Kerch

Kerch (Russian: Керчь, Ukrainian: Керч, Old East Slavic: Кърчевъ, Crimean Tatar: Keriç, Turkish: Kerç, Ancient Greek: Παντικάπαιον Pantikapaion) is a city of regional significance on the Kerch Peninsula in the east of the Crimea. Population: 147,033 (2014 Census).

Founded 2,600 years ago as an ancient Greek colony, Kerch is considered to be one of the most ancient cities in Crimea. The city experienced rapid growth starting in the 1920s and was the site of a major battle during World War II.

Today, it is one of the largest cities in Crimea and is among the republic's most important industrial, transport and tourist centres.

History

Ancient times

Archeological digs at Mayak village near the city ascertained that the area had already been inhabited in 17th–15th centuries BC.

Kerch 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 the much more powerful and extensive Kingdom of Pontus.

Kerch (fortress)

Kerch Fortress (Fort Totleben) is a fortress in eastern Crimea, located on Cape Ak-Burun (English: White Cape) at the narrowest point of the Kerch Strait. Built in the 19th century, the fortress was originally intended to protect the southern border of the Russian Empire.

History

The first fortress in the Kerch Strait was built in 1771. The first battery was built at the cape and later named Pavlovskij. Subsequently, the fort was rebuilt several times and armed.[ During the Crimean War, the battery was equipped with 20 guns. The Treaty of Paris proclaimed the Black Sea as neutral zone and forbade Russia from placing their fleet or military ports in the area. However, the treaty allowed for the fortification of the Kerch Strait. In April 1856, Kerch combat units were sent to study local conditions and photograph locations. The experienced military engineer Colonel Anton Antonovich supervised the construction work, which also began in 1856.

In October 1859, Eduard Ivanovich Totleben was appointed Director of the Engineering Department of the Ministry of War and gained the Tsar's support for strengthening Kerch. He drew on experience gained in the siege and defense of the fortress, as well as his defense of Sevastopol.

List of minor planets: 2001–3000