UFA

Ufa is the capital city of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia. It sits on the Belaya River at the confluence with the Ufa River, on the southern slopes of the Ural Mountains. As the republic’s largest city, Ufa serves as an administrative, economic, scientific, and cultural center.

The city has a population of about 1.1 million people. The population is ethnically diverse, with Bashkirs, Russians, Tatars and other groups; Russian and Bashkir are commonly spoken, with Bashkir status in the republic.

Ufa originated as a fortress founded in the late 16th century during Russian expansion. It grew as a commercial and administrative hub, and later became the capital of the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1919. The city has since developed into an industrial and educational center in the Volga region.

Ufa hosts major industrial enterprises in oil refining and petrochemicals, machinery, and fabrication, as well as research institutions and universities. Notable institutions include Bashkir State University, Ufa State Petroleum Technological University, and Ufa State Aviation Technical University.

Cultural life centers on venues such as the Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theatre, museums, and theatres. The city features monuments and parks, and serves as a regional hub for arts and higher learning.

Ufa is served by an international airport and a major railway junction connecting eastern and western routes. It has a network of trams and buses and a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.