(Source: http://boombob.ru/picture.php?id=164565)

Salavat located in the very heart of Bashkiria is an oil city. Oil literally feeds and nurses it. Thanks to it, Salavat is considered the most favorable small city of Bashkiria.

The city-forming enterprise which is called after SNOS (“Salavat Petroleum Organic Synthesis” in Russian) abbreviation out of old habit improves parks, finances schools and hospitals, helps the best graduates. Even stars give gigs in Salavat more often than in Ufa . The whole city can be explored by foot in half an hour.

The central street is called Lenina Street, and it hardly could be called otherwise, because Salavat was built in 1948 as a settlement for a new petrochemical plant. Its architectural looks correspond to the circumstances of its emergence: the full-fledged Stalin Empire style, two-three-storey barracks in quiet courtyards a little further from the centre.

The city administration building is really outstanding (we’d rather say, it is a Temple of the city administration, or at least a Palace): a porch with massive columns, rusticated walls, the Soviet emblem with hammer and sickle on the frontispiece. The Palace of Culture “Neftekhimik” was built in the same luxurious style. With regard to the barracks, these are the first houses of Salavat built by Gulag prisoners. An industrial zone of a huge “Salavatnefteorgsintez” refining complex (earlier called “Salavat Petroleum Organic Synthesis” which is now called “Gazprom Neftegaz Synthesis”).

The company’s employees flowed to the gate house through Severnaya Street every day, and the tram tracks in Salavat were laid taking into account this route. Until now the tram has been running only in two directions: to the industrial zone and back. A working mountain-skiing complex “ Zirgan-Tau” is located 12 kilometers away from the city. The people having rest here are mostly the residents of the nearby Salavat, Ishimbay and Sterlitamak. The resort has only three trails with their lengths 800, 1200 and 2000 meters, accordingly.

Winters in Salavat are often quite cold, with dense fogs. In summer the weather is hot, there are many sunny days.

Holidays. The City Day is celebrated on June, 12. Main festivities are traditionally held near the beach of the Belaya River. Live music and sports events are held on this day.

The annual winter festival “Salavat Ski Trail” – a contest in cross-country skis – is held in February. It is arranged on the banks of the Belaya River, in a suburban area. Everyone can take part in it.

History

The official history of Salavat begins in 1948, with the erection of a petrochemical plant and a working settlement next to it. The plant was to recycle heavy oil grades – there are plenty of them in the Bashkir land.

The initial working settlement was called simply Novostroika (“Newly-Built Settlement”), but in 1949 it was granted a city status. The new administrative unit was called Salavat — naturally, in honor of Salavat Yulayev. Now his personality causes many questions on the part of historians; in those times Salavat was perceived unambiguously as a hero, and not even from history, but from the “Salavat Yulaev” movie. The film was released in 1940. There Salavat Yulaev was shown as a people’s fighter, spokesman for the peasants’ aspirations.

It is noteworthy that there is Salavatsky District in Bashkiria that has no relation to the Salavat city, with Maloyaz as the district centre. It is situated in the North-East, in a totally different part of the republic. That’s the topographical puzzle, and it is hard to solve. The fact is that the historical Salavat Yulaev really originated from the district that was called after him by the order of the local authorities in 1941.

Speaking with regard to the Salavat city, its name chosen at the level of the entire USSR, without paying any particular attention to the geography of distant Bashkir district centres. However, Yulayev is related to the Salavat city. During the peasants’ revolt his cavalry went through the city territory. A memorial stone at the Pobedy Square (“The Square of Victory”) has been erected in honor of this event.

 

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