ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA: FACT SHEET

Location: Eastern Europe, on the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea

Latitude: 59 degrees 57' North

Longitude: 30 degrees 19' East

Time Zone: GMT +3, Eastern +8

Founded: May 16, 1703

City's birthday: Celebrated on May 27

Population: 4 million 750 thousand (as of January 1998). St. Petersburg is the Northernmost city in the world with a population over 1 million.

Area: 1400 square kilometers

Main river: Neva. The city is located in the delta of the Neva River on numerous islands.

Main natural phenomena: "White Nights," Floods

Origin of the name: named in honor of St. Peter and NOT Peter the Great, the founder of the city.

Name changes:

• May, 1703 - August, 1914 St. Petersburg
• August, 1914 - February, 1924 Petrograd
• February, 1924 - July, 1991 Leningrad
• July, 1991 - Present St. Petersburg

Nicknames:

• "The Venice of the North"
• "The Palmyra of the North"
• "The Northern Capital of Russia"
• "The City on 101 Islands"
• "The Cultural Capital of Russia"

Symbols:

• the Angel with a Cross (weather-vane on top of the Peter and Paul Cathedral)
• the Little Ship - Korablik (weather-vane on top of the Admiralty tower)

The Seal: A sea anchor and a river anchor with a scepter on a red field.

Local government: The Governor and the Governor's Office, The Legislative Assembly

Main cultural attractions:

• The Hermitage Museum
• The Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater
• The Imperial palace and park ensemble at Peterhof

Airports: Pulkovo II International, Pulkovo I Domestic

Sea port: Passenger terminal on Vasilievsky Island