Luhansk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Location | |||
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Map of Ukraine with Luhansk highlighted. | |||
Government | |||
Country Oblast Raion |
Ukraine Luhansk Oblast Luhansky Raion |
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Founded | 1795 | ||
Mayor | Serhiy Ivanovych Kravchenko | ||
Geographical characteristics | |||
Area - City |
257 km² |
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Population - City (2004) - Density |
445,900 1,802/km² |
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Coordinates | |||
Elevation | 105 m | ||
Other Information | |||
Postal Code | 91000 | ||
Dialing Code | +380 642 | ||
Sister cities | Cardiff, Lublin, Pernik, Székesfehérvár, Saint-Etienne, Daging |
Luhansk (Ukrainian: Луга́нськ, translit. Luhans’k, Russian: Луга́нск, translit. Lugansk) is a city in southeastern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the predominantly Russian-speaking Luhansk Oblast (province). The city itself is also designated as its own separate raion within the oblast, and is part of the historic region of Donbass. The current estimated population is around 445,900 (as of 2004).
The city traces its history to 1795, when the British industrialist Charles Gascoigne founded a metal factory there. It was the beginning of an industry that still thrives there today. Luhansk achieved the status of city in 1882. Located in the Donets Basin, Luhansk was developed by the Soviet authorities into an important industrial center of the Eastern Europe, particularly a home to the major locomotive-building company.

The city was known as Voroshilovgrad from 1935 to 1958, and from 1970 to 1990, after the Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov, who came from the city. The name was changed on November 5, 1935, to honor General Voroshilov. It was changed back to the historical Luhansk on March 5, 1958 during the repudiation of Stalin's personality cult. Then, on January 5, 1970, following Voroshilov's death, it was changed back to Voroshilov. Finally, on May 4, 1990, the name was returned to the historical name of the city by decree of the Ukrainian parliament.
Luhansk is home to FC Zorya Luhansk which now plays in the premier league Ukrainian annual football championship.
[edit] Luhansk Pyramid
On September 7, 2006, Archaeologists in Ukraine claimed an ancient pyramidal structure, which they allege outdates those in Egypt by at least 300 years was discovered near Luhansk. The stone foundations of the structure, are said to resemble Aztec and Mayan ziggurats in South America.
[edit] Famous people from Luhansk
- Vasiliy Bubka (born 1960), Soviet pole vaulter
- Vladimir Dal (1801-1872), greatest Russian lexicographer
- Fedor Emelianenko (born 1976), a mixed martial arts champion
- Andriy Serdinov (born 1982), Ukrainian swimmer
- Kliment Voroshilov (1881-1969), Soviet military commander, born in a suburb of Luhansk
[edit] External links
Administrative divisions of Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine | ![]() |
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Raions: Antratsytivskyi | Bilokurakynskyi | Bilovodskyi | Krasnodonskyi | Kreminskyi | Lutuhynskyi | Markivskyi | Milovskyi | Novoaidarskyi | Novopskovskyi | Perevalskyi | Popasnianskyi | Slovianoserbskyi | Stanychno-Luhanskyi | Starobilskyi | Svativskyi | Sverdlovskyi | Troyitskyi |
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Cities: Alchevsk | Almazna | Antratsyt | Artemivsk | Brianka | Chervonopartyzansk | Hirske | Kirovsk | Krasnodon | Krasnyi Luch | Kreminna | Luhansk | Lutuhyne | Lysychansk | Miusynsk | Molodohvardiysk | Novodruzhesk | Oleksandrivsk | Perevalsk | Pervomaisk | Petrovske | Popasna | Pryvillia | Rovenky | Rubizhne | Schastia | Sieverodonetsk | Stakhanov | Starobilsk | Sukhodilsk | Svatove | Sverdlovsk | Teplohirsk | Vakhrusheve | Zolote | Zorynsk | Zymohiria |
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Urban-type settlements: Bilokurakyne | Bilovodsk | Markivka | Milove | Novoaidar | Novopskov | Slovianoserbsk | Stanychno-Luhanske | Troyitske | more... |
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Villages: more... |