Khanty-Mansiysk city guide. Introduction
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Город Ханты-Мансийск - туристический журнал. Вступление

Khanty-Mansiysk is to break all the stereotypes of northern cities. Known to many as hidden deep in Siberia, far far away, the city still can be reached by air, and it will take you just 2.5 hours to get there from Moscow. The administrative center of Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous okrug (KhMAO) is on the same latitude as Saint Petersburg is, and it’s definitely not the Arctic Circle. So Khanty-Mansiysk is not that far!
‘Winters there are harsh and long’ – say those loving warm climate. And they are right. But air humidity, much lower then in Moskow, Saint Petersburg, London or Stockholm, makes it feel warmer. So a little walk in crunching snow will just bring some color to your cheeks and hearten you!
Those still missing tropics are invited to take the plunge into thermal water of the indoor swimming pool, or relax under the glass dome of the water park, where special climate conditions are provided. No matter that it’s freezing hard outdoors, grab your swim trunks and Hawaiian shirts and have a tropical party under the palm trees! Sounds unbelievable? But it can become reality if you are in Khanty-Mansiysk!

The area first appears in Russian records in the 11th century. Nevertheless, Ugric people – Khanty and Mansi - are considered to inhabit this territory long before, as they moved from Ugra to the west, finally settling in the region of present-day Hungary and Finland, in the 9th century.
The Okrug was established in 1930 as the National District of the Ostyaks and Voguls with the center in a work settlement Ostyako-Vogulsk later renamed Khanty-Mansiysk.
People inhabiting the area today call themselves ‘ugorians’ considering this word much more comprehensible and capacious then confusing ‘Inhabitants of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug’. And ‘Ugra’ became not only a convenient and easy-to-remember name of the Okrug, but rather an original symbol, attractive to both inhabitants and their guests.
Ugra is located on the West Siberian Plain extending from west to east for 1,400 km, from the Ural Mountains along the Ob River. This territory has a shape that has been likened frequently to a bear looking towards boundless fields of Siberia and Far East.

This ecologically clear region with fresh and pure air is on the other hand one of the most economically developed areas of Russia. Moskow to Khanty-Mansiysk flights are always full with business travelers coming here regardless of weather and season. Contemporary airport, road network, convenient hotels of Khanty-Mansiysk are the reflection of Ugra’s ‘economic miracle’. Prosperity and success of people and companies were gained due to correctly organized painstaking work. And if you decided to hold a meeting or conference in Khanty-Mansiysk, such a background will just emphasize a unique company spirit and encourage you.

Today, when lots of companies look for an unusual location for corporate events and conferences Khanty-Mansiysk can provide creative and imaginative ideas and locate a venue to suit. Ugra offers an excellent environment for conferences, meetings and incentive events.

The region’s oil and gas industry provides economic and social stability. Local hospitals are equipped with the latest in comfort and conveniences. Cosy kindergartens and nursery schools with swimming pools work to develop children. The Art Gallery purchasing masterpieces of Aivazovsky and Briullov at the auction of Sotbis is an absolute must-see for painting lovers. You can enjoy the elegance of Vienna Coffee House or relax in contemporary spa-center.

Not long ago there were nothing but 2 storey wooden houses in the city, but newly redesigned Khanty-Mansiysk preserves individual features of the original architecture, such as day-modern Theater Center, Human and Nature Museum, The Okrug Art Gallery. All these buildings are grown as a symbol of prosperity and success of the region. A series of film and theater festivals, world celebrities shows Khanty-Mansiysk hosts today are the remarkable events not only by regional standards. Being a background of your corporate meeting this all gives you an experience not soon forgotten.

Traditional culture of Ugric peoples – Khanty and Mansi can bring a bit of extra spice to your event. The unique open-air Ethnographic museum is ready to become a fabulous event location. Introduce your staff to something new - visiting chums (tents) of reindeer herders, ethnic dining, reindeer racing, traditional northern music.

Finally, today Khanty-Mansiysk became a world-renowned sports capital of Western Siberia. The world-class biathlon trail system annually attracts hundreds of biathlon lovers. Ice Palace Main Arena is used for public skating, local hockey leagues, figure skating instructional sessions and much more, its ice surface can be converted to form a 2443, 8 sq m space to host trade shows, expositions, and special events.

The increasingly developing spa and wellness services offer health and beauty treatments with natural hot spring waters, deposited next to oil and gas fields.
Whether you are looking for spa resort, congress center, a unique ethnographic, cultural and sports area within Russia, you’ll find it all right here.
Combining all these features, Khanty-Mansiysk can become an ideal location for any imaginable event.