(Redirected from North Ossetian ASSR)
The 'Republic of North Ossetia-Alania' (;
Ossetic: Цгат Ирыстоны Аланийы Республик) is a
federal subject of
Russia (a
republic). The direct
romanization of the Russian name of the republic is ''Respublika Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya''. Its name in Ossetic transliterates as ''Căgat Irystony Alanijy Respublikă''.
Name
In the last years of the
Soviet Union, as nationalist movements swept throughout the Caucasus, many intellectuals in the
North Ossetian ASSR called for the revival the name of
Alania, a medieval kingdom of the
Alans, ancestors of the modern-day
Ossetians. The term of "Alania" quickly became popular in Ossetian daily life through the names of various enterprises, a TV channel, political and civic organizations, publishing house, soccer team, etc. In November 1994, the name of "Alania" was officially added to the republican title (Republic of North Ossetia-Alania).
[1]
History
Main articles: History of North Ossetia-Alania
Geography
The Republic is located in the northern
Caucasus. The northern part of the republic is situated in the
Stavropol Plain. 22% of the republic's territory is covered by forests.
★ ''Area:''
★ ''Borders:''
★
★ ''internal:''
Kabardino-Balkar Republic (W/NW/N),
Stavropol Krai (N),
Chechen Republic (NE/E),
Republic of Ingushetia (E/SE)
★
★ ''international:''
Georgia (including
South Ossetia) (SE/S/SW)
★ Highest point:
Mount Dzhimara ()
★ Maximum N->S distance:
★ Maximum E->W distance:
Time zone
North Ossetia-Alania is located in the
Moscow Time Zone (MSK/MSD).
UTC offset is +0300 (MSK)/+0400 (MSD).
Rivers
All of the republic's rivers belong to the basin of the
Terek River. Major rivers include:
★ Terek River (~600 km)
★
Urukh River (104 km)
★
Ardon River (101 km)
★
Kambileyevka River (99 km)
★
Gizeldon River (81 km)
★
Fiagdon River
★
Sunzha River
Mountains
Map of the region with the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania highlighted.
Map of North Ossetia.
All of the mountains located on the territory of the republic are a part of the Caucasus. Mount Dzhimara is the highest point (4,780 m), with
Mount Ulipata being the second highest (4,638 m).
Natural resources
Natural resources include minerals (
copper,
silver,
zinc),
timber,
mineral waters,
hydroelectric power, and untapped reserves of
oil and
gas.
Climate
Climate is moderately
continental.
★ ''Average January temperature'': −5°C
★ ''Average July temperature'': +24°C
★ ''Average annual
precipitation'': 400-700 mm in the plains, over 1,000 mm in the mountains.
Administrative divisions
Demographics
★ 'Population': 710,275 (2002)
★
★ ''Urban'': 464,875 (65.5%)
★
★ ''Rural'': 245,400 (34.5%)
★
★ ''Male'': 336,035 (47.3%)
★
★ ''Female'': 374,240 (52.7%)
★ 'Females per 1000 males': 1,114
★ 'Average age': 33.8 years
★
★ ''Urban'': 34.2 years
★
★ ''Rural'': 32.9 years
★
★ ''Male'': 30.4 years
★
★ ''Female'': 36.9 years
★ 'Number of households': 200,191 (with 690,806 people)
★
★ ''Urban'': 143,397 (with 447,884 people)
★
★ ''Rural'': 56,794 (with 242,922 people)
★ 'Vital statistics' (2005)
★
★ ''Births'': 7,894 (birth rate 11.2)
★
★ ''Deaths'': 8,654 (death rate 12.3)
★ 'Ethnic groups'
The Ossetian population of North Ossetia is predominantly
Christian with a
Muslim minority, speaking
Ossetic and
Russian.
According to the
2002 Census,
Ossetians make up 62.7% of the republic's population. Other groups include
Russians (23.2%),
Ingush (3.0%),
Armenians (2.4%),
Kumyks (12,659, or 1.8%),
Georgians (10,803, or 1.5%),
Ukrainians (0.7%),
Chechens (3,383, or 0.5%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population. 3,283 people (0.5%) did not indicate their nationalities during the Census.
| census 1926 | census 1939 | census 1959 | census 1970 | census 1979 | census 1989 | census 2002 |
|---|
| Ossetians | 139,120 (60.3%) | 165,616 (50.3%) | 215,463 (47.8%) | 269,326 (48.7%) | 299,022 (50.5%) | 334,876 (53.0%) | 445,310 (62.7%) |
| Russians | 50,272 (21.8%) | 122,614 (37.2%) | 178,654 (39.6%) | 202,367 (36.6%) | 200,692 (33.9%) | 189,159 (29.9%) | 164,734 (23.2%) |
| Ingush | 1,540 (0.7%) | 6,106 (1.9%) | 6,071 (1.3%) | 18,387 (3.3%) | 23,663 (4.0%) | 32,783 (5.2%) | 21,442 (3.0%) |
| Armenians | 6,921 (3.0%) | 8,932 (2.7%) | 12,012 (2.7%) | 13,355 (2.4%) | 12,912 (2.2%) | 13,619 (2.2%) | 17,147 (2.4%) |
| Ukrainians | 14,282 (6.2%) | 7,063 (2.1%) | 9,362 (2.1%) | 9,250 (1.7%) | 10,574 (1.8%) | 10,088 (1.6%) | 5,198 (0.7%) |
| Others | 18,646 (8.1%) | 18,874 (5.7%) | 29,019 (6.4%) | 39,896 (7.2%) | 45,139 (7.6%) | 51,903 (8.2%) | 56,444 (7.9%) |
Politics
The head of government in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania is the Head of the Republic.
As of 2005, the head of the republic is
Taymuraz Mamsurov. Mamsurov succeeded
Alexander Dzasokhov, who voluntarily quit his post on
May 31,
2005.
Economy
Despite the inevitable economic burden of a sizeable
refugee population, North Ossetia is the most well-to-do republic in the northern Caucasus. It is the most
urbanized and the most
industrialized, with factories producing
metals (
lead,
zinc,
tungsten, etc.),
electronics,
chemicals, and
processed foods.
Local
agriculture focuses primarily on
livestock, especially
sheep and
goats, and the cultivation of grains, fruit, and
cotton.
Transportation
There is an airport in Vladikavkaz. Overall, the transport infrastructure is well-developed, with railroads and automobile roads being the principal means of transportation. The famous
Georgian Military Road connects Vladikavkaz with
Transcaucasia.
Culture
There are six professional theaters in North Ossetia-Alania.
Also Ossetian State Philarmonia.
Education
The most important facilities of higher education include
North Caucasus State Technological University,
North Ossetian State University,
North Ossetian State Medical Academy, and
Mountain State Agrarian University; all located in Vladikavkaz.
Religion
The predominant religion is
Russian Orthodox Christianity, followed by
Islam. However, many of the native rituals predate both faiths.
See also
★
Ossetic language
★
Music of Ossetia
★
Beslan school hostage crisis
References
1. Shnirelman, Victor (2006). The Politics of a Name: Between Consolidation and Separation in the Northern Caucasus. ''Acta Slavica Iaponica'' 23, pp. 37-49.
External links
General
★
Official website of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
★
Official website of the Parliament of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
★
Russian News Agency ''Ria Novosty''
★
Official website of Alexander Dzasokhov
★
Ossetia—History, culture, politics, news
★
Pictures of North Ossetia-Alania
★
Welcome to North Ossetia (by Toma Kulayeva)
Education
★
North Ossetian State University.
★
North Ossetian State Medical Academy.
★
Higher Institute of Management.
★
Institute of Civilization.
Mass media
★
Electronic version of the ''North Ossetia'' (''Severnaya Osetiya'') republican newspaper.
★
North Ossetian information portal ''15th Region'' (''15y Region'').
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