Kostroma

Kostroma (Russian: Кострома; IPA: [kəstrɐˈma]) is a historic city and the administrative center of Kostroma Oblast, Russia. A part of the Golden Ring of Russian towns, it is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kostroma Rivers. Population: 268,742 (2010 Census); 278,750 (2002 Census); 278,414 (1989 Census).

History

Under the Rurikids

The city was first recorded in the chronicles for the year 1213, but historians believe it could have been founded by Yury Dolgoruky more than half a century earlier, in 1152. Like other towns of the Eastern Rus, Kostroma was sacked by the Mongols in 1238. It then constituted a small principality, under leadership of Prince Vasily the Drunkard, a younger brother of the famous Alexander Nevsky. Upon inheriting the grand ducal title in 1271, Vasily didn't leave the town for Vladimir, and his descendants ruled Kostroma for another half a century, until the town was bought by Ivan I of Moscow.

As one of the northernmost towns of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, Kostroma served for grand dukes as a place of retreat when enemies besieged Moscow in 1382, 1408, and 1433. In 1375, the town was looted by Novgorod pirates (ushkuiniks). The spectacular growth of the city in the 16th century may be attributed to the establishment of trade connections with English and Dutch merchants (Muscovy Company) through the northern port of Archangel. Boris Godunov had the Ipatiev and Epiphany monasteries rebuilt in stone. The construction works were finished just in time for the city to witness some of the most dramatic events of the Time of Troubles.

Kostroma (inhabited locality)

Kostroma (Russian: Кострома́) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.

Kostroma River

The Kostroma (Russian: Кострома́) is a river in the European part of Russia. It flows through the Kostroma and Yaroslavl Oblasts, and is a left tributary of the Volga, which it enters at the Gorky Reservoir, at the city of Kostroma, at 57°46′44″N 40°53′55″E / 57.77889°N 40.89861°E / 57.77889; 40.89861.

Prior to the creation of the Gorky Reservoir it flowed into the Volga within the city limits of Kostroma. The Ipatiev Monastery is at the old confluence of the Kostroma and the Volga.

The river is 354 kilometres (220 mi) long, and its drainage basin covers 16,000 square kilometres (6,200 sq mi). The average water flow is 71 cubic metres per second (2,500 cu ft/s) at the town of Buy, 124 kilometres (77 mi) from the mouth, and 85 cubic metres per second (3,000 cu ft/s) at the mouth.

Major tributaries include the Vocha, Mezenda, Wex, Tebza, and Sacha on the left, and the Shugoma, Svetlitsa, Lums, Selma, Monza, and Obnora on the right. Before the creation of the Gorky Reservoir, the Sot and Mesa were also tributaries; they now flow directly into the reservoir.