Siberia is a huge part of Russia, the inhabitants of which are very proud of the title of Siberian. Large natural reserves are concentrated here, which make this territory attractive not only for Russian, but also for foreign investors. It is only natural that for a long time there has been a debate about which city is the capital of Siberia? Several megalopolises claim this high-profile title at once, each of which has its own advantages: Tobolsk, Omsk, Tyumen, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk ... In any of them you can hear the phrase: “The capital of Siberia welcomes you!” What are the arguments given by the inhabitants of these cities, proving that it is necessary to give preference to their small homeland?
Hero City Tyumen
More than 400 years (the year of foundation - 1586) stands Tyumen - the center of the oil and gas industry in Siberia, a major supplier of money to the federal budget of the country. In the development of the city for many years there has been a positive trend. The head offices of well-known companies are located here: LUKOIL, TNK BP, Transneft. Relatively small in population, this city connects the main parts of Russia: the center, the Urals, Siberia. Tyumen is practically the oldest Siberian city. One of its main attractions was the Kolokolnikovs old manor, the monopolist merchants who controlled the sale of tea at the Irbit Fair. In Tyumen there is still one of the oldest and richest local history museums with unique exhibits. It is not surprising that the Tyumen people are sure that the capital of Siberia is their hometown.
Glorified Tobolsk
In the years of active colonization of Siberian lands, Tobolsk was founded, it was he who in those years became the center (and remained for about two centuries) of the Siberian land. Many great people of the Russian Empire lived here, and even nine months the family of the last emperor lived here. The pride of Tobolsk is the white-stone Kremlin, which once defended the fortress from enemies. Today Tobolsk is also the largest tourism development center in Siberia. And in 1994, the Holy Synod declared Tobolsk the third city in Russia in terms of the development of spiritual life.
Gray-haired Omsk
One of the oldest and most densely populated Siberian cities is Omsk. In the middle of the XIX century, F. Dostoevsky was serving hard labor in Omsk. For some time after the events of October 1917, here was located first the center of the self-proclaimed Siberian Republic, and then the headquarters of Kolchak.
Over several decades of the XX century, Omsk has grown significantly and transformed: there are a lot of green spaces and places for recreation. A special natural monument is a willow in the city center, planted back in 1884. The Assumption Cathedral is famous, it was almost destroyed in the Soviet years and only recently restored, an excellent art gallery (mini-Tretyakov Gallery, as its inhabitants call it), many theaters (it is no coincidence that Omsk is the unwritten third theater capital of Russia) allows the city to be awarded the title “Siberian cultural capital” ".
Irkutsk - the center of Eastern Siberia
Another wonderful old Siberian city is Irkutsk. The proximity to Lake Baikal made it very famous among tourists. Irkutsk is, in fact, a large museum that allows you to trace the history of Christianity in Russia. The majestic monuments of Russian architecture (ancient monasteries, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Znamenskaya, Preobrazhenskaya, Spasskaya and Trinity churches, the Cathedral of St. Joseph), the Museum of Local Lore and the Museum of the History of the City, the children's puppet theater "Aistenok" leave no one indifferent. Irkutsk is the birthplace and life of famous Siberian writers, including V. Rasputin. Hence the conviction of local residents that their city is the capital of Siberia. In any case, its eastern part.
Young heir - Novosibirsk
Finally, another contender for the title of the capital, if not all of Siberia, then Western, for sure, is relatively young (he is just over 100 years old), but rapidly developing Novosibirsk. In the 25-30s of the last century, it was the administrative center of the region, and from the 30th year it became the center of Western Siberia. At the same time, the economic heyday of the young city. Today, Novosibirsk is the most important regional center of our country.
At a fairly high level, cultural life is organized in Novosibirsk. In addition to a large number of libraries, cinemas, art galleries and other objects, 8 theaters, the Botanical Garden, and the State Conservatory named after Glinka. More than 300 architectural, historical, archaeological monuments have been recognized and taken under protection . But the main thing that distinguishes this city is the natural panorama of the "Virgin Steppe" by V. Grebennikov, a similar one is not found in any corner of the world.
And yet, where is she located?
Of course, you can talk about who should be preferred in this case for a long time. But, probably, the main thing is not what capital of Siberia. More important, what role did each of these cities play in the formation and development of this region.