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MOSCOW

Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia. It is also the capital of Moscow Oblast, and it stands on the Moskva River. Moscow is the economic, political and cultural centre of Russia. Railways and numerous airlines link the city with all parts of Russia. Navigable waterways, including the Moscow Canal, Moskva River, and Volga-Don Canal, make the port areas of the city directly accessible to shipping from the Baltic, White, Black, and Caspian seas and the Sea of Azov.

Moscow covers an area of about 880 sq. km. Concentric boulevards divide the city into several sections. At the centre of the concentric circles (and semicircles) are the Kremlin, the former governmental seat of Russia, and adjacent Red Square, which form the centre of a radial street pattern. Moscow has a modern underground system famous for its marble-walled stations.

Situated on the north bank of the Moskva River, the Kremlin is the dominant landmark of Moscow. A stone wall, up to 21 m in height and 19 towers, surrounds this triangular complex of former palaces, cathedrals, and other monuments of tsarist times, some of them dating from the Middle Ages. The Great Kremlin Palace, completed in 1849, is the most imposing structure within the Kremlin. Other notable Kremlin palaces are the Granovitaya Palace (1491) and the Terem (1636).

Among many cathedrals, now used mainly as museums, are the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Archangel Cathedral, each with five gilded domes, and the Cathedral of the Annunciation (13th-14th century), with nine gilded domes. Another landmark of the Kremlin is the Tower of Ivan the Great, a bell tower 98 m high. On a nearby pedestal is the Tsar's Bell (nearly 200 tons), one of the largest in the world. A recent addition to the Kremlin is the Palace of Congresses, completed in 1961. In this huge modern building were held meetings of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and congresses of the Communist party of the Soviet Union; theatrical and other artistic performances have been held here as well.

St Basil's Cathedral, famous for its unique architecture and coloured domes, stands at one end of Red Square.

One of the best-known sections of Moscow is the Kitaigorod (Chinese City), the ancient commercial quarter lying to the east of the Kremlin. This section is now the site of many government office buildings.

Other points of interest in Moscow include the Central Lenin Stadium, comprising about 130 buildings for various sports and the tall Ostankino TV tower, which contains a revolving restaurant and an observation platform.

8. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is Moscow located?

2. Is Moscow a port city?

3. How is Moscow divided into sections?

4. What is known about Moscow Underground system?

5. What are the places of interest in Moscow?

6. Why the Kremlin is the most important place of interest for tourists?

7. What Russian Orthodox cathedrals are situated inside the Kremlin?

8. What is Palace of Congresses used for at present time?

9. Where are these places of interest situated?

• Granovitaya Palace

• Terem

• the Red Square

• the Kremlin

• the Great Kremlin Palace

• the Cathedral of the Assumption

• the Archangel Cathedral

• the Cathedral of the Annunciation

• the Tower of Ivan the Great

• the Tsar's Bell

• the Palace of Congresses

• St Basil's Cathedral

• the Central Lenin Stadium

10. Learn the following words by heart:

blossom – цвести

iodine – йод

chemical substances – химические вещества

chlorine – хлор

bromine – бром

sulphate – сульфат

carbonates – карбонаты

sodium – натрий

potassium – калий

to be stretched – быть вытянутым

events – события, мероприятия

B.C. (Before Christ) – до н.э.

«the Cradle of Mankind» – «колыбель человечества»

Asia Minor – полуостров Малая Азия

camp – лагерь

cave – пещера

Bronze era – Бронзовый век

pre-historic – доисторический

grave structures – могильники

dolmens – дольмены

features – особенности

to weigh – весить

uncertain – неопределенный