Saratov

Saratov (from Turkic "sary-tau" - Yellow Mountain) is the center of Saratov region. It is located at a distance of 858 km to the southeast from Moscow.

Saratov is in the picturesque hollow formed by the mountains of Sokolovaya (Falcon's), Lysaya (Bald), Lopatina (Spade's), Altynnaya, and Uvekskaya. The city stretches out for over 50 kilometers along the right bank of the Volga.

The climate of Saratov is moderate continental. Climatic features of the Lower Volga region cause it. Winters are frosty, mainly with abundance of snow. Summers are dry and hot.

The city is a large transport junction. There are railway and automobile communications, a river port, and an international airport.

Saratov is well known in Russia as a center of higher education, research and design activity. Saratov is often called "students' city". N.G.Chernyshevsky Saratov State University (one of the first in Russia), Technical and Medical universities, Academy of Law, Socio-Economic University are among leading Russian establishments of university level higher education.

The first cosmonaut of the planet Jury Gagarin for the first time flew into the sky in Saratov, on the Volga banks.

Saratov is the city where the first in Russia public art gallery was opened. Well-known Russian artists, scientists, actors were born and received their education in Saratov.


Source: http://www.saratau.ru/