Omsk

[ Omsk] is a city in southwestern Sibera: 2,600 kilometres from Lahore, 2,700 kilometres from Moscow, 3,500 kilometres from Bucharest, 5,400 from Toyko, and fairly close to the modern Kazakhstan northern border - not quite the middle of nowhere, but doing a good job of it. It lies on the banks of the north-flowing Irtysh River, at its confluence with the Om. It was founded in the early 1700s, but due to its advantageous position for trade traffic, grew rapidly to be a significant city even relative to those further to the more easily-reached west. A substantial amount of this trade involves natural resources obtained from nearby lands.

Omsk has been called "The Gates of Siberia" It also has a strong Cossack history.

It celebrates its City Day on the first Saturday in August.