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General Information - History - Geography

GENERAL INFORMATION

Founded: 16 (27) May, 1703

City's birthday: celebrated each year on May 27

Population: 4 million 750 thousand

Location: Eastern Europe, the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea (Gulf of Finland)

Latitude: 59 degrees 57' North

Longitude: 30 degrees 19' East

Time Zone: GMT +3, Eastern +8

Area: 1400 square kilometers

Main river: Neva. The city is located in the delta of the Neva River on 44 islands.

Origin of the name: named in honor of St. Peter and NOT Peter the Great, the founder of the city. The name can be translated as "The City of St. Peter".

Name changes:
May, 1703 - August, 1914	St. Petersburg
August, 1914 - February, 1924	Petrograd
February, 1924 - July, 1991	Leningrad
July, 1991 - Present	St. Petersburg

Nicknames:

"The Venice of the North" (referring to St. Petersburg's many rivers and canals)

"The Palmyra of the North"

"The Northern Capital of Russia" (referring to the centuries-old rivalry between St. Petersburg and Moscow)

Symbols:
the Angel with a Cross (weather-vane on top of the Peter and Paul Cathedral)

the Little Ship - Korablik (weather-vane on top of the Admiralty tower)

The Seal:

A sea anchor and a river anchor with a scepter - a symbol of royal power - on a red field.

Local government:

The Governor and the Governor's Office, The Legislative Assembly

Zoning:

20 administrative districts, including satellite towns under St. Petersburg's jurisdiction

Culture:

Saint Petersburg is the 'Cultural Capital of Russia'

Airports:

Pulkovo II International

Pulkovo I Domestic

Sea port:

Passenger terminal on Vasilievsky Island