General Information

Nalchik is the administrative center of the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, one of the regions of Russia. The republic is situated in the European Russia, on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus. A health resort, it is the gateway to the Mt. Elbrus region.

The republic consists of 9 administrative districts. They are

·  Baksansky (administrative centre of the district is Baksan),

·  Zolsky (Zalukokuazhe),

·  Maysky (Maysky),

·  Prohladnensky (Prohladny),

·  Tersky (Terek),

·  Urvansky (Nartkala),

·  Chegemsky (Chegem-I),

·  Chereksky (Kashkhatau),

·  Elbrussky (Tyrnyauz)

·  and cities of Nalchik and Prohladny of republican subordination.

There are 101 village administrations, 7 urban settlements and 7 cities in the republic.

Kabardino-Balkaria Republic borders Georgia, Stavropol region, the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania, Karachay-Cherkess Republic and the Republic of Ingushetia. Its territory is 12.5 thousand square kilometres. The population is about 800 thousand people.

With a population of 237,100 people, Nalchik is a diversified industrial, tourist and mountaineering centre. Nalchik is located on the Nalchik River in a watershed of the Terek River.

City telephone code: +7 86622

Distance from Moscow: 1873 km

Climate

The climate of the region is temperate. The average annual temperature is +9 degrees C. The average temperature in January -5C, is the average temperature in July is +21C.

The landscape of the republic is diverse. There are mountains, foothills and plains. Half of the area is occupied by mountains. The city is a balneological and mountain resort.

History

The town of Nalchik was founded in 1817.

Prior to it, it was a small settlement. In 1743 a village was founded on the site where the city now stands. Later, in 1822, Nalchik fortress was built. In 1838 it evolved into a military settlement nearby the fortress.

In 1921 Nalchik received the status of a town.

Economy

 Kabardino-Balkarian Republic is one of the most attractive and economically developed centres in Southern Russia.

Natural resources of the republic include non-ferrous ores, petroleum and natural gas, various kinds of mining and chemical raw materials. More than 40 mineral deposits are exploited in the region. Some of them are absolutely unique.

Kabardino-Balkaria manufactures oil-extracting equipment, cables, diamond tools etc. These goods are in demand both at home and foreign markets. Chemical, petrochemical and mechanical engineering are also developing.

Favourable climate of Kabardino-Balkaria contribute to diversified agriculture. Plant-growing, gardening, beekeeping and fur trade play important role in the economy of the region. Wheat, sunflower, millet, hemp, vegetables and potato are grown.

Foreign economic relations play an important role in the economy of the republic. The major export items are artificial diamonds and tools, tungsten and molybdenum, oil-extracting, medical and wood-processing equipment, cable production, leather and agricultural production. Among the imported goods are equipment and machines, food products, grain cultures, medicines and various consumer goods.

Transportation

Motor, railway and air transport are developing rapidly.

Motor transport is perhaps the most important way of transportation as it links the region with nearby economically developed regions. Caucasia highway connects the republic with Rostov, Stavropol, Krasnodar, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Adygeya North Ossetia - Alania, Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Nalchik airport provides direct flights not only to Moscow and other regions of Russian Federation, but to Turkey, Syria, Jordan and United Arab Emirates as well.

Culture

Kabardino-Balkaria is Russian and international centre of tourism, mountain climbing and skiing. 14 tourist centres, 8 Alpine camps and 6 hotels function here.

The main places of interest in Nalchik are the Drama Theatre, the Musical Theatre, the Museum of Local Lore, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Nalchiksky Burial Ground (2nd century B.C.), the Agubekovskaya site (the beginning of the 3rd century B.C.) and the Dolinskoye Settlement (2nd century B.C.). There is a mountain resort in the outskirts of Nalchik in the Dolinsk district.

More than a hundred nationalities live in Kabardino-Balkaria. 49.2 percent of them are Kabardians; 9.6% are Balkars; 30.7% are Russians and 10.5% are representatives of other nationalities.

Kabardino-Balkarian republic has advanced system of education and science that includes 250 comprehensive schools, more than 300 pre-school establishments, 7 higher schools, 17 scientific research institutes and observatories. Kabardino-Balkarian State University with 15 faculties and 77 chairs is the leader among the higher schools of the republic. Kabardino-Balkarian Agricultural Academy, Northern Caucasus Institute of Arts and Nalchik Teacher Training College also enjoy popularity in the region.

The republic has large scientific potential of both fundamental and applied research of regional and nationwide importance.

 Hotels

Alpinist Hotel. Address: Pacheva str. 34. Phone: +7 86622 23026, 53011; +7 86622 53011.

Druzhba Hotel. Phone: +7 8662 499404.

Elbrus Hotel. Address: Dolinsk resort place. Phone: +7 86622 99454.

Gorny Rodnik. Phone: +7 8622 499674.

Grand Caucasus***. Address: Tarchokova Str., 2. Phone: +7 8662 400087., 477266. Fax: +7 8662 400087.

Grushevaya Roshcha Hotel. Phone: +7 8662 499479.

Intourist Hotel***. Address: Pirogova str., 8. Phone: +7 8662 720448. Fax: +7 8662 422310.

Kalmykova Hotel. Phone: +7 8662 441751.

Kirov Hotel. Phone: +7 8662 499123; +7 8662 420333.

Komsomolets Hotel. Phone: +7 8662 499772.

Nart Hotel. Address: Lermontov str., 2. Phone: +7 86622 99105, 99505, 99267.

Nartan Hotel. Phone: +7 86622 99505.

Oktyabr Hotel. Phone: +7 86622 99165.

Rossiya Hotel***. Address: Lenina Prospect, 32. Phone: +7 8662 775378, 775362, 775088; +7 8662 440470.

Terek Hotel. Phone: +7 86622 27474; +7 86622 74149.

Evgeniya Stroganova