Coat of arms

Birobidzhan

Birobidzhan

Despite only being founded in 1931, Birobidzhan’s short history is nevertheless interesting and unique as the city was established to serve as the centre of a Jewish homeland within the borders of the USSR. Although today the Jewish community is small, there are still many signs of a Jewish presence in the city and most tourists come to Birobidzhan precisely because of this connection. If travelling via the Trans-Siberian Railway, you can visit the city as a stop off.


Basic facts
Name in Russian
Биробиджан
Name in Yiddish
ביראָבידזשאַן
Status
City-municipality and administrative centre of the Jewish Autonomous Region
Location
On the River Bira
Distance
190km west of Khabarovsk; 8,170km east of Moscow
Time Zone
Vladivostok Time (Moscow +7)
Population
79,791 people (2014)
Founded
1931
Official Website
http://www.biradm.ru/