Kerch

Kerch
/kerch/; Russ. /kyerddch/, n.
1. a seaport in E Crimea, in S Ukraine, on Kerch Strait. 157,000.
2. a strait connecting the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. 25 mi. (40 km) long.

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also spelled  Kerč , ancient (Greek)  Panticapaion , or (Latin)  Panticapaeum 

      city and seaport, Crimea republic, southern Ukraine, on the western shore of the Strait of Kerch at the head of a small bay. Founded in the 6th century BC by Miletan Greeks, it flourished as a trading centre, and in the 5th century it became the capital of the kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus (Bosporus, Kingdom of the). Abundant archaeological evidence of its wealth occurs in catacombs and burial mounds, notably the King's Mound. Later a part of the Roman Empire, Panticapaeum suffered severely from barbarian invasions and was devastated by the Huns (Hun) in AD 375. After a checkered history, it was ceded by the Mongols to the Genoese (Genoa) in 1318. It was then known as Korchev (Italian: Cerco, or Cerchio), from which the present name was derived. In the 15th century Kerch passed to the Turks, who lost it to the Russians in 1774.

      Kerch was a transshipment point for cargoes entering the Sea of Azov. Its large iron-ore deposits were first exploited in the late 19th century; large quantities are shipped to the Donets Basin. The metallurgical works, dating from 1897, were destroyed in World War II, when the town was severely damaged. Later industries included ore sintering (compacting ore without melting it), the manufacture of cast-iron piping, and ship repair. Fishing and fish processing also have been important. Pop. (2001) 157,007; (2005 est.) 152,564.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • KERCH — (in antiquity, Panticapaeum), port at the eastern extremity of Crimea, Ukraine. A Jewish settlement appears to have existed on this spot during the period of the independent kingdom of Bosphorus (fifth century B.C.E.) but the earliest extant… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Kerch — [kerch] seaport in W Crimea, on a strait (Kerch Strait) connecting the Black Sea & the Sea of Azov: pop. 178,000 …   English World dictionary

  • Kerch — Infobox Settlement settlement type = city subdivision type = Country subdivision name = UKR subdivision type1 = Region subdivision name1 = Crimea timezone = EET utc offset = +2 timezone DST = EEST utc offset DST = +3 official name = Kerch native… …   Wikipedia

  • Kerch — Керч Kerch Bandera …   Wikipedia Español

  • Kerch — Original name in latin Kerch Name in other language Bospor, Bospora, Gorad Kerch, KERCH , KHC, Kerc, Kerce, Kerch, Kerch , Kerch’, Kerci, Kerco, Kercs, Kercz, Keric, Keritch, Keri Kertch, Kertj, Kerts, Kertsch, Kertsj, Kertx, Kert Ker Kero, Ker… …   Cities with a population over 1000 database

  • kerch — I. ˈkərch noun ( es) Etymology: Middle English kerche, short for kerchef : kerchief 1a II. ˈkerch adjective Usage: usually capitalized Etym …   Useful english dictionary

  • Kerch — Kertch Kertch Керч …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Kerch — noun A city on the Kerch Peninsula of eastern Crimea, on the shore of Kerch Strait; an important industrial, transport and tourist centre of Ukraine. Syn: Panticapaeum …   Wiktionary

  • Kerch — Kerç (Crimean Tatar, Azeri, Turkish), Kerch Керч (Ukrainian), Kerch Керчь (Russian), Kercz (Polish), Kerci (Romanian), Kertš (Finnish), Kertsch (German), Krč (older Croatian) …   Names of cities in different languages

  • Kerch — geographical name 1. peninsula S Ukraine projecting E from Crimea 2. city & port Ukraine in E Crimea on Kerch Strait population 178,000 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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