Omsk (Омск), Russia

Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Omsk, Russia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dormition_of_the_Theotokos_Church_-_Omsk.jpg
Author: XioNoX


Omsk (Russian: Омск) is a city in southwestern Siberia, Russia. Located 1,389 km (863 mi) from Moscow, Omsk spans over 573 sq km (221 sq mi) and has a population of 1.15 million people. It is the second largest city east of the Ural Mountains after Novosibirsk, and the 7th largest in the country.

Omsk sprawls along the banks of the Irtysh River, at the confluence with the Om River. It began as one of the military outpost established in 1716 to protect Russia's expanding frontier. The initial fortification was made of wood. This was rebuilt in bricks in the late 18th century.

In the 19th century, Omsk had developed into a major city in Siberia. It was made the administrative center of Western Siberia and the Steppes, which is present-day Kazakhstan. For a while, the city went into decline until the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway gave its economy a much-needed boost. It brought merchants and trading companies to the city, and enabled it to built its now picturesque old district.

Under the Soviet Union, Omsk fell out of favor. During this period, Novosibirsk was chosen to be the administrative center of Western Siberia. This caused an exodus of important institutions from Omsk to Novosibirsk. It negatively impacted Omsk's economy, and sparked a rivalry between the two cities that continues to this day.

Omsk City Center
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RUS_Omsk,_city_center.jpg
Author: WarXboT


Omsk received another boost when the Second World War prompted the transfer of the Soviet provisional capital there. Along with that came military production. The presence of military enterprises turned Omsk into a city closed to foreigners until after the Soviet Union was dissolved, after which the collapse in demand for Soviet miliary hardware led to high unemployment.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union brought a period of stagnation and economic instability. Attempting to fill the vacuum left by the state, various members of the former party elite as well as the nouveau riche and criminal syndicates all fought over control of the city's businesses. Eventually, the oblast government took charge of the city. Nonetheless Omsk is still regarded as lagging behind other Russian cities in terms of economic development and quality of life.

Omsk City Council
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Omsk_City_Council.jpg
Author: G0rn

Visiting Omsk

Flights from Moscow to Omsk take three hours while trains on the Trans-Siberian Railway takes 40 hours.

Places of Interest in Omsk

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