Miass, Industrial city in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia
Miass sits on the eastern slope of the Southern Ural range and follows the river valley at roughly 340 meters above sea level. The settlement combines residential neighborhoods with factory districts and is surrounded by forested hills.
The settlement began in 1773 with the construction of a copper smelter authorized by Catherine II. During the 19th century, the site shifted to gold mining operations.
The Ilmen Mineralogical Nature Reserve, established in 1920, contains numerous mineral deposits and represents the geological heritage of the Southern Urals.
The factory zones lie mostly in the outer districts, while the town center can be explored on foot. In winter, streets may be slippery, so sturdy footwear is advisable.
The nearby Ilmen mountain range holds over 260 mineral species, some of which exist nowhere else on Earth. Collectors and geologists have visited the area for over a century because of this diversity.
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