Krasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisey River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with population of 948,500. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of aluminium.
During World War II dozens of factories were evacuated from Ukraine and Western Russia to Krasnoyarsk and nearby towns, stimulating the industrial growth of the city. After the war additional large plants were constructed: the aluminum plant, the metallurgic plant, the plant of base metals and many others.
The Yenisei River flows from west to east through the city. To the south and west, Krasnoyarsk is surrounded by forested mountains averaging 410 meters in height above river level.
The population of Krasnoyarsk includes a number of peoples, the most numerous are Russians, Ukrainians, Tatars, Germans, and Belarusians.
There are a number of historical buildings in Krasnoyarsk, the oldest of them is the Intercession Cathedral. Other locally significant samples of Russian Orthodox architecture are the Annunciation Cathedral, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, John the Baptist Church, and the new Michael the Archangel Church. Another unofficial symbol of Krasnoyarsk is the incomplete 24 storey tower located at Strelka. A bridge near Krasnoyarsk carries the Trans-Siberian Railway across the Yenisei.
Next to Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk is a very prominent scientific and educational center of Siberia, with over 30 higher education facilities, many of which are the branches of the Russian Academy of Science, and about 200 high schools. Like Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk has a special city district called Akademgorodok where several educational institutes are located.
There are several museums in Krasnoyarsk. Krasnoyarsk zoo is a major attraction for residents and tourists.