Karachay-Cherkess Republic. History of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Capital of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic

The Karachay-Cherkess Republic was formed in 1922 as Autonomous region, in 1991 it was transformed into the Karachay-Cherkess SSR as part of the RSFSR, since December 1992 it became known as the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

The region is located in the foothills of the northwestern Caucasus. In the west, the territory of the republic borders on Krasnodar Territory, in the north and northeast - with the Stavropol Territory, in the east - with Kabardino-Balkaria. In the south, the border with Georgia and Abkhazia runs along the Main Caucasian Range. It is part of the North Caucasian Federal District.

The climate in the republic is moderately warm - winter is short, summer is warm and long.

About 80% of the territory of the republic is occupied by mountains. In the northern part, the advanced ridges of the Greater Caucasus stretch, in the south, the Dividing and Lateral ridges of the Greater Caucasus stretch, reaching a height of up to 4 thousand meters. On the border with Kabardino-Balkaria is the highest peak of the Caucasus - Elbrus.

The Republic is rich water resources- there are about 130 high-mountain lakes of glacial origin, many mountain waterfalls, 172 small and big rivers. The system of the Great Stavropol Canal, which is a source of water supply for the Stavropol Territory, has been built and is operating.

Karachay-Cherkessia is an industrial and agrarian republic.
On the industrial complex The republic accounts for about a quarter of the GRP, 40% of the turnover of organizations of all types of activities.

The industry of the republic is represented by mining, manufacturing, chemical, food and clothing industries. 80% of the volume of industrial production is occupied by manufacturing industries.

In 2014, in the extraction of minerals, the production index amounted to 100.1% compared to the level of 2013. Exceeding the last year's level in 2014, enterprises operated by the type of activity "wood processing and production of wood products" (an increase of 40.7%), enterprises of chemical production (an increase of 6.8%), as well as enterprises producing food products, including drinks (growth by 0.9%).

Goods shipped own production, performed works and services by types economic activity"Mining", "Manufacturing" and "Production and distribution of electricity, gas and water" in the amount of over 35 billion rubles.

The basis of the real sector of the economy of the republic is more than 600 operating enterprises, the main activity of which is industrial production. Of these, 552 belong to manufacturing industries, 56 enterprises - to mining.

For the period January-September 2014, the volume of investments in fixed assets amounted to over 11.2 billion rubles. The physical volume index amounted to 107.7% compared to the same period last year.

The foreign trade turnover of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic for the nine months of 2014 amounted to about $400 million, of which the share of exports was $20.2 million, the share of imports was $349.2 million. The main counterparties in foreign economic activity are China, Taiwan, Turkey and Ukraine.

The Karachay-Cherkess Republic is an agrarian region. More than half of the population lives in countryside. For 80% of the rural population of the republic, agriculture is the only source of income.

More than 200 agricultural organizations operate in the agro-industrial complex of the republic various shapes property, 22 agroservice enterprises, 55 organizations of the food and processing industry, about 3.4 thousand peasant farms and more than 52 thousand personal subsidiary plots.

In terms of its natural and climatic conditions, Karachay-Cherkessia is a unique region Russian Federation, which has extensive summer mountain pastures with high nutritional value of alpine forbs. Fertile chernozems occupy 49% of the total structure of agricultural land.

Of paramount importance is the grain direction in crop production; the farms of the mountainous zone specialize in growing potatoes and vegetables.

Animal husbandry is traditionally developed in the republic. In this sector, farms specialize in dairy and meat production, sheep breeding and horse breeding.

Production volume Agriculture of all agricultural producers in 2014 amounted to 22.5 billion rubles.

The most famous greenhouse agricultural complex in the republic is Yuzhny, located near the city of Ust-Dzheguta. In 2014, the plant produced more than 33.4 thousand tons of vegetables per total amount 1.9 billion rubles. In 2015, it is planned to grow 36,000 tons of vegetables worth 2.45 billion rubles, which will account for 10% of all greenhouse products produced in the Russian Federation.

In 2014, there were more than 93 kilometers of gas networks in the region, the length of new gas networks in rural areas doubled compared to 2013.

In 2014, the Caucasus Mountain Astronomical Observatory of the Moscow state university named after M.V. Lomonosov, which will become the main base for practical work young astronomers and hold fundamental research using a 2.5 meter telescope. The new observatory requires a minimum of permanent staff and allows the telescope to be operated remotely.

On the territory of the republic there are specially protected natural areas federal significance: Teberdinsky state natural biosphere reserve, federal reserve "Dautsky", as well as part of the ecological resort region of the Russian Federation Caucasian Mineralnye Vody and part of the Caucasian state natural biosphere reserve.

In 2014, in Karachay-Cherkessia, the flow of tourists in relation to 2013 exceeded 700 thousand people. The number of guests of the republic has grown due to the commissioning of the hotel complex "Romantic" in the all-season mountain resort "Arkhyz". Every year, the number of vacationers at the high-mountain narzan spring Phiya is growing, where on an area of ​​200 square meters 17 mineral water springs come to the surface.

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Map of Karachay-Cherkessia with cities, districts and towns

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Karachay-Cherkessia - Wikipedia:

Date of formation of Karachay-Cherkessia: January 12, 1957
Population of Karachay-Cherkessia: 467 617 people
Telephone code of Karachay-Cherkessia: 878
Area of ​​Karachay-Cherkessia: 14,277 km²
Car code of Karachay-Cherkessia: 09

Districts of Karachay-Cherkessia:

Abazinsky, Adyge-Khablsky, Zelenchuksky, Karachaevsky, Malokarachaevsky, Nogai, Prikubansky, Urupsky, Ust-Dzhegutinsky, Khabezsky.

Cities of Karachay-Cherkessia - list of cities in alphabetical order:

City of Karachaevsk founded in 1927. The population of the city is 21040 people.
City of Teberda founded in 1868. The population of the city is 8680 people.
City of Ust-Dzheguta founded in 1861. The population of the city is 30438 people.
City of Cherkessk founded in 1825. The population of the city is 122478 people.

Karachay-Cherkess Republic- a region of Russia in the north-west of the Caucasus, the capital of which is the city Cherkessk, which appeared on the map in 1825. The national composition of the republic is very diverse: more than 80 nationalities live on the territory of the republic.

Climate of Karachay-Cherkessia very favorable, a distinctive feature of which is a long period of sunshine.

The main historical and architectural landmark of Karachay-Cherkessia is the Adiyukh settlement, where life existed from the 4th to the 12th centuries. Of the natural monuments, the most interesting and popular among tourists is the Teberdinsky Reserve, known for its wide variety of landscapes.

Sights of Karachay-Cherkessia: Mount Elbrus, Dzhegansskoe gorge, Sour springs of the Urup region, Temple of the Intercession Holy Mother of God in Cherkessk, Shoaninsky temple in Karachaevsky district, Sentinsky temple in Lower Teberda, Adiyuh Watchtower of Khabezsky district, Arkhyz Resort, Neptune Raftbaza, Dombai Resort, Honey Waterfalls, Park of Culture and Leisure "Green Island" in Cherkessk, Alibek waterfall , Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Southern Zelenchuk Temple, Cableway, Dombayskaya Polyana.

The Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in ancient times

In the 1st millennium BC. Scytho-Sarmatians (north) and Colchians (south) lived on the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia. In the IV-VIII centuries. Abkhazians settled in the valleys, and Alans settled in the mountain gorges of the Kuban. The Arkhyz settlement (X-XII centuries) is a monument of Alan culture.
In the IX-X centuries. the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia was part of the early feudal Alanian state, which had political and economic ties with Byzantium, the Khazars, and Georgians. By the X century. completed the formation of the Adyghe-Circassian people. In the XIII-XIV centuries. formed the Karachay people. The population was engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture.

The Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the XIV-XIX centuries.

From the 14th century the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia was constantly subjected to devastating raids from Crimean Tatars and Turk. In 1552, 1555 and 1557 three embassies were sent to Moscow, which established a political alliance with Russia. In 1790, on the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia, the Russian army, with the support of detachments of mountaineers, defeated the Turkish infantry corps. AT early XIX in. all Karachay-Cherkessia was included in the Russian Empire.
In the 1st half of the XIX century. the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia is annexed to Russia. The inclusion of the region in the general course of Russia's development broke the isolation of the subsistence economy, led to the disintegration of the community. In 1858-61. on the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia founded Cossack villages, which entered together with the villages of Karachay and Cherkessia into the Batalpashinsky district, later - a department of the Kuban region. Abolished in 1868 serfdom. In the post-reform period, mines and mines were opened, small enterprises Food Industry. The ties between the working people from the Russian settlers and local population which positively influenced the economy, life and culture of the peoples of Karachay and Cherkessia.

The Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the first half of the 20th century.

Since 1918, Soviet power has been established here. From April 1, 1918, the territory was part of the Kuban Soviet Republic, from May 28, 1918 - part of the Kuban-Black Sea Soviet Republic, from July 5, 1918 to December 1918 - part of the North Caucasian Soviet Republic, from January 20, 1921 - part of the Gorskaya Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
On January 12, 1922, the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region was formed as part of the South-Eastern (from 1924 - North Caucasian) Territory, with its center in the village of Batalpashinskaya (later renamed the city of Sulimov, Yezhovo-Cherkessk, and finally received the modern name of Cherkessk).
On April 26, 1926, by a decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the KChAO was divided into the Karachaev Autonomous Region, the Circassian National District, Batalpashinsky and Zelenchuksky districts.
In 1931, the Batalpashinsky district was abolished, and its territory was divided between Karachay, Cherkessia, Stavropol and Krasnodar region. The Karachay Autonomous Region was abolished in 1943, its territory was divided between the Stavropol, Krasnodar Territories and Georgia. The population, accused of collaborating with the German troops, was repressed and deported to Central Asia and Kazakhstan.

The Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia during the Great Patriotic War

A tragic page in the history of the people was the battle for the Caucasus (1942-1943) - one of the largest battles of the Great Patriotic War. The region became the scene of bloody battles between the Soviet troops and the Nazi invaders.
The battle for the Caucasus included a number of defensive and offensive operations Soviet troops from July 25, 1942 to October 9, 1943 between the river. Don and the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, is divided into defensive (until January 1943) and offensive period. The offensive of the Nazi troops began on July 25, 1942. Under the onslaught of superior enemy forces, the Soviet troops were forced to retreat to the south and south-east. direction. The North Caucasian Front (S.M. Budyonny, from May 1943 - Colonel General I.E. Petrov) and the Transcaucasian Front (General I.V. Tyulenev) were created. The troops retreated to the foothills of the western part of the Greater Caucasus. german army by September she reached Novorossiysk. Having met decisive resistance in the Grozny direction, the enemy regrouped troops and broke through to Nalchik, Ordzhonikidze, where he was stopped. The Nazis managed to overcome the GKH only in one place and temporarily gain a foothold on its southern side (in Abkhazia). Despite their climbing Elbrus and hoisting a flag with a swastika on the eastern peak, the Caucasus remained unconquered. In the river valley There were no hostilities in Myrda, while in the area of ​​​​the village of Khurzuk, Soviet units fought defensive battles. Fierce battles unfolded on the Military Sukhum road. Teberda was occupied, according to information, the truth of which is now disputed, the invaders shot a group of children who were being treated in a tuberculosis sanatorium. Partisan detachments operated on the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia. In August 1942 there were 14 partisans, the first secretaries of Karachaevsk and Cherkessk V.M. Romanchuk and G.M. Vorobyov. The main task of the partisans was to cut off the supply of the Nazi units fighting in the GKH from their supply bases. According to the headquarters of the partisan movement, the partisans have carried out 36 battles since August 1942, destroying 1,700 enemy soldiers. The losses of the partisans are estimated at 230 people. Active participation in the partisan movement did not save indigenous people Karachay-Cherkessia from repression. The defeat of the Nazi troops near Stalingrad turned into a general offensive of the Soviet troops on southbound. In the winter of 1943, part German troops withdrew to Taman, where she entrenched herself on the so-called. "Blue Line". Autumn 1943 Soviet troops the Novorossiysk-Taman operation was carried out (Colonel-General I.E. Petrov), during which Novorossiysk and the Taman Peninsula were liberated.

The Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the post-war years

In 1957, the Cherkess Autonomous Okrug was transformed into the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Okrug as part of the Stavropol Territory, where the Karachays were allowed to return.
On November 30, 1990, the KCHAO withdrew from the Stavropol Territory and was proclaimed the Karachay-Cherkess Soviet Socialist Republic (KChSSR) as part of the RSFSR, which was approved by a resolution of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR on July 3, 1991.
In 1991, there was a danger of the disintegration of Karachay-Cherkessia into five parts: the Republic of Karachay, Cherkessia, the Republic of Abaza, the Batalpashinsky Cossack Republic, the Zelenchuk-Urupsky Cossack Republic. In March 1992, a referendum was held, as a result of which the majority of the population voted for the preservation of the republic. However, in areas with a predominantly Cossack population, less than 1/3 of the population voted for the preservation of a single republic.

The settlement was founded in 1825 on the site of the former military fortification - the Batalpashinsky Cossack redoubt, which had this name since 1804 on the grounds that 14 years earlier, in September 1790, the army of the Turkish seraskir Batal was defeated here by the army of General Ivan German - Pasha.

The original name of the settlement - the village of Batalpashinskaya - is the rarest case when the settlement was named after the vanquished, and not the winner. Almost a quarter of a century later, the village was renamed the city of Batalpashinsk, and a year later, on June 16, 1922, by the Decree of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, Batalpashinsk was officially renamed the provincial city of the united Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region, becoming its administrative center.

In 1934, Batalpashinsk was transformed into the city of Sulimov in honor of the chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR D. Sulimov. Three years later, Sulimov was repressed, the city became known as Yezhovo-Cherkessk, in honor of the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs N. Yezhov. In 1939, Yezhov was arrested, and only the second part of the name, Cherkessk, remained outside the city, which has not changed since then. At the end of the thirties, the city opened the first large in Karachay-Cherkessia industrial enterprise- iron foundry workshop, now it is a refrigeration engineering plant.

During the Great Patriotic War, Cherkessk was occupied on August 11, 1942, and liberated on January 17, 1943. Hundreds of citizens voluntarily went to the front in the ranks of the cavalry corps of Generals Dovator, Oslikovsky, Kirichenko. During the period of occupation, the Circassian city and district partisan detachments were formed, which, as part of the partisan association, took upon themselves the first strikes of the selected regular units of the German Edelweiss division. In honor of the war heroes I. Lobodin, Kh. Bogatyrev, I. Laar, O. Kosaev, D. Starikov and others, the streets of the city are now named. The monument "Fire of Eternal Glory" in Victory Park, a monument to soldiers is dedicated to the memory of the defenders and liberators of Cherkessk Soviet army near the mass grave.

In 1956 it was developed general plan development of the city, according to which Cherkessk was conditionally divided into three microdistricts. Central, as the name implies, is the industrial, transport, administrative, economic and cultural center of the city, where the largest public buildings- republican and city administrations, the main post office, the Drama Theater and so on. The northern microdistrict is mainly industrial, and the southern one is the area of ​​new buildings and individual houses.

Since 1957, Cherkessk has been the center of the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region, and in 1991 it officially received the status of the capital of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

In 2001, the deputies of the City Duma, having considered more than thirty options, approved the coat of arms of Cherkessk, the author of which was the system administrator of the general department of the city administration Dmitry Kosarev.

The coat of arms is a red shield, at the top of which there are four square teeth - the memory of the fact that the village of Batalpashinskaya, on the site of which Cherkessk later appeared, was founded as a frontier designed to hold back enemies. In the center of the shield is a golden stele, a monument installed at the main entrance to the Green Island culture and recreation park and personifying the eternal friendship of peoples living together. Below - three blue stripes - three rivers flowing through the city: Kuban, Abazinka and Ovechka.

Modern Cherkessk is a developing city with a total area of ​​69.8 sq. kilometers with a population of 126.2 thousand people - representatives of more than 80 nationalities. Of these, five are subject-forming. These are Russians, Karachays, Circassians, Abaza and Nogais.

Cherkessk is connected with Nevinnomyssk by a railway line, and by roads with Krasnodar, Nevinnomyssk and Pyatigorsk.

Cherkessk occupies a leading position in the economic potential of Karachay-Cherkessia, it produces about 56% of the industrial output of the republic, 56% of the total area of ​​residential buildings is commissioned and more than 76% of the total turnover of the consumer market is formed.

About three thousand organizations and enterprises operate in the city. The most famous of them are the Derways automobile plant, the Mercury group of companies, the Circassian rubber plant technical products”, a wool processing and yarn production factory Quest-A LLC, Kholodmash OJSC, Kaskad OJSC, YUG-oil-PLAST LLC, Bumfa Group LLC, CJSC PTShF Ine, CJSC Visma ”, CJSC Aqualine, OJSC RAPP Kavkaz-Myaso, OJSC Yug-Moloko, LLC Khladokombinat, LLC Cherkesskhleb, Dakhanago Confectionery Factory.

The municipality system is made up of 21 preschool, 18 general education and 13 institutions additional education where more than 25 thousand children come every day.

City healthcare includes 6 municipal institutions, of which 5 provide medical care to the population and the Children's House is specialized - to provide medical and social assistance to children left without parental care.

In the spring of 2015, independent experts conducted a survey of citizens about living conditions in Cherkessk. About 250 residents of the republican center of various social groups and ages. More than two-thirds of citizens believe that Cherkessk is convenient for life, 74% of respondents are satisfied with the improvement of the city, 64% are satisfied with the work of public transport, more than half agree that the local authorities are doing a lot for the city.

Traces of human presence on the lands of present-day Karachay-Cherkessia date back to the Stone Age, to the Mousterian culture. Flint tools of that period were found at the mouth of the Ovechka River near Cherkessk. On the local land rich in ore deposits, as iron is developed, an original Upper Kuban culture is formed, similar to the famous Koban. Since that time, the tradition of making Circassian edged weapons and armor has begun, which has no equal in the world either in strength or in richness of decoration with carvings and inlays.
In the first millennium BC. e. Scythian-Sarmatians lived in the north of present-day Karachay-Cherkessia, and Colchians in the south. In the IV-VIII centuries. Abkhazians settled in the mountain valleys, and Alans settled in the mountain gorges of the Kuban. At the end of the first millennium A.D. e. the lands of Karachay-Cherkessia were part of the state of the Alans - nomadic Iranian-speaking tribes of Scythian-Sarmatian origin.
In 372, the Alans were defeated by the Huns, became involved in the process of the Great Migration of Nations and were forced to hide in the foothills of the Caucasus. Here they switched to a settled way of life, taking up agriculture and cattle breeding.
The Alans managed to overcome tribal differences and created an alliance of Alanian and local Caucasian tribes, which became the basis for the creation of an early feudal state in the Central Ciscaucasia, which lasted until the 13th century, when the Tatar-Mongol invasion began.
Alania failed to resist the hordes of nomads and by 1230 was defeated. The surviving Alans found refuge in the mountain gorges of the Central Caucasus and in Transcaucasia, where they assimilated with the local Caucasian population.
The territory of Karachay-Cherkessia was part of the Alanian state, and individual architectural monuments of that time have been preserved here: Zelenchuksky, Sentinsky, Shoaninsky Christian temples Arkhyz settlement X-XI centuries.
Since the invasion of the Tatar-Mongols, all local tribes began to be called Circassians. Starting from the XV century. they are waging a bloody struggle with the Crimean khans. As a result Russian-Turkish wars 18th century Kuban became the border of the Russian Empire. After the defeat of Turkey in the wars, according to the Russian-Turkish Peace of Adrianople in 1828, the territory of modern Karachay-Cherkessia became part of Russia as the Batalpashinsky department of the Kuban region.
After October revolution In 1917, a single North Caucasian Soviet Republic was created here. After graduation civil war, in 1922, the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region was established. In 1926, it was divided into the Karachay Autonomous Okrug and the Cherkess National Okrug (since 1928, the Cherkess Autonomous Okrug).
In 1942, during the Second World War, Cherkessk was captured Nazi German troops, fierce battles were fought in the mountains for the passes of the Main Caucasian Range, at an altitude of 4000 m, among glaciers and rocks. During the war, 15 immigrants from Karachay-Cherkessia became Heroes of the Soviet Union.
In 1943, the Karachaev Autonomous Okrug was liquidated, the population was forcibly evicted. The Stalinist leadership accused the Karachays of betrayal during the years of the German offensive in the Caucasus. In 1957, the united Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Okrug was created.
In 1992, a referendum was held, in which, according to official results, the majority of the population of Karachay-Cherkessia opposed the division. Since December 9, 1992, this land has been called the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.
The Teberdinsky Biosphere Reserve is located on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range. The reserve was founded in 1936 and covers an area of ​​85,000 hectares. Here is a mountainous relief, and the most high mountain Dombay-Ulgen (4042 m). Main river Teberda, in the valley of which
and traces of ancient glaciation. There are 151 lakes of glacial origin in the reserve, the largest of them is Blue Ullu-Murudzhinskoye Lake.
About 1100 species of plants grow on the territory of the reserve, of which 272 are endemic to the Caucasus, and 21 species are listed in the Red Book of Russia. 47 species of mammals live in the reserve, including the Caucasian deer, Caucasian brown bear, lynx, forest cat, stone marten, Caucasian weasel, and among the most valuable species - the Caucasian tur and chamois. 202 species of birds live here, including the hobby, snowcock, Caucasian big lentil. Trout is the most common fish.
environmental research and environmental education center of federal significance. In 1994, the reserve was awarded the Diploma of the Council of Europe, I degree. In 1997, the reserve received the status of a biosphere reserve, Karachay-Cherkessia is an agrarian and industrial republic. More developed in the north light industry, chemical production and animal husbandry, in the south - mining and woodworking industries. There are significant reserves of copper ore and various building materials: granite, marble of various colors, limestone and many types of clay.
For the economy of the republic great importance has tourism, especially given the mountainous nature of the area - mountaineering. This sport is practiced mainly in the south of the republic, where the main mountain resorts are concentrated: Dombay, Arkhyz, Teberda and others.
Arkhyz is a mountainous region in the upper reaches of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River (by the name of the Karachay aul, in the past - the Arkhyz settlement). In the X-XI centuries. The Lower Arkhyz settlement was an outpost of Byzantine influence in the North Caucasus. To date, large Christian churches of medieval Alanya have been preserved. A part of the Great Silk Road passed through the gorge.
ski resort Dombay is located at an altitude of 1650 m, at the foot of the Main Caucasian Range in the Dombay glade, an intermountain basin at the foot of the northern slope of the Caucasian Range. Dombai glade is famous for its exceptionally clean air.
Transport communication on the territory of the republic is poorly developed.
This is explained as geographical features region, as well as the difficult political situation in the entire North Caucasus. So, Karachay-Cherkessia does not have its own airport, and the nearest one is in Mineralnye Vody(Stavropol region).
Karachay-Cherkessia is still one of the most unstable North Caucasian republics. There is a frequent change of power here, so far no solution has been found to long-standing conflicts on ethnic and religious grounds, which take on a particularly acute character during the presidential elections in the republic.

general information
Location: .
Official name: Karachay-Cherkess Republic within the Russian Federation. It is part of the North Caucasian Federal District.
Capital: Cherkessk - 121,439 people (2010).
Administrative division: 2 urban districts, 10 municipal districts; 144 settlements.
Languages: Russian, Karachai, Circassian, Abaza, Nogai, Ossetian.
Ethnic composition: Karachays - 38.5%, Russians (including Cossacks) - 33.6%, Circassians - 11.3%. Abazins - 7.4%, Nogais - 3.4%, others (Ossetians, Ukrainians, Armenians, Tatars, Chechens, Greeks, Azerbaijanis) - 5.8% (2002).
Religions: Islam, Christianity.
Currency unit: ruble.
The largest settlements: Cherkessk, Karachaevsk, Ust-Dzheguta, Teberda.
Major rivers: Kuban, Big and Small Zelenchuk, Urup, Laba.
Outer border: in the west with the Krasnodar Territory, in the north with the Stavropol Territory, in the east with the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, in the south - along the Main Caucasian Range - with Georgia, as well as with Abkhazia.
Numbers
Area: 14,277 km2.
Population: 478,517 (2010).
Population density: 33.5 people/km2.
Highest Peak: mountain (5642 m).
Economy
Industry: chemical and petrochemical, food, woodworking, coal, mining.
Agriculture: crop production (wheat, corn, millet, barley, sunflower, sugar beet, horticulture), animal husbandry.
Service sector: mountain tourism, balneological
Climate and weather
Continental, temperate; winter is short, summer is warm, long and humid.
January average temperature: from -5ºС in the north to -10ºС in the south (in the highlands).
July average temperature: from +21ºС in the north to +8ºС in the south.
Average annual rainfall: from 550 mm in the plains to 2500 mm in the mountains.
Relative humidity: 65-70%.
Attractions
■ Teberdinsky Nature Reserve;
■ Mountainous area Arkhyz;
■ Ski resort Dombay: Dombay glade, Belalakaya (Striped rock);
■ Mount Elbrus;
■ Polovtsian statue "Bowl Holder" (right bank of the Big Zelenchuk);
■ Religious buildings: Sentinsky temple ( south of the city Karachaevsk, first half of the 10th century), Shoaninsky temple ( north of the city Karachaevsk, first half of the 10th century), Zelenchuksky, or Nizhne-Arkhyesk, temples (gorge of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River, 10th century);
■ Nizhniy Arkhyz settlement (Arkhyz settlement) (settlement Nizhniy Arkhyz, X-XII centuries);
■ Gumbashi Pass (Upper Mara);
■ Monument to Kurman-Ali Kurdzhiev (city of Karachaevsk);
■ Museum of tourism and mountaineering (Teberda city).
Curious facts
■ The coat of arms of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic was adopted on February 3, 1994, it has round shape, in the center of the composition - a stylized silhouette of Elbrus.
■ Karachay breed horses have evolved over many centuries. Horses are adapted to life in the mountains, they easily move along the mountains and rocks. In 1998-1999 These horses were used for the first ever equestrian expeditions to Elbrus.
■ Mount Elbrus wears different names at different peoples: Mingitau (Karachai-Balkar), Elburus (Nogai), Ashartau (Kumyk), Jin-Padishah (Turkic), Albar (Iranian), Yalbuz (Georgian), Oshkhamakho (Kabardian), Shat-mountain (Old Russian).
■ Circassian coat - upper men's clothing, common among many peoples of the Caucasus and borrowed by the Terek and Kuban Cossacks. A distinctive feature of the Circassian is gazyri - special pockets for pencil cases. The pencil case contained a charge of gunpowder and a bullet to load a flintlock or matchlock gun at a gallop. In the extreme pencil cases, located almost under the armpits, they kept dry chips for kindling.
■ Alibek waterfall - one of the largest waterfalls in Dombai, over 25 m high. Appeared in the 20th century. In the 1930s, there was no waterfall, and the rocky ledge was covered with the tongue of the Alibek glacier, which retreats a meter and a half every year.
■ The Sukhum military road, known in ancient times as the Turkish trail, connects the city of Cherkessk through the Klukhor Pass (2781 m) and the Kodori Gorge with the capital of Abkhazia - Sukhum and is the shortest route from Caucasus mountains to the Black Sea.