Nalchik
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| Nalchik (English) Нальчик (Russian) Налшык (Kabardian) Нальчик (Balkar) |
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  Location of Nalchik on the map of Russia
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| Coordinates 43°29′N 43°37′E / 43.483°N 43.617°ECoordinates: 43°29′N 43°37′E / 43.483°N 43.617°E |
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| Coat of Arms | |
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| City Day: September 1 | |
| Administrative status | |
| Federal subject In jurisdiction of Capital of |
Kabardino-Balkar Republic Kabardino-Balkar Republic Kabardino-Balkar Republic |
| Local self-government (as of March 2008) | |
| Charter | Charter of Nalchik |
| Municipal status | Urban okrug |
| Head | n/a |
| Representative Body | City Council of Local Self-Government |
| Area | |
| Area | 131 km² (50.6 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| 2002 Census - Rank - Density |
274,974 inhabitants 69th 2,099/km² (5,436.4/sq mi) |
| Events | |
| Founded | 1822 |
| Town status | 1921 |
| Other information | |
| Postal code | n/a |
| Dialing code | +7 8662 |
| Official website | |
| n/a | |
Nalchik (Russian: На́льчик; Kabardian: Налшык; Balkar: Нальчик) is a city in the Caucasus region of southern Russia and capital of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic. The city is situated at an altitude of 550 meters (1,804 ft) in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. It covers an area of 131 square kilometers (50.6 sq mi). Population: 274,974 (2002 Census);[1] 234,547 (1989 Census).[2]
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[edit] History
The territory of modern-day Nalchik was inhabited by native Balkars and Kabardians as far back as 1743, but the modern city dates from the early 19th century when the expanding Russian Empire built a fort there in 1818; this date is seen at the top of the city's coat of arms. A military settlement was founded on the site in 1838. Nalchik remained relatively unimportant until after the Russian Revolution of 1917, when it was given the status of a city in 1921. It was promoted to become the administrative center of the Kabardian autonomous oblast.
The city is named after the Nalchik River, on the shores of which it is located. The word "Nalchik" literally means "small horseshoe" in Kabardian (or Circassian, a Northwest Caucasian language) and Karachay-Balkar (a Turkic language). It is a diminutive of nal, the Turkic and Turkish word for "horseshoe" derived from Arabic (نعل) with the same meaning. [3]
During World War II, Nalchik was occupied by Nazi Germany and Romania[4] between 28 October 1942 to 3 January 1943. The city was heavily damaged during the conflict. Nalchik's Jewish population, mostly "mountain Jews," remained unharmed, as they were able to blend in easily with their neighbors.[5]
Nalchik was chosen the "second cleanest city of Russia" in 2003.
[edit] Ethnic groups
Population of the city include (2006 data):
- Kabardians (42.3%)
- Russians (28.3%)
- Balkars(Taulu) (15.2%)
- others (13.2%)
[edit] Economy and education
Nalchik is a balneological and mountain climatotherapy resort, with several sanatoriums. It also serves as an industrial center of the republic (non-ferrous metallurgy, light industry, construction materials manufacturing, machine building).
Nalchik is home to the following facilities of higher education:
- Kabardino-Balkar State University
- Kabardino-Balkar Institute of Business
- North Caucasian State Institute of Arts
- Kabardino-Balkar State Agricultural Academy
[edit] Sports
PFC Spartak Nalchik is a football club based in Nalchik, playing in the Russian Premier League. The 2008 World Women's Chess Championship has also been announced to be held in Nalchik, 28 August - 18 September 2008.
[edit] October 2005 attack on Nalchik
On October 13, 2005, buildings in Nalchik associated with the Russian security forces were attacked by a large group of armed men. At least 136 people were reported to have been killed in the fighting.
October 13, 2005 was a Thursday, and while the city was shut down for the most part on Friday, October 14, the market partially reopened on Saturday, and the city was 'up and running' to almost full capacity on the following Monday.
Although the Western press largely blamed this attack on the Chechens, it was actually a local group, Yarmuk Jamaat, composed of Kabardian and Balkar men who carried out the attack. The swell in security forces in and around Nalchik after these attacks was substantial.
[edit] Notable people
- Osman Mazukabzov, internet entrepreneur, creator of a variety of popular websites, including http://www.KavkazWeb.net, born 1976
- Yuri Temirkanov, orchestra conductor, born 1938
- Dima Bilan, famous Russian singer, born 1981
- Yefrem Amiramov, Poet, Musician, born in 1956
- Andrei Kolkoutine painter, born in 1957
- Katya Lel, Singer, born in 1974
- Andrey Lefler, Singer, born in 1987
- Arsen Shomakhov, bluesman
[edit] Climate
- Winter (January taken as an average): −4 °C (24.8 °F)
- Spring (April taken as an average): 8 °C (46.4 °F)
- Summer (July taken as an average): 23 °C (73.4 °F)
- Autumn (October taken as an average): 12 °C (53.6 °F)
[edit] Sister Cities
[edit] References
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved on 2008-07-25.
- ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg2.php. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
- ^ The Kabardino Balkar Republic, Russian Tourism Ministry [1]
- ^ The 3rd Army in the Caucasus - 1942
- ^ Amjad M. Jaimoukha, The Circassians: A Handbook (Palgrave, 2001).
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nalchik |
- (Russian) Official website of Kabardino-Balkaria (with Nalchik information)
- (Russian) Интернет-портал города Нальчик / Internet Portal of Nalchik
- (Russian) Map of Nalchik
- (Russian) Nalchik airport Information
- (English) 1998 Stadium Incident—CNN News
- (Russian) http://www.kavkazweb.net KavkazWeb.net — Daily news from Nalchik
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