Solnechnogorsk (, lit. ''sunny mountain town'') is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

and the

administrative center An administrative centre is a seat of regional administration or local government, or a county town, or the place where the central administration of a commune, is located. In countries with French as the administrative language, such as Belgiu ...

of Solnechnogorsky District in

Moscow Oblast Moscow Oblast (, , informally known as , ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (an oblast). With a population of 8,524,665 (Russian Census (2021), 2021 Census) living in an area of , it is one of the most densely populate ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

, located on the Moscow–St. Petersburg Highway and the Moscow–St. Petersburg railway, on the coast of Senezh Lake, northwest from

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

. Population: It was previously known as ''Solnechnaya Gora'' (until 1938).

History

Originally a village known as Solnushnaya and then renamed into Solnechnaya Gora (), it was granted town status and renamed Solnechnogorsk in 1938. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Solnechnogorsk was briefly occupied by the German 4th Panzer Group from November 24 to December 12, 1941. It was one of the towns that was captured in the northern pincer of the attempted German encirclement of Moscow.

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Solnechnogorsk serves as the

of Solnechnogorsky District.Resolution #123-PG As an administrative division, it is, together with twenty-five rural localities, incorporated within Solnechnogorsky District as the

Town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

of Solnechnogorsk. As a municipal division, the Town of Solnechnogorsk is incorporated within Solnechnogorsky Municipal District as Solnechnogorsk Urban Settlement.Law #27/2005-OZ

Economy

Industry in the town is represented by a metal construction factory, a glass-works, a sports fishing business, holiday homes, sport centers, children's summer camps, and ski lodges.

Culture

There is a museum of local lore in the town. Not far from Solnechnogorsk is the estate of Shakhmatovo that once belonged to a prominent Russian poet Alexander Blok; a museum of him has been opened there.

Military

The town is the headquarters for the Main Centre for Missile Attack Warning. The

Russian Ground Forces The Russian Ground Forces (), also known as the Russian Army in English, are the Army, land forces of the Russian Armed Forces. The primary responsibilities of the Russian Ground Forces are the protection of the state borders, combat on land, ...

relocated the 18th Motor Rifle Brigade here from the Baltics from 1993 until the brigade was disbanded in 1998.

Notable people

* Viktor Shalimov former hockey player * Viktor Bruyevich football player

References

Notes

Sources

* * {{Authority control Cities and towns in Moscow Oblast Solnechnogorsky District