Barnaul (Russian: Барнау́л, IPA: [bərnɐˈul]) is the largest city and administrative centre of Altai Krai, Russia, located at the confluence of the Barnaulka and Ob Rivers in the West Siberian Plain.

Barnaul was founded by the wealthy Demidov family, who intended to develop the production of copper and silver, which continued after the factories were taken over by the Crown.

[11] Barnaul is located in the forest steppe zone of the West Siberian Plain, on the left bank of the Ob River, at its confluence with the Barnaulka.

The border with Kazakhstan is 345 km (210 mi) to the south, which makes Barnaul the closest major city to the Altai Mountains.

The area around the city has been inhabited by modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans, for hundreds of thousands of years.

[4] Chosen for its proximity to the mineral-rich Altai Mountains and its location on a major river, it was founded by the wealthy Demidov family.

Mary eventually immigrated to the United States, where she divorced Alexander in 1936 and later married Nicholas Zacharenko, from Ussuriysk, and had two daughters with him.

[citation needed] Over half of the light ammunition used by the Soviet Union in World War II is estimated to have been manufactured in Barnaul.

Leading industries include diesel and carbon processing; as well as production of heavy machinery, tyres, furniture and footwear.

The humid continental climate of Barnaul (Köppen Dfb) is defined by its geographical position at the southern end of the Siberian forest steppe: it is subject to long winters, with an average of −15.5 °C (4.1 °F) in January, but also enjoys a short warm season in the summer with an average temperature of 19.9 °C (67.8 °F) in July.