(Source: http://www.kap-yar.ru/index.php?pg=6&view=399)

History

When, after the end of World War II it was decided to build a military training ground,  the place of its dislocation was defined as an area near the village of Kapustin Yar in the Astrakhan region, near the city of Volgograd. The first start of ballistic missile in the Soviet Union was done from this test ground. And from 1947 to 1957 Kapustin Yar was the only test site of Soviet ballistic missiles of short- and medium-range, cruise missiles, air defense systems and missiles.

Nuclear missiles were tested at the Kapustin Yar. According to some estimates, the total capacity of all explosions made here is about 65 atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima. Houses, barracks, administrative buildings started to be built in 1951. Prior to that time, the people lived in mud huts, tents, and in the best case they lived in the hut in the village of Kapustin Yar. The authorities and experts, however, lived in the best of circumstances - in the special train "Messina" where in addition to laboratory equipment there were comfortable sleeping cars and dining car.

In 1950-60-ies thousands of trees have been planted in the city, and every citizen has a "own" tree, which he /she had to take care of. On March 16, 1962 Kapustin Yar turned into a spaceport. That day "Space-1" satellite has been launched. In 1962, the locality received the status of town and became known as Kapustin Yar-1.

Only in the 1990s it was renamed to Znamensk. On May 10, 1996 Znamensk was visited by the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin. He congratulated the citizens on the 50th anniversary of the site and presented the state awards. Now Kapustin Yar, the 4th State Central Multipurpose Firing Range of RF, is designed to combat ballistic missile launches, geophysical and meteorological rockets and space objects of small mass.
 
Pecularities

Past and present of Znamensk is associated with the activity of Kapustin Yar testing ground, in the past the tests of ballistic missiles, air defense missiles and even nuclear weapons were carried out there.

In 1962, Kapustin Yar turned into a spaceport. And today missiles and small space objects are launched there. However, Znamensk is a closed city, where you can only enter if you have a special pass. It can be issued in coordination with the Russian FSB.

By the way, all the attractions of the city somehow are connected with its work, so if you are dreaming of space, you should come here.

Winter is cold enough here, the average temperature in January is -10 ° C.

Summer is hot and dry in July, the average temperature is + 25 ° C, but sometimes the thermometer rises up to + 40 ° C.

In summer, during the day the temperature can vary dramatically. There are showers with thunderstorms and sometimes hail. In July, there are dry winds.