Tskhinvali facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tskhinvali ცხინვალი (Georgian) Цхинвал, Чъреба (Ossetian)
From the top, View over Tskhinvali, Parliament Building, St. Astvatsatsin Church
Flag Seal
Tskhinvali Location in South Ossetia Show map of South Ossetia Tskhinvali Location in Shida Kartli Show map of Shida Kartli Tskhinvali Location in Georgia Show map of Georgia
Country	Georgia
De facto state	South Ossetia
Mkhare	Shida Kartli
District	Tskhinvali
Established	1398
Area
• Total	17.46 km2 (6.74 sq mi)
Elevation	860 m (2,820 ft)
Population  (1 January 2019)
• Total	32,180
• Density	1,843.1/km2 (4,773.5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (Moscow time)
Climate	Dfb

Tskhinvali (Georgian: ცხინვალი) is the main city of South Ossetia. South Ossetia is a region that many countries see as part of Georgia. However, it acts like an independent country. Tskhinvali is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. It sits by the Great Liakhvi River. Historically, the area around Tskhinvali has been part of Georgia.

What's in a Name? The History of Tskhinvali's Names

The name Tskhinvali comes from an old Georgian word. It means "the land of hornbeam trees." This was the city's original name.

From 1934 to 1961, the city was called Staliniri. This name honored Joseph Stalin. It combined his last name with "Ir," an Ossetian word for Ossetia. Today, many Ossetian people call the city Tskhinval. They drop the "i" at the end. Another Ossetian name for the city is Chreba. This is a casual name. It comes from the Georgian word "Ḳreba," which means "gathering." This is because the city was a trading spot long ago.

Tskhinvali's Past: A Look at Its History

The area around Tskhinvali has been home to people since the Bronze Age. This was a very long time ago! Old settlements and items found here show influences from different cultures. These include cultures from eastern and western Georgia.

Early Beginnings: From Village to Town

Georgian records first mention Tskhinvali in 1398. It was a village in Kartli, central Georgia. Some stories say that a Georgian king, Aspacures II of Iberia, built a fortress here in the 3rd century AD. By the early 1700s, Tskhinvali was a small "royal town." Many people living there were farmers who worked for monasteries.

In 1801, Tskhinvali became part of the Russian Empire. It was on an important trade route. This route connected the North Caucasus to Tbilisi and Gori. Because of this, Tskhinvali grew into a busy trading town. Many different groups of people lived there. These included Jewish, Georgian, Armenian, and Ossetian people.

Modern Times: Growth and Challenges

Between 1918 and 1920, there were some clashes in the town. This happened when Georgia was briefly independent from Russia. In 1921, the Red Army took control. In 1922, Tskhinvali became the capital of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast. This area was part of the Georgian SSR.

Over time, more Ossetian people moved to Tskhinvali. This was due to new policies and people moving from nearby farms. The city became an industrial center. It had factories for wood and other goods. It also had schools and a theater. In 1989, about 42,934 people lived in Tskhinvali. By 2015, the population was 30,432.

During the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, Tskhinvali faced difficult times. There were tensions and fighting between Georgian and Ossetian forces. A peace agreement in 1992 left Tskhinvali under the control of Ossetians.

The 2008 War: A Difficult Period

The monument to the victims of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict near the Armenian church in Tskhinvali

Before or during the 2008 war, many people left South Ossetia. About 30,000 people moved to North Ossetia–Alania. Sadly, many civilians died during the fighting. The city was badly damaged during the Battle of Tskhinvali. Some parts, like the old Jewish Quarter, were almost completely destroyed.

Tskhinvali's Environment: Climate and Location

Tskhinvali is located in the Caucasus mountains. It is about 860 meters (2,820 feet) above sea level.

Climate: Weather in Tskhinvali

The city has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. On average, it gets about 805 millimeters (31.7 inches) of rain each year.

Tskhinvali Today: Life in the Capital

21 August 2008. Valery Gergiev with Mariinsky Theatre opera in Tskhinvali.

Today, Tskhinvali serves as the capital of South Ossetia. Before the 2008 war, about 30,000 people lived there. The city has faced challenges and has been working to rebuild.

On August 21, 2008, a famous Russian conductor named Valery Gergiev held a concert in Tskhinvali. He is of Ossetian origin. The concert was near the damaged parliament building. It was held to remember the people who died in the Russo-Georgian War.

Getting Around: Transport in Tskhinvali

Before 1991, there was a train service. The Tskhinvali Railway station connected the city with Gori.

Global Connections: Twin Cities

Tskhinvali has "twin city" relationships with other cities around the world. This helps build friendships and cultural exchange.

Twin Cities of Tskhinvali

Tskhinvali is twinned with these cities:

• Arkhangelsk, Russia
• Vladivostok, Russia

Famous People from Tskhinvali

Many notable people have come from Tskhinvali:

• David Baazov, who started the Zionist movement in Georgia.
• Kakhi Kakhiashvili, an Olympic Champion in weightlifting.
• Arsen Kasabiev, a weightlifter.
• Vadim Laliev, a former professional wrestler.
• Temo Svirely, an artist.
• Guram Tskhovrebov, a football player.
• Irakli Okruashvili, a Georgian politician.

See also

In Spanish: Tsjinvali para niños