Rostov-on-Donu is the largest city in the South of the Russian Federation, the administrative center of Rostov oblast and the southern Federal district. City of military glory (2008).
It was founded by Charter of the Empress Elizabeth on 15-th of December, 1749. It is located in the Southeast of the East European plain, on the banks of the Don river, 46 kilometers from its confluence in the sea of Azov, 1092 kilometres South of Moscow.
The population is about 1 114 806 people (2015), it is tenth populous city of Russia. In addition, Rostov-on-Donu is the 30-th city in Europe by population. It takes the 1-st place among the cities of the southern Federal district. Within the Rostov agglomeration is home to more than 2.16 million people (the fourth largest agglomeration in the country), Rostov-na-Donu polycentric agglomeration conurbation has about 2.7 million inhabitants (third largest in the country).
The city is a major administrative, cultural, scientific, educational, industrial center and a major transportation hub in Southern Russia. Informally Rostov called "Gate of the Caucasus and the southern capital of Russia, as well as don and combine capital. It extends the concept of "Rostov-Papa".
In 2012, Rostov-on-Donu had taken the 5-th place in the ranking of the quality of the urban environment. In 2018 Rostov-on-Donu will be one of the cities hosting the world Cup in football.
