Vladikavkaz, city (1989 pop. 300,000), capital of North Ossetia-Alania, SE European Russia, on the Terek River and at the northern foot of the Caucasus. It is the starting point of the Georgian Military Road as well as an industrial center with an electric zinc smelter, lead and silver refineries, chemical plants, food-processing factories, and industries producing chemicals, motors, tractor equipment, clothing, and textiles. The population is Russian, Ossetian, Armenian, and Georgian. Founded in 1784 as a fortress during the Russian conquest of the Caucasian region, it was long the military and political center of Russia in the Caucasus. It was made the capital of the Gorskaya (Mountain People's) ASSR in 1921, which in 1936 became the North Ossetian ASSR. It was renamed Ordzhonikidze in 1932, Dzaudzhikau in 1944, again Ordzhonikidze in 1954, and once again Vladikavkaz in 1990. The famous Kazbek Peak rises just above the city. The city has a university, a mining institute, and other institutions of higher learning.

Vladikavkaz (Владикавка́з, vladʲikaf'kas; Дзæуджыхъæу, (Dzæudjyqæu) (means «Dzaug's settlement») is the capital city of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Russia. It is situated in the south-east of the republic at the foothills of the Caucasus mountains, situated on the Terek River. Its population mostly consists of Ossetians, Russians, Armenians and Georgians. Population: Vladikavkaz is one of the most populous cities in the northern Caucasus.

The city is an industrial and transportation center. Manufactures include processed zinc and lead, machinery, chemicals, clothing, and food products.

History

The city was founded in 1784 as a fortress during the Russian conquest of the Caucasus and was for many years the main Russian military base in the region. The Georgian Military Highway, crossing the mountains, was constructed in 1799 to link the city with Georgia to the south, and in 1875 a railway was built to connect it to Rostov-on-Don and Baku in Azerbaijan. Vladikavkaz has become an important industrial centre for the region, with smelting, refining, chemicals and manufacturing industries.

From 1931 to 1944 and from 1954 to 1990 its name was Ordzhonikidze (Орджоники́дзе) (after Sergo Ordzhonikidze, a Georgian Bolshevik), and from 1944 to 1954 it was called Dzaudzhikau (Дзауджика́у). Vladikavkaz resumed its old name, which means "Ruler of the Caucasus", in 1990, shortly before the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Vladikavkaz was fought over in both the Russian Civil War and Second World War. In February 1919, the anti-Communist Volunteer Army under General Anton Ivanovich Denikin seized the city, before being expelled by the Red Army in March 1920. In November 1942, the forces of Nazi Germany tried unsuccessfully to seize the city but were repelled.

Transport

The city is served by the bus network (marshrutkas). There are also tram (since the beginning of the 20th century) and trolleybus networks. There is railway terminal (vokzal) in Vladikavkaz.

The city is served by the Airport Vladikavkaz located from the city.

The Georgian Military Road, which is a part of European route E117, starts in Vladikavkaz and it connects the city with Transcaucasia.

Sports

FC Alania Vladikavkaz is a football club based in Vladikavkaz, who won the Russian Premier League in 1995.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in the city (2002 data):

• Ossetians (59.51%)
• Russians (27.59%)
• Armenians (3.89%)
• Georgians (2.32%)

Religion

The city's population has Eastern Orthodox Christians and adherents of Islam.

Gallery

Remarkable structures

In Vladikavkaz, there is a 198 metres tall guyed TV mast built in 1961, which has 6 crossbars with gangways in 2 levels running from the mast structure to the guys.

Sister cities

• Asheville, North Carolina, USA
• Kardzhali, Bulgaria

See also

• North Ossetia-Alania
• North Caucasus

References