The Northern Cemetery in Rostov-on-Don (Северное кладбище Ростова-на-Дону) is a cemetery in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The cemetery is the largest cemetery by area in the European part of Russia and is also one of the largest cemeteries in the whole of Europe.HistoryThe cemetery was established in 1972. It occupies an area of over 400 hectares and has more than 500,000 graves. It is quickly expanding: as of 2009, there were 355,034 graves on the area of 355 hectares. On its territory there also operates a crematorium, but the majority of the relatives of the dead prefer traditional burial ritual. Northern Cemetery is also a place for Holy Protection Church and a chapel, a columbarium, administrative buildings and some firms that are engaged in manufacture of gravestones.The cemetery is constantly expanding. In summer there can be up to 50 burials a day, and that makes a serious problem as there is not much free space left. Some experts say that in future more relatives of the deceased will have to resort to cremation.At 300 meters from the south-eastern tip of the cemetery there are situated "Auchan" and "Leroy-Merlin" shopping malls. In the south-western side of the cemetery (outside the fence) there is an illegal burial place for pets.Luxury quarters near the entrance to the cemetery is under constant video and guards surveillance who prevent from acts of vandalism and destruction of tombs and monuments.
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