Abakan
From Freepedia
For the river Abakan see Abakan River
Image:Abakan Coat of arms.jpg Abakan (Russian: Абакан) is the capital of Khakassia in Russia, in South Siberia. It is located in the central part of Minusinsk Depression, at the confluence of the rivers Yenisei and Abakan, at 53°43′ N 91°27′ E; at approximately the same longitude as Hamburg and Minsk. Population: 159,000 (by January 1, 1994).
Abakan fort (Абаканский острог) was built at this location in 1675, also known as Abakansk. In Russian Empire it belonged to Yenisei gubernia. During 1823-1931 the grown settlement was known as Ust-Abakanskoye, 1914-1925: Abakan, 1925–1931: Khakassk. It received the status of town and its current name in 1931.
Abakan (together with Taishet) was a terminal of the major Abakan-Taishet Railway. Now it is an important railway junction.
The city has a river port, an airport, industry enterprises, university, three theatres.
