Vladikavkaz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vladikavkaz (English) Владикавказ (Russian) Дзæуджыхъæу (Ossetic)
View of Vladikavkaz
Location of Vladikavkaz in Europe
Coordinates 43°5′N 44°39′ECoordinates: 43°5′N 44°39′E
Coat of Arms

City Day: First Sunday of July
Federal subject Municipal status In jurisdiction of Capital of	Republic of North Ossetia‑Alania Urban okrug Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
Head	Kazbek Pagiyev
Legislative body	Assembly of Representatives
Charter	Charter of Vladikavkaz
Area
Area - Rank	n/a n/a
Population (as of the 2002 Census)
Population - Rank - Density	315,068 inhabitants 59th n/a
Founded	May 6, 1784
Town status	1860
Renamed Ordzhonikidze	1931
Renamed Dzaudzhikau	1944
Renamed Ordzhonikidze	1954
Renamed Vladikavkaz	1990
Other information
Postal code	n/a
Dialing code	+7 8672
Official website
None

Vladikavkaz (Russian: Владикавка́з; Ossetic: Дзæуджыхъæу) 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. According to the 2002 All-Russia Population Census, the population was 315,068; up from 300,198 recorded in the 1989 Census. 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.

1 History
2 Transport
3 Sports
4 Religion
- 4.1 Gallery
5 Sister cities
6 See also

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", 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. This marked the most easterly point ever reached by Nazi forces.

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 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from the city.

The Georgian Military Road starts in Vladikavkaz and it connects the city with Transcaucasia.

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

Most of the city's population is Eastern Orthodox Christian. Russian Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion in Vladikavkaz. Islam is also spread in the city.