Novosibirsk, formerly Novonikolayevsk, city, capital of Novosibirsk Oblast, in southern Siberia Russia, located on the Ob' River. Novosibirsk is the largest city and one of the chief industrial centers of Siberia. Manufactures include mining equipment, turbines, textiles, chemicals, and heavy machine tools. It is the seat of a university and a scientific research center and has opera and ballet companies. The city, founded in 1893 as a stop on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, received its current name in 1925. During World War II (1939-45) many industries were moved to Novosibirsk from the combat areas of European USSR. Population (1999 estimate) 1,402,100.
