Surgut is the administrative center of the Surgut region of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Ugra. Its category is the district city. The second largest population in the Tyumen region, it is one of the largest Siberian cities.
Currently, more than 360,000 people live here. Its economic significance for Russia is great. So, it was considered the third city among the richest cities of the Russian Federation, leaving behind St. Petersburg (according to 2011).
Brief historical background
Surgut dates back to 1594. On the right bank of the Ob River, they began to build a city according to the order of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich. At the end of the 16th century, it was a wooden fortress with a gate and five towers. The main purpose of the settlement was to act as an outpost. In the 16-17th centuries, its inhabitants were mainly archers and Cossacks with families. At the beginning of the 17th century, the number of residents of Surgut was about 280 people.
In 1628, Surgut was assigned to the Tomsk rank in determining the administrative Siberian borders of the Russian Empire. From the beginning of the 18th century, it turned into a place where political exiles were sent.
Initially, the city was built in the place where the Khanty settlement was located. It was known for the fact that due to geographical quirks here the Ob formed a large fish pasture. In accordance with the popular version, it follows that the name was given to the city by the Khanty language, namely “litter” - a river floodplain, and “kut” - a fish, which means “fish place”.
In June 1965, Surgut was given the status of a city of district subordination. Today it is a large, by the standards of Siberia, industrial and cultural center of the Tyumen region.
About the monuments of the city
To date, the architectural ancient monuments of Surgut have survived a little due to the fact that all of them, as a rule, were built of wood. The only place that allows you to understand and study the architectural history of the city is "Old Surgut", an open-air museum corner. Ancient wooden buildings were recreated there, which played a significant role in trading activities. It hosts public holidays, exhibitions, concerts, as well as other social events.
However, it must be noted that there are enough monuments and other sights in Surgut. Many of them cannot leave indifferent people visiting this amazing Siberian city. Photos of the monuments of Surgut can be found in this article, all of them are very original and interesting.
"Old Surgut"
In the city on Energetikov street, house 2, is located, as indicated above, the cultural and historical center "Old Surgut". Fourteen structures typical of the 19th - early 20th centuries were reconstructed in it. Wooden buildings were originally located in various parts of the city. They were carefully restored and assembled in one place in order to implement a single architectural concept. In 2001, a very beautiful temple “All Saints in the Siberian Land Shone” was added to the complex. It was erected according to the historical traditions of Russian wooden architecture.
Merchant Manor
On Enlightenment street, house 7, there is a merchant's estate. This is an architectural monument of Surgut of the 19th century. Built by a local merchant Klepikov. After the revolution of 1917, the building was nationalized, and subsequently transferred to the education department. Since 1974, it has been a city museum of local lore. Its main expositions tell about the construction progress of Surgut. There are also dedicated to the merchant life of the former owner of the estate - Galaktion Klepikova.
Cable-stayed bridge
Local residents include Ugra bridge as a special attraction of the city. It connects the Ob shores. The design is cable-stayed. It is considered one of the longest in the Siberian open spaces. The pylon, which holds the suspension bridge part, reaches a height of 150 m. The length of the bridge crossing is about 2 kilometers. The total length along with approaches to the bridge is almost 15 kilometers.
Not far from it there is a museum dedicated to the construction of this building, which took place in the most difficult conditions. Also, interesting information about the construction of other bridge crossings in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area was collected here.
Church of the Transfiguration
The temple is considered the most beautiful Orthodox building in the region. Built in the shape of a cross. The funds for its construction were raised by the residents of Surgut. Its construction took almost 10 years. At the end of 2002, the first service was held there. The bell tower is decorated with a majestic large bell, which weighs almost six tons. Located at: Melik-Karamov street, 76.
Cathedral Mosque
The largest Islamic religious building in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra is the Cathedral Mosque. Located on the embankment of Surgut city.
This is a large domed building with a minaret, whose height reaches 50 meters. The artists of Ufa and Naberezhnye Chelny took part in its painting.
Monument to geologists of the Ob
The monument was unveiled on November 11, 2016 in the square of Geologists. Located on the street named after Melik-Karamov, the legendary drill master. It represents several blocks of stone symbolically lying at the foot of the map of Ugra. On the map itself are fragments of everyday life of geologists. The monument was erected in gratitude to the pioneers who discovered deposits of Siberian oil.
Monument to the founders of the city
This monument to Surgut stands on the square in honor of the 400th anniversary of the city. Recognized as his business card. The composition combines the ideas of statehood, military force, peaceful labor of people who built the city with their own hands (prince, governor, Cossack). The figure of the clergyman in this group is called upon to personify the idea of Orthodoxy, which came along with immigrants to this land. In his hands is the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir.
Human figures in height reach 6 meters. In total, the monument, together with a pedestal 15 meters high. It was made from almost 40 tons of bronze. The opening took place on June 12, 2002.
"Condensed milk"
This unusual monument was opened in 2013. It is located on Bystrinskaya street. It is an enlarged copy of a recognizable can of condensed milk. It is supplied with a white and blue label. For many decades this tin can personified the quality goods of the USSR. It is still a brand that is known not only in the territory of the former Union, but also in most countries of the world.
Monument to Aviators
In 2004, a monument to Siberian aviators was unveiled near the Surgut international airport. A Mi-6 helicopter is installed on a pedestal. This monument represents the invaluable contribution of aviation to the conquest of the West Siberian territories.
School of Foreign Languages
An unusual school of studying foreign languages is located on Ostrovsky Street. It was opened in 2004. It is built in the Gothic style, the prototype of which was taken from the famous English Big Ben.
The trademark of this structure is the tower clock, which was made in the UK. They are plated with gold leaf.
Monument to the Smile
Another unusual monument is located on the street of the 30th anniversary of Victory. It is a mermaid with a hat with earflaps on her head. She is sitting on a smiling fish. According to reviews coming to Surgut, this monument is an unusual sculpture that leaves only good feelings. The author is Oleg Dergachev. Answering questions of where such an image came from, he said that according to local legend, a funny laughing fish lived in some of the lakes not far from Surgut for a long time.
Black Fox
On Energetikov Street, not far from the central part of the city, there is another notable monument of the city of Surgut - the Black Fox. The author is Minsalim Temirgaliev. It was installed before the next day of the city. Very similar to the symbol that is on the coat of arms of Surgut.
The prototype for the creation of the monument was a legend that says that in difficult times, when protection was needed for Surgut lands, a noble horseman descended from the sky in the form of a Fox.
Monument to the nurse
On Surgutskaya street named after Ostrovsky there is a remarkable monument, standing next to the trauma center. This is the first and only Russian monument to a nurse. The author is Nikolai Yanchak. The townspeople really liked the image of a nurse - a fragile girl hurrying to the patient.
iron Man
According to the reviews of most citizens, the sculpture created by Alexander Kapralov is the most original in Surgut.
The work is dedicated to Surgut builders. It is located on Magistralnaya Street.
Monument to victims of repression
More recently, on October 18, 2018, a monument to the victims of political repression was unveiled in Surgut in the area of the Black Cape, near the Ob coast . It was here that the first exiles arrived in the 30s of the 20th century.
The monument consists of two concrete slabs, symbolically split into two parts. On one side is an elderly couple with a child, which is designed to remind those who died on the way to exile. On the other side there is a man who personifies the willpower of people who were able to endure all the trials and went ashore of the Ob.
Surgut, a monument to oil workers
In early September 2016, a monument was opened in the city on Neftyanik Square - the Oil Fountain. It is a symbolic oil fountain, at the foot of which there are a number of figures: geologist, electrician, engineer, surveyor, builder, driller, cook, driver, welder, oil and gas production operators. These are people of those professions who performed a real labor feat in the harsh conditions of Siberia.
In the people, this monument is called the "McDonald's monument." It is very reminiscent of the symbol of a famous fast food chain brand.
What monuments are there in Surgut yet? There are enough of them. Among them:
- Memorial of Glory, located on the street. Gagarin, opened in September 1968;
- monument to A. S. Pushkin, located on the street. Republic, opened in 2001;
- monument to T. Shevchenko, Ostrovsky street, 16, opened in September 2005;
- monument to K. Marx, Enlightenment street, house 50, opened in November 1967;
- Monument to Ermak, Embankment, 31, opened in June 2010;
- monument to the "First Komsomol members", st. Melik-Karamov, opened it on October 7, 1969;
- Monument to soldiers-internationalists, located in the central square, opened on October 3, 1998.
As well as many others.