Maykop

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maykop (Russian: Майко́п; Adyghe: Мыекъуапэ) is a city in Russia, capital of the Republic of Adygea, located on the right bank of the Belaya River (Kuban's tributary), some 1,600 km south of Moscow. Population: 156,931 (2002 Census); 148,608 (1989 Census).

[edit] History

It was founded in 1857 as a Russian fortress in the lands of the Adyghe people. It served as an important strategic outpost during the Caucasian War in 1858–1863. It was granted town status in 1870.

The early Bronze Age Maykop culture has been named after the city after the discovery of a royal burial site there in 1897.

In 1911, oil deposits were discovered in the vicinity of Maykop.

Since 1936, Maykop is the administrative center of Adyghe Autonomous Oblast of the Soviet Union. Maykop was occupied by the Nazis from October 1942 to January 1943, when it was liberated by the Transcaucasian Front of the Red Army.

Since 1991, Maykop is the capital of the Republic of Adygea in the Russian Federation.

[edit] Education

Maykop is home to Adyghe State University and Maykop State Technological Institute. There are also several facilities of professional education in Maykop.