Novosibirsk is the third-most populous city in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg. Located in the southwestern part of Siberia on the banks of the Ob River, it is the administrative center of Novosibirsk Oblast as well as of the Siberian Federal District. The city was founded in 1893 as a transport hub, due to the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which crossed the river at this point. Novosibirsk grew rapidly and was granted city status in 1903. Its growth was further propelled during the Soviet era as industries were developed and population increased with the influx of Soviet citizens. The city is a major cultural, educational, economic, and political hub in the region, with several universities including the prestigious Novosibirsk State University, theaters like the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, and numerous scientific research institutions. Despite its relatively short history, Novosibirsk has become an important cultural and industrial center in Siberia.
