Stavropol

Stavropol is a city located in south-western Russia. The city is the administrative centre of Stavropol Krai. It is believed that there has been a settlement at the city's present site since at least the 16th century. It was granted city status by Catherine the Great in 1780, and later became the capital of the autonomous Komi oblast. It has retained its position as the Komi capital since that point, although a large influx of ethnic Russians in the 20th century has actually left the Komi in a minority there. The area of Russia in which Stavropol resides is very mountainous, placing the city in the midst of the Caucasus mountain range.