Kabardino-Balkaria

Republic of Russia in the North Caucasus

Republic in Russia

Kabardino-Balkaria (Russian: Кабарди́но-Балка́рия), officially the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic,^{[note 1][10][11][12]} is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 904,200.^[13] Its capital is Nalchik. The area contains the highest mountain in Europe, Mount Elbrus, at 5,642 m (18,510 ft). Mount Elbrus has 22 glaciers that feed three rivers — Baksan, Malka and Kuban. The mountain is covered with snow year-round.

Geography

Cherek-Balkarskaya gorge

The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains, with plains in the northern part. The republic shares an international border with Georgia.

• Area: 12,500 square kilometers (4,800 sq mi)
• Borders:
  • internal: Stavropol Krai (N/NE), North Ossetia–Alania (E/SE/S), Karachay–Cherkessia (W/NW)
  • international: Georgia (Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Zemo Svaneti) (S/SW)
• Highest point: Mount Elbrus (5,642 m)
• Maximum N->S distance: 167 kilometers (104 mi)
• Maximum E->W distance: 123 kilometers (76 mi)

Kabardino-Balkaria is traversed by the northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude.

Rivers

Major rivers include:

• Terek River (623 km)
• Malka River (216 km)
• Baksan River (173 km)
• Urukh River (104 km)
• Chegem River (102 km)
• Cherek River (76 km)
• Argudan River
• Ku