Zima (town)
Encyclopedia
Zima is a town in Irkutsk Oblast
, Russia
, situated on the intersection of the Trans-Siberian Railway
with the Oka River
. It serves as the administrative center of Ziminsky District
, although it is not administratively a part of it. Population:
which crossed the Oka River. Until the 1900s, Zima remained a roadside, mainly agricultural village.
In 1898, the Trans-Siberian railway was built through the village and a railroad station was open. Town status was granted to Zima in 1925.
Zima's population remained at around 40,000 from the 1960s until 1990; however, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
and the associated economic crisis, the population decreased by around 15% during the 1990s.
The town is the birthplace of Yevgeny Yevtushenko
, a Russian poet, the author of the biographical poem "Zima Station".
The local climate is extremely continental; air temperature varies between -50 C in winter to 40 °C (104 °F) in summer.
The town has a station on the Trans-Siberian Railway, with commuter trains to Irkutsk
and Tulun
. The M53 Federal highway (Krasnoyarsk
–Irkutsk
) passes through Zima.
Irkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located in southeastern Siberia in the basins of Angara River, Lena, and Nizhnyaya Tunguska Rivers. The administrative center is the city of Irkutsk. Population: -History:...
, 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...
, situated on the intersection of the Trans-Siberian Railway
Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. It is the longest railway in the world...
with the Oka River
Oka River (Siberia)
The Oka is a river in Siberia, left tributary of the Angara River. It originates in the Sayan Mountains in western Buryatia and flows through Irkutsk Oblast. It flows for 630 km , into the Bratsk reservoir....
. It serves as the administrative center of Ziminsky District
Ziminsky District
Ziminsky District is an administrative district , one of the 33 in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia....
, although it is not administratively a part of it. Population:
History
The village of Staraya Zima on the present site of the town was established in 1743. In 1772, its population began to grow more quickly due to the construction of a horse-tract from MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
which crossed the Oka River. Until the 1900s, Zima remained a roadside, mainly agricultural village.
In 1898, the Trans-Siberian railway was built through the village and a railroad station was open. Town status was granted to Zima in 1925.
Zima's population remained at around 40,000 from the 1960s until 1990; however, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
and the associated economic crisis, the population decreased by around 15% during the 1990s.
The town is the birthplace of Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Yevgeny Yevtushenko
Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko is a Soviet and Russian poet. He is also a novelist, essayist, dramatist, screenwriter, actor, editor, and a director of several films.-Early life:...
, a Russian poet, the author of the biographical poem "Zima Station".
Geography
The town is situated on a low-lying plain, heavily water-logged. The Zima River joins the Oka in the town's vicinity.The local climate is extremely continental; air temperature varies between -50 C in winter to 40 °C (104 °F) in summer.
Economy and infrastructure
Zima's economy relies mainly on timber production and railway-related services.The town has a station on the Trans-Siberian Railway, with commuter trains to Irkutsk
Irkutsk
Irkutsk is a city and the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, one of the largest cities in Siberia. Population: .-History:In 1652, Ivan Pokhabov built a zimovye near the site of Irkutsk for gold trading and for the collection of fur taxes from the Buryats. In 1661, Yakov Pokhabov...
and Tulun
Tulun
Tulun is a town in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Iya River , northwest of Irkutsk. It serves as the administrative center of Tulunsky District, although it is not administratively a part of it. Population: -History:...
. The M53 Federal highway (Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with the population of 973,891. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of...
–Irkutsk
Irkutsk
Irkutsk is a city and the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, one of the largest cities in Siberia. Population: .-History:In 1652, Ivan Pokhabov built a zimovye near the site of Irkutsk for gold trading and for the collection of fur taxes from the Buryats. In 1661, Yakov Pokhabov...
) passes through Zima.