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Nalchik (Karachay-Balkar and ; Kabardian: Налшык) is a city in the Caucasus region of southern Russia and capital of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic. It is located at . 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).
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".
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. 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).
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.
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.
Notable Natives and Residents
- Yuri Temirkanov, orchestra conductor, born 1938.
External links
- Official website of Kabardino-Balkaria (with Nalchik information)
- Information about Nalchik.
- Map of Nalchik.
- Nalchik airport Information.
- 1998 Stadium Incident—CNN News.
Нальчик | Nalčik | Naltschik | Naltšik | Nalĉik | Naltchik | 날치크 | Naljčik | Nalchik | Налцык | Налчик | Naltsjik | ナリチク | Nalczyk | Nalcik | Нальчик | Naljčik | Naltšik
"Nalchik"