Simferopol is the Crimean center of science, culture and industry and is located on the banks of the Salhyr River at the foot of the Chathyr-Dag massif. Simferopol was an important trade center in the 19^th century. It was the capital of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic from 1921 to1945, and has been the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea since 1991.