GOMEL

'Homiel', also 'Homyel', 'Homel', 'Gomel' (Belarusian: Гомель, translit: ''Hómiel'''; Russian: Гомель, translit: ''Gomeľ''; , translit: ''Homl''), is the second-largest city of Belarus and the main city of Homiel Voblast' (Province). It has a population of 479,935 (2006 estimate). Homiel is situated in the southeastern part of the country, on the right bank of Sozh river, close to the border to Ukraine and to Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Although it has been heavily contaminated following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, people still continue to live in the city. It is served by Gomel Airport.

Contents

History

Transportation

Educational Centre

People

Sister cities

External links

History

The exact date of the founding of Homel is not known. It was first mentioned in chronicles from the first half of the 12th century; the officially accepted date is 1142. In 1854 Homel merged with the neighbouring Bielica town situated on the left bank of Sozh River, which is now is a part of Homel city and one of its four boroughs.
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 WWII, Homel contained about fifty thousand Jews (a 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 eventually executed by the Nazis, suffering the fate of millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

Transportation

It is having large numbers of electronic buses about 1000 only within city. 24-hours taxi services you need to call 087, 080. Important Railway Junction beacause of near ukrainian border,lies between Minsk-Kiev Main line also connection with russian cities. Homiel has its own Aerodrome which is connected with capital. Trolley bus No. 20, to Rechitskoe socce , No.19 from Bakjal''( Railway Station)'' to Rechit. Sosse.Transportation is cheap by buses 6$ montly,Taxies are quiet expensive ,10$ for once within city.

Educational Centre

Homiel is a well known education center. Since 1990 Sukhova university and Homiel State Medical university have attracted many international students.
Homiel Sate Medical University provides education in both English and Russian. Many famous scientists work here as senior lectures. Students from US, Germany, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran and from Latin America attend University programs.

People

★ Avraham Elyashiv, rabbi of Homel and Jerusalem

★ Aaron Lebedeff, Yiddish tenor

★ Lev Schnirelmann, Soviet mathematician

★ Irina Jatschenko, Belarusian Olympic medal winner

★ 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

Sister cities

★ Chernihiv, Ukraine

★ Aberdeen, Scotland (since 1990)

★ České Budějovice, Czech Republic

★ Clermont-Ferrand, France

★ Liepāja, Latvia

★ Greater Sudbury, Canada

External links

★ Coat of Arms

★ Photos on Radzima.org

★ History of Homiel

★ Statistical Information about Homiel