Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index The Kabardino-Balkar Republic or Kabardino-Balkaria is a constituent republic of the Russian Federation, located in the northern Caucasus. Capital: Nal'chik (Tirniauz serves as the administrative center for Balkaria). Table of contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Economy 4 Demographics History Mongol control: 1242 - 1295 Georgian control: 1295 - 1387 Timurid control: 1387 - 1405 Georgian control: 1405 - 1505 Persian control: 1502 - 1516 Ottoman control: 1516 - 1557 The Kabard lands have been under Russian protectorate since 1557. In 1739 Kabardia became independent and in 1774 it became part of the Russian empire. Balkaria was annexed in 1827. In 1921, with the emergence of the Soviet Union, the territories were organized into the Kabardin Autonomous Oblast. The region's name was changed to the Kabardino-Balkar Autonomous Oblast the following year, and in 1936 it was elevated to the status of an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1944, Stalin accused the Balkars of collaborating with Nazi Germany and deported the entire population. The territory was renamed the Kabardin ASSR until 1957, when the Balkar population was allowed to return and its name was restored. Geography Area: 12,500 kmē Mount Elbrus, part of the Caucasus mountains, is located in Kabardino-Balkaria. Economy Primarily agricultural, with lumbering and mining. Most industry centers on agricultural processing. Demographics Population: 715,000, including 304,000 Kabardin, 60,000 Balkars, and 234,000 Russians. Kabardino-Balkaria consists of two ethnic territories, one predominantly of Kabard people, who are called the Kabardin (speakers of a Caucasian language) and the other predominantly Balkar (speakers of a Turkic language). There is also a significant Russian population. See also: Avars Flag: http://meta.wikipedia.com/upload/ru-kabardino-balkarija.gif This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.