3)…Английский для Экономистов Агабекян

данный файл принадлежит сайту www.crypower.ru

Lesson_4_Text 1

SOCHI -MY NATIVE CITY

Hello, everyone! Here is Vera again. This time I'll tell you about my lovely hometown - Sochi. I am sure everyone knows where Sochi is. For those who are not really sure I remind that it is situated on the Black Sea coast about 1500 km south from Moscow.

But what makes this city so special? Sochi is called the city of three seasons because there's no winter here. As we usually say, «the golden autumn slowly turns into the early spring.» When golden leaves slowly fall down on the earth the first flowers begin to blossom. Sochi is the only northern subtropical city in Russia. One can bathe in the Black Sea from May till October because the water of the Black Sea is still warm. The water of the Black Sea contains many chemical substances such as iodine, chlorine, bromine, sulphates, carbonates, sodium, potassium, etc. All of them react with your body and make you healthier. There are many mineral water springs in Sochi and its area.

Have you heard the name the Big Sochi? Sochi is one of the most stretched cities along the sea coast. — it is 148 km long! Small towns and cities Adler, Khosta, Kudepsta, Dagomys and Lazarevskoye belong to Big Sochi.

The history of this area goes back to the ancient times. One can call this area «the Cradle of Mankind*. People came here from the Asia Minor 400-350 thousand years ago. There are more than 150 historical places of interest in the area. Here the camps and caves of pre-historic people have been found.

The dolmens — massive prehistoric grave structures from the 2nd thousand ВС are the features of the Bronze era. The most ancient five-stone dolmens are found in the Sochi area. Travellers of the 19th century called dolmens «the houses of the giants» because each grave stone weighs from 500 to 3000 kg. It is still uncertain what technical developments made it possible to construct such structures.

The rich lands of Caucasus always attracted invaders: Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Genuese, and Turks.

In the Vlth century B.C. the Black Sea coast attracted Greek colonists, who have based a number of trade-settle­ments, such as Dioscuria (modern city of Sukhumi), Pitiunt (Pitsunda), Triglif (Gagra).

Christian religion was brought over from the Byzantynne three centuries earlier than to Russia. In the end of Xth - beginning of the XI centuries A.D. the first known christian constructions were built in Loo, Galitsino and Veseloye.

During XVIII—XIX centuries Russia conducted long wars with Turkey for the exit to the Black sea. In 1829, after the end of Russian-Turkish war, by the peace treaty the Black Sea coast of Caucasus, from the mouth of the river of Kuban up to a fort St.Nicholas (to the south of modern city Poti), has departed to Russia.

Symbol of the victory of the Russian weapon in the war of 1829 is the monument near modern hotel «Leningrad” — «Anchor and Cannon”.

The end of Russian-Turkish war has not solved all the problems of strengthening Russia on the Black Sea coast.

The Black Sea coastal line consisting of 17 forts was created with this purpose.

On April 21st, 1838 small wooden fortress was established in the Sochi river area to protect this land from local tribes. It was named Alexandria in honour of emperess Alexandra. It was renamed one year later, on May 18, 1839 and became Navaginskoye. But in 1854, because of the beginning of the Crimean war, the fortress was destroyed by Russian army. Russians left this area. Only 10 years later, in March 25th, 1864 the new fortress named Dakhovskiy was established on the place of the Navaginskiy fortress.

In 1896 by the decision of the Tsarist government fortress Dakhovskiy was renamed in the settlement of Sochi, after the name of the river Sochi.

In the end of XIX th century the Black Sea coast was intensively occupied by the immigrants from central parts of Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Georgia and Armenians and Greeks from Turkey. The Sochi district becomes multinational area of Russian empire.

In Soviet times Sochi was the. fast developing port, industrial and resort city on the Black sea. The fast development of the city and construction of modern houses was due to the Joseph Stalin's sympathy to this place. Many streets in the center of Sochi look like center of Moscow built in 30s and 50s.

Until now the favourite residence of Russian Presidents is Bocharov creek (ручей). Ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana, warm blue waters of Black sea, luxurious tennis courts create irresistable atmosphere around the place.

I guess I took a lot of your attention already. You know yourself what a popular resort Sochi is nowadays. Just buy the ticket and have your suitcases packed!