Tyumen, a city of 600 000 people, is located in Western Siberia, 1800 kilometers east of Moscow and behind the Ural Mountains. It is the capital of the Tyumen Region (Oblast), a region that has seen significant economic growth over the past twenty years. This growth has been fuelled by the discovery and exploitation of significant oil fields.
Currently the Tyumen Region produces 65 percent of Russia's oil and 87 percent of its gas. There are two northern autonomous districts (or okrugs), each larger than France, in the Tyumen region: Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous Okrug and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Tyumen is a walking city. There are two main streets in the center: Respubliki and Lenina. The friendly people here will be glad to help if you need directions.
Today's Tyumen is a city of contrast. Amongst wooden houses and old churches you will see the modern glass buildings of The World Trade Center and the Law Department of Tyumen State University as well as typical Soviet style neighborhoods with multistory apartment buildings. Cultural life is supported by the theaters, several cinemas, museums, which will catch your attention. Tyumen is also an educational center, with more than 40,000 students.