Verchniy Ufaley

It was founded in 1761.

It occupies the territory of 1629 sq. km.

The nearest railway station is Verchniy Ufaley.

Verchniy Ufaley is situated 142 km away from the region’s capital.

Its population is about 42,3 thousand people.

Verchniy Ufaley received a city status on  April 26, 1940.

The city is situated at the southern part of the Medium Urals eastern slope, at the upper reaches of the Ufaley river (which is the right tributary of the Ufa river), at the distance of 142 km in the north-west direction from Chelyabinsk.

It was founded in 1761 as a village near the cast iron and iron works plant situated on the Ufaley river. In 1813 soon after the foundation of another plant at the lower reaches of the river, this plant was called Verchneufaleisk plant. The name has the root “Ufa” and the element “lei”, which does not have any explanation. In the 20^th century the nickel plant was opened on the basis of the ore deposits.

Sights

 Bolshoy Kamen, Krasny Kamen, the Utkul lake, the Shigir hills are the places which traditionally attract tourists attention.

Economy

 The key industrial branches are non-ferrous metallurgy, machine building, metal processing and food processing industry.

In 2001 industry produced 91,4% of the whole output, while building – 4,8%, transport and communications – 2,1%.

The biggest enterprises of the city are Open Joint Stock Company “Ufaleynickel”, metallurgical machine building plant, “Uralelement” plant, “Metallist” plant, experimental studies plant (asphalt-mixer production), “Korund” plant, furniture factory, wood processing enterprises.

In the vicinity of the city there are nickel and iron ore deposits. Marble, peat, fire clay, limestone reserves are being explored.