Novorossiysk

Novorossiysk, seaport in the Krasnodar administrative territory (Russian Kray) of Russia, in the southwestern part of the country, about 320 km (200 mi) southwest of Rostov. Novorossiysk lies on the northeast coast of the Black Sea at the northwest end of the Caucasus Mountains. The city developed around a fort built in 1838 at the mouth of the Tsemes River. The development of Novorossiysk was enhanced by the building of a rail spur that linked the city with the northern Caucasus. The construction of its seaport, which became an important shipping center for grain exports, was also beneficial. Deposits of cement were discovered in 1879, which led to the establishment of a cement mill in 1881 that marked the beginning of the city’s industrialization. During World War II (1939-1945) the city was occupied by German troops for several months in 1942 and 1943 and suffered extensive damage. Population (1997 estimate) 204,000.