21:16, 28 May 2003

Abinsk

Rayon (sector) centre in Krasnodar kray (region), 75 km south-west of Krasnodar. Located in the Kuban-Priazov Lowland. Railway station (Abinskaya) in the Krasnodar - Krymskaya line. Population (1992 est.) 30.6 thousand, (1979 est.) 25 thousand.

Arose as the Abinskoye fortification. A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky and other Decembrists served here; M.Y. Lermontov was here transiently in 1836.

City status since 1963. Agricultural centre (rice-growing, fruit-farming, horse-breeding). The city has enterprises of food-processing industry (a cannery, a dairy, etc.); production of building materials; an integrated woodworking plant; a clothes factory.

Petroleum, mineral building materials, etc. are produced near Abinsk. The environs of the city are rich in muddy springs; rock-climbing testing ground; dolmens, a site of Maeotae's ancient settlement with rich burial places (ornaments, pottery wares, arms, etc.).