Gomel (pronounced /ˈɡoʊmel/)[1], also Homel, Homiel (Belarusian: Гомель, IPA: [ˈɣomʲelʲ][1], translit: Hómiel'; is the administrative center of Homiel Voblast and the second-largest city in Belarus. It has a population of 479,935 (2006 estimate). Homel is situated in the southeastern part of the country, on the right bank of Sozh river, close to the border with Ukraine, in close proximity to Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Although it has been heavily contaminated with radioactive debris following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, residents were never evacuated from Homel and general population continued to grow. The city is serviced by Gomel Airport.
History
View of the city, with the Paskevich Palace seen in the distance.
The exact date when Homel was founded is not known. Homel was first mentioned in the chronicles in the first half of the 12th century; the officially accepted date is 1142. In 1854 Homel merged with the neighbouring town of Bielica located across Sozh, on the left bank of the river. Now Bielica is one of four boroughs of Homel.[2]
In the 19th century Jewish residents comprised more than 50% of the city's total population and had twenty-four synagogues. On the eve of World War II about fifty thousand Jews lived in Homel (one-third of total population). Some Jewish residents escaped in the early months of the war but those who remained were later confined to ghettos and were eventually executed by the Nazis, suffering the fate of millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust.
Transportation
Public transportation is represented by over 1,000 city buses and trolleybuses. Public transportation is generally inexpensive ($14 monthly). Over 210 million passenger rides were registered in 2006.[3] Taxi services ($10 for a one-way intra-city ride) are available 24 hours a day. The city is an important railroad hub in the southeastern part of Belarus being positioned midway on the Minsk-Kiev railroad link. Strategic location of Homel near the border with Russia and Ukraine provides a direct connection to the vast railroad network.
Gomel Airport is located 8 kilometers north-east from the city.
Educational center
Homel is a well-known educational center. The following universities are located in Homel:
Since 1990, P.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical University and Homiel State Medical University have been attracting many international students from countries around world, including United States, Germany, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran and Latin America. Homiel State Medical University provides classes in both English and Russian. Many famous scientists work here as senior lecturers.
People
- Avrohom Elyashiv, rabbi of Homel and Jerusalem
- Aaron Lebedeff, Yiddish tenor
- Lev Schnirelmann, Soviet mathematician
- Marek Edelman, political and social activist
- Iryna Yatchenko, Belarusian Olympic medal winner, discus thrower
- Sergey Sidorsky, Belarusian prime-minister (2003 to present time)
- Seryoga, Russian rapper (who once challenged Eminem to a one-on-one rap competition)
- Igor Polotsky, famous watchmaker
- Kanstantsin Siutsou, professional road cyclist
Sister cities
References
External links
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