Petrozavodsk, city in northwestern Russia. Petrozavodsk is the administrative center of Karelia, an autonomous republic in the Russian Federation. The city is located on the western shore of Lake Onega in a region of iron ore and timber resources. Machinery, furniture, and paper are produced here. The city is the site of Petrozavodsk State University (founded in 1940) and a branch of the Academy of Sciences. Petrozavodsk, which means “Peter's Factory” in English, was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as a gun factory. In 1777 it became the town of Petrozavodsk. Population (1995) 325,082.
