In modern Russia, there are 39 ZATOs (ZATO - Closed Administrative Territorial Unit). They were created in order to ensure the safe functioning of military facilities or strategic enterprises important for the state. One of these entities is the city of Sarov in the Nizhny Novgorod region. How is he interesting? What is his story? And why is Sarov a closed city? All these questions will be answered by our article.
Sarov on the map of Russia
The closed administrative-territorial entity “Sarov City” is located on the border of two constituent entities of the Russian Federation - the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Republic of Mordovia. Although administratively refers to the Nizhny Novgorod region. The date of foundation of the closed city is considered to be 1954. Although the history of the settlement itself dates back to the end of the XVII century.
In Soviet times, this settlement had several code names: "Base number 112", "Gorky-130", "Arzamas-16." Sarov is a toponym derived from the Finno-Ugric word "sara", which translates as "swamp" or "swamp". It is worth noting that it is quite common in the place names of Mordovia and neighboring regions.
How many from Sarov to Nizhny Novgorod in kilometers? The closed city is located 200 kilometers south of the regional center. The road between these two cities takes about three and a half hours.
Sarov: the history of the city
Sarov appeared in 1691, when a monk settled on the hill above the local small river Sarovka, under the name Theodosius of Penza. A little later, at the same place, the monk Isaac settled, who founded the monastery here. We will talk more about the Sarov desert in more detail in our article. Now we only mention that the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, one of the most revered saints of the Russian Orthodox Church, lived in this monastery.
For a long time Sarov remained a small town and a place of pilgrimage for many believers. But everything changed dramatically after the Second World War. It was in Sarov in 1947 that experimental work on the development of nuclear weapons began. Here, two years later, the first atomic bomb of the Soviet Union was created. Her double can still be seen in the city's Museum of Nuclear Weapons.
Why Sarov is a closed city, it’s easy to guess. Here and today, the Russian Federal Nuclear Center (RFNC-VNIIEF) operates, which is engaged in the production of nuclear munitions. This is the main and city-forming enterprise of Sarov.
How to get to Sarov?
In Soviet times, the city, having a fairly large number of inhabitants and a well-developed infrastructure, was not marked on any public map. Today, the regime of strict secrecy has been removed from Sarov, nevertheless, it remains closed to outsiders. On the Google map, the city itself is displayed, but access roads to it are hidden.
Getting to Sarov is incredibly difficult for a person without local registration. The city is literally surrounded by barbed wire and securely guarded. The access regime in the "nuclear heart of the country" is very strict, an application for a visit must be submitted two to three months before the proposed trip. And it’s not a fact that you will receive an entry permit. To do this, you must be a close relative of one of the local residents. Another way to get to Sarov is through work or study. But there are no guarantees.
Tourists and mere mortals are not allowed into the city. The only option is to book a pilgrimage tour of the Seraphim places. In this case, the sightseeing bus will be thoroughly inspected, and the tourist group in Sarov will be accompanied by a "special officer".
If you have permission to enter, you can get to Sarov in three ways:
- In your own car.
- By regular public transport (buses and minibuses to Sarov regularly leave from the Nizhny Novgorod bus station).
- By train (a passenger train leaves from Kazan Station in Moscow every day at 20:48; it arrives in Sarov at 7:00 a.m. the next day).
Sarov population: in numbers and graphs
Today, about 95 thousand people live in the science city. Moreover, over the past thirty years, the population of Sarov has been steadily and steadily growing (see chart below).
If at the beginning of the twentieth century no more than two thousand people lived in the city, then by the beginning of this century this figure had increased to 85 thousand. According to the population, Sarov takes 181st place in the country (as of January 1, 2018). According to the forecasts of demographers, the city will reach 100 thousand inhabitants.
Around the mid-2000s, a continuous increase in the birth rate has been recorded in the Sarov registry office. The mortality rate, on the contrary, has been declining since 2013. The migration growth curve is characterized by instability from year to year.
The main cause of mortality, as in many other cities and regions of Russia, are diseases of the circulatory system (in particular, heart ailments). In the second place are neoplasms, and only in third are injuries and accidents.
Other demographic figures and indicators for the city of Sarov (for 2015):
- The number of abortions per year is 468.
- The number of marriages is 530.
- The number of divorces is 401.
- The share of economically active population of Sarov is 49.4%.
ZATO Sarov: interesting facts and urban myths
The two most popular myths about Sarov:
1. The increased level of radiation. In fact, the radiation background in the city does not exceed acceptable standards. You will not meet two-headed ravens and other mutants here. And objects do not shine at night, no matter how much someone would like to.
2. Sarov runs the risk of falling underground. Under the city there really is a fairly large pool of artesian, crystal clear and fresh water. However, the legend that Sarov can go underground at any moment is far-fetched and stupid.
Next, we bring to your attention some more interesting facts about this city:
- The architecture of Sarov is quite diverse. Here you can find the usual Khrushchev, and magnificent stalinka, and modern town houses.
- The city was built up in waves as VNIIEF received new state orders.
- At one time, it was here that the outstanding scientist A.D. Sakharov worked.
- The standard of living and the size of salaries in Sarov are significantly higher than the regional average. At the same time, the cost of square meters here is almost equal to the Moscow rates.
- Sarov is an incredibly green city, because it was built, in fact, in the middle of a dense Mordovian forest.
- Bus stops in Sarov are decorated themed. For example, on the walls of the stop pavilion near the city library you can see portraits of famous poets and writers.
- The city has developed such a sport as ice hockey. The local club "Sarov" competes in the Higher Hockey League of Russia.
The main attractions of Sarov
There are nine natural monuments in the city and its immediate surroundings. This is primarily springs with healing water, ponds and tracts. Sarov is also rich in historical and cultural monuments. The following objects are among the most popular and visited attractions of Sarov:
- Holy Assumption Sarov Desert (a complex of buildings of the XVIII-XIX centuries).
- Monument to Seraphim of Sarov.
- Museum of Nuclear Weapons.
- The administrative building of the RFNC-VNIIEF.
- Museum of Local History.
- Monument of nature "Silver Keys".
- Sarov Drama Theater.
- Monument "Builders of the city."
- Monument "Telephone box".
- The house with a spire is a masterpiece of Stalinist classicism.
Sarov desert
The monastery is located in the very center of the city. In 1778, a certain Prokhor Moshnin arrived here, who later became deeply revered in the Orthodox world by Seraphim of Sarov. In 1927, the monastery was closed and transferred to the plant for the production of shells. The monastery complex was returned to believers only in the 90s.
Monument to Seraphim of Sarov
The sculpture of St. Seraphim of Sarov is located in the Far Desert, in the middle of a dense deciduous forest. Once the famous monk lived and prayed here. The monument was erected in 1991 and consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II himself.
Sarov Drama Theater
The city has an excellent theater. And this is not only a center of cultural leisure for the Sarovites, but also a unique structure in its architecture. The building of the Drama Theater on Muzrukov Avenue combines elements of three styles: brutalism, pseudo-classicism and high-tech style. Next to it is a magnificent light and music fountain.
Museum of Nuclear Weapons
The museum at the RFNC-VNIIEF in Sarov was founded back in 1992. Its expositions in all details tell about the process of creating the so-called nuclear shield. Perhaps the most interesting exhibit in this museum is the Tsar Bomb, a mock-up of a life-size thermonuclear aerial bomb, one of the most powerful explosive devices on Earth.
