IZHEVSK

also spelled Izevsk, city and capital of Udmurtia, in west-central Russia, lying along the Izh River. Izhevsk was founded in 1760 as a centre of ironworking and later of armaments, and the city remains a major producer of steel, armaments, machine tools, building machinery, and motorcycles. There is also a large automobile plant. Izhevsk's other industries include large-scale sawmilling and the processing of varied foodstuffs. Izhevsk is the cultural and educational centre of Udmurtia, with a scientific institute of the Udmurt language, literature, and history, as well as teacher-training, medical, mechanical, and agricultural institutes. Pop. (1994 est.) 552,800.