SimferopolSimferopol (Ukrainian Simferopol, Crimea. Aqmescit) is the capital and the biggest city of Crimea. It is situated in the center of Crimea Peninsula at Salgir River. The name Simferopol from Greek means "the city of profit". The Crimean Tatar name Aqmescit is translated into Russian as "white mosque" (aq – is white; mescit – mosque).
Simferopol is allocated in the foothill of mountain Crimea in the shallow gully created by crossing of valley between Exterior (the lowest) and Interior ridges of Crimea Mountains and Salgir River valley. Simferopol water reservoir was created at the river near the city. Thanks to such allocation the valley where the city is situated is blown by the winds from mountains. 1784, considered to be the official date of the city foundation. But many historians dispute the right of this date to be the date of city foundation. First human settlements at the territory of modern Simferopol appeared B.C., but the most famous among the ancient predecessors of the city is Naples-Scythian – the capital of old Scythian state. Ir appeared approximately in III century B.C. and suppose to be ruined by Goth in III century A.D. The ruins of Naples is near Petrovskaya Balka at the left bank of Salgir. |
