Journey to Putinograd: A Ural City of Tanks and Steel Compared to Ufa and Sterlitamak
Our colleagues at UFA1.RU are publishing a new part of their journey through the Urals. This time we show what the city that produces tanks and steel, nicknamed Putinograd, looks like.
Nizhny Tagil
Nizhny Tagil is the second largest city in Sverdlovsk Oblast. It is located 140 kilometers from the regional capital, Yekaterinburg, and has a population of about 330,000. Many Russians know it from the comedy show «Our Russia.» «Tagil rules!» is constantly yelled by a very drunk character in a sketch on a southern beach.
In reality, this Ural city has many more virtues (and merits). In particular, it produces steel, rail cars, and even tanks. The Armata tank, discussed by military experts in Russia and worldwide in the 2010s, was created here, more precisely, in the Vagonka district—one of three districts in Nizhny Tagil.
At that time, activists from a local enterprise recorded a video in support of the Russian president, expressing readiness to «take to the streets and defend their stability.» The recording spread across the media, which nicknamed Tagil «Putinograd.» By the way, the author of the video later got a post in the government and left it, remembered solely for his fiery speech.
If Yekaterinburg can be compared to Ufa (both are capital cities), then Nizhny Tagil is a kind of «Sverdlovsk Sterlitamak.» However, Tagil residents can boast something Ufa residents don«t have: a functioning circus. Although, its building also had to wait several years for repairs.
Another difference in Nizhny Tagil that might interest residents of the Bashkir capital is the embankment, which also had a lot of money poured into it. But one cannot call it a kingdom of concrete—it is entirely planted with trees: in summer you can really take shelter from the heat, and in winter—take a quiet walk with beautiful views.
One of the main symbols of the city is Fox Mountain and the chapel located at its summit. Opposite is the factory museum-reserve. It was founded back in 1725 by the industrialist Demidov dynasty; metal was smelted here. It operated until 1987 but has been preserved as an exhibition.
The main downside of Nizhny Tagil is also clear to residents of Bashkiria—ecology. Due to heavy industry, the city regularly features in ratings of the most polluted places in Russia. Although representatives of local plants assure that they are modernizing production.
In general, Nizhny Tagil cannot be called a tourist attraction, and the local population is gradually shrinking. But if you happen to be here, you won«t be completely bored either: you can brighten up your trip at least with a walk around the city center.
See also photographs from a walk around Yekaterinburg.
We previously wrote about the impressions of a foreign tourist who for most of his life didn«t even know Yekaterinburg existed on the map. Umut Alintas was born in Turkey and now lives in Portugal, from where he travels at every opportunity.
