Yekaterinburg, City in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
Yekaterinburg is a large city in the Ural region of Russia, situated along the Iset River and serving as the administrative center of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Its core mixes broad avenues, Soviet-era apartment blocks, and newer high-rises, with small squares and monuments scattered throughout.
The city was founded in 1723 under Catherine I as a mining and smelting settlement at the edge of the Ural Mountains, and it grew quickly into a major industrial hub. In the 20th century it became one of the leading production centers for machinery and arms in the Soviet Union.
The riverbanks fill with people on weekends, with families and groups of friends walking along the water for hours. In the evenings, cafés in the center stay busy, with guests lingering over tea or coffee long after dark.
Koltsovo Airport is outside the city center and connects the city to many destinations across Europe and Asia. Once in the center, most points of interest are within walking distance along the main avenues.
On the outskirts of the city stands an obelisk marking the official boundary between Europe and Asia, where visitors can stand with one foot on each continent. This means the city sits right at the dividing line between two of the world's largest landmasses.
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