Russian city of Yaroslavl celebrates 1,000th anniversary

President Dmitry Medvedev will head a special committee on preparations for the Sept. 10-12 celebration in the city 250 km northeast of Moscow.

Local authorities have allocated money from the federal budget to repair some 900 houses, 50 historical monuments and streets prior to the celebration.

They also have renovated the famous Yaroslavl embankment, built two hotels and a new bridge over the Volga river that runs past the city.

Yaroslavl is world-known for distinguished people who lived and worked here, including the world's first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, poet Nikolay Nekrasov and Russian warlord Aleksandr Nevsky.

The city was founded by Russian Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who by legend killed a bear with his bare hands, in 1010. Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com