Luhansk
48°34′N 39°18′E / 48.567°N 39.300°E
Luhans'k
Луганськ | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
 Map of Ukraine with Luhansk highlighted. | |
| Country Oblast Raion | Ukraine Luhansk Oblast |
| Founded | 1795 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Serhiy Ivanovych Kravchenko |
| Area | |
• Total | 257 km2 (99 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 105 m (344 ft) |
| Population (2004) | |
• Total | 445,900 |
| • Density | 1,802/km2 (4,670/sq mi) |
| Postal code | 91000 |
| Area code | +380 642 |
| Sister cities |  Cardiff  Lublin  Pernik  Székesfehérvár  Saint-Etienne  Daqing |
| Website | http://gorod.lugansk.ua/ |
Luhansk (formerly Luhanske), (Template:Lang-uk luˈɦɑnʲsʲk, translit. Luhans’k (formerly Луганське); Template:Lang-ru, translit. [luˈgɑnsk]) is a city in southeastern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Luhansk Oblast (province). The city itself is also designated as its own separate municipality within the oblast, and is part of the Donbass region. The current estimated population is around 445,900 (as of 2004)
History
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.
During the Soviet times the city was known as Voroshilovgrad (Template:Lang-ru/ua) in honour of the Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov, a native of Lugansk. The name was changed on November 5, 1935, but on March 5, 1958, the old name was reinstated in accordance with a new law that prohibited namings in honour of living people. On January 5, 1970, after Voroshilov died, the name was changed again to Voroshilovgrad. Finally, on May 4, 1990, a decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR gave back the city its original name.
Sport
Luhansk is home to Zorya Luhansk which now plays in the premier league Ukrainian annual football championship and who plays into Avanhard Stadium. The other football team is Dinamo Luhansk.
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 pyramids in South America.
Famous people from Luhansk
- Sergey Bubka (born 1963), Soviet pole vaulter, World Record holder, and Olympic Champion
- 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
- Aleksandr Zavarov (born 1961), a famous Soviet and Ukrainian football player and coach
- Valeriy Brumel (1942 - 2003), a famous Soviet olympic champion
- Nicolai Shmatko (born 1943), is a contemporary Ukrainian sculptor, professor and painter.
- Sergei Semak Russian football player
See also
External links
Media related to Luhansk at Wikimedia Commons- Topographic map 1:100 000
- Historic images of Luhansk
- Luhansk Portal Top
- Marble sculpture of King of marble of Nicolai Shmatko
