Abakan, Russia
Region: Khakassia
Geographic Coordinates: 53.716700, 91.466700
Temperature Range: -50.0°C to 30.0°C (-58°F to 86°F)
Climate: Cold and dry winters with temperatures dropping as low as -40°C, and warm summers with occasional rainfall.
Population: 181709
Language: Russian
Abakan is a city in southern Siberia, Russia. It is the capital of the Republic of Khakassia and has a population of around 170, 000 people. Abakan sits on the banks of the Yenisei River and is surrounded by stunning mountains, Making it an ideal spot for nature enthusiasts. Abakan was founded as a trading post in the 17th century and became an important industrial center during Soviet times. Today, Its economy relies on agriculture, Mining, And forestry. One of Abakan’s main draws are its museums.
The Khakassian Museum showcases artifacts from ancient civilizations that once thrived in this region such as Scythians and Huns. It also displays traditional Khakassian clothing and household items still used today. The Museum of Fine Arts houses works from local artists as well as international greats like Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. Religious sites include Orthodox Christian churches like St Nicholas Cathedral which dates back to 1819, Along with Buddhist temples such as Telo Rinpoche Temple built by Tibetan monks who fled their homeland after China’s occupation.
For outdoor enthusiasts there are many opportunities for hiking or skiing on nearby mountains or exploring local forests where you can see rare flora and fauna species such as sable or lynx. Overall Abakan offers visitors a unique blend of history, Culture & nature experiences that make it an interesting destination beyond Moscow or St Petersburg.
- The Abakan River
- The Khakassia National Museum
- The St. Nicholas Cathedral
- The Chapel of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope and Charity
- The Red Square (Krasnaya Ploshchad)
- The Monument to the Victims of Political Repression
- The Central Park of Culture and Recreation named after V.V.Shishkov
- The Temple of St John Chrysostom
- Manufacturing
- Machinery
- Electronics
- Consumer products
- Mining
- Coal
- Iron ore
- Agriculture
- Wheat
- Potatoes
- Vegetables
- Retail
- Clothing
- Electronics
- Home goods
- Other consumer products
- Healthcare
- Hospitals
- Medical clinics
- Education
- Universities
- Colleges
- Fields including engineering, medicine, agriculture, among others
- Tourism
- Skiing
- Hiking
- Natural beauty of mountain ranges surrounding the city
- The founding of Abakan in 1675 as a fortress to protect the Russian Empire from the local indigenous peoples.
- The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway through Abakan in the early 20th century, which helped to connect Siberia with the rest of Russia.
- The establishment of a Soviet gulag in Abakan during World War II, where thousands of prisoners were held and forced to work in labor camps.
- The appointment of Alexander Lebed as governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai (which includes Abakan) in 1998, where he gained national attention for his efforts to combat corruption and improve living conditions for residents.
- The tragic crash of S7 Airlines Flight 778 on July 9, 2006 near Abakan airport, which killed all 125 passengers and crew on board.
Notable people associated with Abakan include:
- Alexander Lebed (1950-2002), a Russian general and politician who served as governor of Krasnoyarsk Krai from 1998 until his death in a helicopter crash.
- Nikolay Yezhov (1895-1940), a Soviet politician who served as head of the NKVD secret police during Stalin’s Great Purge; he was born near Abakan but grew up elsewhere.
- Ivan Yarygin (1948-1997), an Olympic gold medalist wrestler who was born and raised in Abakan; he later became a coach and mentor to many young wrestlers from across Russia.
- Valery Gergiev (born 1953), one of Russia’s most famous conductors who was born near Vladikavkaz but spent much time traveling around Siberia including performing at concerts at various locations throughout Krasnoyarsk Krai including performances in Abakan.
- Khakassia Museum of Local Lore
- Abakan Art Gallery
- Monument to the Heroes of the Revolution and Civil War
- The Church of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan
- Abakan City Park and Square
- Memorial Complex Eternal Flame
- Stela Abakan – Center of Russia
- Monument to Nikolai Krylenko
- Monument to Vasily Surikov
- Lenin Street Pedestrian Zone
- FC Khakassia Abakan – a football club established in 1960 and played in the Russian Professional Football League.
- HC Yugra – a professional ice hockey team based in Khanty-Mansiysk that represents the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Ugra region where Abakan is located.
- BC Khakasskaya Sopka – a basketball club founded in 1994 and competed in various regional and national leagues.
- VC Yugra-Samotlor – a volleyball team established in 2005 and participated in the Russian Volleyball Super League.
Note: The above information may not be up-to-date as it was last updated before October 2021.
- The Day of the Republic of Khakassia (June 3) – a public holiday celebrating the establishment of the Republic.
- The Festival Abakan Spring (April) – a festival dedicated to folk music and dance.
- The International Festival Ethno-Mir (July) – a festival showcasing traditional cultures from around the world.
- The International Film Festival Khakas Cinema (September) – a film festival featuring local and international films.
- The City Day Celebration (September 12) – a public holiday celebrating the founding of Abakan city with various cultural activities such as concerts, exhibitions, and competitions.
Please note that these events may be subject to change or cancellation due to COVID-19 restrictions or other factors beyond our control.
- Khakassian Cuisine – This is a traditional cuisine of the Khakass people that is popular in Abakan. It includes dishes like belyashi (deep-fried meat pies), shuldyrma (meat soup), and kumys (fermented mare’s milk).
- Kuznechny Pereulok – This restaurant serves traditional Russian cuisine with a modern twist. They offer dishes like pelmeni (dumplings), borscht (beet soup), and stroganoff.
- Cafe Mamay – This cafe specializes in Uzbek cuisine, including dishes like plov (rice pilaf with meat) and lagman (noodle soup).
- Pivnaya Apteka – This restaurant offers a variety of European and Russian dishes, as well as a wide selection of beer.
- Kafe Kvartira 22 – This cafe serves homemade-style food with a cozy atmosphere. They offer soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.
- Grill House Steak House – As the name suggests this restaurant specializes in grilled meats such as steaks served with sides such as baked potatoes or vegetables.
- Cafe Ukrop – A vegetarian-friendly cafe that offers fresh salads made from local ingredients.
- Cafe Zolotoy Orel meaning Golden Eagle- A classic Russian eatery serving up home-style meals such as borscht or beef stroganoff along with other eastern European fare.
- Cafe Taverna- A casual spot to grab coffee or tea along with snacks such as paninis, pastries or cakes
- Kebab house- For those who love kebabs this place has a variety of options to choose from such as lamb, chicken or beef kebabs.
