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Kalmykia

Republic of Kalmykia
Республика Калмыкия (Russian)
Хальмг Таңһч (Kalmyk)
—  Republic  —

Flag

Coat of arms
Anthem: Khalmg Tanghchin chastr
Coordinates: 46°34′N 45°19′E / 46.567°N 45.317°E / 46.567; 45.317Coordinates: 46°34′N 45°19′E / 46.567°N 45.317°E / 46.567; 45.317
Political status
Country Russia
Federal district Southern
Economic region Volga
Established July 29, 1958
Capital Elista
Government (as of July 2014)
 • Head Alexey Orlov
 • Legislature People's Khural (Parliament)
Statistics
Area (as of the 2002 Census)
 • Total 76,100 km2 (29,400 sq mi)
Area rank 41st
Population (2010 Census)
 • Total 289,481
 • Rank 78th
 • Density 3.8/km2 (9.8/sq mi)
 • Urban 44.1%
 • Rural 55.9%
Population (January 2014 est.)
 • Total 282,021
Time zone(s) MSK (UTC+03:00)
ISO 3166-2 RU-KL
License plates 08
Official languages RussianKalmyk
Official website

The Republic of Kalmykia (Russian: Респу́блика Калмы́кия, tr. Respublika Kalmykiya; IPA: [rʲɪsˈpublʲɪkə kɐlˈmɨkʲɪjə]; Kalmyk: Хальмг Таңһч, Xaľmg Tañhç) is a province of Russia (a republic). As of the 2010 Census, its population was 289,481.

It is the only region in Europe where Buddhism is practiced by a plurality of the population. It has become well known as an international center for chess. Its former President, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, is the head of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The 33rd Chess Olympiad was held in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia.

The republic is located in the southwestern part of European Russia and borders, clockwise, with Volgograd Oblast in the northwest and north, Astrakhan Oblast in the north and east, the Republic of Dagestan in the south, Stavropol Krai in the southwest, and with Rostov Oblast in the west. It is washed by the Caspian Sea in the southeast.


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