Magnitogorsk
Understand
The "Magnetite mountain" that lends the place its name was once its chief feature, a mountain almost entirely composed of iron ore. It was heavily mined, and the iron locally smelted, throughout the 1930s, during the days of Stalin's Five-Year-Plans. The mountain's mines have been mostly exhausted by the present day, but Magnitogorsk still sees heavy smelting activity processing ores from other parts of Russia and other former Soviet republics. The years of smelting have taken an ecological toll on the city.
Get in
By plane
There are two flights per day to Magnitogorsk from Moscow's Vnukovo airport and Domodedovo International Airport (Utair).
By train
There is only one train from Moscow to Magnitogorsk, and only on odd days.
By car
You can reach Magnitogorsk by car by routes M7 or M5 through Ufa.
See
Magnitogorsk is home of Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, and has hockey club Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL, the "Steel Foxes".
Stay healthy
Be aware that Magnitogorsk is a heavily polluted town.