Krasnodar

Krasnodar (Краснодар) is a city in Russia on the Kuban River, and is the administrative center of Krasnodar Krai. Population (census 2004): 653,300.

Founded in 1793 as Yekaterinodar or Ekaterinodar (Екатеринодар). The original name meant "Cathrine's Gift" in recognition of Cathrine the Great's grant of land in the Kuban region to the Black Sea Cossacks. After the Russian Revolution in 1920, Yekaterinodar was renamed Krasnodar (Beautiful Gift).