Ulyanovsk in 3 Russian words
The city is famous for being the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin (Ulyanov). From 1924 to the present day, it bears the name of the leader. Here are three of its main symbols.
1. UAZ
The Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant was founded at the very beginning of the USSR’s war against Nazi Germany in July 1941. At that time, it produced trucks for the needs of the Red Army, while, today, it specializes in the production of off-road vehicles. Over more than 80 years of history, UAZ has managed to produce about 5 million cars.
2. Vladimir Lenin
“The leader of the world revolution” was born in Simbirsk, as Ulyanovsk was then called, on April 22, 1870. Today, his house is a museum, which has been visited by many leading Russian politicians, including President Vladimir Putin.
3. Simbircite
Simbircite is a type of calcite mineral named after the former name of Ulyanovsk – Simbirsk. It is there that the world's largest deposit is located. Simbircite is often called ‘Volga amber’ and has long been used to make jewelry.
