Soledar


Soledar is a city in Bakhmut municipality, Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine.
The name of the town stands for 'gift of salt' both in Russian and Ukrainian.

History

During the second half of the 17th century, the Don Cossacks settled in the region of Donbass.
In 1881 the first salt mine was founded near the village and several years later others appeared.
In 1965 the settlement became town Karlo-Libknekhtovsk, named after Karl Liebknecht. In July 1991 it was renamed to Soledar.
In 1989, the population was 12,305.
In 2001, the population was 13,151.
Starting Mid-April 2014 pro-Russian separatists captured several towns in Donetsk Oblast; including Soledar. On 21 July 2014, Ukrainian forces reportedly secured the city from the pro-Russian separatists. On 2 August 2014 the identification team and OSCE observers dealing with the MH17 crash set up base in Soledar, because from there it was easier to get to the crash site.

Economy

The main enterprises of the city are related to mining and processing industries: is mining and processing rock salt and Knauf Gips Donbass.
The town has a major tourist attraction: the underground galleries and chambers of salt mines, which are also used extensively for speleo treatment of asthma and other lung diseases.

Transport

A railway station.

Demographics

Native language as of the Ukrainian Census of 2001: