Kerch

Kerch Керчь Керч
city
Kerch. Obelisk of Glory on Mount Mithridates
Flag Coat of arms
Kerch Location of Kerch
Coordinates: 45°21′43″N 36°28′16″E / 45.36194°N 36.47111°E / 45.36194; 36.47111Coordinates: 45°21′43″N 36°28′16″E / 45.36194°N 36.47111°E / 45.36194; 36.47111
Country	Disputed:  Ukraine (de jure)  Russia (de facto)
Republic	Crimea
Region	Kerch City Municipality
Area
• Total	108 km2 (42 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population (2014)
• Total	147,033
• Density	1,464.49/km2 (3,793.0/sq mi)
Time zone	MSK (UTC+3)
Postal code	98300 — 98399
Area code(s)	+7-36561
Former name(s)	Panticapaeum, Bosporus, Vosporo, Korchev, Cerchio
Sister cities	Mogilev, Smolensk, Çanakkale, Oryol, Odintsovo, Sochi
Climate	Cfa
Website	gorsovetkerch.ru

Kerch (Russian: Керчь, Ukrainian: Керч, Old East Slavic: Кърчевъ, Crimean Tatar: Keriç, Turkish: Kerç, Ancient Greek: Παντικάπαιον Pantikapaion) is a city of regional significance on the Kerch Peninsula in the east of the Crimea. Population: 147,033 (2014 Census).

Founded 2,600 years ago as an ancient Greek colony, Kerch is considered to be one of the most ancient cities in Crimea. The city experienced rapid growth starting in the 1920s and was the site of a major battle during World War II.

Today, it is one of the largest cities in Crimea and is among the republic's most important industrial, transport and tourist centres.

Archeological digs at Mayak village near the city ascertained that the area had already been inhabited in 17th–15th centuries BC.

Kerch as a city starts its history in 7th century BC, when Greek colonists from Miletus founded a city-state named Panticapaeum on Mount Mithridat near the mouth of the Melek-Chesme river. Panticapaeum subdued nearby cities and by 480 BC became a capital of the Kingdom of Bosporus. Later, during the rule of Mithradates VI Eupator, Panticapaeum for a short period of time became the capital of the much more powerful and extensive Kingdom of Pontus.