Sochi (Russian:Сочи,IPA:[ˈsotɕɪ]ⓘ, fromUbykh:Шъуача –seaside) is the largestresort city in Russia. The city is situated on theSochi River, along theBlack Sea in theNorth Caucasus ofSouthern Russia, with a population of 466,078 residents,[12] and up to 600,000 residents in the urban area. The city covers an area of 176.77 square kilometers (68.25 sq mi),[5] while the Greater Sochi Area covers over 3,502 square kilometers (1,352 sq mi).[5] Sochi stretches across 145 kilometers (90 mi), and is the longest city in Europe,[13] the fifth-largest city in theSouthern Federal District, the second-largest city inKrasnodar Krai, and thesixth-largest city on the Black Sea.
The general consensus (also recognized by the city's own website[17]) is that the name "Sochi" (Russian:Сочи) is the Russified form of theCircassian "Ş̂açə" (Adyghe:Шъачэ) which in turn is ofUbykh-Circassian origin, coming from the Ubykh name "Ş̂uaça" (Ubykh:Шъуача).[18][19][17] It is acompound made up from the two Ubykh words "шъуа" (sea) and "ча" (side) and roughly translates to "Seaside/coast".[19] There are other claims and theories, according to Georgian sources, the word comes from the Georgian word for thefir tree, "soch'i" (Georgian:სოჭი).[20]
Between the13th and15th centuries, theRepublic of Genoa had the monopoly of the trade on the shores of the Black Sea, and established colonies and trading posts in the region of the present-day Sochi, the large ones wereLayso andCosta.[22][23][24]
From the 14th to the 19th centuries, the region was dominated by theAbkhaz,Ubykh,Abazin andAdyghe tribes, the current location of the city of Sochi (Ş̂açə) known asUbykhia was part of historicalCircassia, and was controlled by the native people of the local mountaineer clans of the north-west Caucasus, nominally under the sovereignty of theOttoman Empire, which was their principal trading partner in the Islamic world.
The Russians had no detailed knowledge of the area until BaronFeodor Tornau investigated the coastal route fromGelendzhik toGagra, and across the mountains toKabarda, in the 1830s.[citation needed] In 1838, the fort of Alexandria, renamed Navaginsky a year later, was founded at the mouth of theSochi River as part of the Black Sea coastal line, a chain of seventeen fortifications set up to protect the area from recurring Circassian resistance. At the outbreak of theCrimean War, the garrison was evacuated from Navaginsky to prevent its capture by the Turks, who effected a landing onCape Adler soon after.
By the end ofRusso-Circassian War, the Russian Empire aimed to systematically destroy the native Circassian people in the region[27][28][29] and several atrocities were committed by the Russian forces.[30][31] As a result, almost allUbykhs and a major part of theCircassians who lived on the territory of modern Sochi, were either killed or expelled to theOttoman Empire in theCircassian genocide. According to Russian sources, Sochi's population fell from roughly 100,000, to 98.[32][33][2]
Starting in 1866 the coast was actively colonized by Russians, Armenians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Greeks, Germans, Georgians and other people from inner Russia.[3][25] Additionally in the late 1860s, the Adyghe, mostly of theShapsug and Khakuchi tribes, who were hiding in the mountains started resettling on the coast.[3]
In 1874–1891, the firstRussian Orthodox church,St. Michael's Church, was constructed, and the Dakhovsky settlement was renamedDakhovskyPosad on April 13, 1874 (O.S.). In February 1890, the Sochi Lighthouse was constructed. In 1896, the DakhovskyPosad was renamedSochiPosad (after the name of local river) and incorporated into the newly formedBlack Sea Governorate. In 1900–1910, Sochi burgeoned into a sea resort. The first resort, "Kavkazskaya Riviera", opened on June 14, 1909 (O.S.). Sochi was granted town status in 1917.[3]
Plan of Fort Alexandria at the mouth of Sochi, which initiated the city of Sochi
During theRussian Civil War, the littoral area sawsporadic armed clashes involving theRed Army,White movement forces, and theDemocratic Republic of Georgia. As a result of the war Sochi has become Russian territory. In 1923, Sochi acquired one of its most distinctive features, arailway which runs fromTuapse to Georgia within a kilometer or two of the coastline. Although this branch of theNorthern Caucasus Railway may appear somewhat incongruous in the setting of beaches and sanatoriums, it is still operational and vital to the region's transportation infrastructure.[3]
Sochi was established as a fashionable resort area underJoseph Stalin, who had his favoritedacha built in the city. Stalin's study, complete with a wax statue of the leader, is now open to the public.[34] During Stalin's reign the coast became dotted with imposingNeoclassical buildings, exemplified by the opulent Rodina and Ordzhonikidze sanatoriums. The centerpiece of this early period isShchusev'sConstructivist Institute of Rheumatology (1927–1931). The area was continuously developed until the demise of the Soviet Union.[3]
Following Russia's loss of the traditionally popular resorts of theCrimean Peninsula (transferred from theRussian SFSR to theUkrainian SSR in 1954 byNikita Khrushchev), Sochi emerged as the unofficialsummer capital of the country.[35] In 1961, Soviet officials decided to expand the city limits by forming aGreater Sochi which extended for 140 kilometers from the southern parts ofTuapse toAdler. In July 2005, Russia submitted a successful bid for hosting the2014 Winter Olympics in the city, spending around $51 billion in the process.[36]
The vast majority of the population of Sochi lives in a narrow strip along the coast and is organized in independent microdistricts (formerly settlements). The biggest of these microdistricts, from the northwest to the southeast, areLazarevskoye,Loo,Dagomys, central Sochi (Tsentralny city district),Khosta,Matsesta, andAdler. The whole city is located on the slopes of theWestern Caucasus which descend to the Black Sea and are cut by the rivers. The biggest rivers in Sochi are theMzymta and theShakhe. Other rivers include the Ashe, the Psezuapse, theSochi, the Khosta, and theMatsesta. ThePsou River makes the border with Abkhazia.
The northeastern part of the city belongs to theCaucasian Biosphere Reserve which is aWorld Heritage Site spanning areas in Krasnodar Krai and Adygea. Almost the whole area of the Greater Sochi, with the exception of the coast and of the area which belong to the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, are included intoSochi National Park.
Sochi has ahumid subtropical climate[40][41] with mild winters (average 11 °C (52 °F) during the day and 4 °C (39 °F) at night) in the period from December to March and warm summers (average 24 °C (75 °F) during the day and 16 °C (61 °F) at night) in the period from May to October.
Sochi is unique among larger Russian cities as having some aspects of asubtropical resort. About two million people visited Greater Sochi each summer as of 2014,[42] when the city is home to the annual film festival "Kinotavr" and a getaway for Russia's elite.
Sochi has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa),[40] at the lower elevations. Its average annual temperature is 18.9 °C (66.0 °F) during the day and 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) at night. In the coldest months—January and February—the average temperature is about 10 °C (50 °F) during the day, above 3 °C (37 °F) at night and the average sea temperature is about 9 °C (48 °F). In the warmest months—July and August—the temperature typically ranges from 25 to 29 °C (77 to 84 °F) during the day, about 20 °C (68 °F) at night and the average sea temperature is about 23–27 °C (73–81 °F).
Yearly sunshine hours are around 2,200. Generally, the summer season lasts three months, from June to September. Two months—April and November—are transitional; sometimes temperatures reach 20 °C (68 °F), with an average temperature of around 16 °C (61 °F) during the day and 9 °C (48 °F) at night. December, January, February and March are the coldest months, with an average temperature (for these four months) of 11 °C (52 °F) during the day and 4 °C (39 °F) at night. Average annualprecipitation is about 1,700 millimeters (67 in).[2][41][44]
Sochi is situated on the same latitude asNice but strong cold winds from the south make winters less warm. In fact, temperatures drop below freezing every winter. The highest temperature recorded was 39.4 °C (102.9 °F), on July 30, 2000, and the lowest temperature recorded was −13.4 °C (7.9 °F) on January 25, 1892.[45] Sochi lies at 8b/9ahardiness zone, so the city supports different types of palm trees.[39]
Climate data for Sochi (1991–2020, extremes 1870–present)
Sochi is administratively subdivided into four city districts:Tsentralny city district,Lazarevsky city district,Khostinsky city district, andAdlersky city district. Tsentralny city district, comprising the central portion of, is by far the smallest out of four in terms of the area, and the other three have comparable areas, with Lazarevsky city district being the biggest. In terms of the population, Tsentralny city district is approximately twice as big as each of the other three city districts.
Tsentralny city district, or central Sochi, covers an area of 32 square kilometers (12 sq mi) and, as of the2010 Census, has a population of 137,677.[7] The highlights include:
The red-granite Archangel Column, erected in 2006 in memory of the Russian soldiers fallen in Sochi during the Caucasian War. It is capped by a 7-metre bronze statue of Sochi's patron saint,Michael the Archangel.
Sochi Arboretum, a largebotanical garden with tropical trees from many countries, and the Mayors Alleé—a landscape avenue of palm trees planted by mayors from cities around the world.
TheTree of Friendship, ahybrid citrus tree planted in 1934 in the Subtropical Botanic Garden. Since 1940 numerous citrus cultivars from foreign countries have beengrafted onto this tree as a token of friendship and peace. The associated Friendship Tree Garden Museum has a collection of 20,000 commemorative presents from around the world.
Lazarevsky city district lies to the northwest from the city center; the 2010 Census showed the population of 63,894 people.[7] It is the largest city district by area, covering some 1,744 square kilometers (673 sq mi) and comprising severalmicrodistricts:
Lazarevskoye, 59 km (37 mi) from the city center, contains adelphinarium, an old church (1903), and a new church (1999). The settlement was founded as a Russian military outpost in 1839 and was named after AdmiralMikhail Lazarev.
Loo, 18 km (11 mi) from the city center, was once owned by Princes Loov, a noble Abkhazian family. The district contains the ruins of a medieval church, founded in the 8th century, rebuilt in the 11th century, and converted into a fortress in the Late Middle Ages.
Dagomys, 18 km (11 mi) from the city center, has been noted for itsbotanical garden, established by order ofNicholas II, as well as tea plantations and factories. A sprawling hotel complex was opened there in 1982. Dagomys adjoinsBocharov Ruchey, adacha built forKliment Voroshilov in the 1950s, but later upgraded into a country residence of thePresident of Russia, where he normally spends his vacations and often confers with leaders of other states.
Golovinka is a historic location at the mouth of the Shakhe River. Formerly marking the border between theUbykhs and theShapsugs, the settlement was noted by Italian travelers of the 17th century as Abbasa. On May 3, 1838, it was the site of theSubashi landing of the Russians, who proceeded to construct Fort Golovinsky where many convictedDecembrists used to serve. The fort was intentionally destroyed by Russian forces at the beginning of theCrimean War, so as to avoid its capture by the enemy.
Fort Godlik, of which little remains, had a turbulent history. It was built at the mouth of the Godlik River in the Byzantine period (5th to 8th centuries), was destroyed by theKhazars and revived by theGenoese in the High Middle Ages.
Khostinsky city district, sprawling to the southeast from the city center, occupies approximately 374 square kilometers (144 sq mi), with a population of 65,229 as of the 2010 Census.[7] The district is traversed by many rivulets which give their names to the microdistricts of Matsesta ("flame-colored river"), Kudepsta, and Khosta ("the river of boars").
Adlersky city district, with an area of 1,352 square kilometers (522 sq mi) and a population of 76,534 people as of the 2010 Census,[7] is the southernmost district of the city, located just north of the border with Abkhazia. Until the establishment of Greater Sochi in 1961, it was administered as a separate town, which had its origin in an ancientSadz village and a medievalGenoese trading post.
Among the natural wonders of the district is the Akhshtyr Gorge with a 160-meter-long cave that contains traces of human habitation. The upland part of the district includes a network of remote mountain villages (auls), theEstonian colony atEstosadok, and the ski resort ofKrasnaya Polyana which hosted the events (Alpine and Nordic) of the2014 Winter Olympics. Also located here is atrout fishery and a breeding nursery forgreat apes.
TheByzantine Empire brought Christianity to the Sochi region in theMiddle Ages.[citation needed]The region was relatively isolated before 1829.[citation needed] In the North, a few hundred Sunni MuslimShapsugs, a part of theCircassian nation, lived around Tkhagapsh, nearLazarevskoye. The Circassians (also known as Adyghe) converted toIslam from Christianity in the 17th century.[57] In the nineteenth century, Islam spread to the region.[citation needed]
Currently, Sochi is a large predominantlyChristian city, though there are thought to be around 20,000 Muslims (5% of inhabitants) living there now (the majority areAdyghe) plus other EasternCaucasians, Turks,Tatars, and other smaller Muslim groups.[58]
Amosque was built in 2008 byUnited Arab Emirates in the central area of Bytkha, in addition to the old mosque being around 40 km (25 miles) north of the city center[58][59] in the Adygheaul of Tkhagapsh.
There are around thirtyRussian Orthodox churches, the largest being St. Michael's, and two monasteries, plus twoCatholic churches, one in the center of Sochi and the other in Lazarevskoye. TheArmenian community gathers in about ten churches.
Turnover of large and medium-sized enterprises of the city, in billion rubles.[60][61][62][63]
Year
Billion rubles
2014
136
2015
150
2016
170.8
2017
191.3
Sochi is an economic centre ofKrasnodar Krai and Russia. According to the economist-geographerNatalia Zubarevich, Sochi, being a "recreational capital", along with the largest industrial centers, acts as a "motor" of development that determines the prospects and directions of the country's development.[64] The economy of Sochi is based on trade, construction, resort and tourism. Its structure for 2015: retail trade (59%), construction (15%), resorts and tourism (11%), industry (10.6%), transport (3.5%) and agriculture (0.9%).[65] Sochi is one of the most popular tourism centres, as well as a prominent financial centre in Russia. Investments in the city's economy over the past 10 years have amounted to more than 1.1 trillion rubles.[65] The turnover of medium and large enterprises in Sochi in 2017 amounted to more than 191.3 billion rubles. The increase in turnover in comparison with the previous year is 12%.[63]
In 2010, Sochi headed the "Rating of Russian cities by quality of life" of the Urbanika Institute,[66] and in 2014 and 2015 it ranked as 4th and 5th city respectively;[67][68] experts noted the high rate of development of the city, large-scale investments on the eve of the2014 Winter Olympics, favorable environmental conditions and high safety of residents.[69] In 2012, Sochi topped the rating of "30 best cities for business" in Russia, byForbes.[70]
Today, 705 classified accommodation facilities operate on its territory, including: 66 sanatoriums, 20 boarding houses and recreation centers and 618 hotels. 183 beach areas have been opened, more than 100 tourist facilities operate, about 70 excursion companies operate.[62]
Over 5.2 million tourists visited Sochi in 2016, 5.9% more than in 2015.[62] The average annual occupancy rate of hotels was at 77%, but varies by season. The importance of tourism for the development of Sochi is also determined by the financial revenues from the industry. According to statistics, in 2015, tourism revenues amounted to about 30 billion rubles. At the same time, throughout the country, revenues from the industry amounted to 161 billion rubles; thus, the tourist industry of the city occupies 18.6% of the total market of the country.[71]
The retail trade turnover for medium and large enterprises (accounting for about 30% of the total turnover) in the city in 2016 amounted to 57.2 billion rubles. On the territory of the city there are 8,769 objects of the consumer sphere, of which: 5013 are stationary retail enterprises, 1450 are catering enterprises, 335 are wholesale enterprises, and 1083 are service enterprises.[62] In Sochi, 1807 grocery stores, 2,708 non-food stores, 294 stores of a mixed group of goods, 178 pharmacies, 16 car dealerships, 20 stores at gas stations, 945 pavilions and kiosks have been opened. The provision of the population with retail space is 1,106.7 m2 (11,912 sq ft) per 1000 people.[62]
According to 2017 data, the annual trade turnover per capita in Sochi was 1.75 times higher than the average in Russia (373,527 rubles per year per person). At the same time, it exceeds the annual trade turnover per capita in all cities with a population of over one million, includingSaint Petersburg and Moscow. A high trade turnover is ensured by both a large flow of tourists and a high average wage in the city. The annual retail turnover generated by permanent residents is about 96.2 billion rubles (52%). Tourists generate about 87.83 billion rubles (48%).[72]
The turnover of public catering in the city in 2016 for medium and large enterprises amounted to 7 billion rubles (about 36% of the total turnover). 1450 public catering establishments were opened in Sochi, with a total of 90473 seats. The market of paid services to the population in 2016 amounted to 34.3 million rubles; the industry employs 3393 people, with a total of 1083 enterprises.[62]
The volume of goods shipped in 2016 for medium and large industrial enterprises of the city amounted to 19.4 billion rubles. The distribution of energy, gas and water accounted for 11.9 billion rubles,[62] the largest enterprises in the industry are: Adler TPP and Sochinskaya TPP. Processing industries accounted for 3.3 billion rubles.[62] The volume of shipment of minerals amounted to 76 million rubles, the largest enterprise in the industry is Firma Sochinerud.[62]
In the manufacturing industry, the overwhelming share of food production enterprises, which account for 92.3% of the production volume.[62] Large enterprises: Sochi meat-packing plant, Trout-breeding farm, Primorskaya quail farm, Sochi bakery and Lazarevsky bakery.
The volume of shipped agricultural products in 2016 amounted to 49.8 million rubles. Vegetables, citrus fruits, fruits (including heat-loving crops such as feijoa, medlar, kiwi) and flowers are cultivated by large agricultural enterprises: Verlioka, Voskhod and Pobeda. The only producer of poultry meat is the Adler Poultry Factory. Five enterprises are engaged in the cultivation and processing of tea: Dagomyschay, Solokhaul tea, Matsesta tea, Khosta tea, Shapsug tea and a number of farmers.[62]
Sochi is indispensable forRussian science from a geographical and climatic point of view. The only subtropics in Russia are actively used as a base for scientific research in the field of botany, medicine and coastal construction. In addition to higher education institutions that develop science, Sochi has a number of research institutions of all-Russian importance:
Sochi Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Research Institute of Medical Primatology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences
Research Institute of Mountain Forestry and Forest Ecology of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation
All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Floriculture and Subtropical Crops of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences
A localtennis school spawned the careers of such players asGrand Slam championsMaria Sharapova andYevgeny Kafelnikov (Kafelnikov spent much of his childhood here, while Sharapova relocated toFlorida at the age of seven). In late 2005, theRussian Football Union announced that it was planning to establish a year-round training center for the country's national teams in Sochi. The city's warm climate was cited as one of the main incentives. Sochi is also the home for the football teamPFC Sochi which plays in theRussian Premier League and for the ice hockey teamHC Sochi which plays in theKontinental Hockey League.
This was Russia's first time hosting the Winter Olympic Games, and its first time hosting the Paralympic Games. The site of a training centre for aspiring Olympic athletes, in 2008, the city had no world-class level athletic facilities fit for international competition.[74] Severe cost overruns made the 2014 Winter Olympics the mostexpensive Olympics in history; with Russian politicianBoris Nemtsov citing allegations of corruption among government officials,[75] and Allison Stewart of theSaïd Business School atOxford citing tight relationships between the government and construction firms.[76] While originally budgeted at US$12 billion, various factors caused the budget to expand to US$51 billion, surpassing the estimated $44 billion cost of the2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. According to a report by theEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development, this cost will not boost Russia's national economy, but may attract business to Sochi and the southern Krasnodar region of Russia in the future as a result of improved services.[77]
The state-controlledRAO UES announced in July 2007 that it might spend 30 billion roubles (about US$1.2 billion) on upgrading the electrical power system in the Sochi area by 2014.[80] The power generating companiesInter RAO UES andRusHydro would have to build or modernize four thermal power plants and four hydroelectric plants—and the federal grid companyFGC UES has to replace the Central-Shepsi electricity transmission line, which reportedly often fails in bad weather. The new power line would run partly on power towers and partly across the bottom of the Black Sea. By 2011, the power supply of the resort area would increase by 1129 MW—of which 300 MW would be used for Olympic sports facilities. "The cost of the work is estimated at 83.6 billion rubles (about US $3.26 billion), of which 50 billion rubles (about US$2 billion) will go to investments in the electricity grid," the power companies announced. They did not say how much of the bill the state would foot. In February 2007, when UES had planned to spend 48.8 billion rubles (about US$1.9 billion) on the Sochi area, the share the state had been ready to pay 38 billion roubles (about US$1.48 billion) of that.
Public transport is represented mainly by bus and taxi. Sochi is served by theAdler-Sochi International Airport. Types of non-mass public transport include twofuniculars (at the Central military sanatorium and Ordzhonikidze resort) and three cable cars (at arboretum sanatorium "Dawn" and pension "Neva") also has severalcableways inKrasnaya Polyana.
TheSochi Port terminal building was built in 1955 byKaro Alabyan andLeonid Karlik inStalinist architecture. It is topped with a 71-meter steepled tower. Sculptures embodying seasons and cardinal points are set above the tower's three tiers.
At some point, plans to construct the light metro network to serve the Olympics were considered; however, theSochi Light Metro plan was abandoned in favor of the reconstruction of the railway.
^abcdefghExposition of the Historical Museum of Sochi, partly reflected in Russian in"История Сочи". Archived fromthe original on October 11, 2010. RetrievedDecember 14, 2021. (History of Sochi) at the official site of the city
^abDrozdov, V. A.; Glezer, O. B.; Nefedova, T. G.; Shabdurasulov, I. V. (1992). "Ecological and geographical characteristics of the coastal zone of the Black Sea".GeoJournal.27 (2): 169.Bibcode:1992GeoJo..27..169D.doi:10.1007/BF00717701.S2CID128960702.
^Федеральная Служба Государственной Статистики. Краснодарский краевой комитет государственной статистики «Национальный состав и владение языками, гражданство. Итоги Всероссийской переписи населения 2002 года по Краснодарскому краю. Том 4», г. Краснодар, 2005
^Population of Russian Federation by cities, towns, and districts as of January 1, 2007:Rosstat, Moscow, 2007
Управление по взаимодействию с органами местного самоуправления Администрации Краснодарского края. Справочная информация №34.01-707/13-03 от 23 мая 2013 г. «Реестр административно-территориальных единиц Краснодарского края». (Department of Cooperation with the Organs of the Local Self-Government of the Administration of Krasnodar Krai. Reference Information #34.01-707/13-03 of May 23, 2013Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units of Krasnodar Krai. ).
Законодательное Собрание Краснодарского края. Закон №679-КЗ от 1 апреля 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципального образования город-курорт Сочи и наделении его статусом городского округа», в ред. Закона №1756-КЗ от 3 июня 2009 г «О внесении изменений в некоторые законодательные акты Краснодарского края об установлении границ муниципальных образований». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Кубанские новости", №64–65, 17 апреля 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Krasnodar Krai. Law #679-KZ of April 1, 2004On Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formation of the Resort City of Sochi and on Granting It Urban Okrug Status, as amended by the Law #1756-KZ of June 3, 2009On Amending Various Legislative Acts of Krasnodar Krai on Establishing the Borders of the Municipal Formations. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
Historical Dictionary of Sochi,ISBN9781876586232 [Currently the only major work on the city in English.]
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