Rostov-on-Don, the political, economical and cultural center of the South region of the Russian Federation, was founded in 1749 on the right bank of the Don River, in 65 kilometers from its inflow into the Azovskoye Sea. Soon after its foundation, Rostov was named the merchants` city as favorably located on the crossroads of the land and water roads. In the middle of the XIX-th century 15 thousand people lived in Rostov, and by the XX century the population increased to about 110 thousand people. In the 30-s it became one of the largest cities of the Soviet Union in population and in the level of economic development. During the Great Patriotic War Rostov was laid in ruins, the majority of buildings were burned, thousands of people were shot, exhausted or captivated. Rostov-on-Don was completely restored and became even more beautiful than before.