Asbest, Mining town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
Asbest is a mining town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, stretching along the Bolshoy Reft River. The buildings extend for several kilometers through the valley and follow the contours of the Ural mountain slopes.
The settlement began in 1889 under the name Kudelka and was renamed in 1928. During the 1930s it developed into a major mining center during Soviet industrialization.
The name comes directly from the Russian word for asbestos, reflecting the economic foundation of the town. Residents live in a community that has been connected to mining for generations.
The town lies about 70 kilometers northeast of Yekaterinburg on the eastern side of the Ural Mountains. Visitors can explore the central areas on foot, while the outer districts are more spread out.
German prisoners of war built many structures after 1945 that still shape the townscape today. Some of these buildings show elements of constructivism, a style from the early Soviet period.
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