Nalchik

Nalchik (Russian: На́льчик) is a city in Russia, capital of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic. Geographical location 43°31′ N 43°36′ E.

While native population settled on the territory of the modern-day Nalchik as far back as 1743, it was not until 1822 that the Russian fort of Nalchik was founded. A military settlement was added to the fort in 1838. A city status was granted to Nalchik in 1921, when it became an administrative center of 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 Balkar and Kabardian.

During the Great Patriotic War, from October 28, 1942 to January 3, 1943, Nalchik was occupied by Germans. The city was heavily damaged during that time.

The area of the city is 131 km². 2002 population—274,974 (without surrounding settlements).

Nalchik is a balneological and mountain climatotherapy resort. 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 Insitute of Arts
• Kabardino-Balkar State Agricultural Academy

External links

• Official website of Kabardino-Balkaria (with Nalchik information) (in Russian).
• Information about Nalchik (in Russian).
• Map of Nalchik (in Russian).
• Nalchik airport Information (in Russian).
• 1998 Stadium Incident—CNN News (in English).