Novosibirsk: Fascinating Facts

Siberian Wellness was born in Novosibirsk. The city also serves as a popular hub for meetings among the Company's Consultants from around the world. It is the largest city in the Asian region of Russia and the unofficial capital of Siberia. We are proud to showcase this beloved city in our blog about Siberia.

Here are some fascinating facts about Novosibirsk. Get ready to be amazed :)

Fact 1. Novosibirsk is the only city in Russia that spanned two time zones. Since its founding, the city grew divided into two parts on either side of the Ob River. With the time zone meridian running directly through the river, the left bank belonged to GMT+6 time zone, while the right bank fell within GMT+7. This means that the locals had to adjust their watches each time they crossed from one bank of the river to the other. In 1955, the first road bridge over the Ob was completed, but it wasn't until 1958 that the city officially adopted a single time zone.

Fact 2. The original name of Novosibirsk was Novo-Nikolaevsk. The current name is much younger than the city itself. Novosibirsk is considered to be founded in 1893, when prominent engineers and builders arrived in the settlement to construct a bridge over the Ob River. At that time, places were often named after rulers, so the settlement was initially called Aleksandrovsk in honor of Emperor Alexander III, later changing to Novonikolaevsk in tribute to Nicholas II, eventually becoming Novo-Nikolaevsk. In 1925, following the Bolshevik rise to power, the city was renamed Novosibirsk, "Novo" means "new", "sibirsk" stands for "Siberia". A name that symbolized the creation of a new life in Siberia.

Fact 3. Novosibirsk boasts the longest street in the world, Krasny Prospekt, which stretches nearly 7 kilometers without any turns. It starts at the waterfront of the Ob River, at the Trans-Siberian railway crossing, and runs from south to north of the city. This very street features the city's central square – Lenin Square. There is also the famous 100-Flat Building designed by architect Andrey Kryachkov, the St. Nicholas Chapel, built in 1915 to honor the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, constructed in 1899, and the unique Opera and Ballet Theater – the largest theater building in Russia and the second largest in the world.

Fact 4. The Museum of the Sun, located in Novosibirsk, is dedicated to the solar cults of the ancient civilization and cultures. The museum's collection includes genuine archaeological artifacts and replicas, such as ancient sundials, stones featuring solar petroglyphs, an Egyptian statue of the solar goddess Isis and a replica of Tutankhamun's throne.

Fact 5. At 500 square kilometers, Novosibirsk surpasses the size of some tropical nations, like Niue. Novosibirsk is the third largest city in Russia following Moscow and St.Petersburg. There are more than 1,500 streets in the city, making up a total length of 1,400 kilometers.

Fact 6. Novosibirsk has the world's longest metro bridge, stretching more than 2 km. This bridge carries the city's metro trains across the Ob River. It is renowned for its one-of-a-kind design. During its construction, the launching of a span technology was used for the first time. The bridge is fitted with special movable rollers that balance from side to side, enabling it to operate steadily even during extreme temperature changes.

Fact 7. The Ob River is the largest one in Russia in terms of basin area, covering approximately 3 million square kilometers. This figure puts Ob in first place among Russian rivers (see material about Siberian rivers).

Fact 8. The world-famous hypnotist Wolf Messing lived in Novosibirsk in the mid-1940s. He performed mind-reading sessions on the stage of the opera theatre, which was not yet functioning during the war years.

Fact 9. Novosibirsk is home to the largest zoo located beyond the Ural Mountains and the second largest one in Russia (following the Moscow Zoo). Set within a pine forest, the zoo covers an area of 650,000 m2: It contains about 11,000 animals representing 770 species, more than 350 species are listed in the Red List of Threatened Species. The Novosibirsk Zoo has one of the richest collections of felines and mustelids in the world.

Fact 10. Novosibirsk is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Its population reached 1 million residents in less than 70 years. In comparison: It took Moscow 700 years, Tokyo – 400 years, New York – 250 years, and Chicago – 90 years.

Fact 11. Novosibirsk is a scientific center of Russia. Akademgorodok is a scientific neighbourhood in Novosibirsk, hosting over 100 research organizations, including the Presidium of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). 1,500 Doctors of Sciences and 3,400 Candidates of Sciences live and work there. This is where Siberian Wellness Research and Innovation Center and laboratories are located.

Each city has its own unique charm, but the place where you were born and share a bond with, will always be special. It is wonderful to witness Novosibirsk thriving and growing over the years – just as Siberian Wellness does!