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Kerch - is a city on the Kerch Peninsula of
eastern Crimea, an important industrial, transport and tourist
centre of Ukraine. Kerch, founded 2600 years ago, is considered
as one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine. Archeological digs
at Mayak village near the city ascertained that the area had
already been inhabited in 17th–15th centuries BC. Ruins of
Panticapaeum. 6th century BCKerch as a city starts its history
in 7th century BC, when Greek colonists from Miletus founded a
city-state named Panticapaeum on Mount Mithridat near the mouth
of the Melek-Chesme river. Panticapaeum subdued nearby cities
and by 480 BC became a capital of the Kingdom of Bosporus.
Later, during the rule of Mithradates VI Eupator, Panticapaeum
for a short period of time became the capital of much more
powerful and extensive Kingdom of Pontus. The city located at
the intersection of trade routes between the steppe and Europe
grew rapidly. The city's main exports were grain and salted
fish, wine-making was also common. Panticapaeum minted its own
coins. According to a few extant documents the Melek-Chesme
river (small and shallow nowadays) was navigable in the Bosporan
times, and sea galleys were able to enter the river. A large
portion of the city's population was ethnically Scythian, later
Sarmatian, as the large royal barrow at Kul-Oba testifies.
In response to strengthening of Russian military forces in Azov
area, Turks built a fortress, named Yenikale near Kerch on the
shore of Kerch Strait. The fortress was completed by 1706. In
1771 Imperial Russian Army invaded Crimea and approached
Yenikale. The Turks decided to abandon the fortress, though
reinforcements from Ottoman Empire arrived a few days before. By
the Peace Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji in 1774, Kerch and Yenikale
were ceded to Russia. As a result, the Turkish heritage has been
almost completely wiped out. Kerch in 1839, by Ivan AivazovskyIn
1790 Russian naval forces under the command of admiral Fyodor
Ushakov defeated the Turkish fleet at the Battle of Kerch
Strait. Because of its location, from 1821 Kerch developed into
an important trade and fishing port. The state museum of ancient
times and a number of educational institutions were opened in
the city. The ironwork factory was built in 1846 based on a huge
iron ore deposit found on Kerch Peninsula. During the Crimean
War the city was devastated by British forces in 1855. In the
late 19th century, mechanical and cement factories were built,
and tinned food and tobacco factories were established. By 1900,
Kerch was connected to a railroad system, and the fairway of
Kerch Strait was deepened and widened. At this time, the
population had reached 33,000. After suffering a decline during
the First World War and the Russian Civil War, the city resumed
its growth in the late 1920s, with the expansion of various
industries, iron ore and metallurgy in particular, and by 1939
its population had reached 104,500. |
