It was named after Mount Magnitnaya, a geological anomaly that once consisted almost completely of iron ore, around 55% to 60% iron. Magnitogorsk is often called the steel capital of Russia. The gigantic iron- and steelworks, several times enlarged, was one of the world’s largest in 1975, with a steel capacity of about 15,000,000 tons annually. Magnitogorsk is located in the Southern Urals. Its population is 407,775. Magnitnaya, just east of the city. Hockey prediction and preview for CSKA Moscow - Metallurg Magnitogorsk on (19/09/2020). It was founded in 1929 to exploit the rich magnetite iron ore of Mt. At list it looks amazing! A monument commemorating Magnitogorsk’s contribution to the second world war. There was this idea that rural peasants moving into urban towns lead to the demise of Soviet urban society, and even worse, the Bolshevik movement. In recent years, a lot of modernization has been done with a moderate amount of success. A monument commemorating Magnitogorsk’s contribution to the second world war. Magnitogorsk has teacher-training and mining-metallurgical institutes. In 2005, it smelted its 500-millionth ton of pig iron. Some 10,000 people died of hunger, cold and disease in the first five years of construction. The sprawling factory and enormous cleansing lakes had left little room available for development, and May had to redesign his settlement to fit the modified site. It is the second-largest city in Russia that is not the administrative centre of any … At the extreme southern extent of the Ural Mountains in Russia, about 140 km west of the border with Kazakhstan, there are some hills that are composed largely of iron ore. Even at these extreme living conditions, construction progressed at unbelievable speeds, thanks to unrealistic deadlines set by Moscow. But was the Magnitogorsk project successful. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It is home to “Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works”, the largest steel plant in the country and one of the largest in the world. Indeed, Magnitogorsk was modeled after two of the most advanced steel producing cities in the United States at that time — Gary, in Indiana, and Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. Photo credit: nesiditsa.ru The gigantic iron- and steelworks, several times enlarged, was one of the world’s largest in 1975, with a steel capacity of about 15,000,000 tons annually. The site selected to build Magnitogorsk was also far from ideal. Thank you for the story behind this city! There are also engineering, cement, glass, and light industries. To commemorate this heroic effort the city erected a tremendous status, in typical Soviet style, depicting the laborer of the city handing a newly forged sword to a soldier. © Amusing Planet, 2020. (2006 est.) Magnitogorsk is home to a Circus, the Magnitogorsk Opera House, the Metallurg hockey team and many cinemas. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. 413,208. Corrections? Magnitogorsk’s astounding steel producing capacity can be smelled right in its air. The tinge of burned charcoal hangs ominously in the air while an acrid dryness burns the back of the throat. Get a round-up of all our stories published during the past week delivered to your email every Saturday. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Magnitogorsk, Geography of World Urbanization - Magnitogorsk. Related: The Depressing Industrial City of Norilsk, A typical apartment block in Magnitogorsk. A new Socialist city and life-style was built. According to an environmental group called EcoMagnitka, only one in 20 children born in the city is completely free of health problems and allergies. {{posts[0].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[1].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[2].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[3].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, Inemuri, The Japanese Art of Sleeping at Work, How Medieval Bridges Were Built—An Animation, Aqueduct of Segovia: The Mortar-Less Miracle, Fokker’s Synchronizing Gear And The Birth of Fighter Planes, Kitsault: The Ghost Town Where Lights Are Still On But No One’s Home. Surrounded by guards and barbed wire, the workers lived in overcrowded, mostly dirt-floored tents and ramshackle barracks through the harsh winter and hot summer, without basic amenities or medical care. Photo credit: Aleksandr Zykov/Flickr, Sources: The Guardian / Wikipedia / www.macalester.edu. Photo credit: nesiditsa.ru. The Magnitogorsk Opera house has only recently re-opened its doors after the opera was disbanded following the fall of the USSR. EBITDA dropped to $369M from $380M. In 1929, Soviet builders constructed in Magnitogorsk a significant steel company. Steel was created. Magnitogorsk is an industrial city in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located on the eastern side of the extreme southern extent of the Ural Mountains by the Ural River. In 2005, it smelted its 500-millionth ton of pig iron. Magnitogorsk was supposed to be the modern world's first completely planned city. By then local ores were nearing exhaustion, and ores are now secured largely from Rūdnyy in Kazakhstan and the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly of Kursk and Belgorod oblasti; coking coal is from Qaraghandy. While perhaps a technical failure, Magnitogorsk seemed to represent a symbolic and ideological victory. Magnitogorsk: Success or Failure?? The poorly built railroad could not withstand the forces of trains moving at high speed, which proved to be much cumbersome as the nearest source of fuel was 2,000 kilometers away in Siberia. By the mid-1970’s Magnitogorsk was producing 15 million tons of crude steel and 12 million tons of rolled products. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Hockey prediction, user predictions, odds, livestreams, statistics and more. Despite all of the struggle, the first batches of steel were smelted in 1932 and things progressed rapidly from that point on. Most of the population live in such housing. Magnitogorsk proved its worth during the Second World War when it supplied nearly half of all steel the Soviet Union used to make tanks and a third of all steel used to make ammunition shells during the years of the war. And, most importantly, the project helped inspire a sense of community and enthusiasm in the new Communist ideals. Updates? So rich is their iron content that magnetic compasses cannot function near it and birds avoid flying over it. Located in the remote Ural mountain, Magnitogorsk was, during its initial years, at the mercy of long range rail lines, which, just like much of the rest of the country's infrastructure, was built in haste while neglecting some of the critical features of safety and reliability. Almost three centuries ago Russians founded there a fortress. Magnitogorsk, city, Chelyabinsk oblast (region), western Russia, on both banks of the Ural River. It is due to these children that Magnitogorsk was able to build the first tanks and aircraft, as they collected 57 million rubles to help the war front. Although still beating, Magnitogorsk is no longer the mighty steel heart it was during the days of communism. Today, the steel factory operates at less than a third of its regular capacity, and the quality of steel is also lower. Pop. Magnitogorsk, city, Chelyabinsk oblast (region), western Russia, on both banks of the Ural River.It was founded in 1929 to exploit the rich magnetite iron ore of Mt. Magnitnaya, just east of the city. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Monument depicting a steelworker giving a sword to a Soviet soldier, Magnitogorsk, Russia. By February 1, 1941, about 428,000 people were sent to the Chelyabinsk region to help and to work at the factory and its surroundings, to raise necessary funds for the war effort. The Soviets wanted to demonstrate to everyone, worldwide, the advantages of urban planning. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Analysts expected a net loss of $41M, down from a year-earlier profit of $13M, on the back of foreign exchange losses and high debt servicing costs, despite revenues up to $2.52B from $2.43B. The original layout drafted by the German architect Ernst May—who had successfully built egalitarian housing settlements for workers in Frankfurt— was that of a linear city with rows of similar superblock neighborhoods running parallel to the factory, with a strip of greenery, separating them. All Rights Reserved. It is at the foot of the Magnitnaya Mountain, on the eastern slope of the Ural mountain, lies Magnitogorsk, the second largest city in Russia that is not the administrative center of any federal subject or district. Like most industrial cities in Russia, Magnitogorsk is one of the most polluted. With that being said, a vision of "urban modernity" guided the development process and the importance of Magnitogorsk was monumental. This is regarded as a good sign of times to come, as the opera is highly regarded in Russia. Russia's 4th largest steelmaker, Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK), has posted a 2nd qtr net loss of $US49M. This place was especially rich in ironstone, which had been used even by the Bashkirs. But the lack of infrastructure and shortage of skilled workers and equipment often resulted in poor quality job. Photo credit: Aleksandr Zykov/Flickr, A monument symbolizing the tents where in 1930s, the first builders of the city lived. The Soviets wanted to demonstrate to everyone, worldwide, the advantages of urban planning. The Russians call the mountain “Magnitnaya” or the Magnetic Mountain. Omissions? Magnitogorsk was supposed to be a completely planned city. Most of these were forced labor recruited from the gulag or dispossessed peasants who were kicked off their farms during Stalin’s dekulakization and collectivization movements. Magnitogorsk was built in the 1930s to fulfill Stalin’s plan to transform the predominantly agrarian nation into a “country of metal”. The Ural is dammed to form two reservoirs within the city and although the steelworks and oldest part of the city lie on the left bank, most subsequent growth has been on the right bank, where air pollution is less. By the mid-1970’s Magnitogorsk was producing 15 million tons of crude steel and 12 million tons of rolled products. During the first phase of construction as many as 250,000 skilled and unskilled workers were put to work. Magnitogorsk was supposed to be the modern world's first completely planned city. Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russian: Металлург Магнитогорск) is a professional ice hockey team based in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia.They are members of the Kharlamov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League.They also competed in the Champions Hockey League, losing the 2008–09 season championship round to Swiss club, the ZSC Lions. But when May arrived on site in October 1930, he found that the local officials had already begun construction. I think you are exactly right.