Naberezhnye Chelny (Набережные Челны)

Naberezhnye Chelny is the second largest city in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. It is the administrative center of Tukayevsky District of Tatarstan. A major industrial center, Naberezhnye Chelny stands on the Kama River some 225 km east of Kazan. Population: 509,870 (2002 Census) It is reported to have been founded in 1172. It acquired town status on August 10, 1930, and was called Brezhnev (after Leonid Brezhnev) from 1982 to 1988.