaul State Teachers' Training University, etc.) and 35 libraries. It also has 5 theatres and 3 museums. The city's Kraevedchesky Museum (Museum of Local Lore) was founded in 1823 and is one of the oldest museums in Siberia.
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