Zlatoust

  It  occupies the territory of 1895 sq. km.  

The nearest railway station is Zlatoust.

Zlatoust is situated 160 km away from the region’s capital.

Its population is about 196,8 thousand people.

The city of Zlatoust is the oldest city in the mining area. It was founded as a village near the Kosoturskiy iron works plant in 1754.

This city is unique, because it is situated on the boundary between Europe and Asia. Zlatoust has scenically spread along the slopes of Urenga, gradually descending to the valley of the river Ai, climbing up the steep slopes.

The third largest and industrially developed city in the Chelyabinsk region – Zlatoust – is often called ‘the city of the flying winged horse’. There is a winged horse on the city’s emblem. At the beginning of the last century here worked a legendary Ivan-Krilatko from Bazhov’s tale – a talented steel-cutter I.N.Bushuev. The winged horse, which was engraved on Bushuev’s blade and then became a symbol of Zlatoust, is  a tribute to the labor of masters whose works of damask steel and decorated weapons glorified the city.  It is also a symbol of creative work of contemporary  people in the Ural region. Damask steel, first created by Anosov, first steel artillery guns, unique art of engraving on steel, contemporary metallurgy of high quality and machine building center are known all over the world due to the achievements of Zlatoust masters.

 In 1815, a factory of cold steel was opened. At first German masters from Zolingen and Klingental made blades and decorated them. But soon, Russian apprentices excelled their preceptors.
Nowadays their creations are added to the treasury of Russian arts and crafts and are exhibited in Hermitage, Aurmory and in many other museums of the world. The collections of decorated weapons are demonstrated in the Zlatoust Museum of Regional Studies.

There are many famous names, connected with Zlatoust. An outstanding scientist P.P.Anosov, the father of Russian damask steel, has lived in Zlatoust for more than 30 years, a famous military leader, marshal B.M.Shaposhnikov, was born in Zlatoust as well as an ex-chess-champion of the world Anatoly Karpov and  a multiple world skate and Olympic Games champion Lidia Skoblikova.

Economy

The key industrial branches are ferrous metallurgy, machine building and metal processing, food processing industry, electric power generation.

In 2001 industry comprised 64,7%, agriculture - 0,1%, building - 6,0%,  transport and communications - 20,6% and trade and public catering - 0,3% in the structure of production. 

The most developed agricultural branches are dairy and beef animal husbandry. Potato, vegetable, fruit and berry cultivating is very popular.