What is Rostov-on-Don?
[[File:Rostov-on-Don, Panorama of Rostov-on-Don and Don River, Russia.jpg|thumb|Don River in Rostov-on-Don]] [[File:Sobor and Monument Dmitry Rostovsky Rostov on Don.jpg|thumb|right|Monument to [[Dmitry Rostovsky]] and [[Cathedral]] of Rostov on Don in the background.]] [[File:Coat of Arms of Rostov-on-Don.svg|right|90px]] [[File:Rostov-na-Donu flag.svg|thumb|right]] '''Rostov-on-Don''' ({{lang-rus|Ростов-на-Дону|r=Rostov-na-Donu|p=rɐˈstof nə dɐˈnu}}) is a [[city]] in the [[Europe]]an part of [[Russia]]. It is on the [[River Don]], about 46&nbsp;km before it flows into the [[Sea of Azov]]. The city is the [[Administration|administrative]] center of [[Rostov Oblast]] and the [[Southern Federal District]] of Russia. About 1 million people live in the city (as of 2002). == History == The mouth of the Don River has been very important since the ancient times. It has been important for [[culture|cultural]] reasons and for [[trade]]. The [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[colony]] ''Tanais'' was there, and also the [[Genoa|Genoese]] [[fortification|fort]] Tana. Later, the [[Ottoman Empire]] built a [[fortress]] there. This fortress was named [[Azov]]. Rostov-on-Don was founded in 1749. In that year, a customs house was built on the Don. Later, a large fortress followed. It was named after [[Saint]] [[Dimitry of Rostov]]. Dmitry of Rostov was a [[bishop]] from the old Northern town [[Rostov the Great]]. With the time, the importance of the fortress Asov became less and less. The settlement near the fortress became more important than the fortress. It was the [[commerce|commercial]] centre of the region. In 1796 this settlement received city rights and was renamed Rostov-on-Don. [[File:Rostov-on-Don, Soviets Square, Sovetov Square, Russia.jpg|thumb|right|The building of the administration of Rostov Oblast and the monument of the Red Army]] The Don River that the city is named afrer is a major [[ship]]ping lane. It connects southwestern Russia with regions to the north. Rostov-on-Don is an important river [[port]] both for pe