? The Kotlas-Waterville Area Sister City Connection strives to develop friendship and understanding between residents of Greater Waterville and Kotlas, a city of 82,000 people in northwestern Russia.

? The first meeting between residents of the two cities occurred in 1989, when three Waterville-area residents journeyed to Kotlas.

? In 1990, the mayor of Kotlas led a four-person delegation to Waterville. During that visit, he signed a proclamation with Waterville’s mayor declaring Kotlas and Waterville sister cities.

? Since 1990, more than 800 children and adults have been matched with pen pals in Kotlas and nearly 60 Waterville-area residents have visited the sister city.