Krasnoyarsk! Saturday 1st of January 2011!!

Happy New Years!!! We arrived in Krasnoyarsk! I am so excited to get back on my feet and explore this new city! What a great day to do so too! Everyone is celebrating, laughing and partying! The train ride has been very pleasant and I have met some very kind and gererous people, though I simply must stretch my legs! Before we arrived, I took some rapid notes from Larissa who pleasantly described various histories and cultures of Krasnoyarsk as the train slowly advanced into the city.
Krasnoyarsk is a the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisey River. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and is one of Russia's largest producers of aluminium. 

View on Krasnoyarsk

Krasnoyarsk from the Yenisei River

Population: The population of Krasnoyarsk is about 950 000 inhabitants.
A little bit on Krasnoyarsk culture;

There are a number of local holidays celebrated each year in Krasnoyarsk; the most significant holiday is the 'Day of the City' celebrated in June, usually with a carnival. Other holidays and cultural events are: the Mana Festival (Манский фестиваль) usually held on the last weekend in June with the traditional bard contest, the International Museum Biennale traditionally held in the Krasnoyarsk Cultural/Historical Center, the avant-garde Museum Night festival dedicated to the International Museum Day (May 18), the Jazz on Yeniseyfestival, the Stolbist Day held many times a year celebrating the traditions of mountain climbing in the Stolby national reserve, the Bikers' Rally.
The city is also home to the Krasnoyarsk Children's Choir a world-renowned choir that tours in many countries as The Little Eagles of Siberia.


Coat of Arms;

The first version of the Krasnoyarsk coat of arms was approved of on March 12, 1804. It had been divided horizontally into two parts, the upper part representing the coat of arms of the Tomsk Guberniya, and the lower part picturing the Krasny Yar Cliff on a silver background.

The second version of the coat of arms was approved of on November 23, 1851, and represented  a golden lion placed on a redheraldic shield with a spade in the right fore paw and a sickle in the left  paw. At the top of the shield lay the golden crown of the Russian Empire.

The current coat of arms was approved of on November 28, 2004. The coat of arms symbolizes  red shield again although represented with a slightly different lion. At the top of the coat of arms there is the golden five-tower status crown of a federal subject center.