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Berdyansk is my native town (place of study). Some people can’t imagine their lives without theatres, multistoried houses and broad avenues all that’s typical of every big industrial city. This town is not very large but there are a lot of interesting things to do and places to see in it.

Berdyansk is situated on the Azov Sea coast in Zaporizhye Region. The town is young but it has its own history. It was founded in 1827. Before the Revolution it had a population of only 40 thousand people, but it was well-known as a commercial port. Navigators called the sea of Azov Meothide and the North coast of the Azov-Agaria, meaning a generous, fruitful land. At that time the major export was wheat. All large industrial plants belonged to foreigners. The first harbor master was P.P.Shmidt. He did a lot to make our town more beautiful. Berdyansk grew very quickly. In 1941 Berdyansk was occupied by the German fascists. They destroyed the town and the port. After the war Berdyansk was rebuilt.

Before 1991 it was an industrial town with more than 30 enterprises. But after the decay of the USSR many plants and factories were closed. In spite of difficulties some of them still work; a lot of small enterprises have appeared. The largest industrial enterprises are: the Azov Cable Plant, the Azmol Joint Stock Co., the Yuzhgidromash Plant, the Glass-Fibre Plant, the Pervomaysky Plant and the Distillery. They produce cables, oils and lubricants, pumps, glass-fibre textiles, highway and agricultural machinery, wine. One can’tbut mention our commercial sea port through which hundreds of thousands of tons of cargos go to and from Ukraine. These enterprises take an important part in our town’s economy as some of them are unique.

Berdyansk is also an agricultural centre which is famous for its fruit, vegetables and grain crops.

Despite the fact that Berdyansk is an industrial and agricultural centre, it is a well-known health-resort. Sandy beaches, famous mud-baths, the warm Azov Sea, many sanatoriums and rest-homes attract thousands of people. Every year they come here to improve their health, to have a rest and to see our sights. They are the monuments to fishermen, lions, the Cross, the armchair of Wish and many others. There are a lot of nice cafes, restaurants with delicious food and friendly waiters.

The town becomes especially beautiful in spring and summer when there are a great number of rose-shrubs in flower-beds and everything is in blossom. This time everyone likes to tramp down the streets lined with chestnuts, mountain-ashes and limes, to refresh oneself near the beautiful fountains; to breathe in fresh air with a smell of grass and flowers. There is a place called “Karaoke” where people can sing their favourite songs and dance.

Berdyansk is a cultural centre too. There are museums, many monuments, the Palace of Sport and the Palace of Culture, State Pedagogical University, several non-governmental institutions of higher learning, numerous secondary schools, technical colleges and vocational schools in it.

Many famous people were born and lived in Berdyansk: Shmidt, Brodsky, Osipenko, Khavkin, Zinkovsky and others.

The citizens of Berdyansk are proud of their town and they are sure that it’ll achieve success in future.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1547