About Dagestan

Overview

The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, part of the North Caucasian Federal District, and the southernmost region of the country. Makhachkala is the capital city of the republic. Dagestan Republic's population is approximately 3,015,000 (2015) and the area is 50,270 sq. km.

The name of the republic means "the country of mountains". There are about 30 peaks in Dagestan that are above 4,000 meters. The mountains cover an area of 25,500 sq. km; the average height of the entire territory of Dagestan is 960 meters above sea level. The length of the territory from north to south is about 400 km, from west to east — about 200 km. Dagestan borders with Azerbaijan in the south and Georgia in the southwest.

History

Dagestan was always divided into numerous historical and geographical areas: Avaria, Agui, Akusha-Dargo, Andia, Auch, Dido, Kaitag, Kumykia, Lakia, Lekiya, Salataviya, Rutulia, Tabasaran and others. People began to settle in the territory of Dagestan more than a million years ago (the sites of ancient people Aynikab 1-2, Muhkay 1-2, Gegalashur 1-3, Rugudzha).

In the 6th–11th centuries, most of the mountainous Dagestan was united under the rule of the Sarir kingdom with the capital in Khunzakh. In the 7th–10th centuries, the northern (plain) part of Dagestan was occupied by the Khazars. In the 7th century, Derbent became the most powerful town of the Derbent Caliphate and Islam began to spread in the eastern Caucasus.

Economy & Natural Resources

The main natural resources include natural gas, oil and coal. Oil deposits are located in the coastal areas. The main branches of the Dagestan economy are agriculture, winemaking, fishing, handicrafts (including carpet weaving), extraction of oil and natural gas, light industry and chemical industry, machine building, and power generation. Alpine rivers of the republic have a significant hydroelectric potential.

Strategic Location

Dagestan has a favorable geographical location with direct access to international shipping routes. It also has great transit importance to economic ties between Russia and Transcaucasia, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Iran. Rail, road, air, sea, and pipeline routes of federal and international significance pass through the territory of the republic.

Makhachkala Commercial Seaport is the main ice-free Russian port on the Caspian Sea that provides maritime connections with the Caspian states and carries out the processing of transit cargoes from Western Europe, Scandinavia, Middle East, India and the countries of the east.

Geography

Dagestan is located in the north-eastern part of the Caucasus. On the east the territory of the republic is washed by the Caspian Sea. The south and middle part of the region is occupied by mountains and foothills of the Greater Caucasus; the Caspian lowland begins in the northern part.