About Vladivostok
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Vladivostok is a port city in the Far East of Russia, the administrative centre of Primorsky Territory, and the terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway. The city is located on the Muraviev-Amursky Peninsula on the coast of the Sea of Japan. It is linked with Central Russia by means of railways, highways and airways. Vladivostok population amounts to 595 thousand people, while the population of its municipal urban district is 620 thousand people and its agglomeration - one million ten thousand people (2005 census, 20-th largest conurbation in the Russian Federation). Thus, the city with half a million people forms an agglomeration of one million people, the only one in the Far East. It is here, in Vladivostok, that the APEC-2012 Summit will take place. The city has its own meat factory, dairy plant, bakery plants, confectionery plant; concrete and brick works; as well as its own furniture factory and plywood and porcelain factories. City's cultural venues include two theatres, a circus, art galleries and museums. The first State Marine Wildlife Refuge in Russia was established in Peter the Great Bay near Vladivostok. Here you can find marine fauna from all over the world. Since 1992, the port of Vladivostok became open to all foreign vessels. This gave Vladivostok the opportunity to make new friends. Thus, Japanese port-cities of Niigata, Akita, and Hakodate became its sister-cities. Other sister cities include San Diego, Juneau and Tacoma (USA), Dalian (China) and Busan (the main port city in South Korea).
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Time zone
Vladivostok, as well as Primorsky Territory, belongs to Vladivostok Time Zone (VLAT/VLAST). It is either 10 hours (VLAT, winter time) or 11 hours ahead of UTC (VLAST, summer time), due to the daylight saving time scheme.
This time zone is 7 hours ahead of Moscow time (MSK+7).
The distance between Vladivostok and Moscow is 6430 km, while the railway line length is 9288 km. Some direct distances to other cities: Bangkok 5600 km, San Francisco 8400 km, Tokyo 1050 km.
Climate
Vladivostok is situated on the latitude of Sochi, however, its average annual temperature is 10 °С lower.
Vladivostok enjoys monsoon climate. Its winters are dry and moderate. Its springs are known to be long and fresh, marked by frequent temperature fluctuations. Its summers are warm and humid, with the highest amount of precipitation. Its autumns are warm, dry and moderate.
The average annual air temperature in the city amounts to +4,6 °С. August is the warmest month, with the average temperature of +19,6 °С, while January is the coldest month (- 12,6 °С). The highest temperature, +34,1 °C, was registered in August 21, 1921 and in July 1939. The lowest temperature ever, -31,4 °C, was observed in January 10, 1931.
Average annual precipitation is 826 mm. Average annual air pressure is 763 mm Hg.
Short History
Vladivostok was founded in 1860 by Nikolai Muraviev-Amursky, the Governor General of South Siberia. The peninsula on the southern tip of which Vladivostok is located is named after him. He understood that the then nameless bay was of strategic importance, and upon signing the Treaty of Aigun with China, Russia gained what is now Primorsky Territory in the Far East and established a military outpost there.
At the beginning of the 20th century Vladivostok had the hugest port in Russia. During the Russo-Japanese War the city remained almost unharmed. The Vladivostok Fortress was completed by 1915 to become the most sophisticated coastal defence structure in the world.
After the Revolution of 1917 the city saw various authorities come and go. In 1918, the city was subsequently governed by with the Japanese and American military landing commanders, then by the Provisional Government of Autonomous Siberia, and later on by Admiral Kolchak. While the Bolsheviks came into power only in 1920. In 1922 the city and its region were annexed to the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, while in 1938 Vladivostok became the administrative centre of Primorsky Territory.
