Kerch

Kerch (Керчь) is a city (2001 pop 157,000) on the Kerch peninsula of eastern Crimea, an important transportation, historical and tourist centre of Ukraine. Kerch has a harbour on the Kerch Strait, which makes it a key to the Sea of Azov, also a ferry connection to Port Kavkaz (Russia), a railroad terminal and a small airport.

Kerch was founded by Greek colonists more than 2600 years ago. Once known as Panticapaeum, it had previously served as the capital of the Kingdom of Bosporus in ancient times.

Kerch was influenced by many civilizations and cultures. From the middle of the 1st century BC it was under Roman and then Byzantine control. It suffered severely from barbarian invasions and was devastated by the Huns in AD 375.

In the 8th century, the Khazars built a fortress in Kerch from stone blocks with walls about 2.5 meters thick. The main local government official during Khazar times was the archon. Christianity was a major religion in Kerch during the period of Khazar rule. Kerch's "Church of St. John the Baptist" was founded in 717 C.E. The "Church of the Apostles" existed during the late 8th century and early 9th century, according to the "Life of the Apostle Andrew" by Epiphanus.

From the 10th to the 12th century the Slavic settlement of Korchev, which belonged to Tmutorokan principality, was a center of trade between Rus and the Crimea, Caucasus, and the Orient. In the 14th and 15th centuries the Genoese colony of Cerco (Cerchio) was established there, which in the late 15th century passed to the Turks, who built a citadel there. By the Peace Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji in 1774, Kerch and the neighboring fortress of Yenikale were ceded to Russia. Because of its location, from 1821 Kerch developed into an important trade and fishing port.

After suffering a decline during the First World War and the civil war (1926 pop 34,600), the city resumed its growth in the late 1920s with the expansion of various industries, iron ore and metallurgy in particular, and by 1939 its population had reached 104,500.

During the Great Patriotic War of 1941 to 1945, Kerch was the site of heavy fighting between Soviet forces and the Nazi forces. The German occupants killed about 15,000 citizens and deported another 14,000 during their reign. Evidence of German atrocities in Kerch was presented in the Nuremberg trials. After the War the city was awarded the title Hero City.

Ajimushkay catacombs (mines) in the city's suburbs were a site of heroic guerilla campaign against occupation. Few thousands soldiers and refugees found shelter inside, making permanent counterattacks. Many of them died underground as a result of German storm attempts (incl. those with chemical weapon) and hunger. Later a memorial was established on site.

Kerch has a number of impressive architectural and historical monuments. Located nearby are several ancient burial mounds (kurghans) and excavated cities. The sea and beaches in Kerch are clean and calm so many people of former USSR spend their summer holidays there.

Kerch is also a fishing fleet base and an important processing center for numerous fish products. Shipbuilding, construction-materials, food processing, and other industries also play a role in the city's economy. Kerch hosts research institutes of fish farming and oceanology, a medical school, and 6 PTU schools (incl. those for metallurgy and shipbuilding).

Alternative spellings and historical names:

• Panticapaeum, Pantikapey, Bosphorus, Bospor, Korchev

External links:

• http://www.kerch.com.ua - site of the city (in Russian)