Situated on the eastern side of the Ural mountains on the Iset river, Ekaterinburg is a surprisingly beautiful city. This Russian jewel is surrounded by the forests of the taiga and many small lakes which only add to its beauty. Winter here is long and cold, but this does not detract from the city?s appeal as Ekaterinburg is one of the biggest cultural centers in Russia. This means it has many museums, theaters and cinemas which help take the chill out of even the coldest winter day. Ekaterinburg is also the biggest Russian industrial center and it sees a lot of international business and tourists. Ekaterinburg is also known as Yekaterinburg.