Dagestan

Lore & Background

The word Dagestan is of Turkic and Persian origin, directly translating to 'land of the mountains'. Some areas of Dagestan were known as Lekia, Avaria and Tarki at various times. Between 1860 and 1920, Dagestan was referred to as Dagestan Oblast. The current borders were created with the establishment of the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1921. During the Islamic conquests, the Dagestani people (region of Derbent) were the first people to become Muslims within current Russian territory, after the Arab conquest of the region in 643. In the 8th century Arabs repeatedly clashed with the Khazars. By the 15th century, Christianity had died away, leaving a 10th-century Church of Datuna as the sole monument to its existence.

Reader's Guide

The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains. It is the southernmost part of Russia and is bordered on its eastern side by the Caspian Sea. Area: 50300 km². Borders: internal: Kalmykia (N), Chechnya (W), and Stavropol Krai (NW); international: Azerbaijan (S), Georgia (SW); water: Caspian Sea (E). Highest point: Mount Bazardüzü/Bazardyuzyu: 4446 m. Maximum north–south distance: 400 km. Maximum east–west distance: 200 km. There are over 1,800 rivers in the republic. Major rivers include: Sulak River, Samur River, Terek River, Avar Koisu, Andi Koisu, Kazi-Kumukh Koisu. Dagestan has about 405 km of coastline on the Caspian Sea. Most of Dagestan is mountainous, with the Greater Caucasus Mountains covering the south. The highest point is the Bazardüzü/Bazardyuzyu peak at 4470 m, on the border with Azerbaijan. The southernmost point of Russia is located about seven kilometers southwest of the peak. Other important mountains are Diklosmta (4285 m), Gora Addala Shukgelmezr (4152 m) and Gora Dyultydag (4127 m). The climate is classified as a continental climate, with a significant lack of precipitation. It is among the warmest places in Russia. In the mountainous regions, it is subarctic. Average January temperature: +2 C. Average July temperature: +26 C. Average annual precipitation: 250 mm (northern plains) to 800 mm (in the mountains). Dagestan is divided into 41 administrative districts (raions) and ten cities/towns. The districts are further subdivided into 19 urban-type settlements, and 363 rural okrugs and stanitsa okrugs.

Did You Know?

• Dagestan covers an area of 50300 km², with a population of over 3.1 million, consisting of over 30 ethnic groups and 81 nationalities.
• With 14 official languages, Dagestan is one of Russia's most linguistically and ethnically diverse republics.
• Dagestan is known internationally for its strong culture of combat sambo, with many of its fighters having later turned to mixed martial arts.
• The southernmost point of Russia is located about seven kilometers southwest of Mount Bazardüzü.
• Dagestan is rich in oil, natural gas, coal, and many other minerals and resources.