The Russians call the mountain Magnitnaya or the Magnetic Mountain.
Stalin was impressed by the great progress the Americans had made in heavy industries.
Magnitogorsk was supposed to be a completely planned city.
During the first phase of construction as many as 250,000 skilled and unskilled workers were put to work.
Some 10,000 people died of hunger, cold and disease in the first five years of construction.
But the lack of infrastructure and shortage of skilled workers and equipment often resulted in poor quality job.
The site selected to build Magnitogorsk was also far from ideal.
By the mid-1970s Magnitogorsk was producing 15 million tons of crude steel and 12 million tons of rolled products.
In 2005, it smelted its 500-millionth ton of pig iron.
A monument commemorating Magnitogorsks contribution to the second world war.
Photo credit:nesiditsa.ru
Magnitogorsks astounding steel producing capacity can be smelled right in its air.
Like most industrial cities in Russia, Magnitogorsk is one of the most polluted.
Although still beating, Magnitogorsk is no longer the mighty steel heart it was during the days of communism.
In recent years, a lot of modernization has been done with a moderate amount of success.
Related:The Depressing Industrial City of Norilsk
Photo credit:nk-tv.net
A typical apartment block in Magnitogorsk.
Most of the population live in such housing.
Photo credit:Aleksandr Zykov/Flickr
Photo credit:nesiditsa.ru
Photo credit:www.verstov.info
Sources:The Guardian/Wikipedia/www.macalester.edu
