Описание (английский)
Nalchik is the capital city of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia, situated at an altitude of 550 meters (1,800 ft) in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains; about 100 kilometers (62 mi) northwest of Beslan in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania. It covers an area of 131 square kilometers (51 sq mi).
The territory of modern-day Nalchik was formerly known as Slabada. It was inhabited by native Kabardians, Balkars,
Chechens, Adeki, and Cherkese until around 1743: groups occasionally
clashed over and dispute their claims to the land. The modern city dates
from the early 19th century when the expanding Russian Empire built a fort there together with settling Mountain Jews in 1818; this date is seen at the top of the city's coat of arms.
With the founding of the city of Nalchik, the disputes among the native
groups calmed and life improved for the people in the region.
In 1838, a Russian military settlement was founded in the city, and after the Russian Revolution of 1917, in the year 1921, Nalchik was given the status of administrative center of Kabardin Autonomous Oblast.
The word "Nalchik" literally means "small horseshoe" in Kabardian (or Circassian, a Northwest Caucasian language) and Karachay-Balkar (a Turkic language). It is a diminutive of na'l, a common Middle Eastern word (Arabic, Persian, Turkish) for "horseshoe", possibly from the ancient Scythian,
'nalak" (horseshoe). The city of Nalchik was named this way because of
how it is shaped as surrounded by the mountains of the land, and the river Nalchik is named after the city it runs across.
During World War II, Nalchik was occupied by Nazi Germany and Romania
between October 28, 1942, and January 3, 1943. The city was heavily
damaged during the conflict. Nalchik's Jewish population, mostly
Mountain Jews, suffered brutal beatings and tremendous harm at the hands
of the Romanians under Nazi orders. However, the Jewish People of
Nalchik were able to survive the invasion because they were able to,
somewhat, blend in with their neighbors.
Nalchik was chosen the "second cleanest city of Russia" in 2003.
On October 13, 2005, Nalchik was attacked by a large group of Yarmuk Jamaat militants led by Shamil Basayev and Anzor Astemirov.
Buildings associated with the Russian security forces were targeted,
killing at least 14 civilians and wounding 115. Thirty-five policemen
were killed in the fighting and eighty-nine militants, including
prominent leader Ilias Gorchkhanov, were killed while another fifty-nine were arrested.