Kerch
Kerch
| |
|---|---|
City | |
The Obelisk of Glory on Mount Mithridates | |
| Coordinates: 45°21′43″N 36°28′16″E / 45.36194°N 36.47111°E | |
| Country (de facto) | Russia |
| Federal Subject (Republic) (de facto) | Crimea |
| City (de facto) | Kerch |
| Country (de jure) | Ukraine |
| Autonomous republic (de jure) | Crimea |
| Raion (de jure) | Kerch |
| Government | |
| • Head | Oleg Katorgin |
| Area | |
• Total | 108 km2 (42 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2017) | |
• Total | 149,566 |
| • Density | 1,464.49/km2 (3,793.0/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 |
| Postal code | 298300 – 298399 |
| Area code | +7-36561 |
| Former name(s) | Panticapaeum, Bosporus, Vosporo, Korchev, Cerchio |
| Sister cities | Mogilev, Smolensk, Çanakkale, Oryol, Odintsovo, Sochi |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | горсовет-керчь.рф (de facto) |
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Kerch, also known as Keriç or Kerich, is a city of regional significance on the Kerch Peninsula in the east of Crimea. It has a population of 147,033 (2014 Census).
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 104,443 | — |
| 1959 | 98,769 | −5.4% |
| 1970 | 127,804 | +29.4% |
| 1979 | 156,827 | +22.7% |
| 1989 | 174,365 | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 157,007 | −10.0% |
| 2014 | 147,033 | −6.4% |
| 2021 | 154,621 | +5.2% |
| Source: Census data | ||
Founded 2,600 years ago as the ancient Greek colony Pantikapaion, Kerch is 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 area's most important industrial, transport and tourist centres. As with the rest of Crimea, it has been occupied by Russian forces since the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.