Описание (английский)
Barnaul is a city and the administrative center of Altai Krai, Russia, located at the confluence of the Barnaulka and Ob Rivers in the West Siberian Plain.
While 1730 is considered Barnaul's official establishment date, its first mention dates back to 1724. It was granted city status in 1771. Chosen for its proximity to the mineral-rich Altai Mountains and its location on a major river, it was founded by the wealthy Demidov family. The Demidovs wanted to develop the copper
in the mountains, and soon found substantial deposits of silver as
well. In 1747, the Demidovs' factories were taken over by the Crown.
Barnaul became the center of silver production of the entire Russian
Empire.
In 1914, Barnaul was the site of the largest draft riot in Russia during World War I. There were more than 100 casualties from the fighting. Street fighting also took place between White Russians and Reds during the Russian Revolution of 1918.
Maria Stepanovna (née Zudilova) (1912-1996) was born and lived as a
child in this city. She later became the mother of American actresses Natalie Wood (born Natalia Zakharenko) and Lana Wood (born Lana Gurdin).
Her father Stepan was killed in the 1918 street fighting between the
Whites and Reds following the Revolution.
Afterward her mother took
Maria and her siblings as refugees to Harbin, China.
Maria married a Russian there, and they had a daughter Olga together.
Maria eventually immigrated with Olga to the United States, where she
married another Russian immigrant, from Vladivostok, and had two
daughters with him.
Over half of the light ammunition used by the Soviet Union in World War II is estimated to be manufactured in Barnaul.