Syktyvkar is the capital of the Komi Republic. The city lies in the North-West of the Russian Federation. Syktyvkar stands on the high left bank of the river Sysola. Winter here is long and severe, while summer is quite short and warm. The average winter temperature is 15 degrees below zero Centigrade. In summer the average temperature is 17 degrees centigrade. Local inhabitants traditionally warn all newcomers to look out of the window before going outside. The weather here changes very fast and the weather forecast may be wrong. Never forget about wearing a hat or a warm fur-cap in winter or you may have your ears frozen to icicles. When it is windy and wet, use public transport for moving about the city.

The statement that bears walk in Red Square in Moscow is wrong, though it is quite right about Syktyvkar. Woods make up 72% of the city area, thus, in the suburbs you can accidentally come across a bear or a wild boar. In Syktyvkar’s outskirts over 40 different species live including the elk, the biggest taiga inhabitant.

Wild boars and wolves can be a real problem for local dwellers. Wolves have multiplied in the recent years and frequently attack hunting dogs. Besides, there are lots of hares, squirrels, foxes, otters, lynxes, martens and common weasels. Reindeer prefer local pine forests.

Industry

Syktyvkar is an industrial centre in Northern Russia. There are about 40 key industrial enterprises, the third part of which is of all-Russian importance. Local enterprises produce cellulose, paper and nonwoven fiber, process wood. The wood-processing and cellulose and paper industries account for approximately 62% of all commercial output.

Science

Syktyvkar is an educational and scientific centre of the Republic. The key scientific institution is the Komi Scientific Centre comprising the institute of geology, the institute of biology, the institute of language, literature and history, the institute of economical and social problems of the North and others. The opening of Syktyvkar State University in 1972 became a landmark in the history of the city.

Cultural life

If one day you find yourself in Syktyvkar, you should certainly visit the State Theatre of Opera and Ballet, the State Drama Theatre, the Komi Philharmonic Hall. Fans of exhibitions can visit the National Museum displaying invaluable ethnographical, archeological and historical collections or the National Gallery. There is also the Republican Centre of Finno-Ugric Culture.

Transport

Since Syktyvkar is the transport hub of the Komi Republic, you can easily get here by plane or by train. There are direct flights to Byelorussia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Spain. The destination of Syktyvkar is especially popular by Russian businessmen working in the oil and gas industry, thus, sometimes it may be not easy to buy a ticket for the date you need.

Sister cities

In different years Syktyvkar twinned with such cities as Taiyuan in China, Los Altos in the USA, Debrecen in Hungary and Lovech in Bulgaria.