ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA IN FACTS AND FIGURES

Location: Eastern Europe, the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea (Gulf of Finland)

Latitude: 59 degrees 57' North

Longitude: 30 degrees 19' East

Time Zone: GMT +3, Eastern +8

Founded: 16 (27) May, 1703

City's birthday: celebrated each year on May 27

Population: 4 million 750 thousand (as of January 1998)

How does St. Petersburg compare? The most Northern city in the world with a population over 1 million

Area: 1400 square kilometers

Main river: Neva. The city is located in the delta of the Neva River on numerous islands, a fact which prompted some observers to call it "The City on 101 Islands"

Main natural phenomena: White Nights, Floods

Origin of the name: named in honor of St. Peter and NOT Peter the Great, the founder of the city. The name can be translated as "The City of St. Peter".
St. Petersburg, FL was named in honor of St. Petersburg, Russia by Russian-born railroad builder Piotr Dementyev (Peter Demens)

Name changes:
May, 1703 - August, 1914	St. Petersburg
August, 1914 - February, 1924	Petrograd
February, 1924 - July, 1991	Leningrad
July, 1991 - Present	St. Petersburg

Nicknames:

"The Venice of the North" (referring to St. Petersburg's many rivers and canals)

"The Palmyra of the North"

"The Northern Capital of Russia" (referring to the centuries-old rivalry between St. Petersburg and Moscow)

Symbols:
the Angel with a Cross (weather-vane on top of the Peter and Paul Cathedral)

the Little Ship - Korablik (weather-vane on top of the Admiralty tower)

The Seal: A sea anchor and a river anchor with a scepter - a symbol of royal power - on a red field.

Local government: The Governor and the Governor's Office, The Legislative Assembly

Zoning: 20 administrative districts, including satellite towns under St. Petersburg's jurisdiction

Culture: has always been and was recently officially proclaimed the 'Cultural Capital of Russia'

Main cultural attractions:
  The Hermitage Museum
  The Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater
  The Imperial palace and park ensemble at Peterhof

N.B.! The city of St. Petersburg is often referred to as an Open-Air Museum

Airports: Pulkovo II International, Pulkovo I Domestic

Sea port: Passenger terminal on Vasilievsky Island