Saratov is located in the heart of Volga River Valley Region. Once the capital of the Lower-Volga region, it is now the center of one of the biggest provinces in Russia. Saratov has a size of close to 380 square kilometres and a population of about nine hundred thousand people. An additional two million people live in the surrounding area.
Saratov was founded in 1590. The name of the city comes from the Tatar word Sary-Tau (Yellow mountain). During its 400 year history Saratov has served as the crossroads for many historical events and outstanding people. In the late 19th century Saratov became a regional center for industry, trade, and culture. By that time, Saratov had become famous for its agricultural products, fishing and salt industries, as well as for manufacturing and metal processing.
