Nizhny Novgorod, the pearl of central Russia, was first mentioned in chronicles in 1221. Today it is not only the heart of the Nizhny Novgorod region, but the administrative center of the Volga Federal District. It is located at the confluence of the largest hands - Volga and Oka, which divide the city into two parts. It is home to more than three dozen lakes and 12 rivers. Nizhny Novgorod is the seventh most populous city in Russia and and is among the top 30 most populous cities in Europe.
