Nalchik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nalchik (English)Нальчик (Russian) НалщӀэч (Kabardian) Нальчик (Balkar) |
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[[File:
 .jpg)    .jpg) .jpg)    Bochka Bar, Pobeda Cinema, Cathedral of Equal to the Apostle Mary Magdalene, Fountain at the Place de la Concorde in the Lenina Street, Monument to the Nalchans who died in the Great Patriotic War, Trees in a park, Snow in a memorial, Statue of Lenin, Central Mosque, KBSU Main Building |
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| City Day | September 1 |
| Administrative status | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Kabardino-Balkar Republic |
| Administratively subordinated to | city of republic significance of Nalchik |
| Capital of | Kabardino-Balkar Republic |
| Administrative center of | city of republic significance of Nalchik |
| Municipal status | |
| Urban okrug | Nalchik Urban Okrug |
| Administrative center of | Nalchik Urban Okrug |
| Head | Taymuraz Akhokhov |
| Representative body | City Council |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 67 km2 (26 sq mi) |
| Density (October 1, 2021) | 2,291.18/km2 (5,934.1/sq mi) |
| Time zone | MSK (UTC+04:00) |
| Founded | 1724 |
| City status since | 1921 |
| Postal code(s) | 360000, 360005, 360032, 360901, 360903, 360904 |
| Dialing code(s) | +7 8662 |
| Official website: http://admnalchik.ru/ | |
Nalchik is an important city in Russia. It is the capital of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic. The city is located high up in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. It sits about 550 meters (1,800 feet) above sea level. Nalchik is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Beslan. The city covers an area of 131 square kilometers (51 square miles). In 2021, about 247,054 people lived there.
Contents
A Look Back: Nalchik's Story
The area where Nalchik is today was once called Sloboda. The city as we know it began in the early 1800s. The Russian Empire built a fort here in 1818.
In 1838, a Russian military settlement was started in the city. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, Nalchik became an important administrative center in 1921. It was the capital of the Kabardin Autonomous Oblast.
The name "Nalchik" means "small horseshoe" in both Kabardian and Karachay-Balkar languages. This is because the city is surrounded by mountains, making it look like a horseshoe. The Nalchik River also gets its name from the city.
During World War II, Nalchik was occupied for a short time in 1942. The city was badly damaged during the fighting. However, the people worked hard to rebuild it.
In 1990, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 hit Nalchik.
When the Soviet Union ended in 1991, Nalchik and the Kabardino-Balkaria region became a federal republic within Russia.
In 2005, there was an attack by a group of militants on security buildings in Nalchik. Many people, including civilians and police officers, lost their lives.
People and Cultures in Nalchik
Nalchik is home to many different groups of people. This makes the city a mix of cultures.
Here's a look at the main groups living in Nalchik in 2021:
- Kabardians (Circassian): 49.2%
- Russians: 22.8%
- Balkars (Taulu): 18.2%
- Cherkess: 3.6%
- Ossetians: 1.3%
- Other groups make up the rest.
Nalchik's Economy and Education
Nalchik is known as a health resort and a mountain climatotherapy center. This means people come here for special treatments using mineral waters and the mountain climate. The city has many sanatoriums, which are like health resorts.
Nalchik is also an industrial hub. It has factories for:
- Non-ferrous metals (metals other than iron)
- Light industry (like clothing and textiles)
- Building materials
- Machine building
The city is also a center for learning. It has several important universities and institutes:
- Kabardino-Balkarian State University
- North Caucasian State Institute of Arts
- Kabardino-Balkarian State Agricultural Academy
Nalchik's Weather and Climate
Nalchik has a type of weather called a hot-summer humid continental climate. This means it has hot summers and no really dry season.
The warm part of the year is from late May to mid-September. The colder part is from December to March. Most of the rain comes as light showers and thunderstorms. In winter, you'll see light to moderate snow. The wind is usually calm or a light breeze all year.
| Climate data for Nalchik (1991-2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.8 (28.8) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
4.1 (39.4) |
10.3 (50.5) |
15.9 (60.6) |
20.3 (68.5) |
23 (73) |
22.5 (72.5) |
17.5 (63.5) |
11.1 (52.0) |
4.1 (39.4) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
10.5 (50.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 21 (0.8) |
22 (0.9) |
39 (1.5) |
58 (2.3) |
94 (3.7) |
107 (4.2) |
69 (2.7) |
58 (2.3) |
63 (2.5) |
45 (1.8) |
34 (1.3) |
27 (1.1) |
637 (25.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 91 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 78 | 90 | 107 | 151 | 192 | 226 | 244 | 213 | 176 | 132 | 86 | 73 | 1,768 |
| Source: Гидрометцентр России | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Nalchik (Нальчик) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.2 (32.4) |
1.0 (33.8) |
6.6 (43.9) |
16.0 (60.8) |
20.9 (69.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
27.1 (80.8) |
26.3 (79.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
14.5 (58.1) |
8.3 (46.9) |
3.1 (37.6) |
14.2 (57.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
5.4 (41.7) |
10.6 (51.1) |
14.1 (57.4) |
16.7 (62.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
11.7 (53.1) |
5.4 (41.7) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
5.2 (41.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 22 (0.9) |
23 (0.9) |
38 (1.5) |
63 (2.5) |
99 (3.9) |
100 (3.9) |
72 (2.8) |
61 (2.4) |
55 (2.2) |
43 (1.7) |
29 (1.1) |
26 (1.0) |
631 (24.8) |
| Average precipitation days | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 95 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 69 | 71 | 117 | 141 | 185 | 235 | 222 | 210 | 201 | 153 | 93 | 63 | 1,760 |
| Source 1: Gydrometcenter | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: City Hall of Nalchik | |||||||||||||
Sports and Fun in Nalchik
Nalchik is home to PFC Spartak Nalchik, a professional association football (soccer) club. They play in the Russian Premier League.
The city also hosted the Women's World Chess Championship 2008 from August 28 to September 18, 2008.
Famous People from Nalchik
Many talented people were born or lived in Nalchik, including:
- Khadzhimurat Akkayev, an Olympic weightlifter.
- Astemir Apanasov, a Circassian singer and musician.
- Dima Bilan, a popular singer.
- Andre Geim, a physicist who won the Nobel Prize.
- Vladislav Goldin, a basketball player.
- Muhadin Kishev, a famous artist.
- Alim Kouliev, an actor and theater director.
- Katya Lel, a singer.
- Leo Mol, a well-known artist and sculptor.
- Yuri Temirkanov, an orchestra conductor.
Nalchik's Sister Cities
Nalchik has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They work together to share culture and ideas.
- Amman, Jordan
- Kayseri, Turkey
- Vladikavkaz, Russia
- Reno, Nevada, United States
See also
In Spanish: Nálchik para niños
