Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk is the capital of Karelia and the center of the Republic's industry, culture and science. There are more than 278,000 inhabitants. At the command of Peter the Great, the great iron foundry and cannon factory were built on the shores of Onega Lake. Around the factory the Petrovskaya Sloboda developed which means the built-up area of St. Petersburg. The factory became famous because of the cannons and also because of the art castings. Gratings of the Tsarskoe Selo, Alexander Palace and the Kronstadt Canal, as well as, cast handrails of the Neva and Moika rivers and cast handrails of the Catherine Canal made in Petrozavodsk are all preserved to this day. In 1777 at the command of Catherine the Great, the village was named Petrozavodsk.