Kazan (English) Казань (Russian) Казан (Tatar) |
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- City - City of republic significance |
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Left to right, top to bottom: Spasskaya Tower; Söyembikä Tower; Qol Sharif Mosque; Farmers' Palace; Epiphany Cathedral; View of Kazan |
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Location of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia |
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City Day | August 30 |
Administrative status (as of February 2014) | |
Country | Russia |
Federal subject | Republic of Tatarstan |
Administratively subordinated to | city of republic significance of Kazan |
Capital of | Republic of Tatarstan |
Administrative center of | city of republic significance of Kazan |
Municipal status (as of January 2012) | |
Urban okrug | Kazan Urban Okrug |
Administrative center of | Kazan Urban Okrug |
Mayor | Ilsur Metshin |
Representative body | City Duma |
Statistics | |
Area | 425.3 km2 (164.2 sq mi) |
Population (2010 Census) | 1,143,535 inhabitants |
- Rank in 2010 | 8th |
Population (2016 est.) | 1,216,965 inhabitants |
Density | 2,689/km2 (6,960/sq mi) |
Time zone | MSK (UTC+03:00) |
Founded | 1005 (see text) |
Postal code(s) | 420xxx |
Dialing code(s) | +7 843 |
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Kazan (Russian: Каза́нь; IPA: [kɐˈzanʲ]; Tatar: Казан, Qazan) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,535, it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. The Kazan Kremlin is a World Heritage Site.
In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the right to brand itself as the "Third Capital" of Russia. In 2009 it was chosen as the "Sports capital of Russia" and it still is referred to as such. The city hosted the 2013 Summer Universiade, 2014 World Fencing Championships, the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, and is one of the host cities for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In 2015, Kazan was visited by 2.1 million tourists, which is a 20% increase in comparison with 2014. The Kazan Kremlin was visited by 1.5 million tourists in 2015 and hotel and entertainment complex with aquapark called "Kazan Riviera" was visited by 1 million tourists.
The origin of the name Kazan is uncertain. The most accepted legends derive it from the Bulgar (and also modern Tatar) word qazan, which means 'boiler' or 'cauldron'. One legend claims that the city was named after the river Kazanka, which was named after the son of a Bulgar governor dropped a copper cauldron into it. Other local legends, including research by the Tatar scholar Shigabetdin Marjani, claim that the city was named for the resemblance of the hill on which it sits to an upturned cauldron.