Dagestan.Dagestan.Geographical Position Geographical Position

and Population.and Population.Mikhail Nokhov,Mikhail Nokhov,

Gymnasium # 1,Gymnasium # 1,

KhasavyurtKhasavyurt

The First President of Dagestan Mukhu G. The First President of Dagestan Mukhu G. AlievAliev

The Republic of The Republic of Dagestan Dagestan constitutes a part constitutes a part of the Russian of the Russian Federation. It is Federation. It is situated in the situated in the North Caucasus North Caucasus and is the most and is the most southern part of southern part of Russia. Russia. Makhachkala, Makhachkala, Dagestan’s Dagestan’s administrative and administrative and cultural center, is cultural center, is located 2166km located 2166km from Moscow.from Moscow.

By land and the By land and the Caspian Sea Caspian Sea Dagestan is Dagestan is bound by five bound by five states - states - Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Turkmenistan and Iran, while within Iran, while within the Russian the Russian Federation, it is Federation, it is bound by bound by Stavropol Stavropol Territory, Territory, Kalmykia and Kalmykia and Chechnya.Chechnya.

The geographical The geographical situation, landscape situation, landscape diversity and the diversity and the Caspian Sea reservoir Caspian Sea reservoir make the climate of make the climate of Dagestan rather Dagestan rather diversified. Dagestan diversified. Dagestan comprises five climatic comprises five climatic and a number of and a number of geographical zones: geographical zones: from the Caspian from the Caspian lowland at 28 meters lowland at 28 meters below the level of the below the level of the world ocean and the world ocean and the subtropics - up to the subtropics - up to the snow peaks of more than snow peaks of more than 4 thousand meters high. 4 thousand meters high. Local summers are Local summers are warm and long. Average warm and long. Average winter temperature is 0-winter temperature is 0-5C, average summer 5C, average summer temperature is +25C.temperature is +25C.

Dagestan means the "Mountain Country" in Turkic as Dagestan means the "Mountain Country" in Turkic as 56% of its total territory is covered with mountain 56% of its total territory is covered with mountain ranges and valleys. Mountain peaks covered with snow ranges and valleys. Mountain peaks covered with snow all year round impress tourists with their magnificent all year round impress tourists with their magnificent beauty and calm. Green valleys and meadows, sand beauty and calm. Green valleys and meadows, sand seashore and world famous Caucasian hospitality seashore and world famous Caucasian hospitality contribute to the growing popularity of the region.contribute to the growing popularity of the region.

Dagestan is unique Dagestan is unique due to a great variety due to a great variety of cultures and of cultures and peoples, too: more peoples, too: more than 30 ethnic groups than 30 ethnic groups have been living here have been living here from time immemorial from time immemorial on a relatively small on a relatively small territory, forming the territory, forming the united community of united community of peoples who have peoples who have never waged wars never waged wars against each other. It against each other. It is not by mere chance is not by mere chance that the land of that the land of Mountains is Mountains is otherwise called the otherwise called the "Mountain of "Mountain of Languages".Languages".

Dagestan is one of the most ethnically Dagestan is one of the most ethnically compound regions: more than 100 compound regions: more than 100 nationalities and peoples, including 30 nationalities and peoples, including 30 indigenous, representing large linguistic indigenous, representing large linguistic families and groups, like Iberian-Caucasian, families and groups, like Iberian-Caucasian, Turk, Iranian, Indo-European and others, are Turk, Iranian, Indo-European and others, are settled here. The local languages in their settled here. The local languages in their major part fall into dialects and patois. Three major part fall into dialects and patois. Three major ethnic groups inhabiting Dagestan are major ethnic groups inhabiting Dagestan are Dagestan, Turkic and Indo-European. Some Dagestan, Turkic and Indo-European. Some of the largest groups are Avar, Dargin, of the largest groups are Avar, Dargin, Lezgin, Kumyk, Lak, Russian, Nogay, etcLezgin, Kumyk, Lak, Russian, Nogay, etc ..

Ethnic Groups in Dagestan Ethnic Groups in Dagestan According to the Last CensorsAccording to the Last Censors

AvarsAvars - 759,438- 759,438 DarginsDargins - 425,526- 425,526

KumyksKumyks - 365,804 - 365,804 LezginsLezgins - 336,698- 336,698 LaksLaks - 139,732- 139,732 RussiansRussians - 120,875 - 120,875 Azerbaijanis- 111,656Azerbaijanis- 111,656 Tabasarans - 101,152 Tabasarans - 101,152 ChechensChechens - 87,867 - 87,867

NagaysNagays - - 38,16938,169

RutulsRutuls - - 24,92824,928

Aguls Aguls - - 23,31423,314

TsakhursTsakhurs - - 8,1618,161

OthersOthers - - 25,83525,835

Folklore and Folklore and handicraft traditions, handicraft traditions, especially in the especially in the mountainous regions mountainous regions are as rich in Dagestan are as rich in Dagestan as anywhere else in as anywhere else in Russia. Dagestan’s Russia. Dagestan’s intricately patterned intricately patterned carpets and textiles carpets and textiles are the most renowned are the most renowned of the region’s crafts. of the region’s crafts. Other crafts such as Other crafts such as jewelry making, jewelry making, pottery making, wood pottery making, wood notching, etc. are also notching, etc. are also well known throughout well known throughout the world.the world.

Dagestan is rich in Dagestan is rich in historical and historical and cultural cultural monuments. There monuments. There are over 8,000 are over 8,000 monuments in monuments in Dagestan that are Dagestan that are under federal under federal protection. Some protection. Some of them are truly of them are truly unique ones: unique ones: grandiose defense grandiose defense system in Derbent, system in Derbent, 7th century Naryn 7th century Naryn -Kala fortress, 13--Kala fortress, 13-15th centuries 15th centuries mosques and mosques and fortresses, etc.fortresses, etc.

Situated on the joint of Europe and Asia, Dagestan Situated on the joint of Europe and Asia, Dagestan belongs to both East and West. Grandiose mountainous belongs to both East and West. Grandiose mountainous landscapes, picturesque fertile valleys, deserts and landscapes, picturesque fertile valleys, deserts and liana forests, waterfalls and wonderful sea beaches liana forests, waterfalls and wonderful sea beaches enrapture the spectator with their inimitable beauty, enrapture the spectator with their inimitable beauty, and those who have seen these picturesque landscapes and those who have seen these picturesque landscapes of Dagestan, starve for returning here again and againof Dagestan, starve for returning here again and again

Dagestan, this Dagestan, this "museum in the "museum in the open air", is far open air", is far from having been from having been studied to the full, studied to the full, its ancient its ancient fortresses, fortresses, manuscripts, and manuscripts, and heroic legends still heroic legends still keep many keep many mysteries. But the mysteries. But the way of life of the way of life of the peoples of peoples of Dagestan can be Dagestan can be undoubtedly called undoubtedly called the phenomenon the phenomenon of the "Dagestan of the "Dagestan civilization".civilization".