Yoshkar-Ola

 city, capital city of state/province/region

Yoshkar-Ola (Mari and Russian: Йошкар-Ола) is the capital city of Mari El, Russia. Yoshkar-Ola means “red city” in Mari and was formerly known as Tsareovokokshaysk (Царевококшайск) before 1919, as Krasnokokshaysk (Краснококшайск) between 1919 and 1927 both after the Malaya Kokshaga River and Charla (Чарла), by the Mari people. Population: 248,782 (2010 Census).
Yoshkar-Ola was established as a military fortress in 1584, following the Russian conquest of the Mari region. Yoshkar-Ola means “red city” in Mari and before 1919 was known as Tsaryovokokshaysk (Царевококшайск), between 1919 and 1927 also as Krasnokokshaysk (Краснококшайск) both after the Malaya Kokshaga River and is known as Charla (Чарла) amongst the Mari people. During the Soviet era, especially after World War II, the city was a regional industrial and transport center and grew to its current size.