Pikalyovo is a town in Leningrad Oblast

Leningrad Oblast

Leningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on August 1, 1927, although it was not until 1946 that the oblast's borders had been mostly settled in their present position...

, Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, located 246 kilometres (152.9 mi) southeast of St. Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...

 and 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) east of Boksitogorsk

Boksitogorsk

Boksitogorsk is a town and the administrative center of Boksitogorsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Pyardomlya River east of St. Petersburg. Population: -History:...

. Population:

The settlement that is now Pikalyovo already existed in 1620. In 1932 a new settlement of a cement

Cement

In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...

 factory was built next to it. It was named after a railroad station Pikalyovo, opened in 1906. Pikalyovo was granted town status in 1954.

History

The town is situated on the site of an ancient settlement known since 1620.

In 1906, Pikalyovo railway station

Train station

A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...

, named after peasant Pikalyov who founded a nearby khutor

Khutor

Khutor or khutir is usually taken to refer to a single-homestead rural settlement of Eastern Europe.In Cossack-settled lands that encompassed today's Ukraine, Kuban, and the lower Don river basin the word khutor was used to describe new settlements which had detached themselves from stanitsas...

, was opened on the St. Petersburg—Vologda

Vologda

Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport knot of the Northwest of Russia. Vologda is among the Russian cities possessing an especially valuable historical heritage...

 railway

In 1932, the modern settlement was founded to serve a cement

Cement

In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...

 factory. The settlement was named Pikalyovo after the railway station. In 1947, it was granted urban-type settlement

Urban-type settlement

Urban-type settlement ; , selyshche mis'koho typu ) is an official designation for a type of locality used in some of the countries of the former Soviet Union...

 status and in 1954—town status.

Economy

The town's industry was composed of a RusAl aluminum oxide plant, by-producing sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula Na HCO3. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda . The natural mineral form is...

 and potassium bicarbonate

Potassium bicarbonate

Potassium bicarbonate , is a colorless, odorless, slightly basic, salty substance...

, a cement factory, and a timber-processing plant.

Transport

A-114 Issad–Vologda autoroute is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Pikalyovo. Autoroutes H-9 (Pikalyovo–Zarechye) and H-7 (Pikalyovo–Kolbeki) pass directly through the town.

Pikalyovo is located on the St. Petersburg–Vologda railroad. There are three platforms in the town: Pikalyovo-1, Pikalyovo-2, and Obrinsky.

Both intra- and intercity bus services are available in Pikalyovo.

Education

Pikalyovo's educational facilities include:

• a teachers' training college;
• five secondary schools;
• a children art school;
• an IT center.

Sports

The town's Delfin (dolphin) swimming pool was the location of seven USSR and three Russian championships, where fifty-one world and European records were set.

The town's soccer team, "Metallurg", plays in the Leningrad Oblast

Leningrad Oblast

Leningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on August 1, 1927, although it was not until 1946 that the oblast's borders had been mostly settled in their present position...

 championships.

Also available are a sport complex, an illuminated ski line, a sports school for children, ice-hockey areas, "Metallurg" stadium, and heavy athletics hall.

Twin towns/sister cities

Pikalyovo is twinned

Town twinning

Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...

 with: Maardu

Maardu

Maardu is a town and a municipality in Harju County, Estonia. It is part of Tallinn metropolitan area. The town covers an area of 22.76 km² and has a population of 16,529 ....

, Estonia

Estonia

Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...

 Pitkyaranta

Pitkyaranta

Pitkyaranta is a town and the administrative center of Pitkyarantsky District in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located on the northeastern coast of Lake Ladoga. Population: Telephone code is 81433.The town was founded in the 19th century....

, Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...