Tomsk



Tomsk (Russian:Томск) is a Russian city, the administrative center of Tomsk Oblast. One of the largest cities in Siberia. Population 512 600 (2006).

Established under a decree from Tsar Boris Godunov in 1604.

In 1804, the government selected Tomsk to become the center for a new governorate which would include the modern cities of Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Altai, Krasnoyarsk and eastern Kazakhstan.

Tomsk State University is the first university in Siberia (founded in 1878, opened in 1888). The Tomsk State University Library book reserve is considered to be among the richest in Russia.

Tomsk Polytechnic University opened in 1900 is the first technical university in Siberia. Siberian Medical University is one of the oldest and highest rated medical schools in Russia.

Continental climate. The annual average temperature is −1.3 °C. Winters are severe and lengthy, and the lowest recorded temperature was −56 °C in January 1996.