Ekaterinburg is the third largest Russian city, the administrative centre of the Sverdlovsk region and the capital of the Urals. Sverdlovsk region is one of the most developed and advanced regions in Russia.
In spring 1723 by the emperor Peter’s I decree a construction of the largest in Russia iron producing plant started on the banks of the river Iset. Ekaterinburg was built as the capital of mining region which spread on a huge territory on both sides of the Urals, in both Europe and Asia. Ekaterinburg plant itself in the beginning overcame in technological equipment all the metallurgical plants not only in the country but in the world. During Catherine II government the main road of the Russian Empire was constructed through a young city - Bolshoi (Big) Siberian Road.
So Ekaterinburg together with other towns became a key-city to endless and rich Siberia, “a window overlooking Asia” like Saint-Petersburg was a Russian “window overlooking Europe”.
From the end of 19th and early 20th century Ekaterinburg was one of the centers of revolutionary movement in the Urals. Former Russian emperor Nicholas II and his family were shot in the city in July 1918, in Ipatyev House (a Church-on-Blood was built in this place recently).
From 1919 the city is the center of Ekaterinburgskaya gubernia, from 1923 till 1934 - the center of Uralskaya oblast (province). On October, 14th, 1924 it was decided to rename the city after Yakov Sverdlov, a prominent Communist Party member and the Soviet state.
In Soviet time Sverdlovsk city being a small provincial town turned into a magnificent industrial center of the state. Among Russian towns it was along the first five the most developed, by some figures - the first three towns. In 1930s an intensive construction of machine-building and metallurgic huge plants began in the city.
After the World War II new industrial and agricultural plants were put in operation, construction of new houses began, heating and gas maintenance were changed greatly, in 1980 the construction of underground began. On September 4th, 1991, the city was recalled Ekaterinburg.
In 2000s trade, business, tourism had been developing rapidly in the city.
From June 15th till 17th, 2009, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and BRIC (Brasilia, Russia, India, China) summits took place in Ekaterinburg which greatly influenced economic, cultural and tourist situation in the city.
Ekaterinburg is one of the largest financial and business centers in Russia, offices of transnational corporations are located here as well as representations of foreign companies, a great number of federal and regional financial institutions.
Modern Ekaterinburg is the center of heavy engineering industry. It has such industrial giants as Uralmash, Uraltransmash, Uralchimash, Uralelectromash. Also this city has cultural, scientific and educational potential. Ekaterinburg today is a beautiful city and rich in sights — you may visit a wide range of museums, theatres, cinemas, clubs and restaurants for your enjoyment. People here are open and friendly.
Today Ekaterinburg possesses industrial, scientific and cultural potential. It has favorable geographical and political position, as it is situated on the border between Europe and Asia. These factors create further trends for city's successful development in the 21st century.