10 Facts About Sochi, Russia

Sochi is a resort city located in the Russian Federal Subject of Krasnodar Krai. It is north of Russia's border with Georgia along the Black Sea near the Caucasus Mountains. Greater Sochi stretches 90 miles (145 km) along the sea and is considered one of the longest cities in Europe. The City of Sochi covers a total area of 1,352 square miles (3,502 sq km).

Geographic Facts About Sochi

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Geography of Moscow, Russia

By Amanda Briney

The following is a list of the ten most important geographic facts to know about Sochi, Russia:

1. Sochi has a long history that dates back to Ancient Greek and Roman times when the area was inhabited by the Zygii people. From the 6th to the 11th centuries though, Sochi belonged to Georgia's kingdoms of Egrisi and Abkhazia.
2. After the 15th century, the region making up Sochi was known as Ubykhia and was controlled by local mountaineer clans. In 1829, however, the coastline region was ceded to Russia after the Caucasian and Russo-Turkish Wars.
3. In 1838, Russia founded the Fort of Alexandria (which was renamed Navaginsky) at the mouth of the Sochi River. In 1864, the final battle of the Caucasian War took place and on March 25 a new fort Dakhovsky was established where Navaginsky had been.
4. Throughout the early 1900s, Sochi grew as a popular Russian resort city and in 1914, it was granted municipal rights. Sochi's popularity grew further during Joseph Stalin's control of Russia as Sochi as he had a vacation home, or dacha, built in the city. Since its founding, Sochi has also been served as the location where various treaties have been signed.
5. As of 2002, Sochi had a population of 334,282 people and a population density of 200 people per square mile (95 per sq km).
6. Sochi's topography is varied. The city itself lies along the Black Sea and is at a lower elevation than the surrounding areas. However, it is not flat and has clear views of the Caucasus Mountains.
7. The climate of Sochi is considered humid subtropical at its lower elevations and its winter low temperatures rarely dip below freezing for long periods. The average January temperature in Sochi is 43°F (6°C). Sochi's summers are warm and temperatures range from 77°F to 82°F (25°C-28°C). Sochi's receives about 59 inches (1,500 mm) of precipitation yearly.
8. Sochi is known for its various vegetation types (many of which are palms), parks, monuments, and extravagant architecture. Around two million people travel to Greater Sochi during the summer months.
9. In addition to its status as a resort city, Sochi is known for its sports facilities. For example, tennis schools in the city have trained such athletes as Maria Sharapova and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
10. Due to its popularity among tourists, historic characteristics, sports venues and proximity to the Caucasus Mountains, the International Olympic Committee selected Sochi as the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics on July 4, 2007.

Sources

Wikipedia. "Sochi." Wikipedia- the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sochi