View source for Simferopol

{{short description|Second-largest city on the Crimean Peninsula}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=June 2023}}
{{missing information|Russo-Ukrainian war|date=February 2024}}
}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = 
| official_name      = Simferopol
| native_name        = {{ubl|{{native name|uk|Сімферополь}}|{{native name|ru|Симферополь}}|{{native name|crh|Aqmescit}}|{{native name|crh|Акъмесджит}}}}
| other_name         = 
| nickname           = {{lang|ru|Город пользы}}{{spaces|2}}{{in lang|ru}}<br />''The City of Usefulness''{{spaces|2}}(translation)
| translit_lang1     = [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Romanization of Ukrainian|National]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = Simferopol
| translit_lang1_type2 = [[ALA-LC romanization|ALA-LC]]
| translit_lang1_info2 = Simferopol′
| translit_lang1_type3 = [[BGN/PCGN romanization|BGN/PCGN]]
| translit_lang1_info3 = Simferopol’
| translit_lang1_type4 = [[Scientific transliteration of Cyrillic|Scholarly]]
| translit_lang1_info4 = Simferopol′
| settlement_type    = City
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image|total_width=280px|perrow=2/2/2/1|border=infobox
| image1                          = Simferopol 04-14 img27 train station square.jpg
| alt1                            = 
| image2                          = Simferopol 04-14 img20 MGorky Crimean Theatre.jpg
| alt2                            = 
| image3                          = Simferopol 04-14 img26 Botanical Garden.jpg
| alt3                            = 
| image4                          = 01-101-0175_вул._Курчатова,_4.JPG
| alt4                            = 
| image5                          = 2022. Троицкий собор DSC 2096.jpg
| alt5                            = 
| image6                          = Simferopol 04-14 img06 University.jpg
| alt6                            = 
| image7                          = Simferopol. Pedestrian street in the city center (Karl Marx St.).jpg
| alt7                            = 
}}
| image_caption      = The [[Simferopol railway station|railway station]], [[Crimean Academic Russian Drama Theater named after Maxim Gorky|Academic Drama Theater]], Salgirka Park, [[Kebir-Jami Mosque, Simferopol|Kebir-Jami]], Trinity Cathedral, the [[Crimea State Medical University named after S. I. Georgievsky|State Medical University]], Karl Marx Street
| image_flag         = Simferopol flag.svg
| image_shield       = COA Simferopol.svg
| shield_size        = 110px
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = Simferopol (red) on a map of Crimea.
| pushpin_map        = Ukraine#Ukraine Crimea
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{UKR}} (occupied by [[Russia]])
| subdivision_type1  = [[Autonomous republic]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea|Crimea]] (''de jure'')
| subdivision_type2  = [[Raions of Ukraine|Raion]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Simferopol Raion]] (''de jure'')
| subdivision_type3  = [[Federal subjects of Russia|Federal subject]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]] (''de facto'')
| subdivision_type4  = [[Municipality]]
| subdivision_name4  = [[Simferopol Municipality]] (''de facto'')
| parts_type         = 
| parts              = List
| p1                 = Zaliznychnyi District
| p2                 = Tsentralnyi District
| p3                 = Kyivskyi District
| government_footnotes = &nbsp;([[de facto]])
| leader_title       = Head
| leader_name        = [[Mikhail Afanasev]] (de facto)
| established_title  = Founded{{smallsup|2}}
| established_date   = 15{{smallsup|th}} century
| area_total_km2     = 107
| population_as_of   = 2014
| population_total   = 332,317
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 3183.17
| population_demonym = Simferopolitan
| timezone           = 
| utc_offset         = +3
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|57|7|N|34|6|8|E|region:UA|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 350
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 295000—295490
| area_code          = +7 3652
| blank_name         = [[Licence plate]]
| blank_info         = AK(UA) 82(Rus)<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:Для крымских автомобилистов приготовили новые номера|url=http://www.segodnya.ua/economics/avto/dlya-krymskih-avtomobilistov-prigotovili-novye-nomera-506797.html|website=[[Segodnya]]|access-date=6 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706143200/http://www.segodnya.ua/economics/avto/dlya-krymskih-avtomobilistov-prigotovili-novye-nomera-506797.html|archive-date=6 July 2015 |language=ru|date=2 April 2014}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Town twinning|Sister cities]]
| blank1_info        = [[Heidelberg]], [[Kecskemét]], [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]], [[Bursa]], [[Eskişehir]], [[Ruse, Bulgaria|Ruse]], [[Nizhny Novgorod]]
| website            = {{URL|simgov.ru/}} (Russian administration)
| module             = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=11 |height=250 |stroke-width=2 | {{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}
| footnotes          = {{smallsup|1}} [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262]]<br/>
{{smallsup|2}} Founded in 1784 as ''Simferopol'', a [[Russian Empire|Russian]] city. The settlement was previously known by the [[Crimean Tatar language|Crimean Tatar]] name ''Aqmescit''.
}}

'''Simferopol''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|s|ɪ|m|f|ə|ˈ|r|oʊ|p|əl}}), also known as '''Aqmescit''',{{efn|See {{slink||Etymologies}} for other names}} is the second-largest city on the [[Crimea|Crimean Peninsula]]. The city, along with the rest of Crimea, is internationally recognised as part of [[Ukraine]], but controlled by [[Russia]]. It is considered the capital of the [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]].

Since 2014 it has been under the ''de facto'' control of Russia, which [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexed Crimea]] that year and regards Simferopol as the capital of the [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Republic of Crimea]].

Simferopol is an important political, economic and transport hub of the peninsula, and serves as the administrative centre of both [[Simferopol Municipality]] and the surrounding [[Simferopol District]]. Its population was {{Crimea-census2014|332,317|punct=.}}

After the 1784 [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Empire|annexation]] of the [[Crimean Khanate]] by the [[Russian Empire]], the Russian empress decreed the foundation of a city named Simferopol on the location of the [[Crimean Tatars|Crimean Tatar]] town of [[Old Simferopol|Aqmescit]] ("White Mosque").

==Etymologies==
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2024}}
The name Simferopol ({{langx|uk|Сімферо́поль}} {{IPA|uk|sʲimfeˈrɔpɔlʲ||audio=Uk-Сімферополь.ogg}}; {{langx|ru|link=no|Симферо́поль}} {{IPA|ru|sʲɪmfʲɪˈropəlʲ|}}) comes from the Greek ''Sympheropoli'' ({{langx|el|Συμφερόπολη|Symferópoli|city of common good}}. The spelling '''Symferopil''' ({{langx|uk|Симферопіль}}) is also used.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uinp.gov.ua/istorychnyy-kalendar/kviten/22/1918-zvilnennya-krymu-vid-bilshovykiv|title=Map from 1918 showing the name "Symferopil"|website=uinp.gov.ua|access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref>

In [[Crimean Tatar language|Crimean Tatar]], the name of the city is ''Aqmescit'' (or in Cyrillic, {{crh||Акъмесджит|lit=The white mosque|lead=no}}, from ''Aq'' "white", and ''mescit'' "mosque"). But ''aq'' does not refer to the colour of the mosque, but rather to its location in cosmology. The Turkic peoples give a colour designation to the [[cardinal points]], and white is the west. Thus, the exact translation of the name of the town is "the Western Mosque."

In English, the name was often given as Akmechet or Ak-Mechet (e.g. in the 1911 ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'').<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Simferopol |volume= 25 | page = 122;see para 2 |quote= Afterwards the Tatar settlement of Ak-mechet..... |short= 1}}</ref> This was a transliteration from the Russian spelling of Crimean Tatar word Акмечет, Ак-Мечеть, where Mechet (Мечеть) is the Russian word for "mosque".

==History==
===Early history===
{{stack|[[File:Карло Боссоли. Симферополь.jpg|thumb|The city in 1856, by [[Carlo Bossoli]].]]}}

Archaeological evidence in the {{Interlanguage link|Chokurcha cave|ru|	Чокурча (пещера)|uk| Чокурча (печера)}} shows the presence of ancient people living in the territory of modern Simferopol. The [[Scythian Neapolis]], known by its Greek name, is also located in the city, which is the remnants of an ancient capital of the Crimean [[Scythian]]s who lived in the territory from the 3rd century BC to the 4th century AD.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9067842/Simferopol|title=Simferopol|access-date=2008-05-13|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica|Encyclopædia Britannica Online]]}}</ref>

Later, the [[Crimean Tatars]] founded the town of Aqmescit. For some time, Aqmescit was the residence of the [[Kalga (title)|Qalğa-Sultan]], the second most important position in the [[Crimean Khanate]] after the [[List of Crimean khans|Khan]] himself.<ref name="crimea-kvn">{{cite web|url=http://www.crimea-kvn.ru/cities/simferopol.html|title=Simferopol|access-date=2008-05-14|work=Vacation in Crimea|language=ru}}</ref> The area of the city once known as Aqmescit is today called [[Old Simferopol]].

===Russian Empire===
[[File:Ruins of a Greek Chapel and Monastery, upon the South Coast of the Crimea, near Derykêuy - Clarke Edward Daniel - 1810.jpg|thumb|Ruins of Greek chapel near Simferopol and [[Chatyr-Dag]], pictured in 1810]]
In 1784 modern Ukrainian{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} Simferopol was founded after the annexation of the [[Crimean Khanate]] to the [[Russian Empire]] by [[Catherine II of Russia]]. The name Simferopol is in [[Greek language|Greek]], Συμφερόπολις (''Simferopolis''){{citation needed|date=February 2024}}<!--It is mentioned above on the Etymology section in a different name in Greek, which is confusing and needed some explanation. Besides, should this sentence explaining the name be moved to the etymology section?--> and literally means "the city of usefulness." The tradition of Greek place names in newly acquired southern territories began with the [[Greek Plan]] of Russian Empress [[Catherine the Great]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Russian cities with Greek names|url=http://gazeta.sebastopol.ua/2006/07/20/vopros-otvet/|work=Sevastopolskaya gazeta|date=20 July 2006|access-date=2008-05-14|language=ru}}</ref> In 1802, Simferopol became the administrative centre of the [[Taurida Governorate]]. During the [[Crimean War]] of 1854–1856, the [[Russian Imperial Army]] reserves and a hospital were stationed in the city. After the war, more than 30,000 Russian soldiers were buried in the city's vicinity.

===20th-century wars===
In the 20th century, Simferopol was once again affected by wars and conflicts in the region. At the end of the [[Russian Civil War]], the headquarters of General [[Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel|Pyotr Wrangel]], leader of the anti-[[Bolshevik]] [[White movement|White Army]], were located there. On 13 November 1920, the [[Red Army]] captured the city and on 18 October 1921, Simferopol became the capital of the [[Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]].

[[File:TankT34.jpg|thumb|[[OT-34]], monument of World War II]]
During [[World War II]], Simferopol was occupied by [[Nazi Germany]] from 1 November 1941 to 13 April 1944. Retreating [[NKVD]] police shot a number of prisoners on 31 October 1941 in the NKVD building and the city's prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iccrimea.org/historical/crimeanturks.html|title=Complete Destruction of National Groups as Groups|access-date=2008-05-13|last=Kirimal|first=Edige|work=International Committee for Crimea}}</ref> Germans perpetrated one of the largest war-time massacres in Simferopol, killing in total over 22,000 locals—mostly [[Jews]], [[Russians]], [[Krymchaks]], and [[Romani people|Romani]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simferopol.ws/|title=Simferopol|access-date=2008-05-13|work=simferopol.ws|language=ru}}</ref> On one occasion, starting 9 December 1941, the [[Einsatzkommando|Einsatzkommando 11b]], which was under the command of [[Werner Braune]], whose main unit and superior were [[Einsatzgruppen|Einsatzgruppe D]] and [[Otto Ohlendorf]], respectively, command killed an estimated 14,300 Simferopol residents, mostly Jewish.<ref>Das Personenlexikon zum Dritten Reich. Wer war was vor und nach 1945. Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Zweite aktualisierte Auflage, Frankfurt am Main 2005, page 72</ref>

In April 1944 the Red Army liberated Simferopol. On 18 May 1944 the Crimean Tatar population of the city, along with the whole Crimean Tatar nation of Crimea, was [[Deportation of the Crimean Tatars|forcibly deported]] to Central Asia as [[collective punishment]] for the perceived collaboration of Tatars with Nazi Germany.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crimean Tatars and Russification|author=Mark A. Green| url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/crimean-tatars-and-russification| publisher=Wilson Center}}</ref>

===Ukraine===
On 26 April 1954, Simferopol, together with the rest of the [[Crimean Oblast]], was [[1954 transfer of Crimea|transferred]] from the [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic]] to the [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic]] by Soviet Premier [[Nikita Khrushchev]].

An [[asteroid]], discovered in 1970 by Soviet astronomer [[Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova]], is named after the city ([[2141 Simferopol]]).<ref>{{cite book|last=Schmadel|first=Lutz D.|title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names|pages=174|edition=5th|year=2003|publisher=Springer Verlag|location=New York City|isbn = 3-540-00238-3}}</ref>

Following a [[1991 Crimean sovereignty referendum|referendum on 20 January 1991]], the [[Crimean Oblast]] was upgraded to an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic on 12 February 1991 by the [[Verkhovna Rada|Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukrweekly.com/Archive/1991/499101.shtml |title=Day in history – 20 January |access-date=6 August 2007 |date=8 January 2006 |work=[[RIA Novosti]] |language=ru |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930034959/http://www.ukrweekly.com/Archive/1991/499101.shtml |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Simferopol became the capital of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

After the [[History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)|collapse of the Soviet Union]] in 1991, Simferopol became the capital of the [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]] within newly [[History of Ukraine#Independence|independent Ukraine]]. Today, the city has a population of 340,600 (2006) most of whom are ethnic Russians, with the rest being Ukrainian and [[Crimean Tatars|Crimean Tatar]] minorities.

After the Crimean Tatars were allowed to return from exile in the 1990s, several new Crimean Tatar suburbs were constructed, as many more Tatars returned to the city compared to number exiled in 1944. Land ownership between the current residents and returning Crimean Tatars is a major area of conflict today with the Tatars requesting the return of lands seized after their deportation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=106815|title=Tatars push to regain their historic lands in Crimea|access-date=2008-05-14|date=31 March 2006|work=Today's Zaman|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210216/http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=106815|archive-date=30 September 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Russian annexation===
{{update|section|date=February 2024}}
{{further|Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation}}
After Russia occupied and formally [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexed]] Crimea on 18 March 2014, Simferopol was named the capital of a new [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|federal subject]] of the [[Russian Federation]] encompassing the majority of the peninsula by decree of Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]], with the exception of [[Sevastopol]], which became a [[Federal cities of Russia|federal сity]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/russian-president-vladimir-putin-signs-laws-completing-annexation-of-crimea/a-17512613|title=Russian President Vladimir Putin signs laws completing annexation of Crimea|date=21 March 2014|access-date=8 September 2022|website=Deutsche Welle }}</ref>

Prior to the seizure of the city by Russia, a mass protest was organised by the city's [[Crimean Tatars]] in support of Crimea remaining as part of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-26 |title=Russia puts military on high alert as Crimea protests leave one man dead |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/26/ukraine-new-leader-disbands-riot-police-crimea-separatism |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Simferopol Reservoir.jpg|thumb|The Simferopol Reservoir provides clean drinking water to the city.]]

===Location===
Simferopol is located in the south-central [[Crimean Peninsula]]. The city lies on the [[Salhir River]] near the artificial Simferopol Reservoir, which provides the city with clean drinking water. The Simferopol Reservoir's earth dam is the biggest in Europe.

===Climate===
The city experiences a [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfa''),<ref name = koppen>{{cite journal| last = Kottek | first = M.|author2=J. Grieser |author3=C. Beck |author4=B. Rudolf |author5=F. Rubel | title =World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated| journal =Meteorol. Z.| volume =15 | pages =259–263| url =http://www.schweizerbart.de/resources/downloads/paper_free/55034.pdf| doi =10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130| access-date = 11 December 2012| year =2006| issue = 3| bibcode = 2006MetZe..15..259K |issn = 0941-2948 }}</ref> near the boundary of the [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfa'').<ref name="koppen" /> The average temperature in January is {{convert|0.4|C|F|lk=on}} and {{convert|23|C|F|}} in July. The average rainfall is {{convert|501|mm|in}} per year, and there is a total of 2,529 hours of sunshine per year.
{{Weather box
|location = Simferopol (1991–2020, extremes 1886–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 20.8
| Feb record high C = 21.9
| Mar record high C = 28.7
| Apr record high C = 31.5
| May record high C = 34.2
| Jun record high C = 37.7
| Jul record high C = 39.3
| Aug record high C = 39.5
| Sep record high C = 37.2
| Oct record high C = 33.3
| Nov record high C = 28.0
| Dec record high C = 25.4
| year record high C = 39.5
| Jan high C = 4.1
| Feb high C = 5.5
| Mar high C = 10.2
| Apr high C = 16.3
| May high C = 21.9
| Jun high C = 26.5
| Jul high C = 29.8
| Aug high C = 29.7
| Sep high C = 24.0
| Oct high C = 17.5
| Nov high C = 11.1
| Dec high C = 6.1
| year high C = 16.9
| Jan mean C = 0.4
| Feb mean C = 1.1
| Mar mean C = 4.8
| Apr mean C = 10.2
| May mean C = 15.6
| Jun mean C = 20.2
| Jul mean C = 23.0
| Aug mean C = 22.8
| Sep mean C = 17.6
| Oct mean C = 11.8
| Nov mean C = 6.4
| Dec mean C = 2.4
| year mean C = 11.4
| Jan low C = -2.9
| Feb low C = -2.6
| Mar low C = 0.4
| Apr low C = 4.8
| May low C = 9.9
| Jun low C = 14.5
| Jul low C = 17.0
| Aug low C = 16.6
| Sep low C = 12.1
| Oct low C = 7.2
| Nov low C = 2.7
| Dec low C = -0.8
| year low C = 6.6
| Jan record low C = -26.0
| Feb record low C = -30.3
| Mar record low C = -18.4
| Apr record low C = -11.1
| May record low C = -8.4
| Jun record low C = 0.7
| Jul record low C = 3.6
| Aug record low C = 3.8
| Sep record low C = -5.1
| Oct record low C = -11.4
| Nov record low C = -21.7
| Dec record low C = -23.2
| year record low C = -30.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 42
| Feb precipitation mm = 34
| Mar precipitation mm = 36
| Apr precipitation mm = 33
| May precipitation mm = 40
| Jun precipitation mm = 58
| Jul precipitation mm = 39
| Aug precipitation mm = 47
| Sep precipitation mm = 40
| Oct precipitation mm = 45
| Nov precipitation mm = 44
| Dec precipitation mm = 43
| year precipitation mm = 501
| Jan snow depth cm = 1
| Feb snow depth cm = 2
| Mar snow depth cm = 1
| Apr snow depth cm = 0
| May snow depth cm = 0
| Jun snow depth cm = 0
| Jul snow depth cm = 0
| Aug snow depth cm = 0
| Sep snow depth cm = 0
| Oct snow depth cm = 0
| Nov snow depth cm = 0
| Dec snow depth cm = 1
| year snow depth cm = 2
| Jan rain days = 12
| Feb rain days = 11
| Mar rain days = 11
| Apr rain days = 11
| May rain days = 10
| Jun rain days = 11
| Jul rain days = 8
| Aug rain days = 7
| Sep rain days = 10
| Oct rain days = 11
| Nov rain days = 13
| Dec rain days = 14
| year rain days = 129
| Jan snow days = 11
| Feb snow days = 11
| Mar snow days = 7
| Apr snow days = 1
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 1
| Nov snow days = 4
| Dec snow days = 9
| year snow days = 44
| Jan humidity = 85.0
| Feb humidity = 80.5
| Mar humidity = 75.0
| Apr humidity = 69.0
| May humidity = 69.3
| Jun humidity = 67.3
| Jul humidity = 62.6
| Aug humidity = 62.3
| Sep humidity = 69.2
| Oct humidity = 75.8
| Nov humidity = 81.2
| Dec humidity = 84.2
| year humidity = 73.5
| Jan sun = 80.7
| Feb sun = 109.9
| Mar sun = 160.2
| Apr sun = 227.6
| May sun = 299.2
| Jun sun = 321.3
| Jul sun = 358.5
| Aug sun = 332.6
| Sep sun = 259.1
| Oct sun = 190.2
| Nov sun = 115.2
| Dec sun = 74.1
| year sun = 2528.6
|source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/33946.htm
| title = Climate Averages for Simferopol
| language = ru
| publisher = Weather and Climate (Погода и климат)
| access-date = 8 November 2021}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[NOAA]] (humidity and sun 1991–2020)<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250420124541/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/6.6/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Ukraine/CSV/Simferopol_33955.csv
| archive-date = 20 April 2025
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/6.6/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Ukraine/CSV/Simferopol_33955.csv
| title = Simferopol Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 20 April 2025}}</ref><ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/RussianFederation/CSV/Simferopol_33946.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020: Simferopol
| publisher = [[NCEI|National Centers for Environmental Information]]
| access-date = 17 July 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Politics and administrative divisions==
{{see also|Simferopol municipality}}
[[File:Simferopol_04-14_img19_K-Marx-Street.jpg|thumb|left|Simferopol's city centre]]
[[File:Simferopol 04-14 img28 train station square.jpg|thumb|The [[Crimean Trolleybus]] runs from Simferopol to [[Yalta]].]]

As the capital of Crimea, Simferopol houses its political structure including the [[Supreme Council of Crimea]] and the Council of Ministers. Simferopol is also the administrative centre of the [[Simferopol Raion]] ([[raion|district]]), but is directly subordinate to the Crimean authorities rather than to the district authorities housed in the city itself.

The city of Simferopol is administratively divided into three [[Urban districts of Ukraine|urban districts]] ([[Zaliznychnyi District, Simferopol|Zaliznychnyi]], [[Kyivskyi District, Simferopol|Kyivskyi]] and [[Tsentralnyi District, Simferopol|Tsentralnyi]]), four [[urban-type settlement]]s{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} ([[Ahrarne]], [[Aeroflotskyi]], [[Hresivskyi]], [[Komsomolske, Crimea|Komsomolske]]) and the village of Bitumne.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/pls/z7502/A005?rdat1=15.05.2008&rf7571=1186|title=City of Simferopol Autonomous Republic of Crimea|access-date=2008-05-14|work=[[Verkhovna Rada|Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine]]|language=uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220104841/http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/pls/z7502/A005?rdat1=15.05.2008&rf7571=1186|archive-date=20 February 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Viktor Ageev became city mayor on 11 November 2010 and was then elected chairman of the Simferopol City Council on 29 September 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://simgov.ru/governor/biografiya/|title=Биография|access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>

Igor Lukashyov was installed as the head of Simferopol City administration (i.e. local executive) after Russia annexed the region in 2014. He served in this position until his dismissal on 9 November 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-installed-head-of-crimea-s-capital-removed/29593046.html|title=Russia-Installed Head Of Crimea's Capital Removed|date=10 November 2018|via=www.rferl.org}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Simferopol has a [[Simferopol Railway station|major railway station]], which serves millions of tourists each year. In December 2014 Ukraine cut the railway line to Crimea at the border with mainland Ukraine ([[Kherson Oblast]]). Currently, the station serves only a [[Elektrichka|commuter (regional) passenger train]] and the Moscow – Simferopol train every day.

The city is also connected via the [[Simferopol International Airport]], which was constructed in 1936.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airport.crimea.ua/en/home.htm |title=Welcome to the International Airport "Simferopol" |access-date=2008-05-14 |work=[[Simferopol International Airport]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505040249/http://www.airport.crimea.ua/en/home.htm |archive-date=5 May 2008 }}</ref> [[Zavodske Airfield|Zavodskoye Airport]] is situated southwest of Simferopol.

The city has several main bus stations, with routes towards many cities, including [[Sevastopol]], [[Kerch]], [[Yalta]], and [[Yevpatoriya]]. The [[Crimean Trolleybus]] connects Simferopol to the city of [[Yalta]] on Crimean [[Black Sea]] coast. The line is the longest [[trolleybus]] line in the world with a total length of {{convert|86|km|mi}}<ref name="Crimea">{{cite web|url=http://www.blacksea-crimea.com/Places/trolleybuses.html|title=The longest trolleybus line in the world!|access-date=2008-05-14|work=blacksea-crimea.com|archive-date=3 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103162437/http://www.blacksea-crimea.com/Places/trolleybuses.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> (since 2014 again {{convert|96|km|mi}}).

The streets of Simferopol have a rare [[House numbering#Former Soviet Union|house numbering]] – the odd numbers are on the right side of the road, looking in the direction in which the numbers increase.

==Demographics==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2024}}
{{Historical populations|1897|49078|1926|88000|1939|142634|1959|187623|1970|249053|1979|301505|1989|343565|2001|343644|2014|332317|2021|340540|type=|footnote=Source: Census data}}At the last census in 2014, the population of Simferopol was 332,317, the highest of any city in the Republic of Crimea and second only to Sevastopol within the Crimean peninsula.

==Economy==
When it existed, [[Crimea Air]] had its head office on the grounds of [[Simferopol Airport]].<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. 27 March – 2 April 2001. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2001/2001%20-%201045.html?search=%22Air%20Ukraine%22 57].</ref> A new 19-gate terminal for the airport finished construction in 2018. The terminal was designed in the shape of a wave by [[Samoo Architects & Engineers]], after their successful bid as part of an international competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Новый терминал аэропорта Симферополь |url=https://gidcrima.ru/novyj-terminal-aehroporta-simferopol/ |website=Гид Крыма |access-date=22 March 2023|language=ru}}</ref>

===Industry===

Simferopol is home to a number of industrial plants, including the following:

* Fiolent (two locations), producer of power tools and other electrical systems
* Simferopol chemical industry plants
* PO Foton
* SEM SElktroMash SELMZ
* Plastotekhnika and else plastics related
* Santekhprom SSTP
* PEK PromElektroKontakt and PromSchitKontakt, ChPO Sfera IzmertelnPribor, SELTZ ElectroTechnical Plant
* Pnevmatika, other pneumatics tires etc. related industry
* Monolit SMZKon, TsSI Tavrida SKMKZ, Slava Truda SCMNG, SiMZ Motor Plants
* [[Chornomornaftogaz]]
* Digital Valley (Tsifrovaya Dolina): silicon industry, computers, wafers and microelectronics, it, other related. It will located (most likely) near the airport for convenience.

==Education==
The largest collection of higher education institutions in Crimea is located in Simferopol. Among them is the largest university in Simferopol and Crimea, the [[Taurida V.Vernadsky National University]], which was founded in 1917.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccssu.crimea.ua/eng/tnu_eng/|title=Main page|access-date=2008-07-30|work=Vernadskiy Tavricheskiy National University}}</ref> [[Crimea State Medical University named after S. I. Georgievsky]], also located in Simferopol, is one of the most prominent medical schools of Ukraine. The Crimean Medical University is situated on the plot, where in 1855 a nursery garden was planted by the founder of the Nikita Botanical Gardens Ch.Ch.Steven (1781–1863). In 1863–66 a school for girls was built here and in 1931 a medical institute was opened. On the same plot P.Krzhizhanovsky built a three-storey hostel for medical students after the design in 1934. The building with clear geometric masses was completed in 1938. A [[V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University|new federal university]] campus was opened 4 August 2014.

==Sports==
Simferopol is home to the football club [[FC TSK Simferopol]] which plays in the [[Crimean Premier League]]. It was formed as a Russian club in 2014, following the [[2014 Crimean Conflict]], to replace the Ukrainian club [[Tavriya Simferopol]] which had been the first winners of the [[Ukraine Premier League]], and also won the [[Ukrainian Cup]] in 2010.

==Houses of worship==
*[[Kebir-Jami Mosque, Simferopol]]
*{{ill|Holy Trinity Cathedral, Simferopol|ru|Троицкий собор (Симферополь)}}

==Notable people==
{{copy edit|section|date=February 2024}}
[[File:FM Alisa Melekhina L.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Alisa Melekhina]], 2014]]
[[File:Sakharov Prize 2018 laureate Oleg Sentsov receives his award (49127359156) cropped.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Oleg Sentsov]], 2018]]
*[[Max Alpert]] (1899–1980) a Soviet photographer, front-line work during WWII
*[[Andrei Abrikosov]] (1906–1973) a Soviet stage and film actor.
*[[Reşat Amet]] (1975–2014) a Crimean Tatar activist
*[[Yelyzaveta Bohutska]] (born 1964), Ukrainian politician ([[Servant of the People]]) and [[9th Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada|current member of parliament]]
*[[Denis Bouriakov]] (born 1981), principal [[flautist]] of the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]]
*[[Rachel Devirys]] (1890–1983) French film actress, starred in some 50 films from 1916 to 1956.
*Nadia Volodymyrivna Dorofeeva, professionally known as [[Dorofeeva]] (born 1990), female vocalist of the pop duo [[Vremya i Steklo]]
*[[Roman Filippov]] (1936–1992) a Soviet theatre and film actor
*[[Viktor Grebennikov]] (1927–2001) scientist, naturalist, entomologist and paranormal researcher
*[[Adolph Joffe]] (1883–1927) Communist [[revolutionary]], Bolshevik politician and Soviet diplomat
*[[Sergey Karjakin]] (born 1990), [[Chess prodigy]] and [[International Grandmaster|grandmaster]] at age 12 years, 7 months
*[[Pavlo Kazarin]] (born 1983), Ukrainian journalist
*[[Serhiy Kokurin]] (1978–2014), Ukrainian military officer and the first soldier killed in the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]]
*[[Olexandr Kolchenko]] (born 1989) a Ukrainian left-wing anarchist, ecologist and archaeologist
*[[Oleg Kotov]] (born 1965), Air Force colonel, 15 Soyuz flight commander and flight engineer
*[[Andrey Kozenko]] (born 1981), a Russian and former Ukrainian statesman and politician.
*[[Nicolai Ivanovich Kravchenko]] (1867–1941) a Russian battle painter, journalist and writer.
*[[Anna Kuliscioff]] (1857–1925) Russian born Italian feminist, anarchist and Marxist socialist militant.
*[[Zara Levina]] (1906–1976) a Soviet pianist and composer.
*[[Luke Voyno-Yasenetsky|Saint Luke of Simferopol]] (1877–1961), born ''Valentin Felixovich Voino-Yasenetsky'', Russian surgeon and Archbishop of Simferopol
*[[Musa Mamut]] (1931–1978) a deported Crimean Tatar who immolated himself in Crimea
*[[Yuri Manin]] (1937–2023) a Russian specialist in [[algebraic geometry|algebraic]] & [[diophantine geometry]]
*[[Alisa Melekhina]] (born 1991), chess master, attorney and classically trained ballerina
*[[Sergey Mergelyan]] (1928–2008), a Soviet Armenian mathematician and scientist
*[[Gennady Samokhin]] (born 1971) a Crimean [[speleologist]], holds the depth world record of [[cave diving]]
*[[Ilya Selvinsky]] (1899–1968) was a Soviet Jewish poet, dramatist, memoirist and essayist
*[[Andriy Senchenko]] (born 1959), a Ukrainian politician ([[Batkivshchyna]]) and former Deputy Prime Minister of Crimea
*[[Oleg Sentsov]] (born 1976) a Ukrainian filmmaker, writer and activist from Crimea.
*[[Valery Sigalevitch]] (born 1950), a Russian classical concert pianist, lives in [[La Rochelle]].
*[[Bob Sredersas]] (1910–1982) a Lithuanian-Australian art collector.
*[[Alexei Stepanov]] (1858–1923), a Russian genre painter, illustrator and art teacher.
*[[Evhen Tsybulenko]] (born 1972), Estonian professor of international law
*[[Georges Vitaly]] (1917–2007), French actor, theatre director and theatre manager.
*[[Evgenii Wulff]] (1885–1941) a Crimean Russian Soviet biologist, botanist and [[Biogeography|plant geographer]].
*[[Diana Tishchenko]] (born 1990), Ukrainian classical violinist
*[[Valeri F. Venda]] (born 1937), Russian psychologist, engineer, and designer

=== Sport ===
[[File:Yana Klochkova 2010 001.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Yana Klochkova]], 2010]]
*[[Gleb Bakshi]] (born 1995) boxer, bronze medallist at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].
*[[Lyudmila Blonska]] (born 1977), Ukrainian heptathlete, banned after 2 doping offences
*[[Serhiy Dotsenko]] (born 1979), boxer, silver medallist at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Andriy Hryvko]] (born 1983), a [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] cyclist who rides for [[Astana (cycling team)|Astana]]
*[[Daniil Khlusevich]] (born 2001), Russian international footballer who plays for [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]]
*[[Yana Klochkova]] (born 1982), a Ukrainian swimmer with five Olympic medals, four being gold
*[[Natalia Popova]] (born 1993) former figure skater, five-time Ukrainian national champion
*[[Hanna Rizatdinova]] (born 1993), Ukrainian individual rhythmic gymnast, bronze medallist at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Kateryna Serebrianska]] (born 1977), Ukrainian individual rhythmic gymnast, gold medallist at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Oleksandr Usyk]] (born 1987), Ukrainian heavyweight boxer, gold medallist at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]
*[[Anatoliy Zayayev]] (1931–2012), Ukrainian football player and coach

==International relations==

===Twin towns – Sister cities===

Simferopol is currently [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]], Oregon, United States (1986)
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Heidelberg]], Germany (1991)<ref name=twintown>{{cite web|url=http://www.heidelberg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1123765_l1/index.html|title=Twinning|publisher=City of Heidelberg|access-date=2009-11-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610082817/http://www.heidelberg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1123765_l1/index.html|archive-date=10 June 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Kecskemét]], [[Hungary]] (2006)
* {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Tepebaşı, Eskişehir|Tepebaşı]], [[Turkey]] (2007)
* {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Bursa]], [[Turkey]]
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Irkutsk]], Russia (2008)
* {{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow, Russia (2008)
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Novocherkassk]], Russia (2008)
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Omsk]], Russia (2008)
* {{flagicon|BUL}} [[Ruse, Bulgaria|Ruse]], Bulgaria (2008)
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Nizhny Novgorod]], Russia (2016)

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=yes|commonscat=yes|d=yes}}
*[http://simgov.ru/ Simferopol Government] Official website
*[http://www.yadvashem.org/untoldstories/database/index.asp?cid=646 The murder of the Jews of Simferopol] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026132520/https://www.yadvashem.org/untoldstories/database/index.asp?cid=646 |date=26 October 2021 }} during [[World War II]], at [[Yad Vashem]] website.
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Simferopol|short=x}}

{{Simferopol municipality}}
{{Subdivisions of Crimea}}
{{Administrative divisions of Ukraine}}
{{Catherinian pseudo-Hellenization}}
{{Cities in Ukraine}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Simferopol| ]]
[[Category:Simferopol Municipality]]
[[Category:Cities in Crimea]]
[[Category:Simferopolsky Uyezd]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1784]]
[[Category:Cities of regional significance in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Ukraine]]