Karachay-Cherkessia – Location, Map & Geography

A republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus of the country, Karachay-Cherkessia borders Georgia to the south and is surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains. It occupies an area of 14,227 km2 and has a diverse population that consists of Karachays, Cherkess, Abazins, Russians, and Nogais. Known for its long mountainous terrain, the republic has alpine resorts including Dombay and incorporates its cultural influences of Turkic and Caucasian origin. The administrative center is Cherkessk, and the republic is one of the federal subjects of the Russian Federation.

History

The earliest recorded inhabitants of the lands that now constitute the Karachay-Cherkess Republic were various indigenous Caucasian tribes, including ancestors of today's Circassians and Abazins. Beginning in the early medieval period, perhaps around the 10th century, the Karachays, a Turkic-speaking people, are believed to have inhabited the area after migrating from Central Asia.

During the Middle Ages, the area eventually fell under the influence of regional powers, such as the Alans and later the Golden Horde. The high mountains leading up into the region provided geographic isolation, which provided a buffer against efforts to impose outside influences and maintain the differing ethnicity and traditions. It was during the 16th to 18th centuries that Islam began to spread throughout the region, primarily by way of interactions with the Ottoman Empire and neighboring Muslim peoples.

By the start of the 19th century, the Russian Empire began southern expansion into the Caucasus. After decades of military campaigns collectively known as the Caucasian War (1817–1864), the Russian Empire incorporated the area. While this created what could be viewed as administrative and infrastructural growth in the region, there were also displacements and upheaval for local and indigenous populations. For example, members of the Karachays and Circassians were not only displaced during the wars to conquer towns and territories, but were also forced into heavy casualties. A significant number of Circassians were exiled into the Ottoman Empire, one of the first instances that many historians now refer to as a form of ethnic cleansing.

During the imperial rule in Russia, the region experienced a slow process of incorporation into the broader empire. After the Bolshevik Revolution versus the Russian Civil War, Soviet power was eventually established in the North Caucasus. In 1922, as part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblast was established. However, in 1926, it was fragmented into totally independent Karachay and Cherkess Autonomous Oblasts, reflecting a Soviet approach to dealing with ethnic diversity geographically as territories.

This fragmentation didn't operate peacefully. A significant break occurred during World War II. In 1943, without any solid evidence, Stalin accused the Karachay people of collaborating with the Nazis, and ordered their mass deportation to Central Asia especially Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Over 70,000 Karachays were uprooted, and the Karachay Autonomous Oblast was broken apart. Only in 1957, during a period of de-Stalinization under Khrushchev across the USSR, were the Karachay people allowed to return. However, the Autonomous Oblast was re-created from the national Soviet project of the same name after the fall of the USSR in 1991, Karachay-Cherkessia became a republic in the Russian Federation in 1992.

Culture

Religion is an important part of culture. Islam, particularly Sunni Islam of the Hanafi branch, is the most common religion among indigenous groups and has a powerful influence on people's daily lives, festivals, and practices. Orthodox Christianity is practiced primarily by ethnic Russians and a small number of local converts. Although there are differences in religion, the region is known for its interfaith tolerance and the shared values and practices of families, hospitality, and community cohesion.

Traditional clothing, music, and dance are especially relevant to local cultural celebrations. Men wear the cherkeska (a long, open coat with cartridge holders) and papakha (a kind of wool hat). Women, in contrast, wear clothes with intricate embroidery, especially at weddings and festivals. Instruments like the phandar (a string-based instrument) are prominent in folk music, and locally-styled dances are characterized by fast footwork and elegant and upright postures, which symbolize strength and respect.

Festivals often take the form of religious observances, closely intertwined with ethnic identities and the local ethnic groups themselves. Islamic celebrations such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are widely celebrated. In the secular world, commemorating special days like Nowruz (the spring equinox, a symbol of rebirth and renewal) is celebrated by Turkic groups; Nowruz celebrates unity as well. Victory Day (May 9) and similar Russian state holidays are celebrated across ethnic lines, where uniforms are often worn in military parades and public concerts.

Cuisine represents the mountainous geography and multicultural heritage of the region. Common dishes include shashlik (skewered grilled meat), khychin (stuffed flatbreads), kurze (dumplings), and various dairy products, for example, ayran, a fermented milk drink. Meals are traditionally communal occasions, and the importance of hospitality is an important value shared by all ethnic groups.

Handicrafts are a strong aspect of cultural identity. In the region, people practice carpet weaving, wood carving, and metalwork, often utilizing traditional patterns. It was passed down from generation to generation. Women participate in textile arts, embroidery, and beadwork, and they often display their art in their homes, communities, and public settings.

Language

Although Russian is the official state language and the main language of instruction, government, and interethnic communication, there are indigenous languages that have a greater presence and are maintained via local traditions and educational programs.

The largest ethnic groups, Karachays and Nogais, speak Turkic languages (Karachay-Balkar and Nogai). Karachay-Balkar is related to the Balkar language spoken in bordering areas, and is in the Cyrillic alphabet. It is taught in schools, used in information media, and maintained in oral tradition and literature. Nogai, though smaller in prestige, is recognized among some portions of the community, and it upholds some usages and forms of Kipchak Turkic roots.

Circassians (also known as Cherkess) and Abazins speak languages that are part of the Northwest Caucasian languages. The Circassian language is a regional form of Kabardian or Adyghe, which both have a complex phonetic system that uses a great number of consonants. Abaza varies from Abkhaz, and it is considered another Northwest Caucasian language, although it is much smaller and carries its regional characteristics. Both are spoken in the Cyrillic alphabet. Both are taught in schools where there are portions of their communities.

Russian continues to be the common language, and everyone speaks it fluently, regardless of ethnicity.The dominance of the Russian language in all spheres of life has raised concerns about language shift, especially among younger generations, and particularly in urban centres where use of the native language is limited among youth.

Geography

The Republic, situated in southwestern Russia, has tremendous geopolitical significance in the North Caucasus, with Georgia to its south. The southern part of the region contains the most distinctive landscape in the Republic, the high mountain ranges that also contain some of the tallest peaks in the Caucasus. Mount Dombay-Ulgen, with a summit of 4,046m, is the most notable peak. To the west of the Republic in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, is Mount Elbrus (the highest mountain in Europe), and yet the glaciers and rugged terrain extend to this Republic.

The northern half of the Republic is less dramatic, moving from mountains to foothills to flat plains with a massive decrease in elevation. The northern half of the Republic is also agrarian land, not mountainous land, and is much more developed and occupied than the southern half. The capital city, Cherkessk, is positioned at the northern end of the region, just at the edges of the flatter terrain that has the potential for construction and subsequent transportation options.

Water is not a limiting resource in the region. The major rivers include the Kuban River, which originates in the Caucasus Mountains and flows northwesterly, and its tributaries, including the Teberda River and Bolshaya Laba River. The rivers originate from glacial melt and mountain springs, and as such, are necessary for the ecosystems within the surrounding region. Importantly, the rivers can also be put to human use, and have hydroelectric capacity, and several small dams are operated in the region.

The climate varies considerably by elevation. The lower northern areas have a temperate continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters, and precipitation is moderate and is generally fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. As one travels south and up in elevation, the climate turns more alpine, with cooler summers and long snowy winters. In these high-altitude areas, snow can start falling in October and last until May, making them great for winter sports. The Dombay resort area, one of the best-known areas of this region, takes advantage of all the snow.

Vegetation varies with elevation zones as well. Lowland areas are covered in steppe, grassland, and mixed forest, while the foothills and mid-elevation ranges have mixed-deciduous and coniferous forest, along with beech, oak, fir, spruce, etc., and so on. Even higher up, there are alpine meadows, and when one is at around 3,000 m and up, one starts seeing rocky landscapes and glacial features. There are a good number of endemic plant and animal species and significant biodiversity. The Teberda Nature Reserve is the primary example of a protected area desiring to protect ecological diversity, where one finds wildlife such as Caucasian tur, lynx, and golden eagle.

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