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Karachay-Cherkess Republic

Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Карачаево-Черкесская Республика (Russian)
Къарачай-Черкес Республика (Karachay-Balkar)
Къэрэшей-Шэрджэс Республикэ (Kabardian)
Къарашай-Шеркес Республикасы (Nogai)
—  Republic  —

Flag

Coat of arms
Anthem: State Anthem of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Coordinates: 43°55′N 41°47′E / 43.917°N 41.783°E / 43.917; 41.783Coordinates: 43°55′N 41°47′E / 43.917°N 41.783°E / 43.917; 41.783
Political status
Country Russia
Federal district North Caucasian
Economic region North Caucasus
Established July 3, 1991
Capital Cherkessk
Government (as of February 2015)
 • Head Rashid Temrezov
 • Legislature People's Assembly (Parliament)
Statistics
Area (as of the 2002 Census)
 • Total 14,100 km2 (5,400 sq mi)
Area rank 77th
Population (2010 Census)
 • Total 477,859
 • Rank 73rd
 • Density 33.89/km2 (87.8/sq mi)
 • Urban 43.4%
 • Rural 56.6%
Population (January 2014 est.)
 • Total 470,059
Time zone(s) MSK (UTC+03:00)
ISO 3166-2 RU-KC
License plates 09
Official languages RussianAbaza, Cherkess, Karachay, Nogai
Official website

The Karachay-Cherkess Republic (Russian: Карача́ево-Черке́сская Респу́блика, Karachayevo-Cherkesskaya Respublika; Karachay-Balkar: Къарачай-Черкес Республика; Kabardian: Къэрэшей-Шэрджэс Республикэ, Qărăşei-Şărdjăs Respublică), Nogai: Къарашай-Шеркес Республикасы, Qaraşay-Şerkes Respublikası; also called Karachay-Cherkessia (Karachay-Circassia) (Карача́ево-Черке́сия, Karachayevo-Cherkesiya) and the Karachay-Circassian Republic, is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus area of southern European Russia.

Karachay-Cherkessia is a landlocked republic, bordered by Krasnodar Krai to the west and northwest, Stavropol Krai to the northeast, Abkhazia to the west, Kabardino-Balkaria to the southeast and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti to the south. It covers mostly mountainous terrain. The republic has several distinct ethnic groups, and the government recognizes five official languages. The population in 2010 was just under half a million people.

The republic is located at the slopes of northwestern Caucasus and borders with Krasnodar Krai in the west and northwest, the Kabardino-Balkar Republic in the southeast, Georgia (including Abkhazia) in the south and west, and with Stavropol Krai in the northeast. It stretches for 140 kilometers (87 mi) from north to south and for 170 kilometers (110 mi) from east to west. Mountains cover 80% of the republic's territory; Mount Elbrus, which at 5,642 meters (18,510 ft) is the highest peak in Caucasus, is located on the republic's border with Kabardino-Balkaria. The republic is rich in water resources. A total of 172 rivers flow through its territory, with the largest one being the Kuban, Bolshoy Zelenchuk, Maly Zelenchuk, Urup, and Laba. There are about 130 mountain lakes of glacial origin and an abundance of mineral springs. Climate is moderate, with short winters and long, warm, humid summers. The average January temperature is −3.2 °C (26.2 °F), and the average July temperature is +20.6 °C (69.1 °F). Average annual precipitation varies from 550 millimeters (22 in) in the plains to 2,500 millimeters (98 in) in the mountains. Natural resources include gold, coal, clays, and more.


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