| Samara, Russia |
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Information AboutSamara, Russia |
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Samara (), from Census ). It was founded in 1586 as a defense outpost, and later grew into a major grain-trading center for the Volga region. It was renamed after the Soviet politician Valerian Kuybyshev . Now it is a large industrial and transportation center of European Russia. Important manufacturing in the metropolitan area of Samara-Togliatti-Syzran with a population of more than 3.0 million people is concentrated in motor vehicle (VAZ-GM and SOK Group), railroad equipment, chemicals, oil and gas (Yukos), machinery, metal (Alcoa), and confectionery (Nestlé) industries. The city also has an aerospace industry, namely TsSKB-Progress, producing the '' Soyuz '' and Molniya launch vehicles. Due to this industry the city was a Closed City during the Cold War . It was the secondary capital of the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1943 when German troops threatened Moscow . Along with its many universities (including Samara State University), theaters and museums, the city is also a major intellectual and academic center in Russia. The city is served by highways and railways, as well as international airlines, among them Lufthansa flying to and from Frankfurt , or Czech Airlines flying to and from Prague with convenient connections worldwide, which makes it an attractive tourist destination as well. Kurumoch airport code is KUF. It also has a Rapid Transit system, the Samara Metro , though with only 8 stations at present. One popular tourist location in Samara is Stalin 's bunker, a World War II bunker built to house military operation in the event that Moscow was taken. This monument is located south west of ''Kuybyshev Square'', behind a series of apartment complexes. Samara is also a model name of a Lada car made by the VAZ auto company in Togliatti , in Samara Oblast . SPORTS Samara is home of the FC Krylya Sovetov Samara , a football club in the Russian Premier League . EXTERNAL LINKS
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