Vladikavkaz (English) Владикавказ (Russian) Дзæуджыхъæу (Ossetic) |
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View of Vladikavkaz and the city's main Mosque |
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Location of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in Russia |
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Vladikavkaz
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Coordinates: | |
Holiday | First Sunday of July |
Administrative status | |
Country | Russia |
Federal subject | Republic of North Ossetia-Alania |
Capital of | Republic of North Ossetia-Alania |
Municipal status | |
Urban okrug | Vladikavkaz Urban Okrug |
Head | Sergey Dzantiyev |
Representative body | Assembly of Representatives |
Statistics | |
Area | 220 km2 (85 sq mi) |
Population (2002 Census) | 315,068 inhabitants[1] |
- Rank | 59th |
- Density | 1,432 /km2 (3,710 /sq mi)[2] |
Time zone | MSK/MSD (UTC+3/+4) |
Founded | May 6, 1784 |
Previous names | Ordzhonikidze (until 1944), Dzaudzhikau (until 1954), Ordzhonikidze (until 1990) |
Postal code(s) | 362000 |
Dialing code(s) | +7 8672 |
[http://vladikavkaz.osetia.ru/ Official website] |
Vladikavkaz (Russian: Владикавка́з, IPA: [vladʲikafˈkas], meaning Ruler of the Caucasus; Ossetic: Дзæуджыхъæу, [Dzæudjyqæu], meaning "Dzaug's settlement") is the capital city of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Russia. It is situated in the south-east of the republic at the foothills of the Caucasus mountains, situated on the Terek River. Its population mostly consists of Ossetians, Russians, Armenians and Georgians. Population: 315,068 (2002 Census);[1] 300,198 (1989 Census).[3] Vladikavkaz is one of the most populous cities in the northern Caucasus.
The city is an industrial and transportation center. Manufactures include processed zinc and lead, machinery, chemicals, clothing, and food products.
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The city was founded in 1784 as a fortress during the Russian conquest of the Caucasus and was for many years the main Russian military base in the region. The Georgian Military Highway, crossing the mountains, was constructed in 1799 to link the city with Georgia to the south, and in 1875 a railway was built to connect it to Rostov-on-Don and Baku in Azerbaijan. Vladikavkaz has become an important industrial centre for the region, with smelting, refining, chemicals and manufacturing industries.
From 1931 to 1944 and from 1954 to 1990 its name in both Russian and Ossetian languages was Ordzhonikidze (Орджоники́дзе) (after Sergo Ordzhonikidze, a Georgian Bolshevik), and from 1944 to 1954 it was officially called Dzaudzhikau (Дзауджика́у) in Russian and Dzæudjyqæu in Ossetic. Vladikavkaz resumed its old Russian name, in 1990, shortly before the disintegration of the Soviet Union; the official Ossetic name was reverted to Dzæudjyqæu.
Vladikavkaz was fought over in both the Russian Civil War and Second World War. In February 1919, the anti-Communist Volunteer Army under General Anton Ivanovich Denikin seized the city, before being expelled by the Red Army in March 1920. In November 1942, the forces of Nazi Germany tried unsuccessfully to seize the city but were repelled.
In 1999 and 2008 Vladikavkaz was a target of bombings.
On 26 November 2008, Vitaly Karayev, the mayor of Vladikavkaz was killed by an unknown gunman.[4] On 31 December, his successor, Kazbek Pagiyev, was also killed by unknown gunmen.[5]
The city is served by the bus network (marshrutkas). There are also tram (since 1904) and trolleybus (since 1977) networks. There is railway terminal (vokzal) in Vladikavkaz.
The city is served by the Airport Vladikavkaz located 15 kilometers (9 mi) from the city.
The Georgian Military Road, which is a part of European route E117, starts in Vladikavkaz and it connects the city with Transcaucasia.
FC Alania Vladikavkaz is a football club based in Vladikavkaz, who won the Russian Premier League in 1995.
Ethnic groups in the city (2002 data):
The city's population has Eastern Orthodox Christians and adherents of Islam.
A monument in Vladikavkaz |
Ossetian Church in Vladikavkaz |
Armenian Church |
New Church in Vladikavkaz |
City Mosque |
In Vladikavkaz, there is a 198 metres tall guyed TV mast built in 1961, which has 6 crossbars with gangways in 2 levels running from the mast structure to the guys.
Vladikavkaz is twinned with:
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