Stary Oskol, Industrial city in Belgorod Oblast, Russia
Stary Oskol is an industrial city in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, that spreads along both banks of the Oskol River. The center sits on a hill with administrative buildings and residential blocks, while factories and steelworks mark the city edges.
The settlement began in 1593 as a fortress built to defend the southern Russian frontier against raids from Crimean Tatars. In the 20th century the town grew into a center for metallurgy thanks to nearby iron ore deposits in the region.
The settlement takes its name from the Oskol River, with "Stary" meaning old in Russian, distinguishing it from newer towns founded later in the region. Today churches and monuments recall this frontier past in a city now shaped by industrial work and steel production.
The city connects by long-distance trains to Moscow and other major centers, while local buses link the different districts. Wide streets and industrial zones require time to cross, so transport is often needed to move around.
The city sits near the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly, one of the largest iron ore concentrations on Earth, which deflects compasses in the area. This geological feature led to the establishment of large mines and steel plants in the second half of the 20th century.
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