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There are a lot of settlements in the world, and they all have names. Their history is very interesting. Many towns, villages and villages are named after their founders. Often they are formed on behalf of a nearby river, or are dedicated to some key features of the area in which the settlement is being built.
The variety of names is amazing: beautiful, dissonant, complex and even offensive. This article will focus on the names of settlements, which not everyone can pronounce, but they can completely replace tongue twisters and other exercises for the development of speech.
Below is a ranking of the longest city names in the world (Russia is also included in this list).
10 Petrovsk-Zabaykalsky (Russia)
Russian city, located near the border with Buryatia. Date of foundation – 1789, until 1926 the city was called Petrovsky village. So ordered to call him Catherine II.
An iron foundry and an ironworks were built in the village. Mostly convicts and exiles lived here. Not only the Russian Decembrists were serving their sentences, but also the Italians, the French, participating in the uprisings.
1926 was a very significant year for the village, it was given the status of a city. Given a new name “Petrovsk”, added definition “Zabaikalsky”, because the city with that name existed in the Saratov region.
Now Petrovsk-Zabaykalsky – a small town, in terms of population it occupies 749th place out of 1113 cities in the country (at the beginning of 2018).
9. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russia)
The administrative center of the Kamchatka Territory. It is here that the base of the Pacific Fleet of Russia is located.
Quite an old town, it was founded in 1697. The Cossacks chose a place to store the tax, which they collected from the people in kind, and built a prison here.
43 years have passed, an expedition was sent here. The researchers were given the goal of making a map of the area and understanding whether large ships would be able to enter here. The ships on which the researchers arrived were named after Saints Peter and Paul, on the basis of which Vitus Bering decided to name the new settlement Peter and Paul jail.
October 6, 1740, when the ships of the expedition sailed, was recognized as the official date of the city’s birthday. Under Paul I, Kamchatka became a military outpost. In 1924, the new government ordered to give the port a new name. The city was named Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
8. Furstenfeldbruck (Germany)
The district center in Bavaria is located on the Amper River. In 1263, the Fürstennfeld Monastery was founded here.
The history of the city began in 1935, when it was officially recognized and given its original name. Derivatives of the name are two words “Fürstenfeld” “Bruck”, literally can be translated as “bridge over the prince’s fields”.
Now Fürstenfeldbruck is a modern developed city. The number of inhabitants is small, only 35 thousand. Despite this, the infrastructure is developed and, importantly, there are enterprises that produce products from various industries.
7. Truth or Consequences (США)
Sierra County seat. It was founded in 1884 when it was called Hot springsMeaning “Hot Springs”. A well-deserved name, there were 40 thermal springs on the territory of Hot Springs.
In 1950, it was renamed in honor of the popular broadcast. As a result of the advertising move, the city began to be called also as an entertainment show. Truth or Consequences (Truth or Consequences).
And now the townspeople are celebrating the date of the renaming, this is a celebration in honor of the host of the show, Ralph Edwards. The city is small, about 7 thousand inhabitants live here, but it is a real water-climatic paradise.
6. Freixo de Espada à Cinta (Portugal)
Settlement, seat of the municipality of Bragança County. This is a very old settlement, founded in 1152. Wine region of Portugal. It is not surprising that in the spring it looks like a fairy tale. Many flowering trees are pleasing to the eye, and their aroma is dizzying.
Sword Ash to Ribbon translated as “ash surrounded by a sword“. There are several versions explaining the origin of the name. According to one, the city was founded by the Portuguese king. He decided to rest under an ash tree and hung his sword on the tree.
5. Llanvir Pullwingill (England)
This town is located in Wales, Llanvair Pullgvingill is the official name. Quite long, translated into Russian means “Church of St. Mary, located in the thickets of white hazel».
Little is known about this settlement, it became famous thanks to its unusual name. In 1860, an unknown man came up with the original name to increase the influx of tourists.
Llan-fair-pwll-gwyn-gyll-go-ge-rych-wyrn-dro-bwll-llan-ty-si-lio-go-go-goch – this is how the new name of the village sounds. Yes, this is all about the same church, only now its location is specified by a few more signs (near the whirlpool and the Tisilio church, which is located next to the red cave).
The most popular attraction in Wales is the nameplate.
4. Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky (Russia)
The history of the name of the city is no different from other names of Russian settlements. The military post was founded during the reign of Alexander II in 1869. It was named after him – Alexander post.
This place was used to serve the sentence of criminals – convicts. The prisoners worked in logging and coal works.
In 1926, the government changed, and the city received a new name. Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, an adjective was added that specifies its location.
3. Santa Fe (USA)
The city is located in the state of New Mexico, is its administrative center. Santa Fe translated as “Holy Faith”, but this is only part of the name, because the full name is quite difficult to pronounce.
The Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís – Royal city of saints: Francis of Assisi and Faith.
The city has a rich history. The first mention of settlements date back to the XNUMXth century BC. e. The locality was called Ogapogi, several times the Spaniards tried to seize these lands, but they did not succeed. Subsequently, the city of Santa Fe was founded on the site of ancient settlements.
2. Los Angeles, USA)
It turns out that the usual Los Angeles also has a clever name. It is located in the USA.
In 1781 a small village called The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels on the Porciúncula River, translated from Spanish “Village of the Queen of the Angels of the Virgin Mary on the Porjunkula River“. In 1850 the village became a city.
Nowadays, everyone knows about the existence of Los Angeles. It is the largest city in California. Now they call it Los Angeles, and locals sometimes even abbreviate the name to two letters. LA.
1. Bangkok (Thailand)
The name of the capital of Thailand is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. It consists of two dozen words (more than 168 letters). The locals use the name Krung Thep.
The city was founded in 1782, it received the name Bang Kok, which means “wild plum village“. In 1767 the capital of Thailand was destroyed by enemies. It was decided to move it to the part where the village was located.
The official name of the city (in Russian transcription): Krun Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintarayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Nopparat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchanivet Mahasatan Amon Piman Avatan Satit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. Half of the meaning of the words from this name is lost. All these are various epithets and laudatory words in honor of Bangkok (the capital of the world, a city filled with abundance etc.).