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Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and the most populous city in
the country. Founded in 1147 on the Moskva River by Prince Yury
Dolgoruky, the city grew rapidly and in the 16th century Moscow
was made the capital of the country by Tsar Ivan the Terrible.
Today Moscow is the largest city in Europe and one of the
largest cities in the world with the population of more than 10
million people. It is a major political, cultural, scientific,
religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of
Russia.
Red Square with the Kremlin is the centre of Moscow. These are
the most popular tourist destinations. Read Square is the place
for parades and big national and international concerts.
St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square is a masterpiece of Russian
architecture. The Cathedral was erected to commemorate Russia's
victory over the Kazan Kingdom in the 16th century. The monument
to Minin and Pozharsky, the oldest monument in
Moscow built in memory of the victory over the Polish invaders,
can be seen in front of the Cathedral. The State History Museum,
the museum of Russian history, is situated opposite St. Basil's
Cathedral. It is one of the biggest museums in Moscow with the
exhibitions that range from relics of the prehistoric tribes
inhabiting present-day Russia to priceless artworks acquired by
members of the Romanov dynasty.
On the territory of the Kremlin one can see ancient cathedrals
that are real architectural masterpieces. The Bell Tower of Ivan
the Great, the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Cathedral of the
Annunciation, the Palace of Congress, the Tsar-Cannon and the
Tsar-Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world can be seen
there. The Spasskaya Tower, the tallest tower, is the symbol of
the Kremlin. Alexander Garden is situated outside the Kremlin
walls. It was one of the first urban public parks in the city.
The park comprises three separate gardens, which stretch along
the western Kremlin wall. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with
the eternal flame is a memorial to the soldiers who died in
World War II.
Moscow is a big cultural centre with plenty of cinemas, concert
halls, numerous drama and musical theatres, including
world-famous ones like the Bolshoi Theatre and the Maly Theatre,
and clubs. The city is also proud of its museums and art
galleries. Moscow's biggest museum is the Pushkin Museum of Fine
Arts, which houses one of the world's largest collections of
ancient, classical and oriental works of art. The Tretyakov
Gallery is famous all over the world and contains a great
collection of Russian artists' works.
Moscow has as a lot of green spots scattered around the city.
There are 96 parks and 18 gardens in the city, including 4
botanical gardens. Gorky Park was founded in 1928. It borders on
Neskuchny Garden, the oldest park in Moscow. The Garden has the
Green Theatre, one of the largest open amphitheatres in Europe
with the capacity of 15 thousand people.
Izmailovsky Park opened in 1931 is one of the largest urban
parks in the world along with Richmond Park in London. Its area
is six times bigger than that of Central Park in New York.
Sokolniki Park, named after the falcon hunting that often took
place there in the past, is one of the oldest parks in Moscow.
The centre of the park is marked with the fountain and the
network of birch, maple and elm tree alleys that radiate from
it.
Kuzminsky Park is another green spot of Moscow. The district is
a family nest of the Golitsyn Princes, a summer house settlement
in the past, which was famous for its great location, remarkable
parks, and picturesque ponds. Today there is a museum there.
This preserved nature complex of the city is of unique
ecological, scenic, historical and cultural value.
Losiny Ostrov National Park is situated partly in Moscow, partly
in Moscow Region. This is the first national park in Russia and
is considered the largest forest in a city.
The Main Botanical Garden of the Academy of Science, founded in
1945, is the largest in Europe. It contains a collection of more
than 20 thousand different plants from various parts of the
world as well as a scientific research lab. There is also a rose
garden with 20 thousand rose bushes in the Garden, a tree
nursery, and an oak forest with the trees that are more than 100
years old.
Other popular attractions include the Moscow Zoo, a zoological
garden of nearly a thousand animal species. Every year the zoo
attracts more than 1.2 million visitors.
Moscow is a big sports centre too. There are various sports
facilities in the city including sixty-three stadiums. Luzhniki
Stadium is the 4th largest stadium in Europe (it hosted Summer
Olympic Games in 1980). There are also seven horse racing tracks
in Moscow, the largest of which is Moscow Central Hippodrome,
founded in 1834.
The so-called "Seven Sisters", seven massive skyscrapers
scattered throughout the city, are among the most famous
buildings in the city. They stand at the equal distance from the
Kremlin and are among the tallest constructions in central
Moscow apart from the Ostankino Tower, which, when it was
completed in 1967, was the tallest free-standing building in the
world and today remains the world's fourth tallest tower after
Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Canton Tower in Guangzhou and the CN
Tower in Toronto.
Moscow is a large educational centre with plenty of schools,
colleges, institutes and universities. The biggest and most
famous university is Moscow State University on the Vorobyovy
Hills. The University was named after Mikhail Lomonosov who
helped to found it. Students from all over Russia and
international students study at MSU.
ПЛАН-ОТВЕТ. MOSCOW
1. Предоставить общую информацию о Москве (the most populous
city; founded in 1147 by Yury Dolgoruky; 16th century; Tsar Ivan
the Terrible; the largest city in Europe, one of the largest
cities; the population of more than 10 million people).
2. Рассказать вкратце о достопримечательностях центра Москвы
(the Kremlin, a place for parades, concerts and demonstrations;
St. Basil's Cathedral, Russia's victory over the Kazan Kingdom;
the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, the victory over the Polish
invaders; the State History Museum, one of the biggest museums,
exhibitions; ancient cathedrals, the Bell Tower of Ivan the
Great, the Palace of Congress, the Tsar-Cannon and the
Tsar-Bell; the Spasskaya Tower; Alexander Garden, the first
urban public park, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier).
3. Рассказать о культурной жизни столицы, о театрах и музеях
города (a big cultural centre with plenty of cinemas, concert
halls, numerous drama and musical theatres; the Bolshoi Theatre,
the Maly Theatre; the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the Tretyakov
Gallery).
4. Рассказать о самых известных парках Москвы (96 parks and 18
gardens, 4 botanical gardens; Gorky Park, Neskuchny Garden,
Izmailovsky Park, Central Park, Sokolniki Park, Kuzminsky Park,
Losiny Ostrov National Park, the Main Botanical Garden of the
Academy of Science, the Moscow Zoo).
5. Рассказать о спортивной жизни Москвы (a big sports centre,
sixty-three stadiums, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow Central
Hippodrome).
6. Рассказать о некоторых известных строениях Москвы ("Seven
Sisters", the Ostankino Tower).
7. Рассказать об учебных заведениях Москвы (a large educational
centre, plenty of schools, colleges, institutes and
universities; Moscow State University).
QUESTIONS
1. Who founded Moscow and when?
2. When did Moscow become the capital of Russia? What Tsar did
that?
3. What is Moscow like today?
4. What is Moscow centre famous for?
5. What interesting places can you see in the Kremlin?
6. What is Alexander Garden famous for?
7. Why is Moscow considered to be a large cultural centre of the
country?
8. What are the biggest museums and art galleries in Moscow?
9. Have you ever been to any of them?
10. What can you tell about largest Moscow parks? What is Losiny
Ostrov?
11. What botanical garden is the most famous in Moscow and what
can you see there?
12. What's the place where you can see animal species from all
over the world?
13. Why is Moscow called a big sports centre?
14. What are the most popular sports facilities in Moscow?
15. What are the "Seven Sisters" and what is interesting about
them?
16. What is the tallest free-standing building in Moscow?
17. Can Moscow be called an educational centre of Russia? Why?
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