Istra (Russian: И́стра) is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia founded in 1781 (former name - Voskresensk (Воскресе́нск), until 1930). It stands on the Istra River, 56 km west of Moscow, on the Moscow – Riga railway. Population: 33,652 (2002 Census).
Known since XVI century as Voskresenskoe village, it was later renamed to Voskresensk, which was a chief town of district. In 1930 the town was renamed to Istra, by the name of the river which flows through it. As a result of short-term occupation during the Great Patriotic War the town was severely damaged. After a war time Istra has become a center of researches in the area of power engineering.
New Jerusalem Monastery also known as the Voskresensky Monastery (Russian: Новоиерусалимский монастырь) is located in Istra.
Near Istra, there is at 55°55'26"N 36°49'10"E a large high voltage research center.
Notable people
Famous Russian short-story writer and playwright Anton Chekhov used to work in Istra and its outskirts.
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