In 1628, Andrey Dubensky, along with 300 Cossaks found a favourable place for building a fortress on the tongue of land between the Katcha and the Yenisei rivers. The fortress was built to guard the south-eastern borders of the expanding Russian Empire collect tribute from the local nomadic tribes of tatars. It was named Krasny Yar (a steep bank of reddish colour) due to the description of its position; it was situated against the background of a high and steep bank of the Yenisei composed mainly of red clay.

Krasnoyarsk today is one of the biggest cultural, industrial and scientific centres of Eastern Siberia. It draws tourists and rock climbers from afar mainly to the "Stolby" State Nature Reserve.