kabardino-balkaria

The Kabardino-Balkar Republic or Kabardino-Balkaria (Russian: Кабарди́но-Балка́рская Респу́блика; Kabardian: Къэбэрдей-Балъкъэр Республикэ, Balkar: Къабарты-Малкъар Республика) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic), located in the northern Caucasus. The direct transliteration of the republic's name is Kabardino-Balkarskaya Respublika or Kabardino-Balkariya.

Geography

The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains, with plains in the northern part.

Area: 12,500 km².
Borders:

internal: Stavropol Krai (N/NE), North Ossetia-Alania (E/SE/S), Karachay-Cherkessia (W/NW)
international: Georgia (S/SW)

Highest point: Mount Elbrus (5,642 m).
Maximum N->S distance: 167 km.
Maximum E->W distance: 123 km.
Average elevation: no data

Time zone

Kabardino-Balkaria is located in the Moscow Time Zone (MSK/MSD). UTC offset is +0300 (MSK)/+0400 (MSD).

Rivers

Major rivers include:

Lakes

There are about 100 lakes in the republic, none of which are large. Most of the lakes (55) are located between the Baksan and Malka Rivers, with the largest lakes each having an area of no more than 0.01 km². Some of the lakes are:

Tserikkel Lake (with the area of 26,000 m²; 368 m deep)
Lower Goluboye Lake
Kel-Ketchen Lake (177 m deep)
Upper Goluboye Lake (18 m deep)
Sekretnoye Lake
Tambukanskoy Lake (area:1.77 km²; 1.5-2 m deep). This lake is partially located in Stavropol Krai.

Mountains

Mount Elbrus, the highest peak of the North Caucasus and Europe, is located in the republic. Other major mountains include:

Mount Dykhtau (5,402 m)
Mount Koshkhatau (5,151 m)
Mount Shkhara (5,068 m)
Pushkin Peak (5,033 m)
Mount Mizhergi (5,025 m)

Natural Resources

Republic's natural resources include molybdenum, tungsten ores, coal, and more.

Climate

The republic has continental type climate.

Average January temperature: -4°C (plains) to -12°C (mountains).
Average July temperature: +23°C (plains) to +4°C (mountains)
Average annual precipitation: 500-2,000 mm.

Administrative division

Main article: Administrative division of Kabardino-Balkaria

While Nalchik is the capital of the republic, Tyrnyauz serves as an administrative center for Balkaria.

Demographics

Kabardino-Balkaria consists of two ethnic territories, one predominantly of Kabardin (speakers of a Caucasian language) and the other predominantly Balkar (speakers of a Turkic language). There is also a significant Russian population. Kabardins make approx. 43% of the population, while Balkars make 8%, and Russians — 33%.

Population: 901,494 (2002)

Urban: 510,346 (56.6%)
Rural: 391,148 (43.4%)
Male: 422,720 (46.9%)
Female: 478,774 (53.1%)

Females per 1000 males: 1,133
Average age: 30.9 years

Urban: 32.4 years
Rural: 29.0 years
Male: 29.1 years
Female: 32.8 years

Number of households: 227,922 (with 891,783 people)

Urban: 144,872 (with 504,085 people)
Rural: 83,050 (with 387,698 people)

History

Mongol control: 1242 - 1295
Georgian control: 1295 - 1387
Timurid control: 1387 - 1405
Georgian control: 1405 - 1505
Persian control: 1502 - 1516
Ottoman control: 1516 - 1557

The Kabardian lands have been under Russian protectorate since 1557. In 1739 Kabardia became independent and in 1774 it became part of the Russian empire. Balkaria was annexed in 1827. On September 1, 1921, with the emergence of the Soviet Union, the territories were organized into the Kabardin Autonomous Oblast. The region's name was changed to the Kabardino-Balkar Autonomous Oblast the following year, and on December 5, 1936 it was elevated to the status of an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1944, Stalin accused the Balkars of collaborating with Nazi Germany and deported the entire population. The territory was renamed the Kabardin ASSR until 1957, when the Balkar population was allowed to return and its name was restored.