The history of Lugansk dates back to the 18th century: the of settlement of Stone Ford at the River Luhanks, the settlement of Vergunka, the construction of Lugansk iron foundry. The iron foundry manufactured cannons and cannon balls that were supplied to the Black Sea Navy and to the fortresses at the Black Sea coast. At first the town was built without any officially approved plan: the vertical streets were directed towards the river were called lines (like in St.Petersburg), the streets with horizontal direction had names. At the beginning of the 20th century the city showed itself as a large industrial center with its multinational traditions and a particular way of life. Lugansk is located at the edge of the Donets Plateau near the confluence of the River Luhanka and the Olkhovka, not far from the place where the Luhanka mouths into to the Seversky Donets. Considerable deposits of coal, clay, marl and sand are concentrated in the territorial borders of Lugansk. Lugansk has also a spring of mineral water that is used in balneology and contains chloride, sulfate, natrium. The city has a great scientific, technical and industrial potential. This potential is the basis for economical revival and development of Lugansk.