As Udmurtia is located in the north, winter lasts for quite a long time; therefore, it is possible to enjoy winter sports. You may spend your free time skiing, skating and taking part in other activities. Though summer time is the most unique as you will be able to enjoy the beauty of Udmurt nature with its deep forests and springs. The climate is temperate continental with cold winters and rather warm summers. Average temperatures in January range from -15,50 C to -14,20 C in July range from 17,50 C to 19,00 C.
In the Udmurt Republic, the most treasured areas are valuable tracts of forest, nature reserves and land plots with natural medicinal factors. There are 19 sanatoria, 10 holiday resorts and hotels, a balneological mud-cure health resort in Vartzi-Yatchi, a tourist center, and 3 tourist clubs. The main natural resources are timber and oil. The republic is also rich in peat and nitric methane deposits, building materials (pit sand, clay, limestone) and mineral water springs.
The largest enterprises of the republic are mostly concentrated in its capital, the city of Izhevsk. In Izhevsk, there are enterprises producing, e.g. the following products: automobiles and motorbikes, sporting and hunting guns, metal-cutting machines, structural, alloy and stainless steel rolled stock, rocket and space equipment, medical equipment, machines for cellulose and paper industry, various reduction gearboxes, geological survey equipment, drilling and other equipment for the oil industry, various bearings, consumer goods.
The city was founded on April 10, 1760 on the bank of the River Izh. Initially, it was a workmen's settlement of the iron-works belonging to Count Shuvalov. In 1763 the first products, metal bands and ship anchors were manufactured from cast iron. In 1807 under the management of an outstanding mining engineer Mr. Deryabin the construction of the Izhevsk arms-producing factory started on the basis of the iron-works. In 1808, tool production was established.
In 1812 the Izhevsk arms factory supplied the Russian army with 23,717 smoothbore silicic shotguns and pistols. By 1817 the population of the Izhevsk factory settlement had grown up to 8,324 people and by 1842 up to 15,000 people. Alongside with the development of arms-manufacturing skill, the arms-craftsmanship schools and later on industrial colleges were established. In 1860 the first private factory producing hunting guns was built. In 1877 the first open-hearth furnace and in 1881 the rolling mill for manufacturing high-grade steel were put into operation at the Izhevsk steel factory (former iron works). The economic flourishing of Izhevsk refers to the last decade of the 19th century when mass production of "three-line" weapons took place. These years were also marked by the participation of the Izhevsk arms factory in international scientific and industrial exhibition in Chicago and Paris.
By 1897 the population of the Izhevsk settlement had increased up to 41,074 inhabitants and in February 1918 Izhevsk acquired the status of a city. In 1921 it became the capital of Udmurtia. In the late twenties Izhevsk became the birthplace of the Russian motorcycle-building industry. In the thirties, the old factories were rebuilding new ones, among them was built the Izhstalzavod, the Izhevsk timber factory. Apart from the industry, the thirties are distinguished for the development of national culture: the first higher educational institutes, several theaters, the Philarmonic Society and the research institute were opened. During the Second World War Izhevsk became an important forge of small arms which supplied about 12,5 million arms for the army. After the war such industries as radio-technical, timber-processing and light industry started to develop. Several factories were built, among them the papermaking and engineering factories, automobile works, bearing-making factory, radio plant. Izhevsk exports its production to more than 70 countries in the world.
For many years, the Udmurt State University has been participating in and programs initiated by DAAD, USIA, British Council etc. As a result of taking part in TEMPUS and TACIS programs with Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), Granada University (Spain), Darmstadt University, Fachhochschule Bochum (Germany), Helsinki University (Finland), Higher Commercial College of Havre (France) etc. the quality of teaching has considerably improved. For foreign students desiring to learn the Russian language on a higher level a course of Russian as foreign language is offered. The experienced staff of the language department has developed syllabi for different levels of language skill. Classes are held during the whole academic year. Every year, students from Germany, USA, Spain, South Korea, Hungary, France, Finland, Switzerland, and from other countries take courses of Russian.
St. Petersburg - Izhevsk flight (Tuesday) 2200 rubles (80 US dollars) 15:10-21:00, Friday 13:30-17:40 2.370 rubles (85 US dollars). Train ticket Petersburg - Izhevsk 440 rubles (15 US dollars).
There are some well-known banks in Izhevsk that provide different services with your money operations. They are:
Savings Bank, tel. +7(3412) 21-82-42
Izhcom Bank, tel. +7(3412) 36-34-94
Ural Trust Bank, tel. +7(3412) 51-01-33
Zoloto Platina Bank, tel. +7(3412) 78-05-98
You can also find places to change your national currency into rubles. The following world known credit cards are accepted: Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard, Diners Club. To enquire about the exchange rate call tel. +7(3412) 21-82-42.
Contact information: International Relations Department,Russia, 426 034 Izhevsk, Universitetskaya St. 1. Telephone: +7 (3412) 78-15-92, Fax +7(3412) 78-58-66, e-mail: inter@uni.udm.ru.