Mariupol

Mariupol Маріу́поль (Ukrainian) Мариу́поль (Russian)
Old Fire Tower, Mariupol City Theater, Skyline
Flag Coat of arms
Mariupol Mariupol shown within Ukraine
Coordinates: 47°5′45″N 37°32′58″E / 47.09583°N 37.54944°E / 47.09583; 37.54944Coordinates: 47°5′45″N 37°32′58″E / 47.09583°N 37.54944°E / 47.09583; 37.54944
Country Oblast Raion	Ukraine Donetsk Oblast Mariupol City Municipality
Founded	1778
Government
• Mayor	Yuri Khotlubey
Area
• Total	244 km2 (94 sq mi)
Population (2013)
• Total	461,810
• Density	2,058/km2 (5,330/sq mi)
Postal code	87500—87590
Area code(s)	+380 629
Climate	Dfa
Website	Marsovet

Mariupol (Ukrainian: Маріу́поль, Маріюпіль,Ukrainian pronunciation: [mɑrʲiˈupɔlʲ]; Russian: Мариу́поль [mərʲɪˈupəlʲ]; Greek: Μαριούπολη, Marioupoli) is a city of regional significance in south eastern Ukraine, situated on the north coast of the Sea of Azov at the mouth of the Kalmius river. It is the tenth-largest city in Ukraine and the second largest in the Donetsk Oblast. Population: 461,810 (2013 est.). The city is largely and traditionally Russophone, while ethnically the population is divided about evenly between Russians and Ukrainians. Mariupol was founded on the site of a former Cossack encampment named Kalmius and granted city rights in 1778. It has been a centre for the grain trade, metallurgy, and heavy engineering, including the Ilyich Steel & Iron Works and Azovstal. Mariupol has played a key role in the industrialization of Ukraine.

Due to the Soviet authorities frequently renaming cities after Communist leaders, the city was known as Zhdanov, after the Soviet functionary Andrei Zhdanov, between 1948 and 1989. Today, Mariupol remains a centre for industry, as well as higher education and business.