Yoshkar-Ola is the capital city of the Mari El Republic, Russia. Yoshkar-Ola means “red city” in Mari. Yoshkar-Ola was established as a military fortress in 1584, following the Russian conquest of the Mari region.

During the Soviet era, especially after World War II, the city was a regional industrial and transport center and grew to its current size.

Yoshkar-Ola is twinned with: France Bourges, France; United States Princeton, West Virginia, United States; Hungary Szombathely, Hungary.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org