Coat of arms of Nalchik

Nalchik (Karachay-Balkar and Russian: На́льчик; Kabardian: Налшык) is a city in the Caucasus region of southern Russia and capital of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic. It is located at 43°31′N 43°36′E. The city is situated at an altitude of 550 m in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. It covers an area of 131 km². Population: 274,974 (2002 Census). Image File history File links Coat_of_Arms_of_Nalchik. ... Image File history File links Coat_of_Arms_of_Nalchik. ... The Karachay-Balkar language (Къарачай-Малкъар /Qarachay-Malqar/) is a Turkic language of the Karachays and Balkars. ... The Kabardian language is closely related to the Adyghe language (see Adyghe), both members of the Northwest Caucasian language family, mainly spoken in Kabardino-Balkar Republic and Karachay-Cherkess Republic of Russia (the native territories) and in Turkey and the Middle East (the residence of the extensive post-war diaspora). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Caucasus Mountains. ... Capital Nalchik Area - total - % water Ranked 83rd - 12,500 km² - negligible Population - Total - Density Ranked 60th - est. ... The Caucasus Mountains are a mountain system between the Black and Caspian seas in the Caucasus region, usually considered the southeastern limit of Europe. ... Russian Census of 2002 (Russian: ) was the first census of Russian Federation carried out on October 9, 2002. ...

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 Balkar (малкъар /malqar/balqar) people are a Turkic people of the Caucasus region, the titular population of Kabardino-Balkaria. ... Kabarda, Kabard or Kabarid are simply alternative ways of referring to the Kabar people of the northern Caucasus more commonly known by the plural term Kabardin (or Kebertei as they term themselves). ... Anthem: God Save the Tsar! Russian Empire in 1914 Capital Saint Petersburg Language(s) Russian Government Monarchy Emperor  - 1721-1725 Peter the Great  - 1894-1917 Nicholas II History  - Established 22 October, 1721  - February Revolution 2 March, 1917 Area  - 1897 22,400,000 km2 8,648,688 sq mi Population  - 1897... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a series of political and social upheavals in Russia, involving first the overthrow of the tsarist autocracy, and then the overthrow of the liberal and moderate-socialist Provisional Government, resulting in the establishment of Soviet power under the control of the Bolshevik party. ... Oblast (Czech: oblast, Slovak: oblasÅ¥, Russian and Ukrainian: , Belarusian: , Bulgarian: о́бласт) refers to a subnational entity in some countries. ...

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". The Kabardian language is closely related to the Adyghe language (see Adyghe), both members of the Northwest Caucasian language family, mainly spoken in Kabardino-Balkar Republic and Karachay-Cherkess Republic of Russia (the native territories) and in Turkey and the Middle East (the residence of the extensive post-war diaspora). ... The Northwest Caucasian languages, also called Pontic or Abkhaz-Adyg/Circassian, are a group of languages spoken in Caucasian Russia, Turkey, Jordan, Kabardino-Balkaria (an autonomous republic in Russia) and Abkhazia ( de facto independent formally an autonomous republic in Georgia). ... The Karachay-Balkar language (Къарачай-Малкъар /Qarachay-Malqar/) is a Turkic language of the Karachays and Balkars. ... The Turkic languages constitute a language family of some thirty languages, spoken across a vast area from Eastern Europe to Siberia and Western China with an estimated 140 million native speakers and tens of millions of second-language speakers. ...

During World War II, Nalchik was occupied by Nazi Germany between 28 October 1942 to 3 January 1943. The city was heavily damaged during the conflict. Combatants Soviet Union1 Poland Germany1 Italy (to 1943) Romania Finland (to 1944) Hungary Commanders Aleksei Antonov Ivan Konev Rodion Malinovsky Kirill Meretskov Ivan Petrov Alexander Rodimtsev Konstantin Rokossovsky Pavel Rotmistrov Semyon Timoshenko Fyodor Tolbukhin Aleksandr Vasilevsky Nikolai Vatutin Kliment Voroshilov Andrei Yeremenko Matvei Zakharov Georgy Zhukov Fedor von Bock Ernst... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...

Nalchik was chosen the "second cleanest city of Russia" in 2003.

Economy and institutions

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). Balneology [from Latin balneum, bath + logy] is the science of baths or bathing, especially the study of the therapeutic use of mineral baths. ... Sanatório Heliantia A sanatorium refers to a medical facility for long-term illness, typically cholera or tuberculosis. ...

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

PFC Spartak Nalchik is a football club based in Nalchik, playing in the Russian Premier League. PFC Spartak Nalchik (Russian: Профессиональный футбольный клуб Спартак Нальчик) is a Russian football club based in Nalchik. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Russian Premier League is the top division of Russian football teams. ...

October 2005 attack on Nalchik

Main article: October 2005 Nalchik attack

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. Combatants Russian security forces Mostly local Islamic militants Commanders N/A Ilias Gorchkhanov (killed) Strength several thousand 80 - 300 Casualties at least 33 at least 41 The October 2005 Nalchik attack was a raid by a large group of militants on Nalchik, in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic of southern Russia... October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Notable Natives and Residents

• Yuri Temirkanov, orchestra conductor, born 1938.
• Dima Bilan, famous russian singer, born 1981

Yuri Khatuevich Temirkanov (born December 10, 1938) is a Russian conductor. ... Dima Bilan Dima Bilan (Russian: ; real name: Victor Belan) is a Russian pop artist. ...

External links

• (Russian) Official website of Kabardino-Balkaria (with Nalchik information)
• (Russian) Information about Nalchik.
• (Russian) Map of Nalchik.
• (Russian) Nalchik airport Information.
• (English) 1998 Stadium Incident—CNN News.

	Cities and towns in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic
	Capital: Nalchik Baksan | Chegem | Maysky | Nartkala | Prokhladny | Terek | Tyrnyauz Coat of Arms of Kabardino-Balkaria (from Estonian wiki) This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Capital Nalchik Area - total - % water Ranked 83rd - 12,500 km² - negligible Population - Total - Density Ranked 60th - est. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Baksan (Russian: ) is a town in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia, located 24 km north-west of Nalchik on the left bank of the Baksan River (Tereks basin) at . Population: 35,805 (2002 Census). ... Chegem (Russian: ) is a town in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia, located ten kilometers north of Nalchik at , at the elevation of about 1,900 m. ... Maysky (Russian: ) is a town in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia, located some 40 km north-east of Nalchik at . Population: 27,037 (2002 Census). ... Nartkala (Russian: ) is a town in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia, located 25 km north-east of Nalchik at . Population: 33,775 (2002 Census). ... Tyrnyauz is situated on the main road leading to the Upper Baksan valley area and on the main climbing route for Mt. ...