Abakan

 

(əbəkän') , city (1990 est. pop. 153,000), capital of the Khakass Republic, in S central Siberian Russia, on the Yenisei River. A commercial center on the South Siberian RR, it produces footwear, foodstuffs, and metal products. Founded (1707) as a fortress, Abakan was known as Ust-Abakanskoye until 1931. Bronze Age tumuli and Turkic inscriptions have been found in the city.

Abakan (Russian: Абака́н; Khakass: Агбан) is the capital of the Republic of Khakassia in Russia, in South Siberia. It is located in the central part of Minusinsk Depression, at the confluence of the rivers Yenisei and Abakan, at 53°43′N, 91°27′E; at approximately the same latitude as Hamburg and Minsk. Population: 165,197 (2002 Census); 159,000 (January 1, 1994 est.).

Abakan fort (Абаканский острог) was built at this location in 1675, also known as Abakansk. In Russian Empire it belonged to Yenisei gubernia. During 1823–1931 the grown settlement was known as Ust-Abakanskoye, 1914–1925: Abakan, 1925–1931: Khakassk. It received the status of town and its current name in 1931.

Abakan (together with Tayshet) was a terminal of the major Abakan-Taishet Railway. Now it is an important railway junction.

The city has a river port, an airport, industry enterprises, Khakas State University, and three theatres. Furthermore, it has a commercial center that produces footwear, foodstuffs, and metal products.

External links

• (Russian) Abakan web portal

	Cities and towns in the Republic of Khakassia
	Capital: Abakan Abaza | Chernogorsk | Sayanogorsk | Sorsk

Coordinates: 53°43′N, 91°27′E

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