Saratov, the capital of its oblast, in European Russia(1), has less then 900 thousand in the city proper (2007) and more than 1.1 million in its metropolitan area (2002). It is located on the right bank of the Volga, with a bridge--one of Europe's longest--across to Engel's(2). Monuments include the neo-Gothic Conservatory, from the 19th century; the 17th century Troitskii cathedral; and the Utoli Moyya Pechali church, with its colorful domes.
(1) Strictly transliterated from Russian as Rossiya or Rossija.
(2) Formerly Pokrovsk.