Republic of North Ossetia-Alania

The territory of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania on the map of Russia is small and occupies only 7987 square kilometers. Nearby are located:

Georgia;
South Ossetia;
Chechen Republic;
Ingushetia;
Stavropol region.

The satellite map of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania shows that many rivers flow through its territory. The main ones are:

Terek;
Urukh;
Giseldon;
Ardon;
Kambileevka.

Also on the territory of the republic there are glaciers that occupy a fairly large area. This:

Miley, its area is 22 square kilometers;
Tseysky, with an area of 18 square kilometers;
Karaugomsky. It occupies 35 square kilometers.

The flora is diverse. These are steppes, alpine meadows, broad-leaved, pine and birch forests. The fauna is also diverse. The region is home to chamois, aurochs, lynxes, wild boars, roe deer, bears and other animals. There are a large number of birds. The climate is moderate. Summers are long and not dry, and winters are mild.

The coldest month is January. Temperatures drop to -16 degrees;
The warmest is July. The air warms up to +24 degrees.

Automobile route in North Ossetia No. 1: Karmadon Gorge, Dargavs and Midagrabinsky waterfalls

For those who come to North Ossetia, the optimal means of transportation is a car. By car you can get to the most remote corners of the republic, or easily visit the most popular ones. It is worth choosing Vladikavkaz as a location – the capital of the republic is an interesting tourist city.

Prospekt Mira - the historical center of Vladikavkaz

If you have some free time, first take a walk around Vladikavkaz. It is worth visiting the historical center of the city - Mira Avenue. This is one of the oldest highways in Vladikavkaz, the most beautiful street in the capital of Alanya. The avenue is a real monument of urban planning, an object of cultural heritage of our country. The history of Mira Avenue begins in the 19th century, and many examples of architecture - luxurious mansions - have come down to us from those times. There are many museums, parks, squares, and walking areas on Mira Avenue and nearby. Sacral buildings such as the Sunni Mukhtarov Mosque and the Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator are also worth visiting.

We looked at Vladikavkaz - we can move on. Short distances in North Ossetia allow you to explore many interesting locations in 1 day. If you only have 6-8 hours of daylight, check out the Karmadon Gorge, a route well-known among active tourists. The Karmadon Gorge became notorious after the collapse of the Kolka glacier in 2002. This disaster claimed the lives of many people; you can honor their memory at the memorials, as well as posthumous plaques with the names of Sergei Bodrov and the artists of the Narty equestrian theater. Now the roads are cleared, you can travel safely. Tourists are fascinated by the magnificent mountain views that open along the route. By the way, there are also hiking trails parallel to the road; they are more suitable for experienced trekkers.

Karmadon Gorge

In the Karmadon Gorge there are mineral springs, as well as historical monuments: towers, ruins of buildings and remains of villages, and of course the famous necropolis in the village of Dargavs.

Dargavsky necropolis is one of the most popular attractions in North Ossetia. A very ancient landmark, because people have been living in the village of Dargavs for more than 1000 years. It is believed that the City of the Dead began to form in the early Middle Ages; the crypts that have reached us are about 500 years old.

Now the Dargavsky necropolis is more of an open-air museum than an ancient cemetery. The Mamsurovs' watchtower, a monument of medieval architecture, rises above the village. The crypts differ in design and complexity of construction; paths and stairs are laid between them. There are 97 buildings in total. If you are not afraid, look through the windows into the other world - many tombs contain the remains of the buried. If you came to Dargavs, you probably admired its natural landscape. The city was built on the banks of the Midagrabindon River. Its bed begins high in the mountains, and if you drive further along the river, you will come to the Midagrabin Waterfalls . The valley of waterfalls looks very picturesque.

Valley of Midagrabin waterfalls

Just imagine: a huge stone bowl, gray rocks with waterfalls flowing down them, and a gorge ending in a grandiose mountain barrier. There are eight waterfalls in the park. One of them, Greater Zeygalan, with a height of more than 600 meters, is one of the largest water streams in Europe. In all its grandeur, it appears before the audience only at the height of summer, but in other seasons, a walk through the Midagrabin Waterfalls Park will make an impression.

Please note: the waterfall park is located on the border area, do not forget your passport. You should leave at least 2-3 hours for a walk through the park. Bring water, a blanket and a light snack - it’s great to have a picnic in the nature park.

Distinctive features and history of North Ossetia

On the “What Where When” program, after a question from Ossetia, a black box was opened with dogs.
Folk humor Unfortunately, any mention of the North Caucasus causes panic among average Russians. The Chechen wars intimidated our fellow citizens so much that they see every Caucasian as a Wahhabi thug. People look warily at Caucasians in the subway and avoid them at train stations and airports. It’s completely in vain, because the vast majority of the population of this territory are nice and adequate people. And especially the Ossetians, who dote on Russians.

Most of the representatives of this nation, by the way, are Orthodox. They were the first to voluntarily enter into an alliance with Russia and never had separatist sentiments. Everything that they say about Caucasian hospitality is absolutely true, and we need to treat these people with great confidence. There can be no talk of any hostility between Ossetians and Russians. True, local residents have a bad attitude towards mixed marriages, but this is everywhere in Russia.

Sanctuary of Dzyvgysy dzuar. Photo by lidk-a (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/lidk-a/)

The first mention of the Alans, the indigenous population of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, dates back to the first century BC. Later, Alanya arose on this territory. It occupied vast areas from the Caucasus to Ukraine and the Volga region. The Alans repeatedly suffered from the raids of the Huns. The Alans did not miss the Great Migration of Peoples, as a result of which most of the local population went to Western Europe, Crimea, and the Don and Dnieper basins.

The famous Georgian Queen Tamara is the granddaughter of the King of Alania Khuddan. After the Mongol invasion, the Alanian kingdom ceased to exist. This territory was divided between the Georgians and the independent Ossetian principalities, mired in internecine war. The annexation of North Ossetia to Russia took place in 1774. Vladikavkaz became the first Russian fortress in the North Caucasus. Thousands of Ossetians served as volunteers in the Imperial Army. Among them were even 40 generals.

During the Great Patriotic War, fierce battles with fascist invaders took place on the territory of North Ossetia. The Republic was occupied by the 1st Panzer Army of General Kleist. Another armed conflict occurred in North Ossetia in the early 90s. This time the Ossetians took up arms not against the Nazis, but to confront their neighbors - the Ingush. The Ingush laid claim to the Prigorodny region of North Ossetia, which, of course, did not please the Ossetians. At the moment, the conflict has not exhausted itself, but new clashes are not occurring, and thank God. During a bilateral meeting in December 2009, a Joint Action Program for the development of good neighborly relations between the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and the Republic of Ingushetia in 2010 was signed between the presidents of the republics of Ingushetia and North Ossetia-Alania.

The Chechen wars also did not pass North Ossetia by. Ossetians are Orthodox and have always been peaceful towards Russians, and they probably paid for it. The Chechens have repeatedly organized terrorist attacks on government facilities in the republic, the most terrible of which occurred at a school in the city of Beslan. That terrible day of September 1, 2004 will forever remain in the memory of the Ossetian people.

Memorial wall of school No. 1. Photo by Konstantin Farniev (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/everfastman/)

Geographical position

The Republic of North Ossetia is located on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus. Mountains occupy slightly less than half of the region's territory, the rest are plains and lowlands. In the north there is the Stavropol Plain, in the south there is the Main or Vodorazdelny ridges, in the central part of the republic there is the Ossetian Sloping Plain.

Population

The population of North Ossetia, according to the latest data, is 704 thousand people, slightly less than half of them live in the capital, Vladikavkaz. The republic is very rich in ethnic composition. Ossetians, Russians, Georgians, Armenians, Ingush, Kalmyks, Azerbaijanis and other nationalities live here.

In a multinational society, interethnic conflicts cannot be avoided. Adults, fortunately, do not take up arms, but, for example, Ossetians and Ingush are on very cold terms. In local schools, children are often grouped according to nationality, but this is observed not only in the North Caucasus, but throughout the country, where many nationalities are represented in one place.

Evening Vladikavkaz with Mount Kazbek in the background. Photo by muradiish (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/muradiish/)

Traveling around North Ossetia, it makes absolutely no sense to take a tent with me. In mountain villages they will always shelter and feed a traveler, no matter who he is.

Some local traditions may seem wild to Russians, but they can be attributed to national flavor. For example, weddings here look simply unforgettable: a huge noisy escort, shooting in the air. Locals joke that at the next stage of the Paris-Dakar Rally, a wedding escort from Ossetia won.

Crime

The turbulent times when in North Ossetia someone could be kidnapped on the street in broad daylight, thank God, have sunk into oblivion, but even now the region is not calm enough. From a statistical point of view, Alanya does not stand out in any way in the all-Russian crime rate, but sometimes incidents, contract killings and even terrorist attacks occur. For example, in 2008 in Vladikavkaz, former mayor Kazbek Pagiev was shot in broad daylight. The official's personal driver was also killed along with him.

In 2011, the famous poet and public figure Shamil Dzhikaev was killed by a Muslim fanatic in Vladikavkaz. His body was found by police at approximately 15.00 near the village of Redant. The police went to the place indicated by unknown persons who called the duty station. Near the support of the cable car lay a corpse with a severed head barely hanging on to the neck. It is impossible not to note the place of corruption in North Ossetia. Bribes are taken everywhere, but especially here. Apparently, the Caucasian mentality is taking its toll:

— In the 18th century, Ossetia became part of Russia, but Catherine the Second did not accept Chukotka. - Well, right, what are they up to with their skins? It should have been like us - flowers, champagne, sweets... Well, what woman can resist, huh?

Unemployment rate

In North Ossetia, the job situation is good only in the capital of the republic, Vladikavkaz. Metallurgical industry enterprises are located there: “Electrozinc”, “Pobedit”, “Crystal”. Many local residents earn extra money as private drivers. The tourist flow to the republic has not yet been established. Nobody needs Soviet health resorts; Russians are afraid to travel to the North Caucasus.

According to statistics, 65% of all counterfeit Russian vodka is produced in Alanya, but in reality this percentage can reach up to 90%. It's no joke, in Ossetian villages you can buy Hennessy X.O. for 250 rubles.

Alcohol can also be purchased at a regular kiosk.

The official average salary in the republic is 18,000 rubles, but in reality it is approximately equal to 12,000.

Property value

Small villages of North Ossetia are a real paradise for squatters. There are a sufficient number of abandoned apartments and houses here. There are few abandoned buildings in Vladikavkaz itself. A good one-room apartment in the main city of the republic will cost a little less than a million rubles. If you wish, you can find options for 700 thousand.

Climate

The climate in Alanya is moderate continental. Due to the difference in altitude, it is different in different areas. On the Mozdok Plain the climate is arid, with frequent dry winds. In January, the average temperature is −4.4 °C, in July - +24 °C, annual precipitation is only 400-450 mm per year. In the Central and Piedmont regions the climate is milder because the mountains are close. In summer, tropical cyclones often penetrate here with heavy rains, which are often accompanied by thunderstorms.

Mountains of North Ossetia. Photo by yperv602009 (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/yperv602009/)

Automobile route in North Ossetia No. 2: A trip along the Kurtatinsky Gorge

If you are planning a car route from Vladikavkaz along the Kurtatinsky Gorge, the easiest way is to immediately mark the Alansky Assumption Monastery as the end point. This monastery is a must-see for many reasons.

High mountain monastery - Alan Monastery

Firstly, this is the highest mountain Orthodox shrine in our country. The territory of the monastery has been known since the Middle Ages; thus, in the 17th - 18th centuries, two watchtowers were built here. They fit perfectly into the architectural style of the monastery complex and serve as bell towers. The first church on the territory of the monastery appeared in the middle of the 19th century, and the modern monastery began work in 2000. The monastery is operational, but improvement work is still ongoing. Despite the fact that the building is modern, it perfectly reproduces the architectural lines of medieval Ossetian architecture.

Let's go further, it's very close here. Literally 5 minutes away, don’t miss the village of Verkhniy Fiagdon. There are ruins of battle towers, a cultural center, shops and bakeries if you get hungry.

Look higher: on the hill are the ruins of the archaeological village of Tsimiti - a monument of medieval architecture in the open air. Here are watchtowers, destroyed and well preserved, foundations of buildings, picturesque stonework of walls. The history of Tsimiti begins in the 14th century, and little has changed here since then. Walk higher up and you will see the necropolis, the city of the dead. Even further away there are two monumental towers, from their platform there are fantastic views of the valley, gorge and mountains.

We admired it and moved on; a lot of interesting things awaited us. Our next stop will be at the village of Dzivgis, a tiny village in the Alagirsky district of Ossetia. But with a venerable history: it is one of the cultural and spiritual centers of medieval Alanya. The ancient sanctuary in the village, preserved from the pre-Christian era, is revered to this day. In addition to sacred places and a necropolis, a rock fortress has been preserved in the village of Dzivgis.

Walk along the Path of Miracles

The unusual fortification complex merges with the rocks, because the walls of the fortress literally grow out of natural caves. It is also interesting to see the fortress from the inside, climbing up the stone stairs.

You can finish our route with a walk along the Path of Miracles . This is a convenient walking path in the rocks of the Kurtatinsky gorge, in the Kadargavan canyon. It is famous for the fact that you can walk here in any shoes (hypothetically), the paths are smooth and comfortable. The length of the trail is only 500 meters; a leisurely walk will take 30 minutes. The good thing about the Path of Miracles is that any family can come here. Older people can easily walk along it, and children will love the mini-zoo. Fans of mountain panoramas will also not be disappointed - the views of the Fiagdon River gorge are magnificent.

Active recreation in North Ossetia

Are you a fan of active and even extreme recreation? Great, you will find plenty to do in North Ossetia. The vast expanses of this republic seem to be created for restless travelers; there are a lot of ecological routes, recreation centers on the banks of the river, mountaineering camps and equestrian clubs.

Trekking along mountain trails is a popular pastime

It’s convenient to start with trekking . There are dozens of ecological trails throughout the republic for tourists of all levels of physical fitness. They pass through famous gorges and through Alanya National Park. If you come in the summer, take a walk through the Midagrabin Waterfalls Park and see the majestic water flows in all their glory. Another interesting easy route is the Path of Miracles in the Kadargavan Gorge.

You can also organize trips on ATVs, and in winter on snowmobiles. Horse clubs are waiting for fans of this noble sport. Another bonus: as a rule, horseback riding is organized in the most picturesque places.

Have you always dreamed of seeing a glacier with your own eyes? In North Ossetia, organizing such an adventure is not at all difficult. You need to go to the Tseyskoye Gorge and buy tickets for the cable car. She will take you to the beginning of the route to the Skazsky glacier, which is very close.

The nature of North Ossetia has created excellent conditions for air adventures . So, not far from the village of Dargavs there is a Fazikau parade ground, located at +1600 meters above sea level. The site can be reached by car; it is located an hour’s drive from Vladikavkaz.

Water activities include rafting; rafting is organized by North Ossetian sports clubs for the most adventurous tourists. And for those who prefer a quieter holiday, there is fishing and modern glamping on the river banks.

How to get to North Ossetia and Alania

The easiest way to get to Vladikavkaz is by plane from Moscow. Currently, four airlines operate flights from the Russian capital to Vladikavkaz, including one low-cost airline. Flight time is 2 hours. Vladikavkaz Airport is located near the city of Beslan. You can get from here to the capital of the republic by city bus.

The capital of the Republic can also be reached from Moscow by the Moscow-Vladikavkaz train; a train runs from St. Petersburg to Vladikavkaz. The journey takes up to 1.5 days. The train runs from the northern capital 2-3 times a week. The railway station is located at: Vladikavkaz, st. Markova, 24.

From the central regions of Russia you can get to the Transcam highway by car. You can get to the capital of the republic along the Georgian Military Road from Beslan and along the P295 highway from Nalchik.

Excursions in North Ossetia

Most tourists come here for them - excursions. Some travel as part of an excursion tour, others choose routes on the spot. In any case, North Ossetia can offer guests a wide variety of excursions - historical, educational, active, gastronomic.

It’s interesting to start your trip with a city tour of Vladikavkaz - this city is simply created for walking. It is optimal to come for a long weekend, but even if you only have a few hours left, an experienced guide will be able to captivate your attention. You will walk through the historical quarters of Vladikavkaz, see the heart of the city, and be amazed at the beauty of local mansions and the flow of the Terek River. In the company of a guide, you won't miss anything interesting.

Tower complex Egikal in Ingushetia

We got acquainted with Vladikavkaz - we can move on. Why not visit the neighboring republic, Ingushetia? It’s very close, and you can go there in one day. The mountain route along the Dzheirakh Gorge, overflowing with beauty, is very popular among tourists. There are ancient towers, ruins of fortresses, and entire cities. The most famous are the Vovnushki towers and the Egikal tower complex. These are the pearls of medieval Caucasian architecture.

A popular excursion to ancient Digoria. There are natural routes and historical sights - castles, ruins, necropolises. A trip to the Digor Gorge can take 1 day or several - choose the route to suit your taste. The easiest and most budget-friendly destination is the Karmadon and Kurtatin gorges. Almost all the iconic sights of North Ossetia are located along these routes: monuments, viewing terraces, eco-trails, family battle towers, fortresses, and the Dargavs necropolis.

A more original excursion is a trip to the Tseyskoye Gorge. You can do a lot in 1 day - ride a cable car, see a real glacier, say hello to the Uastirdzhi statue, appreciate the waterfalls and even relax in a thermal spring.

All excursions around North Ossetia on the Experts project. Tourist. RU

Health holidays in North Ossetia

After you have gone on an excursion and visited all the active entertainment in North Ossetia, it would be nice to relax. Not everyone knows, but tourists often come to the republic to improve their health, relax, and have a good rest.

Thermal complex Upper Biragzang

This can be done at thermal springs, especially since North Ossetia has all the conditions for such a vacation. The most popular and ennobled thermal spring bubbles up in the village of Upper Biragzang . The well was discovered in 1990, and at first it was popular only with local residents who wanted to get medical treatment. Later, the composition of the water was studied by doctors, and it was classified as a medicinal table. Thermal springs of Upper Biragzang treat many diseases, heal the body as a whole, and have a positive effect on well-being. Water enters the surface from a depth of 2000 meters, its outlet temperature is more than 40 °C.

It’s convenient that the source is landscaped; there are changing cabins, WC, a cafe and even a hotel in a convenient area. And of course swimming pools, with a water temperature of + 36...42 °C. You can come here for a couple of hours, relax in the pool (payment for the service is hourly), but experienced travelers recommend booking a hotel room at the springs in advance. By the way, swimming is allowed for hotel guests around the clock.

Features of the region

North Ossetia is not a Muslim republic. And yet, it is also customary here to follow certain rules in clothing: women should not wear miniskirts, see-through items or short tops. Men - shorts and sleeveless T-shirts.

In addition, women are not allowed to enter sanctuaries (zuars). In appearance, they resemble gazebos with tables and benches; most often, they are found along roads and are always fenced. In fact, these are religious objects.

Communication in the mountains does not work. First download one of the offline maps to your smartphone to make it easier to navigate the area.

Ski holidays in North Ossetia

Did you come to North Ossetia in winter? Great, this is a very attractive time of year in the mountains covered with fluffy snow. It’s especially cool to see it at the Tsey ski resort, located in the Tsey gorge of the same name.

Ski resort Tsey

Tsey resort is an all-season destination. The nature here is very beautiful: forests, meadows, picturesque mountain panoramas, glaciers. From December to March the resort operates as a ski resort. The lower part of the resort is located at a level of +1300 meters, skiing is organized at an altitude of +1850 to +2870 meters. Tourists can ride a chairlift and rent any ski equipment. There is also a school of instructors at the resort.

If you don't like skiing, an ice skating rink, sled, and tubing are at your service. The Tsey resort has 7 trails of varying difficulty levels: blue, red, black. The length of the slopes is up to 3 kilometers. The resort infrastructure is excellent: there are hotels for every budget, a cafe, a swimming pool, equipment rental, a tour desk, entertainment, and a mountain camp. Tourists come here for inexpensive winter holidays and magnificent mountain panoramas.

What to try and what to bring as a gift

It’s worth coming to North Ossetia not only for the natural and cultural attractions. The republic can also be visited because of its unique national cuisine.

The king of Ossetian cuisine is meat. Lamb is especially respected in Ossetia. For example, a dish such as lyvzha is a stew of meat with potatoes and onions, seasoned with pepper, garlic and savory. In addition to stewed meat, lamb is loved in the form of shish kebab, not only from the sirloin, but also from offal. In this case, the kidneys, liver and heart of young animals are threaded onto wooden skewers and fried over coals.

The sauce with which the dish is served is also important:

tsakhton made from sour cream;
Nury Tsakhton - very spicy garlic.

One of the iconic dishes of Ossetian national cuisine is pies. Ossetian pies are not food, they are the religion of the nation. A pie with cheese will never be served alone, but three plates with them will be placed on the table. They symbolize the sun, water and earth - the three foundations of the universe.

The most popular are pies with cheese - olibach. In addition, Ossetians also prepare other pies with different fillings.

Among them are:

Tsakharadzhin - with cheese and beet leaves.
Khaedurjyn - with minced boiled chopped beans and lard.
Nasjin - with pumpkin.
Kabuskajin - pie with cabbage and cheese.

Pies are often served instead of bread with main courses. You can wash it all down with iron bagane, a dark Ossetian beer with a rich taste, or a shot of barley arrack.

For dessert, you can eat halua - small balls of dough that are prepared using melted butter and powdered sugar.

To purchase souvenirs, you can visit the following shops in Vladikavkaz:

"Fatima";
"Souvenirs of the Caucasus";
"Tsarazon" and some others.

One of the gifts from Ossetia could be a dagger. Decorative items with beautiful handles, decorated with precious stones or with stunningly beautiful carvings can be found in almost any gift shop. Prices start from 500 rubles for the simplest souvenir dagger, and for a real one, not a souvenir one, you will have to pay an amount of 2000 rubles.

No less popular souvenirs are:

Key rings.
Wooden figures.
Paintings depicting Uastirdzhi - the patron saint of men, a mediator between people and God.

In North Ossetia, products with the image of Uastirdzhi are considered a talisman and bring good luck to warriors. The price for a bronze keychain starts from 650 rubles. You can take Ossetian cheese with you as an edible souvenir. It is recommended to buy it at the Central Market of Vladikavkaz