Vladikavkaz

Vladikavkaz (English)
Владикавказ (Russian)
Дзæуджыхъæу (Ossetic)
—  Inhabited locality  —
View of Vladikavkaz.jpg
View of Vladikavkaz and the city's main Mosque
Map of Russia - Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (2008-03).svg
Location of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in Russia
Vladikavkaz is located in North Ossetia-Alania
Vladikavkaz
Coordinates:
Coat of arms of Vladikavkaz.gif
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.

Contents

History

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]

Transport

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.

Sports

FC Alania Vladikavkaz is a football club based in Vladikavkaz, who won the Russian Premier League in 1995.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in the city (2002 data):

Religion

The city's population has Eastern Orthodox Christians and adherents of Islam.

Gallery

Remarkable structures

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.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Vladikavkaz is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_04_1.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-19. 
  2. The value of density was calculated automatically by dividing the 2002 Census population by the area specified in the infobox. Please note that this value may not be accurate as the area specified in the infobox does not necessarily correspond to the area of the entity proper or is reported for the same year as the Census (2002).
  3. "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved 2007-12-13. 
  4. "Europe | Southern Russia mayor gunned down". BBC News. 2008-11-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7749500.stm. Retrieved 2010-04-25. 
  5. "Itar-Tass". Itar-Tass. http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13437548&PageNum=0. Retrieved 2010-04-25.