The city of Angarsk, where to go and what to see in Angarsk? This is my subjective review. I’ll tell you about the city of Angarsk, as well as food prices, real estate costs, city enterprises, people and weather. If you are going to Angarsk, then my note should help you decide whether to go or not.
There are many articles about Angarsk on the Internet, as well as many books written by local residents. For my part, I will try to give an independent and unbiased assessment of our city. It’s said loudly, of course, but I’ll try not to lose face.
Hi all! My name is Sergey and you are on my personal blog. As always, let's start in order.
About the city of Angarsk
Angarsk is a city (Angarsk urban district) in the Irkutsk region, the city is quite young, turning 74 years old in 2022. Angarsk is located on the banks of two rivers, the Angara and Kitoi, 50 kilometers northwest of Irkutsk. The Angara River begins its journey from Lake Baikal; in summer the water is cool, but you can swim. The Kitoi River begins its journey from the taiga from the Sayan Mountains.
Our city is 5,150 kilometers away from Moscow. The city operates on Irkutsk time. The difference with Moscow time is +5 hours msk+5.
Of these two rivers, I love Kitoy for its clean, mountain water. In summer you can swim on the Kitoi River, the water is warmer than in the Angara, along the banks of the Kitoi River there are sandy beaches with a shallow river.
The area of the city is quite small. Basically, Anagrsk extends vertically from the Angara River from South to North. You can travel from one end of the city to the other by car in 25 - 35 minutes, taking into account the current reconfiguration of traffic lights and without taking into account traffic jams.
I would say that the city of Angarsk last year, 30 years ago and for almost 15 years, was a city of entrepreneurs, at that time the word shuttle traders was more appropriate.
The shortage of consumer goods that persisted after the collapse of the USSR and the low standard of living contributed to the involvement of large sections of the population in the mass, disorderly trade in consumer goods.
Wikipedia
In the early 90s, the enterprises stood still. As I was told, it was possible to enter the territory of the Angarsk Petroleum Chemical Company (ANHK) enterprise through a hole in the fence, approach the foreman, and in this way get a job. Now, in order to get a job at this enterprise, it is desirable to have, as they say, blat.
Therefore, as throughout the country, there was no work, those who survived as best they could (luckily China is nearby) began to go for consumer goods. As I remember now, there were many people who wanted to sell and buy, which led to the opening of a special open-air market, where they allocated an area outside the city, where the city’s population went, bought clothes, toys and much more.
In addition, some residents were forced (life forced them) to master a certain craft called sewing winter hats from animal fur, which were later sold throughout the country.
Another activity was to drive cars from Vladivostok, and now they continue to do so, but not in the same quantity and volume. They opened kiosks and their own shops; at the moment, these areas are almost a thing of the past, as modern market relations came, federal chains appeared, online stores and almost all individual entrepreneurs were forced out.
Enterprises of Angarsk
At the moment, the main and large enterprises of Angarsk are as follows.
- JSC "Angarsk Petrochemical Company";
- JSC "Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant" (bought out by Muscovites);
- JSC Irkutskenergo;
- JSC "Angarsk Polymer Plant";
- LLC "Transneft - Vostok";
- CJSC "Stroykompleks";
- JSC "Angarskneftekhimproekt";
- JSC Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant;
- CJSC "Reaktiv";
- CJSC Angarskcement (bought by Muscovites);
- JSC Karavay was founded in 1949;
- Motorcade 1948;
- CJSC Meat Processing Plant "Angarsky";
- Angaria LLC Ice cream factory, founded in 1956;
- CHP (2 pieces);
In addition to dirty production, the Angarsk urban district is developed in agricultural production. The largest agricultural producers of the Angarsk urban district are:
- CJSC "Angarsk Poultry Farm";
- OP "Megetskoye";
- Sayan Broiler LLC;
- JSC "Teplichnoye";
- JSC "Savvateevskoe";
- JSC "Odinsk";
- LLC "Complex Zverevo";
- LLC "Peasant Farm Zuev V.A."
Of course, like in any city there are municipal/budgetary organizations: an employment center, the Angarsk tram, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, art schools, museums and other “institutions” with low-paid professions (sorry, I didn’t want to offend anyone, but it is the way it is ).
The need for workers declared by organizations to the employment center, as of November 1, 2022, is 3,765 people.
The unemployment rate in the Angarsk urban district is 0.37% of the working population; in the Irkutsk region - 1% of the economically active population.
Link to the website Employment Center of the city of Angarsk
The main attractions of Angarsk: TOP-3
The sights of Angarsk, photos and descriptions of which you will find in this section, can be considered the calling cards of the city. In any case, it is with their presentation that local guides begin city tours.
Angarsk Gate
This poetic name is given to the main visiting card of the city - the propylaea, created by a colonnade of two completely identical buildings at the beginning of Lenin Street. Porticoes above the columns are crowned with attics in the form of intertwined ears of wheat, filled with ripeness. The facades of the mansions are richly decorated with openwork stucco. The light yellow decoration of the walls of the houses adds solemnity to the architectural composition. The name of the architectural landmark was not given by chance. All guests of the policy arriving here by rail enter the city through the Angarsk Gate.
City post office building
The mansion of the main post office, which has been decorating Lenin Square since 1956, rightfully claims to be the main symbol of Angarsk. Two wings of different sizes converge on the central element of the composition - a three-story tower. The second tier of the portal is made in the form of a quadrangular rotunda. Above it is a spire topped with a 900-kilogram coat of arms of the USSR. The heraldic symbol of the world's first Soviet country rises 56 m above the ground. In 1972, chimes appeared on the tower, notifying Angarsk residents and guests of the city about the onset of a new hour. The building looks especially interesting at night, when the rotunda and spire are illuminated.
Petrochemical Park
A well-kept park in the very center of Angarsk is considered the most popular promenade place for citizens. The recreation is kept in excellent condition. Landscaped alleys, framed by coniferous and deciduous trees, converge at a Roman fountain decorated with bas-reliefs in the form of lion heads. A wonderful playground has been built here for children, with swings and carousels installed. By the way, tourists who have been to St. Petersburg will be able to see for themselves that the monograms of the park’s wrought-iron fence exactly repeat the openwork patterns of the Summer Garden fence.
Where to go and what to see in Angarsk
Let's start with the visiting card of the city of Angarsk and this is the Clock Museum.
Clock Museum
- a unique exhibition of more than 1,200 exhibits from all over the world. The Clock Museum in the city of Angarsk opened in 1968 and became the first such museum in our country. The basis for its creation was the collection of Pavel Vasilyevich Kurdyukov, which was formed over more than 50 years. I recommend!
Link to the Angarsk City Museum website
Opening hours: Tue-Sat from 10:00 to 18:00. The Clock Museum is located at st. Karla Marksa, 31 Telephone
Mineral Museum
— more than 1,600 exhibits. Huge credit for creating the collection of minerals and rocks belongs to Vasily Mikhailovich Dubrovin. I’ll be honest, I’ve never been to this museum myself, but I’ll definitely go with my daughter, I promise) In general, they say it’s good and interesting.
Opening hours: Tue – Sat from 10:00 to 18:00. The Mineral Museum is located at st. Glinka, 25 Telephone
Victory Museum
— the exhibition halls contain authentic items from the Great Patriotic War. The museum was founded on May 8, 1968 by a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Nikitovich Puras. Around the museum there are: an airplane, a tank and guns. Children play and climb with great interest in this technique (except for the airplane!).
Opening hours: Tue-Sat from 10:00 to 17:00. The Victory Museum is located at 12″a microdistrict, building 15. Telephone, 55-19-49
Zoo
(at the Palace of Children and Youth Creativity) - this zoo was visited by the whole family at the beginning of this summer. A very modest, simple and cute zoo, in which there are and live: rabbits, geese, a collection of owls, seagulls, ferrets, snakes, roe deer and many other animals. This year the zoo turned 55 years old. Cost: symbolic, as much as you can.
It’s hard to call it a zoo, but going with your child and showing them geese, a hedgehog, an eagle owl, snakes and a roe is definitely a must!
Opening hours: Mon – Sun from 10:00 to 18:00. The zoo is located at 64th block, no. 1 (behind the Palace of Children and Youth Creativity). The price is ridiculous 20 rubles per person.
Ice Palace "Ermak"
- the largest ice palace in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. Home matches of the Angarsk team "Ermak" (playing in the VHL) are held here. Residents love their team and every game is sold out. World and Russian figure skating stars regularly perform at the palace. Honestly, I’ve never been there myself (I don’t like local hockey, and all sorts of ice shows require time and money).
For those who like to skate, even in summer, you can use the skating rink of the small arena LD "Ermak". I visited more than once. In the summer, in hot weather, go for a ride in just a T-shirt and jeans - I recommend it, it’s worth it.
Cost: adult ticket 150 rubles (1 hour), children's ticket from 7 to 11 years, spectator ticket 100 rubles. Rental 100 rub.
Small Arena, tel., Angarsk, 192 quarter, no. 8
Park of wooden sculptures "Lukomorye".
I recommend going to this park! This is a stunningly beautiful, quiet, beautiful, I’m not afraid of the word “magical” place. The park is located outside the city at a distance of 30 kilometers (20-25 minutes by car), in the village of Savvateevka, st. Club, 4.
On my blog you can read a note about this park, the Park of Wooden Sculptures “Lukomorye”.
In addition, like in any modern city, we have cinemas: Rodina, Mega Sinima and the private NASA cinema. There is a separate review about the NASA private cinema on my blog. I recommend getting acquainted with the NASA cinema, in the note there are photos and a very interesting video. Also in Angarsk there are palaces of culture “Energetik”, “Neftekhimik” and “Sovremennik”.
A beautiful and large church was built in Angarsk called “Holy Trinity Cathedral of the City of Angarsk”.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Angarsk is a sports city, and here is the proof: the Angarsky Ski and Biathlon Complex.
Camp sites and children's health centers: health, anniversary and star - are located 25 km from Angarsk. In 2022, the football field was revived. The football field is located at the Angara stadium.
On my blog you can read a note about: Park Hotel Zvezdny, my review, cost, photos and videos and about the children's entertainment center called Class Park, which is located in the shopping center.
The largest, modern and best shopping center in Angarsk is called “Festival”. You can buy everything in this shopping center, from bread to a TV for 250,000 rubles.
The most comfortable
Museums, like other oases of culture and art, are the pride of Angarsk, its decoration. And the residents of Angara, even if fate takes them to other cities, always talk with enthusiasm about their small homeland. Because there is something to tell. And this is not surprising, because for the most part all the features of this city, its features, are created by the townspeople themselves: they tirelessly come up with something new and bring their ideas to life. Probably because they feel like masters here.
For example, in recent years several interesting city monuments have appeared here, created exclusively with private funds. The city is famous for its monuments to the marmot and the wolf, the Alley of Love with a forgiveness bench and a book of wishes. It must be admitted that for small Russian cities such a creative and extraordinary approach to the development of the urban appearance is rare: comic monuments to animals, made according to all the laws of the genre, are more likely to be found somewhere in Europe. And Angarsk does not lag behind European cities in this regard.
“People come on their own, talk about their ideas, unite, and such interesting city decorations appear,” says Lyudmila Sidorenko. — By the way, now, together with students, we are exploring the possibilities of creating a city park. I think we will succeed.
In general, the improvement of the city is a public matter in Angarsk. This is probably why in recent years it has constantly been among the winners, and twice became the winner in the all-Russian competition for the title “The most comfortable city in Russia.” Many Angarsk residents studied at the oldest and most honorable school - No. 10. It is difficult to imagine both old and new Angarsk without it. This is the repository of all the best in national education, from which the city’s intelligentsia emerged and continues to emerge.
“Maybe many people won’t like this word, but I can rightfully call our school elite,” said Deputy Director for Educational Work Natalya Ryazanova. “When the school was founded in 1952, it established traditions of strong and high-quality education that have continued to this day. It's hard to get here, but it's even harder to study here. But if I had a choice of where to go to work as a teacher, I would choose only our school.
It is famous for its graduates. For example, the mayor of the Angarsk municipal district Andrei Kozlov studied here, many graduated from universities whose abbreviations do not need to be deciphered: Moscow State University, MGIMO, MAFI and others. “Ten” is famous throughout the country. It is significant that many students become school teachers. It produces 10-12 medalists per year - on average 2-3 times more than in other secondary schools.
Prices in Angarsk
Is life expensive in Angarsk? I will give some prices for real estate, food, gasoline and travel costs.
The cost of real estate, as in any city, depends on the condition and the area of the city; you can buy a one-room apartment within 1,400,000 rubles (depending on the condition and area).
Apartment rental: on average from 10,000 rubles. Cost of a garage: on average 400,000 rubles.
Cost of food: milk 59 rubles per 1,000 ml, apples, tomatoes, cucumbers 90% Chinese, apples 120 rubles per kg, tomatoes 130 rubles per kg.
Nuts, in my personal blog I made a review about nuts (milk macadamia, Brazil nut and pecan), anyone interested can read Trying nuts, my review, the note indicates the cost of the nut.
For example, a pine nut costs 45 rubles per kilogram (this is a tasty and large nut).
Chilled broiler chicken drumstick - 210 rubles per 1 kg, Zlato sunflower oil - 82 rubles, Lipton tea - 289 rubles (100 bags per package).
Fare: bus 30 rubles, tram 20 rubles, taxi on average 120 rubles.
Cost of “clothes”: I think it’s very expensive, so we order clothes through online stores, in our case our orders amount to almost 90%.
The cost of AI-92 gasoline is almost 42 rubles per liter.
I confirm prices with photographs.
There is a note on my blog about two stores, click on the link Bread and Salt vs. Slat. Where is the best place to buy?
Angarsk's plans for the future
There are no plans. In the near future the following will appear in our city:
- The Ferris wheel, 30 years later, in the same place, namely in the 10th anniversary of Angarsk park, the structure will be 25 meters high + several carousels and attractions. You can read on my blog here: Ferris wheel in the 10th Anniversary Park of Angarsk.
- The new cinema in the Festival shopping center will be the largest screen in Angarsk, with a huge screen 20 meters wide. At the moment it has not opened yet.
- The embankment along the Kitoi River, behind Storitsa, will be a beautiful embankment - a place for walks and active pastime in the fresh air. It’s opened, I’ll definitely visit this place in the summer and write a short note.
- Cable car - from the 10th Anniversary Park of Angarsk to the Kitoi River. I'm sure it will be very interesting.
- New houses are being built in microdistrict 22, microdistrict 33, as well as along Aleshina Street.
Yes, so modest :).
Baikal
Just a hundred kilometers from the city lies a miracle of nature - Lake Baikal. Its crystalline surface and the surrounding natural landscape will leave you in rapt amazement.
If you are not passing through Angarsk, be sure to set aside a day to visit probably the most important attraction in all of Russia. It is the largest fresh water storage facility in the entire world. The lake is shaped like a crescent and is about 700 kilometers long. It is surrounded by hills and a hilly ridge. The diversity of flora and fauna attracts tourists from all over the world.
Climate in Angarsk
It is cold in winter, the average temperature throughout the winter is -20. In January (Epiphany frosts) the temperature drops from -35 to -40 degrees or more and can last from one to two weeks. Winter is dry. I’m writing a note and now it’s -11 outside.
Summer starts from the month of May (but not always, sometimes the whole of May is cold) and until mid-August, I would say that summer lasts only two full months. It rains for half of the month in September. Indian summer arrives in October; the warmth and sun can last for more than a week.
Residents of Angarsk, what are they like?
There are enough rednecks, drug addicts, and so-called patriots in the city who cannot throw a plastic cup, a cigarette butt or a beer can into the trash bin, as one example: heaps of garbage (bottles) that are thrown out of the window of their apartment directly into the yard or along the road, it’s very noticeable when the snow melts in the spring, you’re walking with your child, and there are bottles and trash lying along the road.
I’m writing about the residents and remembering Vietnam and Thailand - people really smile, joyful with life. I can’t say that about Angarchan, they are always busy, exhausted, it’s very rare to see a person on the street with a smile on their face.
Afterword
Many people leave our city, to cities such as St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Moscow and even abroad, so at the moment the number of residents of the city of Angarsk is decreasing every year, today the number is approximately 226,000 people, in the 2000s there were almost 250 000 people.
Thanks to the IGE, young people are leaving for other more promising cities and doing the right thing, I personally support them. Soon only grandparents will live in the city.
Unfortunately, Angarsk, in the list of Russian cities with the most unfavorable environmental situation as of 2010, occupied third place in Siberia and sixth place in Russia (the first 5 places: Norilsk, Cherepovets, Novokuznetsk, Lipetsk, Magnitogorsk).
From Angarsk you can drive to Lake Baikal in two hours, and the Arshan resort in three hours. For those interested, here is my note about holidays in Arshan Holidays in Arshan and Guest House “Chalet Sinegorye”. You can also read on my blog about where to rent inexpensive housing in Arshan and where to eat delicious food in Arshan.
I have a neutral attitude towards our city, I’m not in love with it, but I don’t admire our city either. I live because I was born in this city and, if possible, I am sure I will be ready to move to another city or country.
City of unusual museums
Another characteristic of the Angarsk character is a caring attitude towards their history, a desire to preserve it at all costs. Thus, an amazing apartment museum has been created in Angarsk. Two enthusiasts, on the basis of an old communal apartment, one of the first in the city, organized a corner of things: interior items, furniture - in a word, everything that relates to the years of rapid construction of Angarsk. It's like you're in the 1950s. An electric samovar, an old record player, a school uniform and even the Red Moscow perfume - everything is imbued with the spirit of the last century.
“Here you can touch and try on everything,” says the teacher-organizer, one of the founders of the museum, Valentina Elizarova. “Our museum is alive.” And you know, he is extremely popular. At these old tables and chairs you can drink tea from an electric samovar from the 50s. The Chinese kettle is broken, but the samovar is still working. And people come here with pleasure, communicate, and reminisce about old times. It’s never quiet here, like in a museum, much less boring. This apartment is a tribute to those times. And the townspeople understand this. They themselves fill the museum, bring old things, literally tear them from their hearts, but that makes them even more valuable. The only Victory Museum in the Irkutsk region is located in Angarsk. This is one of the most popular places in the city. About 50 thousand people visit it every year.
It is here that the history of not only victory in the war is kept, but also victory over circumstances, as the director of the museum Larisa Davydova says.
“It all started with a small room where the first exhibits appeared. Then expeditions were organized to places of military glory, and there were so many exhibits that it quickly became clear that it was necessary to create a large museum. And here’s what’s interesting: large enterprises in the city happily responded to our call to build a building, although there was no permission from above. In the mid-80s, it was allowed to build shops, but not museums. And so, semi-legally, having announced the construction of a store, the construction of a modern building of the Victory Museum began in the city, which today has become a place of pilgrimage for foreign tourists, not to mention numerous delegations from Russian cities.
Today the museum houses amazing exhibits: shells, letters from the front, even a piece of siege bread. Once, seeing this bread, German tourists asked for forgiveness for the war that started, says Larisa Davydova.
Is it worth talking about the legendary Angarsk Clock Museum? Like most others, it began with the idea and collection of a great enthusiast - Pavel Kurdyukov, and today it is one of the most extraordinary, interesting, rich in exhibitions and at the same time popular cultural institutions in the region.
