Taganrog is situated in 70 km to the southwest of Rostov-on-Don on the coast of the Azov Sea, that is a part of the Black Sea basin. Taganrog lies halfway between from the Don estuary and the Russia-Ukraine border, 50 km both ways. The distance from Moscow is 950 km. Population makes up 281,600.
Historical outlines
On June 12, 1698, under the decree of Peter I the naval base and port were built on a cape near Taganrog. After the Crimea's annexation to Russia Taganrog, which before that served as a fortress, had been transformed to the city-port and center of commerce. By the end of the 18th century Taganrog was engaged in commerce with all European countries. Nowadays Taganrog is a prominent industrial, scientific and cultural center of the South of Russia. The names of Peter the Great, Ekaterina II the Great, Alexander I, sea-explorers Vitus Bering, Cornelius Cruise, well-known revolutionaries Lt. Pyotr Shmidt, Guiseppe Garibaldi, and Emelian Pugatchov are closely tied with the city's history.
Location
In terms of national significance, Taganrog seems to hold one of the leading places, being a nodal point of the key Russian thoroughfares that connect the central parts of Russia with the Northern Caucasus and Ukraine. Sea routes tie together Taganrog and the Azov Sea, the Black Sea, and the Volga river basin and the Baltic Sea. Taganrog seaport is one of the largest ports in the Rostov Region and the only one that got an international status. Air communications link the city with the Russian Center as well as with overseas.
Outlook
Current economic and political situation in the South of Russia provides favorable conditions to the further development of Taganrog, to the Taganrog seaport first of all. There are all conditions for regular international voyages organization: large transport centers, political stability, considerable industrial potential, developed banking system, existing transit traffic flow from the European part of Russia to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is sufficient to say that Pan-European Transport Corridor IX, approved by European Community as the priority North-South route, passes via the Taganrog region.
Industry
Taganrog is one of the leading industrial centers of the Rostov Region. Local industry is presented by metallurgy, engineering, metalwork, timber, woodwork, pulp and paper, food, light, chemical and industry of construction materials. The production of city's plants and factories fills a significant place in the Russian market. Taganrog industry plays a marked role at the regional export trade.
Culture, education
Due to its rich history, Taganrog is definitely one picturesque museum on the open air. The Taganrog Dramatic Theatre, Chekhov library, a lot of museums, such as Chekhov House, Literary Museum, Durov Museum, Art Gallery, etc. stand as hallmarks of the Russian culture.
Taganrog is a nativeland of the great Russian writer - Anton Chekhov. The names of Alexander Pushkin, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Konstantin Paustovsky, Faina Ranevskaya and others men and women of arts are the first to be brought in mind when Taganrog is named.
The city has several institutions of higher education.
