Novosibirsk is the administrative center of the Novosibirsk region and the Siberian Federal District. It is a major industrial, transport, scientific, and cultural center. Novosibirsk is the largest metropolis of Siberia and the largest municipality in Russia.

Founded in 1893, the region was named Aleksandrovskii village until 1895, when it became Novo-Nikolaevskii. In 1926, it was renamed Novonikolaevsk.

The city is located in the southeast of the Western Siberian Plain and occupies part of the Priobskii plateau, which the River Ob valley divides into the Levoberezhnij and Pravoberezhnij (Left and Right Bank) sections.

Distance from Moscow: 3191 km.

The highest point on the left bank is found in Karl Marx Square at 151 meters. The highest point in all of Novosibirsk lies in the Oktyabrskij district at 214 meters.

Novosibirsk is located in the continental climate zone; the average air temperature is +0.2℃. It is characterized by large fluctuations of monthly (38 degrees) and absolute (88 degrees) air temperatures. The average air temperature in January is -18.8℃, and +19℃ in June. The lowest temperature ever recorded occurred on January 7, 1915 at -51.1℃. The highest temperature recorded is +40℃.

The city is located at the intersection of the steppe and the natural area of the forest. Typically, snow begins to fall on November 1, and lasts 150-160 days. Throughout the year in Novosibirsk, the southwestern wind prevails with an average speed of 4.1 m/s. Overall experts characterize the city’s climate as “healthy” and “exercise-inducing”.