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The Urals

The Urals or Ural Mountains are the heart of Eurasia. This is where Eastern Europe and Northern Asia are connected and divided by a chain of mountains stretching for 1,500 miles (2,400 km) north and south from the Arctic tundra to the deserts of the Caspian Sea. The polar section is covered by tundra. The central Urals known as the Ore Urals have many low passes. The southern section consists of several high, parallel ridges that rise to 5,377 feet (1,639 meters) in the Yaman-Tau. This region is drained by the Ural and Kama Rivers into the Caspian Sea.

The Urals is the second most populated area in the country and is made up primarily of Russians, with some Bashkirs, Tatars, Udmurts, and Komi-Permyaks. Known to medieval Russians as the Stone Belt, the Urals were reached in the early 12th century by colonists and fur traders from Novgorod. Colonization developed rapidly in the late 16th century. The first ironworks were established in the 1630s, and metallurgy was encouraged by Peter the Great. In the late 18th and early 19th century the Urals area was a major iron producer, but its relative importance declined in the late 19th century.

One of the unique features of the Urals is the spectrum of mineral resources found there. It proudly claims the existence of all known chemical elements on Earth. Iron ore is mined in the south, and there are rich deposits of coal, copper, gold. Oil fields and refineries along the Kama and Belaya rivers produce oil. Emeralds, chrysoberyl, topaz, and amethyst are mined, as are deposits of bauxite, zinc, lead, silver, platinum, nickel. The proximity and easy access to natural resources, combined with the impact of the massive evacuation during WWII of heavy industry from the war front to areas further east, led to today's dense industrial life with busy cities and hard-working people.

This area provides great opportunities to get out and enjoy nature by camping, hiking or rafting.

The southern Urals, stretching from the valley of the Ural River near the city of Orsk to the valley of the Ufa River north of Mount Yurma, are the widest. The eastern slopes are characterized by forest-steppe with numerous lakes, while the western slopes are characterized by karst regions and a forest zone up to a height of about 1200 metres. The southern part is mostly steppe.

The southern region of the Urals is densely populated. It has a well-developed railway, auto transport, and communication system. In the southern Urals there are several national reserves - among them Bashkirskii Nature Reserve with the well-known cave “Capova” and Mineralogical Ilmenskii Reserve. The southern Urals are very popular among tourists (rafting) because of the many ideal rivers and a very convenient transport infrastructure.

The Urals have long supplied Russia with locally mined precious and semi-precious stones. They are widely used by local craftsmen who create wonderful designs in order to make exquisite and unique jewelry. Their masterpieces are famous worldwide.

My Native Town

I'd like to tell you about my native town. It is situated in the Southern Urals not far from Chelyabinsk, administrative centre of our region. Our town is unique and unforgettable in many aspects.

My town is located in a very picturesque place among beautiful lakes after which it goes its name. In the north it faces lake Irtyash, one of the largest and deepest one. In the west one can see magnificent mountains of the Kushtum Chain with high peaks of Soogomuck and Yagoza famous in local legends and songs. In the south the town borders on lakes Bolshaya Nanoga and Malaya Nanoga. To the east runs a beautiful valley with birch and pine forests rich in berries and mushrooms.

The history of Ozersk is closely connected with the history of the country. Though it is one of the youngest towns in our region it became very important. The date of its birth is considered the 9th of November 1945 when first workers and engineers came here to build a unique industrial complex. The entire country participated in the construction of the first atomic plant so people of many nationalities live in our town. Enthusiasm of the builders was great and soon the plants began working and first houses of young town appeared.

Ozersk is a town of science. First of all we associate the name of outstanding scientist Igor Vasilyevich Kurchatov with the history of the town. Kurchatov headed the works in creation of nuclear weapon. He engaged many scientists in research and investigation of physical and chemical characteristics of substances used in atomic industry. There is a museum to I.V. Kurchatov in Ozersk. The monument was erected in the middle of the square after his name. There are dozens research centres in the town.

Our town is famous for its architecture. The symbol of the town is Rotunda standing on the high bank of the Irtyash. From here you can see a magnificent and picturesque scenery. Now the town is divided into 3 parts: an old part and 2 new ones.

Each district has attractions if its own. The old town with its 4-5 storey buildings and lots of greenery and new districts with wide avenues and multistoried houses present a unity of generations. The town is decorated with many flowerbeds. All residents like Pushkin Street. It is very cozy and romantic. The houses are hidden among wild apple-trees, fir trees, pines and bushes of lilac and bird-cherry. In late fall and early spring lots of bullfinches and chatters come here to taste berries and wild apples.

There are many monuments in our town: the monument to pioneers of nuclear energy called "Prometenium", the monument to victims of the World War II and others.

There is the department of Moscow Physical Engineering Institute. Its graduates work at the production enterprise "Mayak". There are many secondary schools with extensive English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology learning. There are several vocational technical schools where students are given good work habits.

Our town is a cultural centre as well. We have some libraries (this is the Central City Library with a monument to Pushkin nearby). It houses not only books, newspapers and magazines but records, tapes, CDs and pictures, its light halls usually serve as picture and exhibition gallery. Here you can see works of local artists and other interesting exhibitions.

There is a musical school where young citizens are given instructions in playing the piano, the violin, the saxophone and other instruments. There is an Art College. We have several theatres and cinemas like puppet theatre "The Gold Rooster" for little children, drama theatre "Our Home", people operetta theatre in the cultural centre "Mayak" and different studios in the Youth Cultural Palace. Located in the picturesque scenery of the Southern Urals among the mountains and lakes with its charming mixture of the old and new, my town creates an unforgettable impression. This is the town of my parents and grandparents’ youth, its first builders. This is the place I belong and I love it dearly.

УРОВЕНЬ

Задание 1.Ответьте на вопросы по тексту «My Native Town»

1. Is Ozersk your native town?

2. Are there many districts in the town? A few years ago there were no houses at all, were there?

3. What houses and buildings are there under construction now?

4. Are there many wonderful places worth seeing and visiting?

5. What streets are there in your town?

6. Where do you always cross the street?

7. What do you do when the yellow light flashes up?

8. What do you do when you are at a loss which way to take?

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