Novosibirsk began as a small town with a population of only 5,000 in the past. It had no modern transportation like trams, cars or buses, and people relied on horses. Residents wore fur coats to brave the extreme cold winters and lived in detached houses without modern conveniences. However, Novosibirsk was an early adopter of new infrastructure, building Siberia's first bridge and railway station. It has since grown into a major industrial and cultural center of Siberia with a modern skyline of high-rise buildings, theaters, museums and stores.

2. In the past
Novosibirsk was
not a big city. It
was a small
town. Its
population was
nearly 5
thousand.

3. There were no
trams, cars, bus
es in those
times . The
people used
horses when
they wanted to
get somewhere

4. The weather was
extremely cold in
winter that is why
people wore fur
coats.
Mostly, people
lived in detached
house. There were
no block of flats .
The houses did not
have any
conveniences.

5. But our city was the first
place where a new bridge
was built. At the
beginning of the 19th
century people built the
first railway station in
Siberia.
In the 20th century our
town became an
industrial and cultural
centre of Siberia.

6. Today Novosibirsk
is one of the biggest
cities in our country
with a lot of modern
buildings, cinemas,
theaters, museums,
shops and stores.