Rîbnița or Rybnitsa (Romanian: Rîbnița or Râbnița Romanian pronunciation: [ˈrɨbnit͡sa], Moldovan Cyrillic alphabet: Рыбница; Russian: Ры́бница, Rybnitsa; Ukrainian: Ри́бниця, Rybnytsia; Yiddish: ריבניצע, Ribnitse) is a town in Transnistria (de facto) in Moldova (de jure). According to the 2004 census, it has a population of 53,648. Rîbnița is situated in the northern half of Transnistria, on the left bank of the Dniester, and is separated from the river by a concrete dam. The town is the seat of the Rîbnița District.
Rîbnița
Rybnitsa | |
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![]() Rîbnița's skyline as view from over the Dniester river | |
![]() Flag ![]() Seal | |
Anthem: Hymn of Rîbnița | |
![]() ![]() Rîbnița Location of Rîbnița in Transnistria | |
Coordinates: 47°46′N 29°0′E | |
Country (de jure) | ![]() |
Country (de facto) | ![]() |
Founded | 1628 |
Government | |
• Head of the State Administration of the Rybnitsa Raion and the Rybnitsa City | Alla Demyanova[1] |
Population (2014) | |
• Total | 47,949 |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
Climate | Dfb |
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth 1628–1672
Ottoman Empire 1672–1699
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth 1699–1793
Russian Empire 1793–1917
Russian Republic 1917
Ukrainian People's Republic 1917–1919
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic 1919–1924
Moldavian Autonomous Oblast 1924
Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic 1924–1940
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic 1940–1941
Transnistria Governorate 1941–1944
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic 1944–1991
Transnistria (de facto; 1991–present);
Moldova (de jure; 1991–present)
Rîbnița was founded in 1628 as the Ruthenian village Rybnytsia, its name meaning "fishery" (from рꙑба, "fish"). As early as 1657, Rîbnița was mentioned in documents as an important town, at the time part of the Kingdom of Poland.[citation needed] Strong Western European influences can be seen in this formerly Polish town. In 1793, Rîbnița passed from Poland to Russia. On March 17, 1944, during World War II, the Nazis executed almost 400 prisoners, Soviet citizens at Rîbnița.[citation needed]
Rîbnița is home to Transnistria's largest[2][3] company, a steel plant which produces more than $500 million worth of exports a year and traditionally has accounted for between 40% to 50% of Transnistria's GDP.[citation needed] Other industries are also present in Rîbnița, including the oldest sugar plant in Transnistria (founded in 1898), an alcohol distillery, and a cement factory. The city has a large railway station and a river port, as well as a supermarket owned by Sheriff.
Central Rîbnița has tall buildings and an active city life. There is a popular park near the town reservoir, and many historical and architectural monuments in the town and its surrounding areas. The main street in the town is Victory Street.
In 1970, Rîbnița had a population of 32,400 people; in 1989 it had increased to 61,352. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria, the city had 53,648 inhabitants,[4] including 11,235 Moldovans, 24,898 Ukrainians, 11,738 Russians, 480 Poles, 328 Belarusians, 220 Bulgarians, 166 Jews, 106 Germans, 96 Gagauzians, 71 Armenians, 38 Roma, and 4245 others and non-declared.
Rîbnița has three places of worship located right next to each other; a Catholic church, an Orthodox church, and a synagogue.
FC Iskra-Stal Rîbnița is the city's professional football club, playing in the top Moldovan football league, the Divizia Națională.
Rîbnița is twinned with:
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1 In Transnistria. 2 Controlled by the Transnistrian authorities. 3 Also a municipality. 4 The seat of Dubăsari District is the commune of Cocieri (not a city). |
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