Natural features of the Republic of Chechnya

The Chechen Republic is located in the northeast of the North Caucasus and Eastern Ciscaucasia.

The western border runs with Ingushetia, in the northwest it borders with the Republic of North Ossetia Alania. The northern border runs from Stavropol Territory, and in the east the border goes with Dagestan. The ridges of the Caucasian ranges separate it in the south from Georgia.

The length of the Republic from north to south is 170 km, and from west to east - more than 100 km.

A distinctive feature of the Republic is the exceptional diversity natural conditions, which is clearly expressed in the soil and vegetation cover, in the differences in relief and climate.

Four parts are distinguished in the relief - flat, foothill, mountain, high-mountain:

• The flat northern part is occupied by the Terek sandy massif with a height of 0 to 120 m. In the northeast there is a flat plain of the Terek delta. The Gudermes Plain is located in the east;
• The foothill part is formed by the Tersky, Sunzhensky, Groznensky, Gudermessky ridges and an elevated plain south of the Sunzha River. The heights of this part are not more than 500 m. The Sunzha Plain adjoins the Black Mountains in the north;
• South of the Black Mountains is the Rocky Range;
• In the south of the Republic, the Side Range is located - this is a high-mountainous part of the territory. The heights here become much higher and reach 1000-2500 m.

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The temperate climate of the Republic varies with altitude and from north to south. The climate is formed in the process of interaction of local and general climatic processes. Hot and long summers, short and rather mild winters.

On the plains and in the foothills, the continental air of temperate latitudes dominates throughout the year.

The temperature distribution is greatly influenced by the height above sea level. The highest temperatures in the Tersko-Kuma lowland in July reach +25 degrees. On the Chechen plain +22…+24 degrees, and in the foothills already +21…+20 degrees.

With height, the January temperature decreases - on the Chechen plain the temperature is -4 ... -4.2 degrees, in the foothills -5 ... -5.5 degrees. At an altitude of 3000 m, it drops to -1, and in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bperpetual snow it is already -18 degrees.

Precipitation is unevenly distributed. The smallest amount of 300-400 mm falls on the Tersko-Kuma lowland, and towards the south it gradually increases to 800-1000 mm.

Remark 1

The Republic is characterized by dangerous geological processes, including seismicity, subsidence, scree, landslides, snow avalanches, landslides, mudflows, karst, erosion, floods.

The diverse climate and relief create preconditions for the diversity of the plant world. Forb-fescue vegetation is characteristic of the desert steppes of the Terek sandy massif in its northern part.

Solonchak-meadow and solonchak-marsh vegetation grows in the lower reaches of the Terek in the extreme north-east of the Republic.

Floodplain meadows in combination with shrub and forest vegetation grow in the depressions of the Terek and Sunzha valleys.

In more humid places, natural vegetation is represented by feather grass steppes. Oak forests grow in the low mountains, beech already predominates in the middle mountains.

Subalpine meadows are replacing continuous forest vegetation in the upper middle mountains. At an altitude of 1800-2800 m they occupy vast territories.

Alpine meadows begin at an altitude of 2700-3500 m.

Remark 2

The vast expanses of flat territories are almost all plowed up and cultural vegetation has replaced the natural vegetation.

Natural resources of the Republic

The main wealth of the Chechen subsoil is oil - there are about 30 hydrocarbon deposits in total. There are 20 deposits within the Tersky Ridge, 7 deposits on the Sunzhensky Ridge, and 2 deposits in the Black Mountains monocline.

Remark 3

Of the total number of fields, 23 are oil fields, 4 are oil and gas fields, and 2 are pure gas fields. Chechen oil is paraffinic in composition with a high content of gasoline.

Chechnya is rich in building materials. A large deposit of cement marls has been explored in the valley of the Chanty-Argun River. Huge reserves of limestone. In the Assinsky Gorge there are limestones of beautiful colors.

Between the rivers Gekhi and Sharo-Argun there are deposits of gypsum and anhydrite. Large deposits of sandstones of the Sernovodskoye, Semashinskoye, Chishkinskoye deposits.

Mumil and ocher are mined here from mineral paints.

Deposits of black and brown coal are known, but the reserves and quality are low, so they have no industrial value.

Ore deposits have not been studied enough, there are several deposits of copper and polymetals in the upper reaches of the Armkhi and Chanty-Argun rivers.

Mineral sulfate-calcium hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen sulfide-chloride-sodium sources with high salinity and high content of hydrogen sulfide are highly valued.

Underground fresh water The Republic is insufficiently provided.

Surface waters are unevenly distributed - the mountainous part and the Chechen plain have a dense and branched river network. The territories north of the Terek have almost no rivers, which is due to the peculiarities of the climate. The main river is the Terek, the second largest is the Sunzha River.

In addition to rivers in Chechnya, there are lakes that are found both on the plains and in the mountains.

There are few lakes, but they are diverse in origin and water regime - eolian, floodplain, landslide, dam, karst, tectonic and glacial ones stand out. Eolian lakes often dry up in summer.

The natural reservoirs of Chechnya are high mountain snows and glaciers. Large glaciers are associated with the northern slope of the Side Range. Morphological types of glaciers in Chechnya are valley, cirque, hanging.

There are 10 valley glaciers, 23 cirque and 25 hanging glaciers within the Republic.

Chechen forests occupy an area of ​​361 thousand hectares or 18.7% of the territory of the Republic. In the forest fund there are relict beech forests, which are suppliers of valuable timber. In addition to them, Caucasian hornbeam, low-stemmed birch, ash, and light maple are forest-forming species. There are all the necessary natural conditions for the development of recreational resources.

Environmental problems of the Republic

Environmental problems are also characteristic of this Caucasian Republic.

Among them, the most serious include:

• pollution of air, water, soil at the local level of the zone of untouched landscapes;
• destruction of flora and fauna in areas affected by industry;
• intensive use of resources, leading to the depletion of renewable and non-renewable natural resources.

With regard to regional environmental issues, then they are determined by the level of anthropogenic load and the natural features of the region.

natural climatic conditions, the history of the formation of the territory determine the ecological situation of the capital - the city of Grozny, especially its industrial zone, which is located in a closed space in terms of geomorphology.

In such a space, emissions from industrial enterprises into the atmosphere stagnate for a long time, and natural air renewal is small.

The main air pollutants are Nurenergo JSC, oil refining, oil production and construction industries.

Pollutants are hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides.

Causes of air pollution:

• the enterprises unsatisfactorily implement decisions on environmental protection;
• large irretrievable losses;
• weak control over the state of the environment by departmental organizations;
• poor control over the operation of treatment facilities;
• low efficiency of installed gas cleaners.

Being a part of nature, society should strive for mutually beneficial cooperation with nature.

Minerals of the Chechen Republic

The beginning of industrial oil production of the republic was laid back in 1893, when the first fountain of oil gushed in the Starogroznensky district. Over the century-long history of the industry, 420 million tons of oil have been extracted from the bowels.
For the first 60 years, prospecting and exploration work here was carried out exclusively on oil and gas deposits in the Miocene deposits. Before the start of World War II, about 4 million tons of oil per year were produced in the republic. During the war years, the oil industry in Grozny was almost completely destroyed. A new stage in the development of the industry began in the late 1950s, when highly productive deposits were discovered and put into development in deep deposits of the Upper Cretaceous age. During the 1960s, oil production progressively increased until 1971, when it reached a peak level of 21.3 million tons and accounted for more than 7% of Russia's total. In the 1970s, as the productivity of these facilities naturally declined, the annual production level was reduced by a factor of three. In the 1980s - early 1990s, due to the discovery of new, but less productive deposits, production stabilized at the level of 5-4 million tons. In the 1990s, oil production plummeted.
According to the published data of the Ministry of Oil and chemical industry Chechen Republic, as of January 1, 1993, there were 23 fields in development, containing 44 oil and one oil and gas condensate deposits. Most of the deposits were already at the stage of natural depletion and increasing water cut. The degree of depletion of deposits was almost 80% - the highest in Russia. The most significant deposits are Starogroznenskoye, Bragunskoye, Oktyabrskoye, Eldarovskoye, Pravoberezhnoye and Goryacheistochnenskoye, which produced about 70% of the total production of the republic. The degree of depletion of the first four of them is almost 95%, and the other two, from which 30% of production came, exceeds 60%.
The total well stock on the above date was 1456 units, and only 9 of them are new. In 1993-94, about 880 wells were producing, including 7 new ones, and at the beginning of December 1994, only about 100 wells were operating. The average productivity of the well did not exceed 4 thousand tons per year.
The degree of exploration of the initial resources of the republic is almost 80%. It is believed that large structures are practically identified, however, the prospects for discovering deposits with smaller reserves at deeper horizons are quite high. Potential oil resources of the Chechen Republic are estimated at about 100 million tons.
In addition to the discovery of new deposits, additional development of depleted deposits, re-commissioning of flooded deposits, the residual reserves of which are estimated at 150 million tons, may be a reserve for increasing production.
Since the late 1950s, the gas industry has been intensively developing in the republic. Five free gas fields produced less than 0.1 billion cubic meters annually. Of much greater importance in the economy of the republic is associated petroleum gas, the production of which in 1992 amounted to 1.3 billion and in 1993 - 1.0 billion.
According to the composition of the oil of the Chechen Republic, it is predominantly paraffinic with a high content of gasoline. Most of the fields are located within the Tersky Ridge system, however, oil wells are also located on the Sunzhensky Ridge and the Black Mountains monocline. There is also an oil field in the Fortanga river valley.

Other minerals of Chechnya

In addition to oil and gas, the Chechen Republic has large reserves of raw materials for the development of the construction industry. Huge reserves of cement marl, limestone, dolomite, and gypsum are concentrated in the mountainous regions. The most significant reserves of cement marls have been explored in the Chanty-Argun valley. On their basis, as well as using the nearby deposits of Upper Maikop clays, the Chir-Yurt cement plant, restored after the war, operates. Limestone deposits are practically inexhaustible, and there are limestones of beautiful colors. They are well polished and can be used as a facing material.
Gypsum and anhydrite deposits are located between the Gekhi and Sharo-Argun rivers. The largest deposit is located north of the village of Ushkaloy. The gypsum-anhydrite suite here reaches 195 meters. Some varieties of gypsum and anhydrite can be used as an ornamental stone for making souvenirs and art products.
Several sandstone deposits have also been explored in Chechnya, the largest of which are Sernovodskoye, Samashkinskoye, Chishkinskoye. They are used to obtain wall and rubble stone. There are also quartz sands suitable for glass production. Near the village of Small Varanda there is a deposit of mineral paints - ocher, mummy. In the mountains, there are also deposits of table and potash salts. The explored deposits of hard and brown coal have not yet been developed due to their low quality and small reserves.
The ore potential of the Chechen Republic has not yet been sufficiently studied. Several deposits of copper and polymetals are noted in the mountainous part. In the upper reaches of the Sharo-Argun, an antimony-tungsten deposit was discovered containing tin, tantalum and niobium. The sulfur deposit near the village of the Zone is also of interest. On the Chechen plain there are numerous deposits of brick-tile and pottery clay, gravel. Large deposits of building and glass sands, limestone-shell rock, sandstones, brick-tile and bleaching clays are known on the Terek-Sunzhenskaya Upland.
The use of hard coal reserves is currently not profitable for reasons common to the coal mining industry in Russia, as well as due to the depletion of coal seams and the complexity of developing deposits in the KChR. Coal mining in 1996-1997 was only 35 thousand tons per year.
Of great industrial importance is the extraction of copper pyrite ores with a high content of copper and associated zinc. Main deposit. Urupskoye (6 more have been explored, including the large copper Bykovskoye in the Labinsk Gorge). Urupsky Mining and Processing Plant (GOK) is the main copper mining enterprise in the industry, the second largest is Zelenchuksky GOK.
Deposits of gold (near Rozhkao) and silver have been discovered on the territory of the KChR. There are significant reserves of polymetallic ores (the Khudesskoye deposit is the eastern region of the copper-bearing zone), some of which contain copper, zinc, cobalt, etc.
The Republic needs investments for the development of promising fields:
- tungsten ores (Kti-Teberdinsky - a feasibility study for the construction of the Aksautsky tungsten mining and processing plant has been prepared);
- hematite ores (the Biychesyn-Bermamytskoye deposit, with an annual production of 120-150 thousand tons, they can be used to supply iron-containing additives for Kavkazcement JSC and other regions of Russia);
- copper pyrite and sulfur pyrite ores (Khudessky);
- Porcelain stone (at the present time, porcelain and ceramic factories in Russia are experiencing a shortage of raw materials, which is estimated at 350-400 thousand tons in the average annual measurement);
- gold-bearing ores, which, with the necessary additional exploration and development, will provide more than 100 tons of gold.

http://protown.ru

Chechnya has everything you need for the most memorable trip of your life: rich culture, unique history, diverse mountain landscapes, unique architecture and delicious traditional food!
Itum-Kalinsky district is rightfully considered the leader in the Chechen Republic in terms of attendance by tourists from all over the world at any time of the year. There are a whole host of reasons for this. First of all, this is a good location, thanks to which it is easy to get here.
The mountain landscapes of the Itum-Kalinsky district, the healing combination of the purest mountain air and spring water give tourists and vacationers incomparable pleasure. The contemplation of Chechen sights artistically inscribed in mountain landscapes leaves an unforgettable pleasure in the heart of every tourist.

Shatili fortress

TOURISM AND SIGHTS IN CHECHNYA

Beautiful tower structures in Chechnya

In the art and architecture of the Chechens, the past of the Chechen people is forever imprinted, full of anxieties, heroic efforts to survive and preserve their national dignity and culture.
The tower structures are harmonious, perfectly inscribed in the mountain landscape, the rhythm of the parts (the periodicity of large and small both in one building and in their complex) contributes to the perception of nature and the things created by people as a single whole. This is where the school for modern architects is.
Undoubtedly, the traits of the national character of the Chechens could not have been formed outside the majestic landscape of their homeland with its impregnable mountains, tower settlements, quiet necropolises and mysterious sanctuaries. And this historical landscape must be valued and protected, treated as an invaluable gift received from the ancestors.

Local Lore Museum. Hussein Isaeva
Local Lore Museum of the Chechen Republic. Hussein Isaev is located among the mountains, in the valley of the Argun River. The path to it lies through the Argun Gorge. Driving along a narrow winding road, guests of the republic can admire the amazing view of the emerald mountain river and the majestic rocks.

Museum. Hussein Isaev was created on the territory of the ancient tower complex Pkhakoch. Presumably, this is a medieval castle of the XII-XIII centuries, from which it was convenient for the ancestors of the current Chechens to monitor the approach of opponents from Dagestan and Georgia.

According to legend, Phakoch appeared thanks to the glorious hero Eaton. While traveling, he stopped among the mountains by the road to rest, and when he woke up, he saw that a swallow had built a nest on his sword, and a spider had woven a silver web. Eaton thought that this was a good sign and decided to build a village on this site, which is now called Itum-Kali. The Phakoch tower complex consists of several military and residential towers, a water mill and a mosque in which a madrasah operates.

The local history museum has several expositions. One of them is dedicated to the memory of the first chairman of the state council of the republic, Hussein Isaev. He tragically died during a terrorist attack at the Dynamo stadium, along with the first president of the republic, Akhmat Kadyrov. The museum keeps the clothes that Isaev was wearing during the explosion. The exposition is arranged in the form of an office famous politician. Especially for her, his desk and negotiating table were transported from Grozny to Itum-Kali. On the green tabletop is a working document with notes by the chairman of the state council of the republic, on the walls are photographs of like-minded people. Some personal belongings of the politician are also stored here (among them is the briefcase with which he went to work every day).

Special attention is paid to the exhibition scientific works Isaev. For some time Hussein Abubakarovich taught at the university, talked a lot with students about economics, was fond of computer science and believed that the future belongs to globalization, including informational one.

On the first floor of the residential tower is a purely local history exhibition. Antiquities are collected here. You can see what copper vessels for water, wine and ablutions looked like in the 20th century, look at weapons and jewelry, and even try on national clothes.

A separate exhibit in this museum is the Book of Wishes and Reviews. In it, you can leave your parting words or suggestions, give advice, or simply write words of gratitude. Hundreds of cities and thousands of names in Russian, English, and even Arabic. In the book, in addition to guests from numerous Russian cities, guests from Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Odessa left their notes. The memories and impressions of those who come to get acquainted with the culture of the Chechen people are stored here.

By the way, visitors to the museum meet the traditions of local residents right on the doorstep. According to Chechen customs, a guest should enter the house with respect. Therefore, you can only enter this building by bowing, and the tiny doors that were created at the beginning of the 13th century help in observing these traditions.

Ushkaloy watchtowers of the 11th century Chechnya, Chechen Republic

The towers, built into the cut of the rock, are located in the Phochchu area (in the settlement), between the villages of Guchum-Kale and Ushkala of the Itum-Kalinsky district on the right bank of the Chanty-Argun River. The tower is four-story, about 12 m high, slightly tapering upwards.

The towers have a peculiar architecture, they have three walls, the fourth wall is a rock. It is composed of stones well processed on lime mortar. The roof of the tower is a stone peak of the rock. The northern and southern walls of the tower are laid out along the relief of the rock to which they adjoin, so they have different widths (from 2.0 to 3.5 m). The entrance opening is organized at a height of 2.5 m from the base on the north side and is made in the form of a rounded arch lined with stones. Just above it is a loophole. At the very top of the wall is a small window opening.

The western wall has one window opening on the 3rd floor and six loopholes: one on the 1st and 4th floors, two loopholes on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

The southern wall has five loopholes at different levels. In the upper part, the remains of machicolations in the form of stone brackets (two brackets with one embrasure) have been preserved. At the very top of the wall there is a window opening. The dimensions of the tower are 5.0 x 3.5 m. The thickness of the wall at the level of the entrance opening is 60 cm.

Towers built into rock niches typologically belong to the oldest type of buildings. In mountainous Chechnya, similar buildings were located in rocky massifs, on steep rocky banks of rivers, sometimes at very high altitudes. Cracks in the rocks or mountain caves were laid from the outside with stones, arranging door and window openings, loopholes and viewing slots - as in an ordinary tower. Most often, such towers had one or three walls. The Ushkaloy tower is located under the huge peak of the rocky mountain Selin-Lam.

Chechnya Grozny city

Mosque "Heart of Chechnya"

One of the signs of the new Grozny was the mosque named after him. A. Kadyrov "Heart of Chechnya", built in the center of Grozny. I learned from Wikipedia that this mosque was conceived by Akhmat Kadyrov, then the Mufti of Chechnya, who agreed with the mayor of the Turkish city of Konya, Khalil Urun, to build a Cathedral Mosque in the center of Grozny, designed for 2 thousand people.

The decision to build an Islamic center in Chechnya was made in 1980 by the decision of the USSR government (http://russights.ru/post_1272907564.html), construction was stopped after the collapse of the USSR.

The construction of the mosque began in 1997 at the place where until 1991 the “Ploshchad im. V.I. Lenin”, Regional Committee of the CPSU old building, Regional Committee of the CPSU new building, high school No. 1, Republican Station Young Technicians, the new building of the Grozny Oil Institute (GNI, building B).
All these buildings were destroyed by the first bombings in the first Chechen one, as the Tatar Rosa told me, wondering why exactly these buildings were destroyed first, wondering who they harmed.

In the fall of 1999, due to instability in the republic and the subsequent hostilities, construction was suspended. The next construction was started in April 2006 and ended in October 2008.

Night walk in Grozny

Night walk around the city of Grozny. Mosque "Heart of Chechnya" with beautiful lighting and fountains, skyscrapers with their new lighting design.
The central 40-storey building "Phoenix" is under reconstruction at the stage of completion and its opening is planned for the day of the city of Grozny on October 5. Grozny City Hotel.
Photos of the newly rebuilt city of Grozny, probably, cannot leave anyone indifferent.

city ​​of Argun Chechnya

City of Argun and Shali

The Chechen Republic is changing every day, and it is impossible not to notice! Every time they come here, residents and guests of Chechnya notice more and more new buildings. We invite you to visit two wonderful cities Argun and Shali.
The city of Argun is located on the Chechen foothill plain, on the Argun River, 16 km east of Grozny.

Chechnya. Lake Kezenoy-Am and surroundings.

There is one remarkable place in the mountains on the border of Chechnya and Dagestan - the blue lake Kezenoy-Am. It is located at an altitude of 1869 meters above sea level. At one time, there was an Olympic base for the country's national rowing team and a developed tourist infrastructure on its shores, and now restoration work is underway. So far, this is one of the favorite vacation spots in the region (especially those who are keen on fishing), although it takes quite a long time to get here from the lowland towns. One of the attractions of the reservoir is the Eisenam trout, it is listed in the Red Book of Russia. But first things first.

There was not a single cloud in the sky on Sunday morning on August 12 in Grozny, which gave hope for a fine day. We had to overcome a little more than 100 km, of which almost half was on a mountain grader. Start scheduled at 10 o'clock. The way to Argun flew by unnoticed - the quality of the road is European, a spacious autobahn. In Argun we turned towards the mountains. After 20 km, after the small town of Shali, the plain is gradually overgrown with wooded ridges. Here, at the entrance to the mountains, the longest village stretched for kilometers along the river. Serzhen-Yurt, which was often heard during the dashing war years. Upstream is the oldest Chechen settlement of Vedeno, and even further - Kharachoy - homeland national hero, the famous abrek Zelimkhan Gushmazukaev (Kharachoevsky). Here it is just right to make the first of countless stops along the way. These places belong to the historical region of the Vainakhs - Ichkeria.

1. Monument to the legendary abrek in the village of Kharachoy.

Pro life path Zelimkhan wrote huge books. I recommend M. Mamakaev http://zhaina.com/2007/06/15/zelimhan.html, and you can get a superficial look here http://leko007.livejournal.com/57592.html.

And we're moving on. After Kharachoy, the asphalt ends. The path to the lake lies through the Harami pass. We have to drive on it along a winding grader road, and then similarly go down to the lake on the other side of the ridge.

city ​​of Gudermes Chechnya

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CHECHNYA
Chechen Republic (Chechnya) (Chech. Nokhchiyn Republic, Nokhchiycho) - a republic (subject) consisting of Russian Federation.

It is part of the North Caucasian Federal District.

It borders: in the west - with the Republic of Ingushetia, in the northwest - with the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, in the north - with the Stavropol Territory, in the northeast and east - with Dagestan, in the south - with Georgia. The southern border of Chechnya, coinciding with the state border of the Russian Federation, runs along the crests of the ridges. There are no clearly defined natural boundaries for the rest of the stretch. From north to south, the Chechen Republic stretches for 170 km, from west to east - more than 100 km.

The capital is the city of Grozny (Chech. Solzha-GIala).

According to the amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation - Russia (RSFSR) of 1978, it was formed on January 9, 1993. On December 25, 1993, the Constitution of the Russian Federation adopted at the popular vote came into force, which confirmed the existence of the Chechen Republic.

Geographical position

The Chechen Republic is located in the North Caucasus, in the valleys of the Terek and Sunzha rivers. In the northern regions there are steppes and semi-deserts (Tersko-Kuma lowland), in the center - forest-steppe plains (Chechen plain), in the south - the Caucasus mountains. Mountain ranges, intermountain valleys and hollows occupy about 35% of the territory of the Chechen Republic. The rest of the territory is plains, mostly heavily crossed by hills. The mountains occupy the entire southern part of the republic in a strip 30-50 km wide.

Physical-geographical zones
Physically and geographically, Chechnya is divided into four zones: mountainous, mountainous, foothills and plains.

In high mountain zone The climate is harsh, the mountains are covered with snow and glaciers. To the north, the mountains go down, vegetation appears. The valleys are covered with a layer of chernozem; there are many pastures here. Cattle breeding has been the main occupation of the inhabitants of this zone since ancient times.

The mountain zone is dominated by ridges and spurs, which are covered with a thick layer of chernozem and forests. People call them Chech. 1arzha lamnash - Black Mountains. The mountains are cut by winding beams, with transparent streams and waterfalls falling from a height. Oak, plane tree, beech, hornbeam, linden, ash, alpine maple, elm, hazel, as well as wild fruit trees grow in the forests of this zone: apple, pear, dogwood, plum. Many different herbs and plants grow in the forests, among which there are also medicinal ones.

The foothill zone stretches as a flat wooded strip all the way to the Sunzha. She is more abundant natural resources, the land here is more fertile than in the mountains, there are many fruit trees. Climatic conditions favor local heat-loving southern plants. Forests in the past accounted for almost a third of the territory of Chechnya. Forests rich in timber species played an important role in the economy of the Chechens.

The flat zone includes the southern part of the Terek-Kuma lowland (the left bank of the Terek) and the Chechen foothill plain between the Terek, Sunzha, Grozny ridges in the north and the Black Mountains in the south.

baptism in combat conditions Chechnya

Minerals
There are about 30 oil and gas fields in the republic, mainly within the Tersky and Sunzha ranges.
Building materials and raw materials for their production (cement marl, limestone, gypsum, sandstone, mineral paints).
Mineral springs (Sernovodsk).

Climate
The climate is continental. Chechnya is characterized by a significant variety of climatic conditions. The average temperature in January ranges from -3 °C in the Tersko-Kuma lowland to -12 °C in the mountains, the average temperature in July is 25 and 21 °C, respectively. It falls from 300 (on the Terek-Kuma lowland) to 1000 mm (in the southern regions) of precipitation per year.

Soils
The soils on the plains are predominantly meadow. Chernozems occur in higher elevations, marsh-meadow soils in river valleys, and mountain-forest and mountain-meadow soils in the mountains.

Vegetation
On the Chechen plain - steppe and forest-steppe vegetation. In the mountains at an altitude of up to 2200 m - broad-leaved forests, higher - subalpine meadows.

Animal world
The fauna of the mountain forests of Chechnya is rich and varied. The largest animal is the bear, which lives in dense forests and narrow rocky gorges littered with windbreak. Roe deer can be found on the edges and forest clearings. There are many wild boars in the forests. A forest cat lives in the deaf beams, occasionally a lynx is found; wolf, fox, hare, deer, chamois, fallow deer, pine and stone marten, jackal, badger, weasel live in mountain forests. There are a lot of birds in the mountain forests. Finches, warblers, tits, bullfinches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, blackbirds, jays, and owls live here.

Hydrography
Rivers
The main rivers are: Terek, Sunzha, Argun, Sharoargun, Gekhi, Khulhulau, Aksai, Martan, Baas, Gums, Yamansu, Yaryk-su, Shalazha, Netkhoy, Roshnya, Michik, Fortanga, Assa, Chemulga. The rivers on the territory of the republic are unevenly distributed. The mountainous part has a dense, branched river network; there are no rivers on the Terek-Sunzhenskaya Upland and in areas north of the Terek. Almost all the rivers of Chechnya belong to the Terek system. The exceptions are Aksai, Yaman-Su, Yaryk-Su, which belong to the Aktash river system.

For irrigation and watering of the Nogai steppe and the Black Lands, the Tersko-Kuma main canal was built.

lakes
Lake Kezenoyam (Chech. K'ovzanan Іam, Chech. Kleznoy-lam) - Vedensky district - the largest and deepest mountain lake in the North Caucasus
Lake Galanchozh (Chech. Galain-Iam) - Galanchozh district
Lake Gekhi-Am (Chech. Gikhtoy-Iam) - Achkhoy-Martan district
Lake Chentiy-am (Chech. ChІantii-Iam) - Itum-Kalinsky district
Lake Urgyukhkhoy-am (Chech. Iurgyukhkhoy-Iam) - Shatoy district
Lake Cherkasskoye - Shelkovskaya district
Lake Big (Chech. Bokh-Iam) - Shelkovskaya district
Salt Lake (Chech. Dyur-Iam) - Shelkovskaya district
Lake Chechenskoe (Chech. Chechana-Iam) - Naursky district
Lake Kapustino - Naursky district
Lake Mayorskoye - Naursky district
Lake General - Naursky district
Lake Bezik-Ome (Chech. Bezik-Iom) - Shatoi district
Lake Amga (Chech. Iamga) - Sharoysky district

Maysta Chechnya

waterfalls
Argun waterfalls
Sharo-Argun waterfalls
Geghi waterfalls
Aksai waterfalls
Khulhuloi waterfalls
Peaks-four-thousanders
Tebulosmta (Chech. Tuloy-Lam) - 4493 m
Diklosmta (Chech. Dukluo-Lam) - 4285 m
Komito (Chech. Khumetta-Lam) - 4262 m
Donosmta (Chech. Donoy-Lam) - 4174 m
Maistismta (Chech. Miaystoy-Lam) - 4082 m

Grozny in the 1st Chechen war

GEOGRAPHY OF CHECHNYA
Geography of the Chechen Republic

TERSK-KUM LOWLAND
The Tersko-Kuma lowland is located between the Terek in the south and Kuma in the north. In the west, its natural boundary is the Stavropol Upland, and in the east, the Caspian Sea. Only the southern part of the Tersko-Kuma lowland belongs to the Chechen Republic. Almost three-quarters of its entire area here is occupied by the Tersky sand massif. With its hilly relief, it clearly stands out among the surrounding flat spaces. Geologically, the Tersko-Kuma lowland is a part of the Ciscaucasian trough, filled from above with marine deposits of the Caspian Sea.
In the Quaternary time, most of the Terek-Kuma lowland was repeatedly flooded with the waters of the Caspian Sea. The last transgression occurred at the end of the Ice Age. Judging by the distribution of marine deposits of this transgression, called the Khvalynskaya, the level of the Caspian Sea at that time reached 50 meters above sea level. Almost the entire area of ​​the Tersko-Kuma lowland was occupied by the sea basin.
The rivers flowing into the Khvalynsk basin brought a mass of suspended material deposited at the mouths and forming large sandy deltas. At present, these ancient deltas have been preserved in the lowlands in the form of sandy massifs. The largest of them - Tersky - is almost entirely located on the territory of the Chechen Republic. It represents the delta of the ancient Kura.
One of the common landforms of the Pritersky massif is ridge sands. They stretch in parallel rows in the latitudinal direction, coinciding with the direction of the prevailing winds. The height of the ridges can vary from 5-8 to 20-25 meters, the width - from several tens to several hundred meters. The ridges are separated from one another by inter-row hollows, which, as a rule, are wider than the ridges themselves. The ridges are overgrown with vegetation and have soft outlines.
An interesting form of sand formations in the Pritersky massif is sand dunes. They are especially pronounced in its northern and northeastern parts. Dune sands are located in chains stretched perpendicular to the prevailing east and west winds. The height of individual ridges reaches 30-35 meters. Dune chains are separated by through valleys and hollows of blowing.
During the years of Soviet power in the Pritersky massif, great work for fixing loose sands with woody and herbaceous vegetation.
There are also other landforms in the Pritersky massif - hilly sands. They are overgrown sandy hills of soft outlines 3-5 meters high. Within the limits of the Tersko-Kuma lowland, the valley of the Terek River should be especially singled out. The left-bank part of it is characterized by well-defined terraces, the entire complex of which can be clearly seen near the village of Ishcherskaya.

Mother of the New Martyr Eugene - Lyubov Radionova

CHECHEN FOOTHILL PLAIN
The Chechen foothill plain is part of the Terek-Sunzhensky plain, located south of the Sunzhensky ridge. The Assinovskiy spur divides the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya plain into two separate foothill plains - Ossetian and Chechenskaya, which is bounded from the south by the foot of the Black Mountains, and from the north by the Sunzhensky and Tersky ridges. In the northeast direction, the plain gently decreases from 350 to 100 meters.
Its surface is dissected by the valleys of numerous rivers crossing it in the meridional direction. This gives the monotonous flat relief a wavy character.
The northern part of the plain, which goes to the Sunzha River, is more indented by valleys, dry channels and gullies. Here, in addition to the rivers flowing down from the mountains, in many places springs come to the surface, forming the so-called "black rivers" that flow into the Sunzha.
River valleys at the exit from the mountains to the plain usually have steep banks up to 20-25 meters high. To the north, the height of the coast drops to 2-3 meters. Well-defined terraces can be observed only in the valleys of the Sunzha and Argun rivers. The rest of the rivers do not have them at all or they are found in their infancy along the bends.
The watershed of the Argun and Goita rivers is distinguished by a peculiar relief on the plain. It is almost not dissected at all and is a small hill, elongated in the meridional direction, gently lowering towards both rivers.
The Chechen plain is the most populated place in the republic. Over its entire area, large Chechen villages and Cossack villages are picturesquely spread out, immersed in the greenery of orchards.

Chechnya, Chechen Republic

TERSK-SUNZHENSKAYA HIGHLIGHTS
The region of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya upland is an interesting example of the almost complete coincidence of tectonic structures with the forms of modern relief. Ranges correspond to anticlines here, and valleys separating them correspond to synclines.
The formation of the upland is connected with the mountain-building processes of the Cenozoic time, which gave the final structural form to the Caucasus Range.
The Terek and Sunzhensk complex anticlinal folds are expressed in the relief in the form of two parallel mountain ranges slightly convex to the north: the northern - Terek and the southern - Kabardino-Sunzhenskaya. Each of them, in turn, is divided into a number of ridges, consisting of one or more anticlinal folds.
The Tersky Range stretches for almost 120 kilometers. Its western part from the valley of the Kurp River to the village of Mineralny has a latitudinal direction. The most significant peaks are also confined to it: Mount Tokareva (707 meters), Mount Malgobek (652 meters), etc. In the area of ​​​​the village of Mineralny, the lower Eldarovsky Range branches off from the Tersky Range in the north-west direction. Between the Tersky and Eldar ridges is the Kalyausskaya valley, formed in a longitudinal trough.
Near the village of Mineralnoe, the Tersky Range turns to the southeast, maintaining this direction up to Mount Khayan-Kort, and then, again changing it to a latitudinal one, the maximum heights of the peaks of the central and eastern parts of the Tersky Range do not exceed 460-515 meters. At the eastern end of the Tersky Range, the Bragunsky Range stretches at a slight angle relative to it.
The continuation of the northern chain and its final Even is the Gudermes Range with the peak of Geiran-Kort (428 meters). Its length is about 30 kilometers. At the Aksai River, it connects with the spurs of the Black Mountains.
Between the Bragunsky and Gudermessky ridges, a narrow passage (Gudermessky Gates) was formed, through which the Sunzha River breaks into the Terek-Kuma lowland.
The southern chain consists of three main ranges: Zmeisky, Malo-Kabardinsky and Sunzhensky. The Sunzha Range is separated from the Malo-Kabardinsky by the Achaluk Gorge. The length of the Sunzha Range is about 70 kilometers, the highest point is Mount Albaskin (778 meters). At the Achaluk Gorge, the low plateau-like Nazran Upland adjoins the Sunzha Range, merging in the south with the Dattykh Upland. At the exit from the Alkhanchurt valley, between the Tersky and Sunzhensky ridges, the Grozny ridge stretches for 20 kilometers. In the west it is connected with the Sunzha Range by a small bridge, in the east it ends with the Tashkala Upland (286 meters). The Grozny and Sunzhensky ranges are separated by a rather wide Andreevskaya valley.
To the southeast of the Sunzhensky Range, between the Sunzha and Dzhalka rivers, the Novogroznensky, or Aldynsky, range stretched out. Khankala gorge and the modern valley of the Argun river, it is divided into three separate hills: Suyr-Kort with the top of Belk-Barz (398 meters), Süyl Kort (432 meters) and Goyt-Kort (237 meters).
The Terek and Sunzha ranges are separated by the Alkhanchurt valley, which is about 60 kilometers long. Its width is 10-12 kilometers in the middle part and 1-2 kilometers between the Tersky and Grozny ridges.
The surface of the ridges of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya upland is composed of slate, often gypsum-bearing clays, ferruginous sandstones, and pebbles. Quaternary deposits in the form of forest-like loams are widespread here. They cover the lower parts of the warehouses of the ridges, line the bottom of the Alkhanchurt valley, the surface of the Terek terraces.
The slopes of the ridges of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya upland in some places keep traces of the former strong erosion and form a patterned lace of intricately combined gentle spurs and gullies, hills and basins, saddles and ravines.
The northern slopes, as a rule, are more dissected than the southern ones. There are more beams on them, they are deeper and more pronounced in the relief. When moving to the east, the degree of dissection decreases.
The northern slope of the Tersky Range is distinguished by the greatest indentation. The northern slopes of the Eldarovsky, Bragunsky and Gudermessky ridges are poorly dissected. The slopes of the Tersky and Sunzhensky ridges facing the Alkhanchurt valley are gentle and long.
The Nadterechnaya Plain extends north of the Tersky Range. It is an ancient terrace of the Terek and has a slight slope to the north. Its flat character is broken in some places by slight undulations, as well as by a gently sloping elongated hill. In the western part, the ancient terrace imperceptibly merges with the third terrace; in the eastern part, this transition is marked by a sharp ledge.

MOUNTAIN PART
The section of the northern slope of the Caucasus Range, on which the southern part of the territory of the Chechen Republic is located, is the northern wing of the huge Caucasian fold.
The relief of the mountains was formed as a result of a long geological process. The primary relief, created by the internal forces of the Earth, has undergone a transformation under the influence of external forces and has become more complex.
The main role in the transformation of the relief belongs to the rivers. Possessing great energy, mountain rivers cut through the small anticlinal folds that appeared on their way through valleys, called breakthrough valleys. Such valleys are found on the Assa and Fortang when they cross the Dattykh anticline, on the Sharo-Argun and Chanty-Argun, in the place where they cross the Varandi anticline, and on some other rivers.
Later, in transverse valleys, in places composed of easily destroyed rocks, longitudinal valleys of tributaries appeared, which then divided the northern slope of the Caucasus Range into a number of parallel ridges. As a result of this dismemberment, the Black Mountains, Pasture, Rocky and Side Ranges arose on the territory of the republic. The ridges were formed where strong and resistant rocks come to the surface. The longitudinal valleys located between the ridges, on the contrary, are confined to the distribution bands of rocks that are easily amenable to erosion. The lowest range is the Black Mountains. Its peaks reach no more than 1000-1200 meters above sea level.
The Black Mountains are composed of easily destroyed rocks, clays, sandstones, marls, conglomerates. Therefore, the relief here has soft, rounded outlines, which is typical for the landscape of low mountains. The Black Mountains are dissected by river valleys and numerous gullies into separate massifs and do not form a continuous mountain range. They make up the zone of the foothills of the republic.
In the Black Mountains, in areas composed of clays of the Maikop Formation, landslides are frequent.
Actually the mountainous part of the republic is distinctly expressed by a number of high ridges. According to the features of the relief, it is divided into two zones: the zone of limestone ridges, which include the Pastbishchny and Skalisty ridges, and the shale-sandstone zone, represented by the Lateral ridge and its spurs. Both zones are composed of sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic age. The composition of the rocks that make up the first zone is dominated by various limestones. The second zone is composed mainly of argillaceous and black shales.
The zone of limestone ridges in the western part is complicated by the Kori-Lamsky anticline and many thrusts and normal faults, and in the eastern part - by the coarse Varandian anticline fold. Therefore, the width of the zone itself varies in different places. Thus, in the Fortanga River basin its width reaches 20 kilometers, in the upper Martan it narrows to 4-5 kilometers, and in the Argun basin it expands again, reaching 30 or more kilometers. As a result, the Pasture Ridge on the territory of the Chechen Republic has a complex structure and consists of a whole system of ridges. In the western part, it branches into three parallel chains, divided by river valleys into a number of separate ridges. The largest of them are Kori-Lam, Mord-Lam and Ush-Kort.
In the central part of the republic, the Pasture Range stretches in the form of one chain - the Peshkhoy Mountains. In the eastern part, it is represented by the Andean Range, from which numerous spurs extend.
Some peaks of the Pasture Range are over 2,000 meters above sea level.
South of the Pasture Ridge is the highest of the limestone ridges - Skalisty. It is only in a few places intersected by river valleys and for a considerable extent has the character of a watershed ridge.
The highest point of the Rocky Range is the peak of the Rocky, or Khakhalgi (3036 meters), which ends the Tsorey-Lam Range. From this peak, the Rocky Range turns to the northeast in the form of the Yerdy Range and stretches to the Gekhi River, which crosses it with the deep Gekhi Gorge. From the Gekhi River, the Rocky Range stretches to the southeast to the Kiri-Lam Range, goes to the valley of the Sharo-Argun River near the village of Kiri.
The relief of limestone ridges is peculiar. Their slopes, although steep, are not sheer. They are strongly smoothed, do not form rocky ledges. In many places, the foot of the slopes are covered with powerful talus of slate rubble.
The side ridge, stretching along the southern border of the republic, is a chain of the highest mountain ranges, composed of highly dislocated shale-sandstone and Lower Jurassic deposits. In this section of the Caucasus, it is almost 1000 meters higher than the Main Range. Only in two places does it intersect with the valleys of the Assy and Chanty-Argun rivers.
In the western part of the republic, between the Terek and Assa, the Side Range does not have the character of an independent range and is essentially a spur of the Main, or Dividing Range. To the east, in the Makhis Magali massif (3989 meters), the Lateral Range is already acquiring the features of a separate range, bounded from the north by the longitudinal valley of the Guloi-Khi River, and from the south by the longitudinal valleys of the Assy and Chanty-Argun tributaries. Further to the east, the links of the Side Range on the territory of the Chechen Republic are the Pirikiteli ridge with the peaks of Tebulos-Mta (4494 meters), Komito-Dattykh Kort (4271 meters), Donoo Mta (1178 meters) and the Snow Range, the highest point of which is Mount Diklos-Mta (4274 meters).
All these ridges form a watershed ridge, which stretches in a continuous 75-kilometer chain between the upper reaches of the Chanty-Argun and Sharo-Argun rivers in the north, the Pirikiteli Al and Zapyu and Andiysky-Koysu in the south.
The dominant role in the highland zone belongs to the longitudinal valleys of the main rivers. It is the longitudinal dissection that determines here the main features of the relief. Glacial and firn erosion plays an important role in its formation. Various forms of alpine relief are perfectly expressed here: circuses, curries, moraines. Glaciers have given many peaks above the snow line a pyramidal shape with sharp ridges separating the cirques of neighboring firn fields.
Below modern glaciers, traces of Quaternary glaciation have been preserved in the form of zircons already devoid of ice, suspended side valleys with waterfalls breaking off from them, terminal moraines, and glacial lakes.
Between the Rocky and Side Ranges stretches a narrow strip of mountains composed of shale and sandstones of the Middle Jurassic. These rocks are easily destroyed. Therefore, there are no rocky cliffs or deepest gorges.

mountain village Sharoy

Historical regions of Chechnya
Akka is located in the southwest of Chechnya.
Aukh - located in the gorges of the Yaryksu, Yamansu and Aktash rivers, today it is part of the Republic of Dagestan.
Galayn-Chozh is located in the southwest of Chechnya
Karabulakia (Artskha) - located in the lower reaches of the Fortanga River and the upper reaches of the Assa River, currently part of Ingushetia.
Ichkeria is located in the southeast of Chechnya. Often, the entire territory of Chechnya is mistakenly called Ichkeria, which is not true.
Maysta is located in the southwest of Chechnya.
Melchista is located on the left bank of the Argun.
Nashkha is located in the southwest of Chechnya.
Terla is located in the south of Chechnya.
Chebirla is located in the southeast of Chechnya, on the border with the Republic of Dagestan.
Organchezh - (Includes small areas: Chanta, Zumsa, Khildekhara, Khachar, Dishna) - Argun Gorge, mountainous Chechnya.
Sharoy is located in the southeast of Chechnya, on the border with the Republic of Dagestan.
Shatoi is located on the Chanty-Argun River, in the mountainous part of Chechnya.
Lesser Chechnya - includes the western part of the Chechen plain, the Alkhanchurt valley and the Sunzha Range.
Greater Chechnya - includes the central-eastern part of the Chechen plain.
Nadterechnaya Chechnya is located in the northwestern part of Chechnya, on the Tersky Range and on the Terek River.
Michigia is located in the gorges of the Michik River.
Kachkalykia is located on the Gudermes Plain between the Terek River and the Gudermes Range.
Baloi is located in the west of Chechnya, in the gorges of the Chozh, Nitkhoi and Shalazhi rivers.
Pirikit Tushetia (Pirikita) is located in the south of Chechnya, the historical lands of the Chechen taip Batsoy. It is located in the gorges of the Pirikita River, at the source of the Andi-Koysu River, currently part of Georgia.
Phiya - located in the upper reaches of the Chanty-Argun River, in the gorges of the Andaki and Western Argun rivers, the historical lands of the Chechen taip Pkhy, currently part of Georgia.

mountain lake in Chechnya

Story
Middle Ages
Sheikh Mansur - military, religious and political leader of the Caucasian highlanders during the uprising of 1785-1791.
Kunta Khadzhi, Chechen saint, sheikh of the Kadiriya-Khadzhimyuridiya Sufi brotherhood, pacifist.
Since the 9th century, the flat part of the modern territory of Chechnya was part of the Alanian kingdom, and the mountainous part was part of the Sarir kingdom. The direct ancestors of the Chechens and Ingush lived in the mountains - the Nokhcho (Nokhchi) tribe.

In the XIII century, as a result of the invasion of the Mongols, the ancestors of the Chechens were forced to leave the plains and go to the mountains.
In the 14th century, the Chechens formed the early feudal state of Simsir, which was later destroyed by the troops of Tamerlane.

After the collapse of the Golden Horde, the flat regions of the modern Chechen Republic fell under the control of Kabardian and Dagestan feudal lords. Displaced from the flat lands, which for several centuries were controlled by nomadic and semi-nomadic Turkic-speaking tribes, the Chechens until the 16th century lived mainly in the mountains. This period includes the emergence and formation of the taip structure of Chechen society.

16th century
Since the 16th century, part of the Chechens began to gradually return from the mountainous regions to the Chechen plain, to the Terek valley, to the banks of the Sunzha and Argun. The beginning of the expansion of the Russian state in the North Caucasus, in the Western Caspian region, which followed the defeat of the Astrakhan Khanate, dates back to the same time. The Kabardian princes became an ally of the Russian state in this region, experiencing increasing pressure from the Crimean Khanate - a vassal of the Ottoman Empire - and the Tarkovsky shamkhalate. It was the Kabardian Valiy (Prince) Temryuk Idarovich who asked Ivan the Terrible to build a fortress at the mouth of the Sunzha to protect him from enemies. Tersky prison, built in 1567, became the first Russian fortified point in this region.

The first Cossack settlers, however, appeared on the Terek long before that. Already in the first half of the 16th century, Cossack towns were located on the right bank of the Terek "on the ridges", that is, on the eastern and northern slopes of the Tersky Range, at the confluence of the Argun River with the Sunzha, from which their name came - Grebensky Cossacks.

The first written evidence of Russian authorities about contacts with Chechens dates back to the second half of the 16th century. In the 1570s, one of the largest Chechen rulers, Prince Shikh-Murza Okotsky (Akkinsky), established ties with Moscow, the first Chechen embassy arrived in Moscow, petitioning for the acceptance of Chechens under Russian protection, and Fyodor I Ioannovich issued a corresponding letter. However, already in 1610, after his assassination and the overthrow of his heir Batai, the Okotsk principality was captured by the Kumyk princes.

WITH late XVI century, a significant number of Cossack settlers from the Don, Volga, Khopra moved to the North Caucasus. They made up the grassroots, actually "Terek" Cossacks, which was formed later than the Grebensky (in the 16th-18th centuries). In addition to the Russians, representatives of the mountain peoples, Kalmyks, Nogais, Orthodox Ossetians and Circassians, Georgians and Armenians who fled from Ottoman and Persian oppression, were also accepted into the Terek Cossack army, the official date of formation of which is 1577.

XVII-XVIII centuries
During the XVII - early XVIII centuries. The Caucasus is becoming an object of aspirations and rivalry between the Shah of Iran and the Ottoman Empire, on the one hand, and Russia, on the other. In the middle of the 17th century, Safavid Iran, having divided the spheres of influence in Transcaucasia with the Ottoman Empire, tried with the help of Azerbaijani and Dagestan allies to oust Russia from the Western Caspian and establish its political hegemony in the North Caucasus from Derbent up to the Sunzha River. Turkey in the Black Sea (western) part of the North Caucasus acted through its vassal - the Crimean Khanate. At the same time, hatching plans to seize the North-Eastern Caucasus, Turkey intensively sent its emissaries here, the main task of which was to attract the feudal leaders of Dagestan and Kabarda to Turkey's side.

The beginning of the 18th century opens a new page in the history of the Terek Cossacks: having lost its former “freedom”, it became part of the armed forces of Russia, turned into a military class, which was entrusted with the protection of the southern border of the Russian state in the Caucasus. In the city of Terki, the tsarist governors permanently lived, a large military garrison was concentrated here, military and food supplies were stored. Ambassadors from Transcaucasia, princes and murzas of the North Caucasus came here.

Under Peter I, the Russian army made the first campaigns against the Chechen lands, and it was at the beginning of the 18th century that this name was assigned to the Chechens in Russian sources - after the name of the village of Chechen-Aul. The first campaigns, fitting into the overall strategy of the active promotion that began Russian state to the Caucasus, however, did not pursue the goal of joining Chechnya to Russia: it was only about maintaining "calm" on the Terek, which by that time had become the natural southern border of the empire. The main reason for military campaigns was the constant raids of the Chechens on the Cossack "towns" on the Terek. By this period, in the eyes of the Russian authorities, the Chechens had earned a reputation as dangerous robbers, the neighborhood with which caused constant concern to state borders.

From 1721 to 1783, punitive expeditions of Russian troops to Chechnya to pacify the "violent" tribes become systematic - as punishment for raids, as well as for breaking obedience to the so-called Chechen owners - Kabardian and Kumyk princes, on whom some Chechen societies nominally depended and who enjoyed Russian patronage. Expeditions are accompanied by the burning of "violent" auls and bringing their inhabitants in the person of tribal elders to the oath of Russian citizenship. Hostages are taken from the most influential families - amanats, who are kept in Russian fortresses.

Chechnya within the Russian Empire
Most of Chechnya became part of Russia in the 19th century after the end of the Caucasian War. In 1860, by decree of Emperor Alexander II, the Terek region was created in the eastern part of the North Caucasus, which included the Chechen, Ichkerian, Ingush and Nagorny districts.

North Caucasian Emirate
After the start civil war In Russia, on the territory of Chechnya, the Islamic state of the North Caucasus Emirate arose, which was headed by Emir Uzun-Khadzhi. The state was under the protectorate of the Ottoman Empire and had its own armed forces total strength about 10 thousand people and issued their own currency. After the offensive, and then the victory of the Bolsheviks, the North Caucasian Emirate became part of the RSFSR. The very fact of the existence of this state led to the short-term formation of the Mountain ASSR.

Putin Avenue in Grozny

Soviet power in Chechnya
Establishment Soviet power
After the establishment of Soviet power in March 1920, the Terek region was disbanded, and the Chechen (merged with Ichkeria) and Ingush (merged with Nagorny) districts became independent territorial entities.

A year later, on January 20, 1921, Chechnya and Ingushetia, together with Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia, entered the Gorskaya ASSR.
On November 30, 1922, the Chechen Autonomous Region was separated from the Mountain ASSR, and on November 7, 1924, the Mountain ASSR itself was liquidated.

Chechen-Ingush ASSR
In 1934, the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Region was created, which in 1936 was transformed into the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ChIASSR). It lasted until 1944, when the Chechen and Ingush population was deported.

Deportation of Chechens and Ingush and liquidation of CHIASSR
In 1944, Chechens and Ingush were accused of collaborating with German troops. As a repressive measure, the resettlement of these peoples in the republics of Central Asia was chosen. During Operation Lentil, Chechens and Ingush were deported mainly to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
CHIASSR was liquidated. Part of its territory was divided between neighboring subjects - the North Ossetian and Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics, the Georgian SSR and the Stavropol Territory, and the Grozny Region with the administrative center in the city of Grozny was formed on the remaining part.

Restoration of the CHIASSR
In 1957, the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was restored, but within slightly different boundaries; in particular, the Prigorodny district remained part of North Ossetia. As a “compensation”, the Naur and Shelkov regions, which were previously part of the Stavropol Territory and inhabited mainly by Russians, were included in the Checheno-Ingushetia, without taking into account their opinion. Chechens and Ingush were allowed to return to their native places from places of exile.

Mosque Heart of Chechnya - a miracle of Russia

Chechnya after the collapse of the USSR
"Chechen revolution" of 1991 and the declaration of independence. The collapse of the CHIASSR
After the beginning of "Perestroika" in the mid-1980s, national movements became more active in many republics of the USSR (including Chechen-Ingushetia). In November 1990, the First Chechen National Congress was held in Grozny, at which the Executive Committee of the National Congress of the Chechen People (OKChN) was elected. OKCHN set as its goal the exit of Chechnya not only from the RSFSR, but also from the USSR. It was headed by Major General of the Soviet Air Force Dzhokhar Dudayev. A conflict broke out between the OKCHN and the official authorities of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, headed by Doku Zavgaev. On June 8, 1991, the OKCHN announces the overthrow of the Supreme Council of the CHIASSR and proclaims the independent Chechen Republic of Nokhchi-cho. In fact, there was a dual power in the republic.

During the August putsch of 1991, the Supreme Council of the Chechen-Ingush ASSR supported the State Emergency Committee. On August 22, armed supporters of the OKChN seized the television center, later - the main administrative buildings in Grozny (including the building of the republican KGB). On September 6, under pressure from OKCHN supporters, Doku Zavgaev was forced to sign a letter of resignation, and on September 15, the Supreme Soviet of the CHIASSR dissolved itself. The leaders of the OKCHN announced the transfer of supreme power to them and repealed the operation of Russian laws and the Constitution of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

On October 1, 1991, by the decision of the Chairman of the Provisional Supreme Council of the CHIASSR Khusein Akhmadov, the Chechen-Ingush Republic was divided into the Chechen and Ingush Republics. However, after 4 days, most members of the Air Force canceled this decision its chairman.

On October 27, 1991, the President of the Republic was elected in the elections - he became the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the OKCHN Dzhokhar Dudayev. On November 2, 1991, the Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR declared these elections illegal.

On November 8, 1991, the President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin issued a Decree on the introduction of a state of emergency in the CHIASSR. In response, Dudayev announced the introduction of martial law and ordered the creation of armed self-defense units. The next day, November 9, transport planes with Russian military personnel landed at Khankala Airport, but they were blocked by armed Dudayevites. The Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus declared support for Chechnya. Russian government I had to negotiate with the separatists and achieve the withdrawal of the military personnel blocked in Khankala. The Russian troops stationed in Chechnya were withdrawn, and most of the weapons, including tanks and planes, were handed over to the separatists.

fighting in Chechnya

After Dudayev's coup, the CHIASSR broke up into Chechnya and Ingushetia.

On June 4, 1992, the Supreme Council of the RSFSR adopted the Law "On the Formation of the Ingush Republic as part of the Russian Federation", according to which Checheno-Ingushetia was divided into Chechenia and Ingushetia. The creation of new republics was submitted for approval by the Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation. On December 10, 1992, the Congress of People's Deputies approved the formation of the Ingush Republic and made a corresponding amendment to the Constitution of the RSFSR of 1978: Checheno-Ingushetia was divided into the Ingush Republic and the Chechen Republic, the border between which remained unapproved even to this day. This law was published on December 29, 1992 in " Russian newspaper” and entered into force on January 9, 1993 after 10 days from the date of official publication.

Presidency of Alu Alkhanov
After the death in 2004 of Akhmat Kadyrov as a result of a terrorist act, Alu Alkhanov became the new president of the Chechen Republic.

Presidency of Ramzan Kadyrov
In 2007, after the resignation of Alu Alkhanov, Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of Akhmat Kadyrov, became president of Chechnya. In 2009, in connection with the stabilization of the situation, the national anti-terrorist committee, on behalf of the President of Russia, made changes to the organization of anti-terrorist activities in Chechnya. On April 16, 2009, the order declaring the territory of the Chechen Republic a zone for conducting a counter-terrorist operation, which had been in force since October 1999, was canceled. By this time, the cities and villages of the republic were restored. In the once destroyed Grozny, residential areas, a church were restored, mosques, stadiums, museums, memorials "Walk of Glory" were built in honor of the fallen employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Chechen Republic during the second Chechen war. In 2010, a complex of high-rise buildings (up to 45 floors) "Grozny City" was built. In the second largest city of the republic, Gudermes, a complete reconstruction was carried out and a complex of high-rise buildings was built.

Population
The population of the republic according to the State Statistics Committee of Russia is 1,370,268 people. (2015). Population density - 87.57 people / km2 (2015). Urban population - 34.74% (2015).

The city of Grozny is home to 250,803 people (2010), the second largest city is Urus-Martan - 52,399 people (2010); followed by: Shali - 46,073 people, Gudermes - 43,969 people, Argun - 42,797 people (2010).

The age structure of the population is as follows: 57.0% of the inhabitants of the republic belong to the able-bodied population, 35.% are younger than working age, 8% are older than working age.

The absolute majority of the population are Chechens (95.3%), there are also Russians, Kumyks, Avars, Nogais, Ingush. Before the deportation of the Chechens and their subsequent return in the northern regions of the republic, Russians and Russian-speaking (Terek Cossacks) made up the absolute majority of the population, in the city of Grozny and the Sunzha basin their number was also significant. The pre-war Russian and Russian-speaking population was forced to leave the territory of Chechnya during the reign of Dzhokhar Dudayev in 1991-1994, and a significant number died during the period of active hostilities in 1994-1996. Ramzan Kadyrov called the revival of the multinational community of the republic one of the priorities of the new leadership of the republic.

culture
State Symphony Orchestra of the Chechen Republic;
Chechen State Philharmonic;

Museums
Museum of local lore named after Kh. Isaev;
Literary and Memorial Museum of Arbi Mamakaev;
A. Aidamirov Literary and Memorial Museum;
Literary and Ethnographic Museum of Leo Tolstoy;
Literary Museum of M. Yu. Lermontov;
National Museum of the Chechen Republic;
Makhketinsky Museum of Local Lore;

Libraries
National Library of the Chechen Republic;
Republican Children's Library of the Chechen Republic;

Theaters
Chechen State Drama Theater named after Kh. Nuradilov;
Grozny Russian Drama Theater named after M. Yu. Lermontov;
Chechen State Theater for Young Spectators;
Chechen State Youth Theater Serlo;

Kharachoy village

CHECHEN TAIP
Chechen type (genus)
The Chechen tukkhum is a kind of military-economic union of a certain group of taips who are not related to each other by blood relationship, but united in a higher association to jointly solve the common tasks of protecting against enemy attacks and economic exchange. Tukkhum occupied a certain territory, which consisted of the area actually inhabited by it, as well as the surrounding area, where the taips that were part of the tukkhum were engaged in hunting, cattle breeding and agriculture. Each tukhum spoke a certain dialect of the same Vainakh language.
Some historians believe that there is no difference between tukhum and taip, taken in their historical dynamics, except for the quantitative one, that both tukhum and taip can perform the functions of both clan and phratry in a certain sequence - that is, the union of clans.
Although tukkhum means “seed”, “egg” in translation, speaking of its internal structure, it must be emphasized that this organization, in the view of the Chechens, has never been drawn as a group of consanguineous families, but is a union of clans united in a phratry according to its territorial and dialectological unity....
The Chechen tukhum, unlike the clan, did not have an official head, as well as its own commander (byachcha). This shows that the tukkhum was not so much a governing body as a public organization, while the taip represented a necessary and logical stage of progress in the development of the idea of ​​government.
The emergence of a union of taips (tukhums) was also an undoubted progress taking place on the same territory, as a steady process leading to the emergence of a nation, although the tendency to local division by clan continued to exist.
The advisory body of the tukkhum was the council of elders, which consisted of representatives of all taips that were part of this tukkhum on equal terms in position and honor. The Tukhum Council was convened, if necessary, to resolve intertype disputes and disagreements, to protect the interests of both individual types and the entire tukhum.
The Tukhum Council had the right to declare war and make peace, negotiate with the help of its own and foreign ambassadors, conclude alliances and break them.
That is why it is still necessary to assume that the concepts of "tukhum" and "taip" are far from being identical... . This is a union of several types of the same tribe, formed for specific purposes.
But in Chechnya there are also unions of consanguineous clans, formed by segmenting one initial clan, such as, for example, the Chanty and Terlosets.
The Terloevites include such consanguineous groups that call themselves Gars, sometimes clans, such as Beshni (Boshnii), Bavloi (BIavloi), Zherakhoi (Zherakhoi), Kenakhoy (Khenakhoy), Matsarkha (MatsIarkhoy), Nikara (Nikara), Oshny (Oshny ), Sanakhoy (Sanakhoy), Shuidy (Shundiy), Eltparkhoy (Eltpkhyarkhoy) and others.
Of the one hundred and thirty-five types that made up Chechen society in the middle of the 19th century, three-quarters were united in nine phratries (unions) as follows.
Akkiy (Akkhii) tukkhum included such taipas as Barchakhoy (Barchakhoy), Zhevoy (Zhevoy), Zogoy (31ogoy), Nokkoy (Nokkhoy), Pkharchoy (Pkharchoy), Pkharchakhoy (Pkharchakhoy) and Vyappy (Vyappy), which occupied mainly the area Eastern Chechnya on the border with Dagestan.
Myalkhi (Malkhi) included: Byasty (B1ayetiy), Benastkhoy (B1enastkhoy), Italchkhoy (Italchkhoy), Kamalkhoy (Kamalkhoy), Korathoy (Khorathoy), Kegankhoy (K1egankhoy), Meshiy (Meshiy), Sakankhoy (Sakankhoy), Terathoy (Terathoy ), Charkhoy (Ch1arkhoy), Erkhoy (Erkhoy) and Amkhoy (1amkhoy), which occupied the southwestern region of Chechnya on the border with Khevsuretia and Ingushetia.
In Nokhchmakhkahoy, such large taipas as Belgatoy (Belg1atoy), Benoy (Benoy), Biltoy (Biltoy), Gendargenoy (Gendargenoy), Gordaloy (G1ordala), Guna (Guna), Zandakoy (Zandakoy), Ikhirkhoy (Ikh1irkhoy), Ishkhoy ( Ishkhoy), Kurshaloy (Kurshala), Sesankhoy (Sesankhoy), Cherma (Chermoy), Tsentaroy (Tsentaray), Charta (Chartoy), Egashbatoy (Eg1ashbatoy), Enakhalla (Enakhalla), Engana (Engana), Shonoy (Shuonoy), Yalkhoy ( Yalkhoy) and Alira (1alira), which occupied mainly the eastern and northeastern, and partly the central regions of Chechnya.
Chebarla (Ch1ebarloy) included: Dai (D1ay), Makazhoy (Makazhoy), Sada (Sada), Sandaha (Sandaha), Sikkaha (Sikkhaha) and Sirha (Sirha). Sharoi included: Kinhoy (Kinhoy), Rigahoy (Rigahoy), Khikhoy (Khikhoy), Khoy (Khoi), Khakmada (Hyakmada) and Shikaroy (Shikaroy).
Taipas, which were part of both Ch1ebarloy and Sharoi, occupied the southeastern region of Chechnya along the Shara-Argun River.
Shotoi (Shuotoi) included: Varanda, Vashandara, Gatta (G1atta), Kela, Marsha, Nizhalaya, Nihaloi, Pkhamta (Phyamtoi), Syatta (Sattoy) and Khakka (Khyakkoy), who occupied central Chechnya in the valley of the Chanty-Argun River.
Taipas entered Ershthay: Galoy, Gandala (G1andaloy), Garchoy (G1archoy), Merzhoy, Muzhakhoy and Tsechoy (Ts1echoy), who lived in the west of Chechnya, in the valley of the Lower Martan (Fortanga) river.
And all the other types of Chechens in the area united in consanguineous unions. So, for example, Borzoi, Bugara (Bug1aroy), Khildekhara (Khildekhyara), Derakhoy (Dorrakhoy), Kkhokada (Khuokkhada), Khachara (Khachara) and Tumsa, who lived in the upper reaches of the Chanty-Argun River, united in the Chyantiy (Ch1ayntii) union, and such as Nikaray (Nikaroy), Oshny (Oshny), Shyundy (Shundy), Eltpharkhoy (Eltpkhyarkhoy) and others were part of Terloi (T1erloi).
There were also such taipas in Chechnya that were not included in the tukhums and lived independently. Such, for example, as Zurzakhoy (Zurzakkhoy), Maistoy (M1aystoy), Peshkhoy, Sadoy and others.
The affairs of the tukhum, as we have already written, were decided by the council of elders, convened by him as needed. But the tukhum, as an organ, did not have any management functions that belonged to the taip, although it was vested in the general social system with certain useful powers due to the need for some kind of organization - greater than the taip.

Terek river

Thus, having agreed among themselves to resolve mutual disputes peacefully and to help each other in defense and attack on the enemy, taipas united in tukhums primarily on territorial grounds. So, for example, the Nokhchmakhkois occupied the territory of eastern Chechnya (Bena, Sesan, Shela, Gumsi and partly Vedeno). It must be assumed that the Nokhchmakhkois, who formed the main core of the Chechens, were the first to settle in the Aksai and Michig regions along the Terek River.
It is characteristic to note here such a detail that the Nokhchmakhkois consider Noshkhoy (a place in the Galanchozh region) their ancient homeland, although they have lived in the territory of their present settlement since time immemorial.
Some taipas from this tukkhum, for example, Benoy and Tsentoroi, have grown so much that they have long forgotten about their original blood relationship. Marriage between Benoevites and Tsentoroiites has long been a common occurrence. Having gone beyond the borders of their ancient land, representatives of these taips, at least from the 16th century, began to settle in other regions of modern Chechnya. Hard to find nowadays locality, wherever there is a representative, for example, the Benoites.
Thus, as it increased, one or another type, in turn, was divided into several clans, and the Gars of the former clan in this case became independent clans, and the original clan continued to exist already as a tukkhum - a union of clans. We have already written about Ch1antii tukhum. There are also taipas in Chechnya that, due to certain historical circumstances, were not included in any tukhums, lived and developed independently. These taipas were formed both from the natives of this region, and from newcomers. Therefore, the type should be considered the main cell from which any Chechen calculates his initial blood relations and ties on the paternal side.

When Chechens want to emphasize the lack of kinship of a person, they usually say: "Tsu stegan taipa a, tukkhum a dats" (This person has neither clan nor tribe).
So, what is the Chechen taip and what socio-economic principles does the institution of taipism establish?
The famous American researcher of the primitive system, who devoted himself to studying the customs and mores of the ancient Indians, L. Morgan in his work "Ancient" gives the following description of the clan system among the Indians: "All its (clan. - M.M.) members are free people who are obliged defend each other, they have equal individual rights - neither sachems nor war-chiefs claim any privileges, they constitute a brotherhood bound by blood Liberty, equality, brotherhood, although it was never formulated, were the basic principles genus, and the genus, in turn, was a unit of the whole public system, the foundation of organized Indian society."
The Chechen taip is also a group of people or families that grew up on the basis of primitive production relations. Its members, enjoying the same personal rights, are related to each other by consanguinity on the paternal side. Freedom, equality and fraternity, although they were not formulated by anyone, here also formed the basis of the taip - the basis of the entire organization of Chechen society. But the Chechen taip of the period we are considering (after the 16th century) was by no means already an archaic clan, as it was among the Iroquois. No! The taip system of the Chechens of this period is already a product of its own decline, a manifestation of its potential internal contradictions, decomposition of forms that have so far seemed unshakable, arising from the original legal principles of taipism, which previously cemented the taip system and artificially restrained its decomposition. These old forms and taip principles have already come into conflict with those social and property shifts that are growing every day within individual taip cells. The legal shell of taip corporations no longer corresponded to the property structure of society.
However, there was a very important reason of an external nature, which kept the "old law" in force and "harmonized" it with the new shifts that had taken place: the small Chechen taipas lived at that time surrounded by stronger neighbors (Georgians, Kabardians, Kumyks and others), the feudal nobility who constantly in one way or another encroached on their liberties. These external conditions, first of all, and the absence of established forms of statehood among the Chechens, strongly influenced the rallying of the taips, and this solidarity in the face of external danger gave the appearance (of course, only the appearance) of equality, brotherhood, and protection of each other's interests.
So, taip in the concept of Chechens is a patriarchal exogamous group of people descended from one common ancestor. Four terms are known that served to designate lateral branches, segmented from the taip, and used by Chechens from time immemorial to designate large related groups that represent a certain social, territorial, and, above all, consanguineous unity: var (vyar), gar, nekiy (a certain ), c1a (ca).
Only the first of them - var is polysemantic and, along with other terms, denotes a consanguineous group of people, moreover, it more accurately defines the concept of "genus type".
The main indigenous Chechen taipas are as follows: Aitkhaloy, Achaloy, Barchakhoy, Belkhoy, Belg1ata, Benoy, Betsakhoy, Biltoy, Bigakhoy, Bug1aroy, Varanda, Vashandara, Vappy, Gala, G1andala, G1archoy, G1atta, Gendargenoy, Gila, G1oy, G1ordaloy, Dattakhoy, D1ay, Dishny, Dorakhoy, Zheva, Zandakoy, 31goy, Zumsoy (aka Bug1aroy), Zurzakyy, Zuyrkhoy, Ishkhoy, Ikh1irkhoy, Italchkhoy, Kamalkhoy, Kay, Kela, Kuloy, Kurshaloy, Kushbukhoy (aka 1alira), Kharta, K1sgankhoy, Lashkara, Makazhoy, Marshall, Merzhoy, Merla, Mazarkhoy, M1aysta, Muzhakhoy, Mulkoy, Nashkhoy, Nizhalaya, Nik1ara, Nihala, Nokkhoy, Peshkhoy, Phyamtoy, Pkharchoy, Rigakhoy, Sada, Sakhanda, Syarbala, Satta, Tulkhay, Turku, Kharachoy, Khersanoy, Hildehyarkhoy, Khoy, Hulandoy, Khurkhoy, Khyakkoy (aka Ts1ogankhoy), Khyakmada, Khyachara, Himoy, Khikhoy, Khurkoy, Tsatsankhoy, Ts1entaray, Ts1echoy, Charta, Charkhoy, Chermay, Ch1arkhoy, Ch1inkhoy, Chungaray, Shara, Shikaroy , Shirda, Shuonoy, Shpirda, Shundiy, Eg1ashbatoy, Elstanzhkhoy, Enakhalla, Engana, Ersana, Erhoy, Yalhara, 1alira, 1amakhoy, etc.
Taipov in Chechnya in the period we are studying, with relative accuracy, there are more than one hundred and thirty-five. Of these, more than twenty are not indigenous, but formed from representatives of other peoples, but have long been firmly integrated into the Chechen society, assimilated at different times and under various conditions: some of them went to the country of the Vainakhs themselves, in search of convenient lands, while others brought here by the prevailing historical circumstances, and they were forced to adopt a foreign language for them, foreign customs. Of course, these people had neither taip mountains, nor communal lands, nor stone crypts (solar graves) for the burial of their dead relatives. But following the example of the natives of this region, they rallied into blood relations, assisted members of their community, declared blood feud for the murder of their relative, and adhered to other socially binding principles of the institution of taipism. This circumstance is also interesting for us because it resolutely rejects the theory of the absolutely pure ethnic origin of the Vainakhs - in particular, the Chechens.
As the taip reproduced, it broke up into two or more parts, gars, and each of these gars, over time, formed an independent taip.
To confirm their belonging to the natives of Chechnya, each Chechen had to remember the names of at least twelve persons from among his direct ancestors ...
The elders and leaders of the Chechen types did not always have inaccessible locks, did not decorate their exits family crests. They didn't prance around in glittering armor or fight in romantic tournaments. Imitating taip democracy in society, they still looked like peaceful peasants: they led flocks of sheep through the mountains, plowed and sowed themselves. But the high concepts of honor, equality and brotherhood among all members of the taip community came to a new stage of taip relations not in the halo of the former purity and nobility, but in a perverted, modernized form, generated by arrogant cruelty and arrogant claims of the strong and rich.
In their bulk, the Vainakhs were very wary and sensitive to any attempts and inclinations towards the emergence of feudal power and feudal aristocracy, and by common efforts they nipped them in the bud. This is evidenced by the richest folklore material and the custom of baital vakkhar (dispossession of kulaks), which was common among the Chechens and very rarely found among other peoples.
And yet, the process of decomposition of the taip community has been clearly traced among the Chechens since the late Middle Ages (XIII-XIV centuries). Moreover, even then this process does not mark the initial stage, but already the stage that was preceded by earlier steps.
The economic basis of the taip was cattle breeding, agriculture and hunting. Cattle was the basis that determined the specific features of the Chechen taip of that period. Fields and estates were also the most important part of the taip property. Chechens have been engaged in agriculture since ancient times, as early as the beginning of the 17th century, the Kachkalyk Chechens had rich vineyards, sowed wheat, millet, barley, and later began to cultivate corn.
The Maisty and, in general, the Sredne-Argunsky region of Chechnya of the 17th century were famous for their wise doctors, who healed wounds well, performed amputation of organs and even trepanation of the skull. The Maistins, for example, long before the appearance of the Russians in the Caucasus, were known to be vaccinated against smallpox. They were also famous as skillful builders of military and residential towers. And finally, the Maistins were also famous as experts in adat - taip law. It was here, in Maisty, which, due to its geographical location, was protected from all kinds of attacks by enemies, the elders of the taips gathered for official meetings to discuss adat-taip issues...
Another place where issues of the all-Chechen adat were also discussed was Mount Khetash-Korta, near the village of Tsentoroy.

FOLK CUISINE OF CHECHNYA
Folk cuisine
The folk cuisine of the Chechens is extensive and multifaceted. We offer only a small number of recipes for the most commonly used dishes.
ZHIZHIG-GALNASH (Dumplings with meat)
(for one serving)
Lamb - 354 g or beef - 342 g, salt - 3 g.


Broth - 300 g.
Boil fatty lamb or beef with a bone in a large piece (weighing 1.5-2 kg) with salt. Cut the finished meat into pieces of 50-60 g.

From wheat flour: knead unleavened dough, roll into a layer 1 cm thick, cut into long breaks, then cut across into diamonds 4 cm long, after pressing with three fingers, roll out the hands in the form of shells or give any curly shape.

Boil dumplings in broth or salted water for 20-25 minutes, put on a plate, put pieces of meat on top. Separately, serve meat broth and garlic, mashed with salt and diluted with a small amount of broth.

ZHIJIG-CHORPA
(for one serving)
Beef or lamb (thick or thin edges) - 159 g, fat - 15 g, tomato puree - 20 g, fresh tomatoes - 47 g, onion - 73 g, wheat flour - 6 g, potatoes - 133 g, garlic - 2 g, salt - 5 g, ground black pepper - 0.05 g, parsley - 5 g.
Cut raw meat into cubes, salt, fry until a crust forms, pour hot broth or water, add browned onions, tomato puree and fresh tomatoes and simmer until tender.
Then drain the broth and cook on it a sauce with flour, fried until light brown. Put meat, fried potatoes in the sauce and boil for 10-15 minutes.
When serving, season with garlic, mashed with salt, and sprinkle with finely chopped parsley.

KHERZINA ZHIJIG
(for one serving)
Beef - 200 g or lamb - 200 g, potatoes - 53 g, onions - 30 g, melted fat - 12 g, salt - 4 g, ground black pepper - 0.05 g, parsley - 5 g, thyme - 2 G.
Salt the meat, cut into slices weighing 20-40 g, fry, pour a small amount of hot broth or water, simmer for 25-30 minutes, add potatoes fried until half cooked, fried onions and bring to readiness. 5 minutes before the end of the stew, season with thyme, black pepper. Decorate the finished dish with greens when serving.

DRIED MEAT
(for one serving)
Dried meat - 270 g, ground black pepper - 0.05 g.
For dumplings: flour (corn or wheat) - 160 g, water - 90 g.
Garlic seasoning: garlic - 25 g, broth - 30 g, salt - 3 g, ground black pepper - 0.05 g.
Broth - 300 g.
Soak dried meat for 20 minutes in cold water and cook until tender without adding salt. Cut the finished meat into pieces of 30-40 g.
Cook dumplings separately.
From wheat flour: knead unleavened dough, roll into a layer 1 cm thick, cut into long strips, then cut across into diamonds 4 cm long, after pressing with your fingers, roll out in the form of shells or give any curly shape.
From cornmeal: they are prepared in the same way, only they are given a flattened oval shape by pressing with the fingers of the hand.
Boil dumplings in broth diluted with boiled water or salted water for 20-25 minutes, put on a plate, put pieces of meat on top. Separately, serve the broth and garlic, mashed with salt and diluted with a small amount of fatty broth.

DALNASH IN ATAGINSKY
(for one serving)
For the test: wheat flour - 120 g, kefir - 100 g, salt - 3 g, baking soda - 0.2 g.
For minced meat: tripe - 190 g, raw bacon - 25 g, onion - 24 g, salt - 3 g, ground black pepper - 0.03 g, butter - 30 g.
From wheat flour on kefir with the addition of salt and soda, knead a non-cool dough.
For minced meat: finely chop the boiled scar, raw lard and onion, fry everything, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Divide the dough into 2 round cakes, put minced meat in the middle, pinch the edges and roll out 8-10 mm thick. Bake in a pan or on the stove without fat. Moisten the finished donuts with hot water to soften and remove burnt flour, grease with butter, cut into 4-6-8 pieces in the form of sectors.
Butter can be served separately.

SAUSAGE HOME
(for one serving)
Lamb or beef (pulp) - 130 g, lamb intestines - 70 g, onion - 60 g, raw bacon - 50 g, rice - 15 g, salt - 5 g, ground black pepper - 1 g.
For dumplings: corn or wheat flour - 160 g, water - 90 g.
Garlic seasoning: garlic - 25 g, broth - 30 g, salt - 3 g, ground black pepper - 0.05 g.
For minced meat: finely chop the meat pulp, raw lard with a knife, you can pass it through a meat grinder with a large grate.
Sort the rice and rinse with hot water, salt, sprinkle with pepper, mix thoroughly with the meat.
Soak lamb intestines for 30-40 minutes in warm water, then rinse thoroughly. Fill the intestinal membranes loosely with minced meat and tie off the ends. Boil, pour hot water, for 1-1.5 hours.
Cook dumplings separately.
From wheat flour: knead unleavened dough, roll into a layer 1 cm thick, cut into long strips, then cut across into diamonds 4 cm long and, after pressing with three fingers, roll out the hands in the form of shells or give any curly shape.
From cornmeal: they are prepared in the same way, only they are given a flattened oval shape by pressing with the fingers of the hand.
Boil dumplings for 20-25 minutes in salted water. Sausage is served with dumplings made from corn or wheat flour. Separately, serve garlic, mashed with salt and diluted with a small amount of fatty broth.

CHECHEN CHICKEN
(for one serving)
Chicken - 208 g, salt - 3 g, onion - 5 g. For the sauce: butter - 20 g, whole milk - 50 g, onion - 60 g, ground black pepper - 0.05 g, salt - 2 g .
For dumplings: flour (corn or wheat) - 160 g, water - 90 g, salt - 2 g. Broth - 250 g, boiled milk - 50 g.
Prepared chicken carcasses are placed in hot water (2-2.5 liters per 1 kg of product), quickly brought to a boil, then the heat is reduced. Remove the foam from the boiled broth, add chopped onion, salt and cook at a low boil in a sealed container until tender.
Cut the boiled chicken into portions, put in a saucepan with onion sautéed in butter, pour whole milk, salt, add black pepper, cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Make dumplings from corn or wheat flour.
Wheat flour dumplings: knead unleavened dough, roll into a 1 cm thick layer, cut into long strips, then cut across into 4 cm rhombuses and, after pressing with three fingers, roll out in the form of shells or give any curly shape.
Corn flour dumplings: prepared in the same way, only they are given a flattened oval shape by pressing with the fingers.
Boil dumplings in broth or salted water for 20-25 minutes, put on a plate, put pieces of poultry on top.
Separately, serve chicken broth seasoned with whole boiled milk.

SISKAL
(for one serving)
For siskal: corn flour - 168 g, water - 100 g, salt - 2 g. Pour water at a temperature of 50-60 degrees into the sifted corn flour and knead the dough, cut into round cakes 1.5-2 cm thick, 20- 25 cm. Bake in a pan (without fat), turning occasionally. Served with Kald-Dyatta or To-beram and Kalmyk tea.
For Kald Dyatta: cottage cheese - 64 g, butter (melted) - 20 g, egg - 1/2 pc., salt - 5 g.
Mix salted cottage cheese thoroughly with butter or melted butter and finely chopped boiled egg.
For to-beram: cottage cheese - 40 g, sour cream - 60 g, salt - 5 g.
Mix salted cottage cheese with sour cream.
For Kalmyk tea: milk - 100 g, green tile tea - 4 g, black pepper - 0.1 g, butter - 10 g, salt - 0.5 g, boiled water - 100 g.
Pour tiled green tea into boiling water, after boiling, let it brew for 5 minutes, strain, pour in boiled milk, add salt, black pepper, butter.

CHEPALGASH
(for one serving)
For the test: wheat flour - 100 g, kefir - 100 g, baking soda - 0.2 g, salt - 0.5 g.
For minced meat: cottage cheese - 75 g, egg - 1/4 pc., salt - 0.5 g, butter - 20 g. Preparation of dough.

Prepare minced meat from cottage cheese mixed with egg and salt, if the cottage cheese is unsalted.
Cut the dough into pieces weighing 200-230 g and roll out 30 cm thick. Put the minced meat in the middle, pinch the edges in the form of a donut and roll out 0.9-1.5 cm thick.
Bake in a pan without fat, turning occasionally. Wipe the finished chepalgash on both sides with hot water to soften and remove burnt flour, grease with butter, lay one on top of the other.
When serving, cut into 4-8 pieces and drizzle with melted butter. Oil can be served separately.

HINGALASH WITH PUMPKIN
(for one serving)
For the test: wheat flour - 120 g, kefir - 100 g, baking soda - 0.2 g, salt - 0.5 g.
For minced meat: pumpkin - 128 g, sugar - 15 g, water - 30 g, onion - 24 g, salt - 0.5 g, butter - 30 g.
Mix flour with warmed kefir, add salt, bread soda and knead the dough until a homogeneous soft consistency is obtained.
Preparation of minced meat: free the pumpkin from the stalk, chop into pieces, peel the seeds, put the skin up in the pan, pour hot water at the rate of 1 liter of water per 5 kg of pumpkin and cook, tightly covered with a lid, until tender. Finely chop the onion and fry, you can put it raw in minced meat. Use a spoon to scoop out the pulp from the boiled pumpkin and rub it. Add sugar, salt, fried onions and mix everything.
Divide the dough into pieces of 200-230 g, roll out cakes 0.3 cm thick, put minced meat on one half, cover with the second half, pinch the edges, giving the shape of a semicircle. Bake in a hot frying pan without fat, turning occasionally. Wipe the finished khingalash on both sides with hot water (to soften and remove burnt flour), grease with butter. Before serving, cut into 3-6-9 parts and pour over with melted butter or serve butter separately in a bowl.

HALVA FROM NUTS
(per 100 g)
Nut kernel - 650 g, honey - 420 g.
Peeled kernels of nuts (walnuts, peanuts) lightly fry, pour into boiling honey and mix. Transfer to a tray and let cool. Before serving, cut into portions weighing 75-100 g.

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND MATERIAL:
Team Nomads
http://chechnya.gov.ru/
works by M. Mamakaev "Chechen taip in the period of its decomposition". Grozny, 1973, ss. 15-28.
http://chechnyatoday.com
Geography of the Caucasus.
http://chechna.com/
Wikipedia site

CHECHEN REPUBLIC.

GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW.

NATURE

TERSK-KUM LOWLAND

The Tersko-Kuma lowland is located between the Terek in the south and Kuma in the north. In the west, its natural boundary is the Stavropol Upland, and in the east, the Caspian Sea. Only the southern part of the Tersko-Kuma lowland belongs to Chechnya. Almost three quarters of the entire area here is occupied by the Terek sandy massif. With its hilly relief, it clearly stands out among the surrounding flat spaces. Geologically, the Tersko-Kuma lowland is a part of the Ciscaucasian trough filled from above with marine deposits of the Caspian Sea.

In the Quaternary time, most of the Terek-Kuma lowland was repeatedly flooded with the waters of the Caspian Sea. The last transgression occurred at the end of the ice age. Judging by the distribution of marine deposits of this transgression, called Khvalynskaya, the level of the Caspian Sea at that time reached 50 meters above sea level. Almost the entire area of ​​the Tersko-Kuma lowland was occupied by the sea basin.

The rivers flowing into the Khvalynsk basin brought a mass of suspended material deposited at the mouths and forming large sandy deltas. At present, these ancient deltas have been preserved in the lowlands in the form of sandy massifs. The largest of them - Tersky - is almost entirely located on the territory of Chechnya. It represents the delta of the ancient Kura.

One of the common landforms of the Pritersky massif is ridge sands. They stretch in parallel rows in the latitudinal direction, coinciding with the direction of the prevailing winds. The height of the ridges can vary from 5-8 to 20-25 meters, the width - from several tens to several hundred meters. Ridges are separated from one another between ordinary hollows, which, as a rule, are wider than the ridges themselves. The ridges are overgrown with vegetation and have soft outlines.

An interesting form of sand formations in the Pritersky massif is sand dunes. They are especially pronounced in its northern and northeastern parts. Dune sands are located in chains stretched perpendicular to the prevailing east and west winds. The height of individual ridges reaches 30-35 meters. Dune chains are separated by through valleys and hollows of blowing. During the years of Soviet power in the Pritersky massif, extensive work was carried out to fix loose sands with woody and herbaceous vegetation. Now dune forests have been preserved in relatively small areas.

There are also other landforms in the Pritersky massif - hilly sands. They are overgrown sandy hills of soft outlines 3-5 meters high. They were formed as a result of the scattering of ridge sands or the fixation of dune "sands by vegetation. Within the Terek-Kumskaya lowland, the valley of the Terek River should be especially distinguished. Its left-bank part is characterized by well-defined terraces, the entire complex of which is clearly visible, near the village of Ishcherskaya. There are six terraces here:

The first terrace is t named. It stretches in a narrow strip along the entire course of the river and is annually flooded with the waters of the Terek during floods. The surface of the terrace often changes under the action of erosion and deposits of flood waters, it is crossed by numerous channels and oxbow lakes, in some places it is heavily swamped and covered with impenetrable reed beds.

The second terrace - above the floodplain, can be called forest, as it is completely covered with forest and shrub vegetation. It is separated from the floodplain terrace by a well-defined ledge of 0.7-0.8 meters. Its surface also bears traces of the action of the river. Hollows-channels and traces of former oxbow lakes in the form of small depressions overgrown with reeds have been preserved on it. There are swampy areas in the forest. In years of high floods, the terrace above the floodplain is subject to flooding.

The third terrace has a ledge of 6.7 meters. The stanitsa 11 Savelyevskaya and part of the stanitsa Naurskaya are located on it. On the concave sections of the Terek, the terrace is completely eroded or stretches in a narrow strip. So, at the village of Ishcherskaya, its width is only 50-60 meters, and the village itself, once located on it, was moved to the fourth terrace due to its erosion.

The ledge of the fourth terrace is 3.8 meters. The villages of Ishcherskaya, Mekenskaya, Kalinovskaya, Alpatova, Naurskaya stations are located on it. Its surface, like the surface of the third terrace, is flat. There are many mounds and cemeteries here. It is intersected by a large number of irrigation canals. The Lenin Canal stretches along its northern outskirts.

The fifth terrace begins behind the Lenin Canal. The height of its ledge is 5 meters. The surface of the terrace is undulating, almost entirely plowed. It stretches to the north to the Tersky Massif, in the area of ​​​​the village of Savelievskaya, it calls out and merges with the fourth terrace. The sixth terrace - Tersky sandy massif - breakers, It begins with a well-defined ledge, 2.5-3 meters high.

CHECHEN FOOTHILL PLAIN

The Chechen foothill plain is part of the Terek-Sunzhenskaya Plain, located south of the Sunzha Range. The Assinovskiy spur divides the Tersko-Sunzhsna plain into two separate foothill plains - the Ossetian and Chechen, which is bounded from the south by the foot of the Black Mountains, and from the north by the Sunzha and Terek ridges. In the northeast direction, the plain gently decreases from 350 to 100 meters.

Its surface is dissected by the valleys of numerous rivers crossing it in the meridional direction. This gives the monotonous flat relief a wavy character. The northern part of the plain, which goes to the Sunzha River, is more indented by valleys, dry channels and gullies. Here, in addition to the rivers flowing down from the mountains, in many places springs come to the surface, forming the so-called "black rivers" that flow into the Sunzha.

River valleys at the exit from the mountains to the plain usually have steep banks up to 20-25 meters high. To the north, the height of the coast drops to 2-3 meters. Well-defined terraces can be observed only in the valleys of the Sunzha and Argun rivers. The rest of the rivers do not have them at all or they are found in their infancy along the bends.

The watershed of the Argun and Goita rivers is distinguished by a peculiar relief on the plain. It is almost not dissected at all and is a small hill, elongated in the meridional direction, gently lowering towards both rivers.

The Chechen plain is the most populated place in the republic. Large Chechen villages and Cossack villages immersed in the verdure of fruit orchards are picturesquely spread over the entire area.

TERSK-SUNZHENSKAYA HIGHLIGHTS

The area of ​​the Terek-Sunzhenskaya upland is an interesting example of the almost complete coincidence of tectonic structures with the forms of modern relief. Ranges correspond to anticlines here, and valleys separating them correspond to synclines.

The formation of the upland is connected with the mountain-building processes of the Cenozoic time, which gave the final structural form to the Caucasus Range.

The Terek and Sunzhsna complex anticlinal folds are expressed in the relief in the form of two parallel mountain ranges slightly convex to the north: the northern - Terek and the southern - Kzbardino-Sunzhenskaya. Each of them, in turn, is divided into a number of ridges, consisting of one or more anticlinal folds.

The Tersky Range stretches for almost 120 kilometers. Its western part from the valley of the Kurp River to the village of Mineralny has a latitudinal direction. The most significant peaks are also confined to it: Mount Tokareva (707 meters), Mount Malgobek (652 meters), etc. In the area of ​​​​the village of Mineralny, the lower Eldarovsky Range branches off from the Tersky Range in the north-west direction. Between the Tersky and Eldar ridges is the Kalyausskaya valley, formed in a longitudinal trough.

At the village of Mineralnoye, the Tersky Range turns to the southeast, maintaining this direction until Mount Khayan-Kort, and then again changing it to a latitudinal one, the maximum heights of the peaks of the central and eastern parts of the Tersky Range do not exceed 460-515 meters. At the eastern end of the Tersky Range, the Bragunsky Range stretches at a slight angle relative to it. The continuation of the northern chain and its final Even is the Gudermes Range with the peak of Geiran-Kort (428 meters). Its length is about 30 kilometers. At the Akeai River, it connects with the spurs of the Black Mountains.

Between the Bragunsky and Gudermessky ridges, a narrow passage (Gudermessky Gates) was formed, through which the Sunzha River breaks into the Terek-Kuma lowland. The southern chain consists of three main ranges: Zmeisky, Malo-Kabardinsky and Sunzhensky. The Sunzha Range is separated from the Malo-Kabardinsky by the Achaluk Gorge. The length of the Sunzha Range is about 70 kilometers, the highest point is Mount Albaskin (778 meters). At the Achaluk gorge, the low plateau-like Nazranovskal upland adjoins the Sunzha ridge, merging in the south with the Dattykh upland. At the exit from the Alkhanchurt valley, between the Tersky and Sunzhensky ridges, the Grozny ridge stretches for 20 kilometers. In the west it is connected by the Sunzhensky ridge with a small bridge, in the east it ends with the Ta scale upland (286 meters). The Grozny and Sunzhensky ranges are separated by a rather wide Andreevskaya valley.

To the southeast of the Sunzhensky Range, between the Sunzha and Dzhalka rivers, the Novogroznensky, or Aldynsky, range stretched out. Khankala gorge and the modern valley of the Argun river, it is divided into three separate hills: Suyr-Kort with the top of Belk-Barz (398 meters), Syuyl-Kort (432 meters) and Goyt-Kort (237 meters).

The Terek and Sunzha ranges are separated by the Alkhanchurt valley, which is about 60 kilometers long. Its width is 10-12 kilometers in the middle part and 1-2 kilometers between the Tersky and Grozny ridges.

The surface of the ridges of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya upland is composed of slate, often gypsum-bearing clays, ferruginous sandstones, and pebbles. Quaternary deposits in the form of forest-like loams are widespread here. They cover the lower parts of the warehouses of the ridges, line the bottom of the Alkhanchurt valley, the surface of the Terek terraces.

The slopes of the ridges of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya upland in some places keep traces of the former strong erosion and form a patterned lace of intricately combined gentle spurs and gullies, hills and basins, saddles and ravines. The northern slopes, as a rule, are more dissected than the southern ones. There are more beams on them, they are deeper, and are more pronounced in the relief. When moving to the east, the degree of dissection decreases.

The northern slope of the Tersky Range is distinguished by the greatest indentation. The northern slopes of the Eldarovsky, Bragunsky and Gudermessky ridges are poorly dissected. The slopes of the Tersky and Sunzhensky ridges, facing the Allanchurt valley, are gentle and long.

The Nadterechnaya Plain extends north of the Tersky Range. It is an ancient terrace of the Terek and has a slight slope to the north. Its flat character is broken in some places by slight undulations, as well as by a gently sloping elongated hill, displaying the Adu-Yurt buried structure in the relief. In the western part, the ancient terrace imperceptibly merges with the third terrace; in the eastern part, this transition is marked by a sharp ledge.

The second and third terraces are not clearly expressed everywhere. In some places they are washed out, in some places they are preserved in the form of small cornices. Only the ancient and modern floodplain terraces can be traced throughout the valley.

MOUNTAIN PART

The section of the northern slope of the Caucasus Range, on which the southern part of the territory of Chechnya is located, is the northern wing of the huge Caucasian fold. Therefore, the layers of sedimentary rocks here dip to the north. But in many places this general regularity is disturbed and complicated by secondary folding, ruptures, and normal faults.

The relief of the mountains was formed as a result of a long geological process. The primary relief, created by the internal forces of the Earth, has undergone a transformation under the influence of external forces and has become more complex.

The main role in the transformation of the relief belongs to the rivers.

Possessing great energy, mountain rivers cut through the small anticlinal folds that appeared on their way through valleys, called breakthrough valleys. Such valleys are found on the Assa and Fortang when they cross the Dattykh anticline, on the Sharo-Argun and Chanty-Argun, in the place where they cross the Varandi anticline, and on some other rivers.

Later, in transverse valleys, in places composed of easily destroyed rocks, longitudinal valleys of tributaries appeared, which then divided the northern slope of the Caucasus Range into a number of parallel ridges. As a result of this dismemberment, the Black Mountains, Pasture, Rocky and Side Ranges arose on the territory of the republic. The ridges were formed where strong and resistant rocks come to the surface. The longitudinal valleys located between the ridges, on the contrary, are confined to the distribution bands of rocks that are easily amenable to erosion. The lowest range is the Black Mountains. Its peaks reach no more than 1000-1200 meters above sea level.

The Black Mountains are composed of easily destroyed rocks - clays, sandstones, marls, conglomerates. Therefore, the relief here has soft, rounded outlines, which is typical for the landscape of low mountains. The Black Mountains are dissected by river valleys and numerous gullies into separate massifs and do not form a continuous mountain range. They make up the zone of the foothills of the republic. In the Black Mountains, in areas composed of clays of the Maikop Formation, landslides are frequent.

In the mouths of small ravines and gorges overlooking the Chechen plain or on the terraces of mountain rivers, cones of significant size are found. They are composed of various clastic material: boulders, pebbles, sand, which is carried out of the gorges and gullies by rivers and rain streams during prolonged downpours. In the Black Mountains, especially in the eastern regions, there are ravines, the formation of which is associated with deforestation on mountain slopes or with their plowing. Actually the mountainous part of the republic is distinctly expressed by a number of high ridges. According to the features of the relief, it is divided into two zones: the zone of limestone ridges, which includes the Pasture and Rocky ridges. and the shale-sandstone zone, represented by the Lateral Range and its spurs. Both zones are composed of sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic age. The composition of the rocks that make up the first zone is dominated by various limestones. The second zone is composed mainly of argillaceous and black shales.

The zone of limestone ridges, in the western part, is complicated by the Kori-Lamekoy anticline and many thrusts and normal faults, and in the eastern part, by the fragile Varandian anticline fold. Therefore, the width of the zone itself varies in different places. Thus, in the basin of the Fortanga River, its width reaches 20 kilometers, in the upper reaches of the Martan it narrows to 4-5 kilometers, and in the Argun basin it expands again, reaching 30 kilometers or more. As a result, the Pasture Range on the territory of Chechnya has a complex structure and consists of a whole system of ranges. In the western part, it branches into three parallel chains, divided by river valleys into a number of separate ridges. The largest of them are Kori-Lam, Mord-Lam and Ush-Kort.

In the central part of the republic, the Pasture Range stretches in the form of one chain - the Peshkhoy Mountains. In the eastern part, it is represented by the Andean Range, from which numerous spurs extend. Some peaks of the Pasture Range are more than 2000 meters above sea level. South of the Pasture Ridge is the highest of the limestone ridges - Skalisty. It is only in a few places intersected by river valleys and for a considerable extent has the character of a watershed ridge.

From the Terek to the watershed of the Guloi-Khi and Osu-Khi rivers, it is expressed in relief for 4€ and is interrupted only in one place by the Targim Gorge of the Assy River. The western part of the ridge between the rivers Tersk and Lesa is called Tsei-Lay, and the eastern part, up to the upper reaches of the Guloi-Khi river, is called Tsorey-Lam.

The highest point of the Rocky Range is the top of the Rocky, or Khakhalgi (3036 meters), which ends the Tsorey-Lam Range. From this peak, the Rocky Range turns to the northeast and, in the form of the Yerdy Range, stretches to the Gekhi River, which crosses it with the deep Gekhi Gorge. From the Gekhi River, the Rocky Range stretches to the southeast to the Kiri-Lam Range, goes to the valley of the Sharo-Argun River near the village of Kiri.

The relief of limestone ridges is peculiar. Their slopes, although steep, are not sheer. They are strongly smoothed, do not form rocky ledges. In many places, the foot of the slopes are covered with powerful talus of slate rubble. The side ridge, stretching along the southern border of the republic, is a chain of the highest mountain ranges, composed of highly dislocated shale-sandstone and Lower Jurassic deposits. In this section of the Caucasus, it is almost 1000 meters higher than the Main Range. Only in two places does it intersect with the valleys of the Assy and Chanty-Argun rivers.

In the western part of the republic, between the Terek and Assa, the Side Range does not have the character of an independent range and, in essence, is a spur of the Main, or Dividing Range. To the east, in the Makhis Magali massif (3989 meters), the Lateral Range is already acquiring the features of a separate range, bounded from the north by the longitudinal valley of the Guloi-Khi River, and from the south by the longitudinal valleys of the Assy and Chaity-Argun tributaries. Further to the east, the links of the Side Range in Chechnya are the Pirikiteli ridge with the peaks of Tebulos-Mta (4494 meters), Komito-Dattykh Kort (4271 meters), DonooMta (II78 meters) and the Snow Range, the highest point of which is Mount Diklos-Mta (4274 meters ).

All these ridges form a watershed ridge, which stretches in a continuous 75-kilometer chain between the upper reaches of the Chanty-Argun and Sharo-Argun rivers in the north, Pirikiteli Al in the west and Andiysky-Koysu in the south.

The dominant role in the highland zone belongs to the longitudinal valleys of the main rivers. It is the longitudinal dissection that determines here the main features of the relief. Glacial and firn erosion plays an important role in its formation. Various forms of alpine relief are perfectly expressed here: cirques, carr, moraines. The glaciers have given many peaks lying above the snow line a pyramidal shape with sharp ridges separating the cirques of neighboring firn fields.

Below modern glaciers, traces of Quaternary glaciation have been preserved in the form of ice-free zircons, troughs, suspended side valleys with waterfalls falling off them, terminal moraines, and glacial lakes.

Between the Rocky and Side Ranges stretches a narrow strip of mountains composed of shale and sandstones of the Middle Jurassic. These rocks are easily destroyed. Therefore, there are no rocky cliffs or deepest gorges.

MINERALS

The main wealth of the bowels of Chechnya is oil. In total, there are about 30 oil and gas fields in the republic. Of these, 20 are located within the Tersky Range, 7 - on the Sunzhensky Range, and 2 - on the monocline of the Black Mountains. Of the total number of oil fields 23, gas-oil 4 and gas 2.

The composition of Chechnya's oil is predominantly paraffinic with a high content of gasoline. Natural oil seeps on the territory of the republic were known as early as the 11th-17th centuries. The local population used it for household needs and in medical purposes, extracting oil from oil springs and specially dug wells.

In the first years of the last century, oil was produced in the Terek-Sunzhensk oil-bearing region, then it was discovered in the Ermolovsky section of the Starogroznensky field, and in 1913 - in Navogroznensky (Oktyabrskoye).

During the years of Soviet power, detailed studies of the geological structure of the Grozny oil region led to the discovery of a number of new fields. In 1930, an oil gusher was obtained on the Venoi uplift, in 1933 the Malgobek field was discovered. A few years later, the development of the Goragorskoye (1937), Oysungurskoye (1941), Adu-Yurtovskoye (1941) deposits began. In 1945, the Tashkala field came into operation.

In 1956, the difficult and persistent search for Mesozoic oil was crowned with success. The first oil from the fractured limestones of the Upper Cretaceous was obtained on the Sunzhensky ridge near the village of Karabulakskaya. In 1959, Cretaceous oil was discovered in Ali-Yurt and Malgobek, and a year later - in KhayanKort.

Later, the commercial oil content of the Upper Cretaceous deposits was established in the following areas: Akhlovskaya, Malgobek-Vaznesenskaya, Ali-YurtAlkhazovskaya, Eldarovskaya, Orlinaya, Zamankulskaya, Karabulak-Achalukskaya, Sernovodskaya, Starogroznenskaya, Oktyabrskaya.

In addition to oil and gas, the bowels of Chechnya are rich in building materials and raw materials for the construction industry. A significant deposit of cement marls has been explored in the valley of the Chanty-Argun River, near the Yaryshmardy farm. Huge reserves of marls made it possible to build a large cement plant near the village of Chirl-Yurt. Limestone deposits are confined to multi-meter strata of the Upper Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic. Their reserves are practically inexhaustible. Limestones of beautiful colors are found in the Assinsky Gorge. They are well polished and can be used as a facing material.

Gypsum and anhydrite deposits are associated with the Upper Jurassic gypsum stratum developed between the Gekhi and Sharo-Argun rivers. The Chinkhoyskoye deposit, located in the Chanty-Argun valley, north of the village of Ushkoloy, may be of great industrial importance. The gypsum-anhydrite suite here reaches 195 meters. Stocks are very large and practically unlimited.

The largest sandstone deposits (Sernovodskoe, Samashinskoe, Chishkinskoe) are confined to outcrops of deposits of the Chokrak and Kzragan horizons. Used to obtain wall and rubble stone. There are also pure quartz sands.

In the Shatoi region, west of the village of Malye Varanda, there is a deposit of mineral paints (ocher, mumil). A number of hard and brown coal deposits are known in the republic. However, due to small reserves and low quality of industrial significance.

The ore potential of Chechnya has not yet been sufficiently studied and evaluated. Almost all ore occurrences of metallic minerals are confined to the Lower Jurassic deposits. Several deposits of copper and polymetals have been noted in the upper reaches of the Armkhi and Chanty-Argun rivers. Sulfate-calcium hydrogen sulfide sources are confined to the band of distribution of the Upper Jurassic rocks, represented by a thick suite of carbonate deposits. Their exits are usually located at the bottom of the gorges of the rivers that cut through the Rocky Range.

The largest in this group is the Shatoevsky spring. It is knocked out to the surface in the form of several griffins in the channel of the Chanty-Argun, near the village of Ushkoloy, where the river opens up the Upper Jurassic deposits.

Hydrogen sulfide-chloride-sodium sources are associated with Upper Cretaceous limestones, which, due to their fractured nature, have good water permeability. There are few such sources, but they are powerful in terms of debit, with high salinity and a high content of hydrogen sulfide. This type includes the springs of the Chishkinsky (Yaryshmardinskoye) mineral water deposit. Here, for 300 meters, two groups of mineral springs are found: the lower one (along the river), located on the right bank of the Chanty-Argun River, near the village of Yaryshmardy, and the upper one, which breaks out to the surface in the thalweg of the river, on the left bank. The total debit of the six main sources of the top group is 2 million liters per day.

The balneological properties of these springs are highly valued. They contain the rarest combination of hydrogen sulfide, radon and radium emanation. According to the chemical composition, the Yaryshmardn springs are analogues of the world-famous Matsesta mineral waters. The high flow rate of the springs and excellent natural conditions make it possible to create a large resort here.

A number of deposits of thermal hydrogen sulfide waters, very valuable in terms of balneology, are confined to the ridges of the Tsrsko-Sunzhenskaya Upland. These include Sernovodsk, Goryachevodsk, Bragun and Isti-Suu springs.

Outcrops of thermal hydrogen sulfide waters are associated with outcrops of Chokrak and Karagan sandstones, there are more than twenty individual layers. These aquifers are involved in the structure of the artesian basin enclosed between the Chernogorskaya monocline and the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya folded zone.

The outlets of the springs are confined, as a rule, to deep gullies that cut through the slopes of the ridges. Sometimes one such beam over a distance of 200-300 meters reveals several aquifers with waters of the most diverse composition.

So; for example, in the resort of Srnovodsk, and in Mikhailovskaya Balka, in addition to the main hot (temperature plus 70 ") sulfuric spring, sulfuric-salty, sulfuric-alkaline (soda) bitter are knocked out to the surface.

Now in Chechnya, only one health resort operates on the basis of mineral waters - the resort of Sernovodsk, but the presence on its territory of large deposits of mineral waters of the most diverse chemical composition and different temperatures will make it possible to create resorts of a wide profile in Braguny, on the Gudermes Ridge and in Chishki.

RIVERS

The rivers on the territory of Chechnya are unevenly distributed. The mountainous part and the Chechen plain adjacent to it have a dense, highly branched river network. But there are no rivers on the Tersko-Sunzhensky Upland and in the areas located north of the Terek. This is due to the features of the relief, climatic conditions and, above all, the distribution of precipitation.

Almost all the rivers of the republic have a pronounced mountainous character and originate on high: crests of ridges or springs or glaciers. Possessed of a fast, stormy current and great manpower, they make their way in deep, narrow gorges. When they enter the plain, where their flow slows down, the rivers have created wide valleys, the bottom of which is completely flooded with water only during large floods. Pebbles and sand brought from the mountains are deposited here, forming rifts, shoals and islands. Due to this, the riverbed is often divided into branches.

According to the water regime, the rivers of Chechnya can be divided into two types. The first includes rivers, in which glaciers and high mountain snows play an important role. These are Terek, Sunzha (below the confluence of Lesa), Assa and Argun.

In the summer, when high in the mountains, snow and glaciers melt energetically, they overflow. The second type includes rivers originating from springs and devoid of glacial and high mountain snow supply. This group includes Sunzha (before the confluence of Assy), Valerik, Gekhi, Martan, Goita, Dzhalka, Belka, Aksai, Yaryk-Su and others, less significant. They don't have floods in summer.

The water regime of rivers of both types is characterized by sharp rain floods in summer. In the mountains, during heavy downpours, even small rivers and streams turn into formidable, turbulent streams within a short time, carrying uprooted trees and moving huge stones. But after the rain stops, the water in them subsides just as quickly.

Most high levels and the flow of water in the rivers of the republic falls on the warm part of the year, when snows, glaciers melt and it rains. In winter, the flow of water decreases sharply, since the rivers are fed mainly by groundwater. Freezing and ice regime of the rivers of Chechnya depend not only on winter temperatures, but also on the speed of their flow. On the rivers of the alpine zone (the upper reaches of the Assa, Chanty-Argun, Sharo-Argun), despite the rather low winter temperatures, there is no continuous freezing, because the speed of the water flow here is high. Only in places are ice edges formed near the coast (zaberezh).

In the lower reaches, where the speed of the current slows down with a decrease in slopes, in severe winters the rivers freeze in some areas. Only Shalazha is covered with ice every year. near the village of Shalazhi, Goyta near the village of Belaya and Dzhalka near the village of Germenchug.

The Sunzha River near the city of Grozny has not been frozen for a long time: its ice regime is influenced by warm waters discharged by the city's industrial enterprises.

The main river of Chechnya is the Terek. It originates on the slopes of the Main Caucasian Range from a small glacier located at the peaks of Zilga-Khokh. The first 30 kilometers flows on southeast between the main and side ridges. At the village of Kobi Terek turns sharply to the north, crosses the narrow gorges of the Bokovaya, Skalisty, Pastbishny ridges, and then the Black Mountains and enters the Ossetian plain. In its upper reaches of the Kabardian plains, the Terek receives numerous tributaries from the left side, the most important of which are the Ardon, Urukh, Malka and Baksan. And on the plain, the Terek keeps a fast current.

Below the confluence of the Malka, the Terek turns east and a few kilometers west of the village of Bratskoye enters Chechnya. The Terek valley here has a wide floodplain. Its channel is winding, replete with shoals and islands, which often change their size and shape due to erosion and alluvium. Where the Terek receives its largest tributary - the Sunzha River, its lower course begins. Deviating to the northeast, it flows into the Caspian Sea outside the republic, forming a huge delta with many branches and old channels. The total length of the Terek is 590 kilometers, and the basin area is about 44 thousand square kilometers.

The second largest river in Chechnya - the Sunzha - originates from springs in the Ush-Kort massif. A small section of its upper reaches is located within North Ossetia. Entering the territory of Chechnya, Sunzha initially has a meridional direction. At the village of Karabulakskaya, it changes direction to the east and flows along the Sunzhensky ridge at a distance of 5-8 kilometers from it. Behind the village of Petropavlovskaya, the Sunzha comes close to the southern slope of the Tersky Range, goes around it from the east and, having made two sharp turns, flows into the Terek a few kilometers below the village of Staroshchedrinskaya. The length of the Sunzha is 220 kilometers. The Sunzha does not have any significant left tributaries, while the right tributaries are abundant and abundant. The largest of them are Argun and Assa.

The Argun is the most abundant tributary of the Sunzha. In terms of high water, it even surpasses it. Its length is about 150 kilometers. Argun is formed from the confluence of two rivers - Chanty-Argun and Sharo-Argun. Chanty-Argun originates on the slopes of the Main Caucasian Range within Georgia. Its gorge is very picturesque. Especially beautiful in the upper reaches of the river. The Sharo-Argun river starts from the Kachu glacier on the Lateral Range in the territory of the republic. Assa originates in Georgia, on the Main Caucasian Range. It crosses the mountainous part of the republic in the meridional direction, when it enters the Chechen plain at the village of Nesterovskaya, it turns east, and, having received a tributary - the Fortanga, flows into the Sunzha.

The valley of the Assy River is not inferior in beauty to the Argun Gorge. It is especially majestic and severe where the river cuts through the Rocky Range with the deep Targim Gorge in Ingushetia.

Almost all rivers of Chechnya belong to the Terek river system. The exceptions are Aksai, Yaman-Su, Yaryk-Su, belonging to the Aktash river system, flowing into the Agrakhan Bay of the Caspian Sea. The rivers of Chechnya are of great economic importance. They have large reserves of hydropower. Their waters are used for domestic and industrial needs.

The role of rivers in the irrigation of agricultural lands is great, especially in the semi-desert, where fields and pastures are dead without water. The semi-desert lands filled with water, with an abundance of light and heat, give the richest and most stable crops. For irrigation and watering of the Nogai steppe and the Black Lands, the Terek-Kuma Canal was built.

The Tersko-Kuma main canal is a high-water artificial river. It stretched for 152 kilometers across the steppe. The channel is up to 40 meters wide and 4 meters deep. Its throughput is 100 cubic meters per second, which is 3 times more than the average water flow of the Sunzha River near the city of Grozny.

The dam on the Terek leaves a great impression, curbing this strong and capricious river, which in the past brought a lot of trouble to the Cossack villages. The canal facilities are equipped with modern equipment and mechanisms. Water supply through the locks of the head structure and its passage through the dam are regulated automatically according to a given program. Branches depart from the main canal towards the Caspian Sea, through which water flows to irrigate arable land and pastures. In turn, irrigation canals diverge from these branches in different directions.

The Naursko-Shchelkovskaya branch passes through the territory of Chechnya with a capacity of 27 cubic meters per second. Its length is 168 kilometers. The Burunnaya branch separated from the Naursko-Shchelkovskaya branch and watered the sandy pastures, which was discharged into the old rivers of the Kura. Water fills the depressions between the sandy ridges - lakes appear in the breakers. A large Nadterechny canal was built for irrigation of the Nadterechnaya Plain. The arid Alkhanchurt valley is irrigated by the Alkhanchurt canal, which is also fed with water from the Terek. The lands of the Chechen plain are irrigated by the Assa-Sunzhensky, Samashkinsky, Khankalsky, Bragunsky and other canals.

LAKES

Lakes in Chechnya are found both on the plains and in the mountainous part. Their number is relatively small, but they are diverse in origin and nature of the water regime.

Depending on the conditions for the formation of lake basins on the territory of the republic, the following types of lakes can be distinguished: eolian, floodplain, landslide, dam, karst, tectonic and glacial. Eolian lakes are found within the Pritersky sandy massif. The main role in the formation of their basins belongs to the wind. The basins are round or oval in shape, elongated from west to east in the direction of the prevailing winds. The sizes of eolian lakes are small, usually do not exceed several tens of meters. Most of them dry up in summer.

Floodplain lakes are confined to the valleys of the rivers Terek, Sunzha, Dzhalka. They occupy old channels already abandoned by the river and have an elongated or horseshoe shape. Their depth is small - does not exceed 3 meters.

The banks are often covered with continuous thickets of reeds. Fish are found in all floodplain lakes. The lakes in the old rivers of the Kura, which were reborn as a result of the discharge of the waters of the Burunny Canal into them, should also be attributed to the same type.

Landslide lakes are found on mountain slopes prone to landslides. There are several groups of such lakes on the watershed of Chanty-Argun and Sharo-Argun, in the Shikaroy tract. Dammed lakes are formed as a result of landslides or landslides that block the valleys of mountain rivers with a natural dam. This type includes the largest alpine lake in the North Caucasus, Kezenoi Am, located in mountainous Chechnya, on the southern slope of the Andi Range, near the border with Dagestan, at an altitude of 1869 meters above sea level. The surface of the lake is about 2 square kilometers. In terms of area, it surpasses Lake Ritsa, and above sea level it is located almost KYUO meters above it.

Spread among the rocks and mountains covered with a green carpet of vegetation, the bright blue lake is very beautiful. For its extraordinary beauty, it should rightfully be considered a landmark not only of Chechnya, but of the entire Caucasus. It was formed by Kezenoy-Am as a result of the damming of the valley of the mountain rivers Khorsum and Kaukhi. The collapse that dammed the valley occurred from the southern slope of the Kasher-Lam ridge, below the confluence of these rivers. It was probably caused by an earthquake.

The lake has a lobed shape typical of dammed lakes, elongated along the valleys of both rivers. The natural dam, located in the western part of the lake, reaches a height of over 100 meters. The basin of the lake has steep slopes and a flat bottom. Max Depth its 72 meters, the average depth is 37 meters. The length of the lake from north to south is 2 kilometers, and from west to east - 2.7 kilometers. The maximum width is 735 meters. The length of the coastline is 10 kilometers.

The lake is fed by rivers and streams flowing into it, as well as springs knocking out in the basin itself. The main role in nutrition belongs to the Horsum River, which flows into the lake in its northern part, and Kauha, which flows into the eastern part. The lake has no surface runoff. But below the dam, about 3 kilometers from it, as a result of underground water flow from the lake, several powerful springs are knocked out to the surface, which, merging, form a small river Mior-Su. The water level in the lake changes from year to year depending on the amount of precipitation in its basin. The water in the lake is cold. In summer, the temperature on the surface does not rise above 17-18. The water temperature in the lower layers is 7-8. In winter, the lake freezes, and in some years the ice thickness reaches 70-80 cm. Kezenoy-Am is a great place for skating and skiing. There are trout in the lake. The weight of individual specimens reaches 5-6 kilograms.

There is a small karst lake in the upper reaches of the Aksai River, near the pass through the Andean Range. It has almost regular rounded outlines with diameters of 25-30 meters. The shape of the basin itself is funnel-shaped. The depth of the lake is 4-5 meters.

An example of a lake with a basin of tectonic origin is Lake Galanchozh. It is located in the Galanchozh tract, on the right slope of the Osu-Khi river valley, at an altitude of 1533 meters above sea level. The basin of the lake is funnel-shaped. The lake has an almost oval shape, its maximum length is 450, the minimum is 380 meters, the depth in the center is 31 meters. The color of the water in the lake is bright blue with a greenish tinge.

A poplar grove stretches along the southeastern and eastern shores of Galanchozh. Among the mighty poplars, birch trunks turn white. Around the lake is a bright green cover of subalpine grasses. Galanchozhskoye Lake is fed by springs. Three springs flow into it on the eastern slope. There are exits of keys and at its bottom. The lake has an underground runoff in the form of a small spring that breaks through a tectonic rupture on the northern slope.

The water temperature on the surface of the lake in summer reaches 20. From a depth of 6 meters, the temperature begins to drop sharply and reaches 5 at a depth of 20 meters. In winter, the lake freezes.

Lake Generalskoe is located in the north of the Chechen Republic (Naursky district). It stretches 1200 meters from east to west and 600 meters from south to north. Its depth reaches 5 meters. The western and eastern shores abound with bays and peninsulas. There are several islands in the middle of the lake. The blue water surface combined with the greenery of the surrounding forest and the yellow sand of the beach, the abundance of sun throughout the summer, the opportunity to go boating and fishing are the conditions for an excellent holiday.

Dzhalka Lake is located 6 km. east of the city of Gudermes. It has an elongated shape. The lake is 750-800 meters long, 100 meters wide, and 2-3 meters deep. The water level in the lake is maintained by an earthen dam. On the north coast there is a beautiful pine grove.

GLACIERS

Alpine snows and glaciers play a huge role in the life of the mountains. Being a kind of natural reservoirs that feed the rivers at the height of summer, they have a beneficial effect on the adjacent plains. Rivers that originate on glaciers are always full-flowing.

On the northern slope of the Caucasus Range, the snow line, that is, the lower boundary of the permanent snow cover, rises when moving from west to east due to an increase in the dryness of the climate in the same direction. Within the Eastern Caucasus, it reaches 3700-3800 meters. However, in some cases, depending on local geomorphological conditions, the snow line may be located above or below its normal level. In addition, the height of the snow line varies within a small range from one year to another as a result of the unequal amount of snow falling in different years. Glaciers are fed by atmospheric precipitation, avalanches and snowstorms. At high wind speeds, typical for highlands, huge snowdrifts up to 1520 meters thick form in the wind shadow.

The glaciers of the Eastern Caucasus themselves are much inferior in size and area of ​​firn fields to the glaciers of the Central Caucasus. All significant glaciers here are confined to the northern slope of the Side Range. On the lower Dividing Range there are almost none.

The main morphological types of glaciers in Chechnya are valley, cirque and hanging. On its territory count;! 10 valley glaciers, 23 cirque and 25 hanging.

A distinctive feature of the valley glaciers is a well-defined tongue, sliding down the valley for 1.5 kilometers or more. All valley glaciers of the republic belong to the category of simple ones, since they begin in one individual basin, represented by a single-chamber or multi-chamber cycle. These glaciers have no tributaries from other supply basins.

On the surface of the valley glaciers of the republic, one can observe all the morphological forms that are characteristic of the glaciers of mountainous countries: ice falls, glacial mills, ice tables, “ant” heaps, various moraines, etc.

The cirque glaciers are smaller than the valley glaciers. A significant part of their surface is covered with moraine material, and therefore the lower boundary of the glacier is often difficult to trace.?

Hanging glaciers are small in size. They occupy small cars, beyond which the tongue of the glacier often does not go, and if it does, it immediately hangs on a steep slope.

Due to the reduction in the size of glaciers observed in the last 100 years, their morphological types have changed. During this period, in the Sunzha River basin, for example, 27 glaciers melted, 11 broke up into 34 small glaciers, and the area of ​​the rest decreased by 50-60 percent.

On the territory of Chechnya, glaciers are located in three groups. In the upper reaches of the Assa River, there are 10 glaciers with a total area of ​​3.8 square kilometer. Some of them are located on the territory of Chechnya.

The largest glaciers in the basin were grouped on the northern slope of the Makhis-Magali massif at the headwaters of the Guloikhi and Nelkh rivers. There are 6 glaciers here. They occupy deep, shaded karts. The largest glacier is located at the head of the Nelkh River. This is a valley glacier, its area is 1.1 square kilometers, and its length is 1.8 kilometers.

There are 24 glaciers in the Chanty-Argun basin with a total area of ​​6.2 square kilometers, nine of them, the larger ones, are located on the territory of Chechnya. A significant node of glaciation in the basin is the Tebulos Mta massif. There are 6 glaciers with a total area of ​​3.8 square kilometers. Among them is the Tebulos-Mta glacier, the longest in the Eastern Caucasus. Its length is over 3 kilometers, its area is 2.7 square kilometers. The feeding area of ​​the glacier is located in a deep and relatively narrow circus located on the northern slope of Mount Tebulos-Mta. Snow avalanches play a significant role in the nutrition of the glacier; their traces are clearly visible on the steep walls of the circus. The tongue of the glacier is long but narrow. Its width decreases towards the end from 400 to 200 meters. There are three icefalls on the glacier. The tongue ends at an altitude of 2890 meters.

Below, from under the moraine, a small but full-flowing tributary of the Argun, the Maystykhi River, originates. 5 glaciers of this group are cirque, located in the headwaters of the left tributary of the Maistykha River. 2 cirque glaciers are located in the upper reaches of the Belukha-Pego River, the right tributary of the Chanty-Argun, and one is in the headwaters of the Tualay River.

In the upper reaches of the Sharo-Argun River, there are 34 glaciers with a total area of ​​17.6 square kilometers. The river valley here has a latitudinal direction. From the south, it is bounded by the sections of the Bokovoy ridge - the Pirikiteli and Snegovy ridges, and in the north - by the Kobulam ridge, which separates the basins of the Chanty-Argun and Sharo-Argun rivers.

All glaciers are concentrated on the Side Range, the average height of which in this area is 3900 meters. They are confined to the sources of the Sharo-Argun itself and its right tributaries: Chesoy-Lamurakhi, Daneylamkhii Khulandoyakhk.

At the headwaters of Sharo-Argun there are 5 glaciers with an area of ​​3.33 square kilometers. The largest of them is the Kachu glacier. Its area is 2.2 square kilometers, and its length is 2.9 kilometers. It occupies a vast circus stretched from west to east between the peaks of Kachu (3942 meters) and Shaikh Kort (3951 meters). It is formed from two streams flowing towards each other. From the confluence to the northwest there is a short tongue of the glacier, ending at an altitude of 2860 meters. A feature of the Kachu glacier is the absence of large icefalls, its surface has a slight slope, gradually increasing towards the bottom. Two lateral and one median moraines are clearly visible on the glacier. The moraines merge at the end of the glacier into a continuous cover up to a meter thick.

There are 3 glaciers at the head of the Chesoy-Lamurahi River. Two of them are insignificant (0.2 square kilometers), and the third - the Komito glacier has an area of ​​​​2.4 square kilometers and a length of 2.7 kilometers. It is formed from the confluence of two streams of ice flowing from kars located on the northern slope of Mount Komitodah-Kort (4261 meters). In the feeding area, the glacier has large slopes, broken by numerous cracks. Below the confluence, the surface of the glacier is quite flat, and there are few cracks here. On the surface of the glacier, two lateral moraines and one median one are clearly expressed. All three moraines merge at the end of the glacier, forming a continuous cover.

NATURAL AREAS

The natural conditions of Chechnya are varied. When moving from the north and south, the latitudinal zones of semi-desert and steppes are replaced by high-altitude zones of forest-steppe, mountain forests and meadows, and, finally, eternal snow and ice.

Vertical zonality, or zonality, is the most characteristic feature of mountainous countries. It consists in a regular change in natural landscapes on the slopes of mountains in the direction from the foot to their peaks: The reason for vertical zoning is the change in air temperature, humidity, precipitation, etc.

SEMI-DESERT ZONE

The semi-desert zone covers the Tersko-Kuma lowland, with the exception of its southern part, adjacent to the valley of the Terek River.

The climate here is arid - precipitation is 3 (K) -350 millimeters. The summer is hot and sultry. The average monthly temperature in July is plus 24-25°. High summer temperatures and great dryness of the air lead to the fact that the evaporation of moisture exceeds the amount of precipitation. This causes severe drying of the soil and burning of vegetation.

In summer, the semi-desert impresses with its dull, lifeless appearance. Dry winds - sultry winds from the steppes of Kazakhstan - dry out the soil especially strongly and have a detrimental effect on vegetation. To combat drought, shelterbelts are being created here, forests are being grown on the sands, and irrigation and watering canals are being built.

Winter in the semi-desert has little snow and lasts about four months. The average January temperature is minus 3-3.5°. When cold air masses invade from the north or northeast, there are snowstorms with drifts and frosts down to minus 32. Thaws are frequent. Not infrequently, after thaws, frosts come, then the earth is covered with a crust of ice (sleet).

A small snow cover makes it possible to keep flocks of sheep on pasture during the winter. Sheep, raking loose snow, easily get their own food. But snowdrifts and sleet are a scourge for pastoralists. In order to avoid the death of sheep from starvation, insurance stocks of fodder are created on winter pastures.

The main background of the semi-desert of Chechnya is light chestnut soils of various textures. And the mechanical composition plays a significant role here: clayey rocks in an arid climate are susceptible to salinization, while this is almost not observed on sands. Therefore, soils and vegetation close to the desert type are usually formed on clays, and on sands - to the steppe.

Within the Pritersky sandy massif, sandy light chestnut soils are common, which are at different stages of development. Here one can observe all transitional varieties, ranging from free-flowing sands, almost unaffected by the processes of soil formation, to well-formed deep-humus sandy soils. In the eastern part, near the border with Dagestan, there are light chestnut solonetsous soils with patches of solonchaks, and along the old rivers of the Terek - meadow and meadow marsh solonetsous soils.

According to the composition of plant forms, the Tersko-Kumek semi-desert belongs to the transition zone from the steppes of the south of the European part to the deserts of Central Asia. Sod grasses typical for the steppes (fescue, feather grass) and desert drought-resistant shrubs (wormwood, kochia, etc.) also grow here. Typical representatives of the Central Asian deserts include camel thorn, sandy wormwood - sarazhin, sandy oats - kiyak, etc.

In the semi-desert, in contrast to the steppes, the grass cover is very sparse. On light chestnut soils of clay composition, various wormwoods dominate with an admixture of cereals and herbs.

In the eastern part, on saline soils, wormwood-saltwort groups were formed, consisting of wormwood, camphor, vaults, and various saltworts. The vegetation of the Pritersky sandy massif is distinguished by great originality. There is no surface runoff in the sands, and all moisture from atmospheric precipitation penetrates deep into the soil. And since sands have weak capillarity and evaporation from their surface is insignificant, the moisture reserves in them are well preserved even at very high air temperatures. In addition, moisture can accumulate in the sands as a result of the condensation of water vapor penetrating into them from the air. Due to this, the vegetation on sandy soils is richer both in terms of species composition and abundance, and in the summer heat it is preserved much better than on soils of clay composition. Therefore, the Pritersky sands, by the nature of their vegetation, approach the steppes. Overgrown sands are wonderful natural pastures. In their vegetation cover there are many valuable forage plants such as Siberian wheatgrass, roofing bonfire, blue alfalfa, fescue, sandy cochia, etc.

Pritersky sands are the main fodder base for the development of fine-wool sheep breeding in the republic. Pasture animal husbandry is possible here throughout the year. Due to the relatively shallow occurrence of fresh groundwater, shrubs goof, hawthorn, buckthorn, tamariks, Caspian willow and trees - poplar, willow pear - grow on the Pritersky sands. There are also artificial plantings of black locust, white locust, oak and even pine.

An attraction of the Priterskie Sands is a pine grove planted back in 1915, 9 kilometers north of the village of Chervlennaya. It consists of Crimean and Austrian pine. About 200 trees are now preserved. The height of individual pines reaches 13 meters, the diameter is 30 centimeters. Grapes, melons and fruit trees grow beautifully on the Prytersky sands.

The vegetation of the semi-desert contains many ephemera. Therefore, spring here is perhaps the brightest and liveliest period. The snow has not yet had time to melt everywhere, and the vast plain begins to quickly shed the rusty-brown rags of last year's weeds. The whole space is covered with delicate greenery of young grasses. Many flowers appear. Among the bright greenery, yellow and orange tulips, blue and purple irises, red poppies and other flowers bloom. In May, they fade, the leaves wither, the seeds ripen. The semi-desert becomes gray and dull.

In autumn, when the summer heat subsides, evaporation decreases and rains fall, everything around comes to life again and the green grass pleases the eye. These grasses go green under the snow and serve as good fodder on winter pastures. The fauna of the semi-desert, although not rich, is diverse. Of the large mammals here you can meet the saiga antelope. It usually keeps in herds, sometimes several hundred heads. Makes seasonal migrations. Runs very fast (up to 72 kilometers per hour). Predators also live in the semi-desert: the steppe wolf, which differs from the forest wolf, has a lighter coat color and is smaller in size, a small fox - a corsac, a badger.

There are a lot of rodents in the semi-desert, especially jerboas: a large earthen hare, an earthen hare, and a furry-legged jerboa. Gerbils abound - comb and southern - inhabiting mainly sands. There is a hare-hare.

In summer, fearing from the heat and stuffiness, many animals are nocturnal, and during the day they hide in burrows. Of the birds in the semi-desert, there are steppe eagles, demoiselle crane, larks, the largest steppe bird - the bustard. The bustard is a sedentary bird, in the warm season it feeds on insects, in the winter it feeds on grains and seeds.

Of the reptiles in the Pritersky sandy massif, many species of Central Asian deserts are common, including the round-headed lizard and the lizard, the steppe boa. There are snakes, steppe viper, Greek tortoise here.

STEPPE ZONE

The steppe zone includes the strip of the left bank of the Terek, the eastern part of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya upland and the northern outskirts of the Chechen plain. Compared to the semi-desert, more precipitation falls in the steppes - 400450 millimeters per year. But the amount of rainfall during the growing season is not enough to good development agricultural plants. Therefore, artificial irrigation is widely used here. Summer in the steppes is hot, the average July temperature is 23-24°. The abundance of heat is favorable for the development of viticulture. In mild winter conditions, winter crops feel great here. The average January temperature is minus 3.5-4°C.

In the Terek valley, on high terraces, dark chestnut soils are developed, low terraces are occupied by meadow and meadow-marsh soils. On the Terek-Sunzhenskaya Upland and the adjacent strip of the Chechen Plain, chernozem soils predominate with occasional patches of dark chestnut soils. The flat part of the steppe is almost completely plowed up. In summer, it looks like a rolling sea of ​​golden wheat, vast tracts of green corn and yellow-orange sunflower fields. The natural nature of the vegetation cover can only be judged by the remaining, very small, areas of virgin lands. The left-bank part of the Terek in the distant past was a continuous steppe. Now there are almost no sections of the primitive feather grass steppe.

The vast expanses of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya upland are occupied by forb-cereal steppes. In the herbage, their main role is played by the bearded vulture, feather grass, fescue, and thin-legged. Where the natural vegetation cover has changed dramatically under the influence of grazing or plowing, the original groupings have been replaced by weedy vegetation.

The steppe vegetation of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya upland is a secondary formation. Its appearance is associated with the destruction of forests that covered the Tersky and Sunzhensky ridges relatively recently. Now the forests here in the form of small thickets of oak and elm have survived only in some places along the beams. Steppe grasses develop rapidly and are short-lived. During the summer, the steppe changes many times. For example, the forb-cereal steppe changes its outfit at least ten times during the growing season.

In early spring, immediately after the snow melts, the white flowers of the grains are the first to appear. Goslings bloom almost simultaneously - small lilies with yellow flowers.

By mid-April, viviparous bluegrass begins to turn green. By the end of April, steppe sedge and red tulips bloom.

The flowering of other steppe grasses - fescue, feathery feather grass, thin-legged, wheatgrass - occurs later - in May. Particularly beautiful are areas of virgin steppes during the mass flowering of feathery feather grass. They are covered with a solid silver-gray veil. And under the breath of the wind, this veil sways in waves.

In July, cereals ripen and the steppe acquires yellow hues. The lower terraces of the valleys of the Terek and Sunzha rivers, due to good soil moisture, are covered with meadows and floodplain forests, and in some places - with continuous thickets of reeds.

Floodplain forests, largely already cut down, consist of oak, willow, elm, wild apple and pear. Their undergrowth is formed by dense, often impenetrable thickets of privet, euonymus, buckthorn, hawthorn, elderberry, intertwined with hops and wild grapes.

In connection with the almost continuous plowing of the steppes, the animal world has undergone great changes. Only those animals have survived that are adapted to life in a territory that is economically developed and densely populated. Among them there are many rodents - pests of agriculture: hamsters, ground squirrels, field mice, baby mice, etc. The hare is quite common.

Of the insectivores, the common hedgehog and the Caucasian mole are common here, and of the reptiles, snakes and lizards. The steppes are inhabited by dangerous pests of fields, orchards, vegetable gardens - Asian locust, prus, winter scoop, cabbage scoop, mole cricket, apple moth, etc.

In the steppes, due to insects, a whole world of birds lives, flying away from here only with the onset of cold weather. This beautiful pink starling is the worst enemy of locusts and other agricultural pests. A lot of insects are eaten by steppe larks. Most of the birds inhabiting the steppe part of the republic belong to widespread species. These are swifts, swallows, sparrows, hoopoes, kestrels, orioles, rollers, rooks, gray crows and many others.

The fauna of floodplain forests is peculiar. In the forests near the village of Shelkonskaya, a noble Caucasian deer has been preserved. Wild ducks and geese nest in the reed beds of the Terek. On dry areas in the forest, in a thicket of bushes, the Caucasian pheasant lives. Predators also live here - reed cat, jackal. They exterminate a huge number of game birds and small mammals. In the floodplains of the Terek there are many muskrats acclimatized here.

FOREST-STEPPE ZONE.

The forest-steppe zone includes a large part of the territory of the Chechen and Ossetian plains, as well as the western part of the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya Upland.

The temperature distribution here is already significantly influenced by the different heights of individual sections above ocean level. The average temperature in July is plus 21-23", and in January - minus 4-5 degrees.

Precipitation falls 500-600 millimeters. The increase in precipitation in the forest-steppe compared to the steppe zone is explained by the close proximity of the mountains. Even at the beginning of the last century, the Chechen plain was almost entirely covered with dense forests. But gradually they were cut down, and the plain acquired the character of a forest-steppe. Now the steppe occupies elevated areas of the plains, and the forest - river valleys and depressions. Most of the area of ​​the Chechen and Ossetian plains is plowed up and used for crops. But even now, among the arable lands, mighty branched wild pear trees, the remnants of the former forests, were still preserved in some places.

Meadow soils predominate on the Chechen plain. Its elevated areas are occupied by leached chernozems. Meadow-marsh and alluvial soils are widespread along the river valleys. The steppe areas of the plain are characterized by a dense high herbage with a wide variety of plants. Of the cereals, wheatgrass, fescue, bonfires, bearded man, and feather grass are common here.

Small areas of the forest consist most often of oak silt with an admixture of ash, maple, and Caucasian pear. There are many willows and alders in the river valley. The undergrowth is thickets of hawthorn, blackthorn, wild rose.

To cover the slopes of the Terek and Gudermes ridges: with thickets of derzhitree, buckthorn, bushy fluffy oak, cotoneaster, barberry, juniper, wild rose, spirea, etc. Almost all those animals that inhabit the steppe zone of the republic live in the forest-steppe. Wolves, foxes, badgers have been preserved in the deaf ravines.

ZONE OF MOUNTAIN FORESTS.

The zone of mountain forests occupies the entire region of the Black Mountains and the lower parts of the northern slopes of the Pasture, Rocky and Side Ranges. Its upper limit passes at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, but in some places it rises to 2000-2200 meters.

The climate of the forest zone is not the same everywhere and varies depending on the altitude. In this regard, it can be divided into two belts: lower and upper.

The lower belt extends at an altitude of 400 to (200 meters above sea level and corresponds to the Black Mountains. The average July temperatures here vary in the range of 18 to 22 "and January - from minus K) to minus 12 °. Precipitation falls from 600 to 900 millimeters.The upper belt is located in the range of 1200-1800 meters.The temperature here is lower: in July - plus 14-18 °, in January - minus 12. Precipitation is more - 900 millimeters. Soils in the zone of mountain forests are diverse, which is explained by unequal conditions processes of soil formation at different heights and different slopes.On the northern, more gentle and moist slopes of the ridges, they are better developed and richer in humus compared to the soils of the southern, steep and dry slopes.The thickness of the soil usually increases towards the foot, as rain and melt snow waters wash away from the upper parts of the slopes to the lower ones.

Brown mountain-forest soils are widespread on the northern forested slopes. The content of humus in them is 5-7 percent. Meadow and meadow-marsh soils are common in river valleys and hollows. And where bedrocks come to the surface, skeletal soils are found on the screes, still little affected by the process of soil formation.

The vegetation of the mountain forest zone is rich and diverse. The lower part of the slopes of the mountains is covered with dense low forest. Oak, hazel, buckthorn, hawthorn, ash, maple grow here. Shady elms and alders rise near streams and rivers. There are many fruit trees in the forest: wild apple, pear, dogwood, cherry plum, medlar and various shrubs. The trees are intertwined with brambles and creepers. IN summer time such forests are impenetrable, but they are a reliable refuge for wild animals.

In the upper belt, the rock composition changes. Beech forests with an admixture of hornbeam, elm, linden, ash, and maple already predominate here. Hazel, euonymus, privet are common in the undergrowth. In some places there are thickets of azalea - yellow rhododendron. In the depths of the Black Mountains, pure beech forests have been preserved, untouched by the hand of man. Like huge columns, light gray trees stand, covering the sky with their mighty crowns, through which the sun's rays do not penetrate. There are no shrubs or grasses on the ground, covered with half-rotten last year's foliage. Only in some places the decayed trunks of forest giants felled by a storm turn black. The air is saturated with the smell of decay. Dampness, twilight and silence reign in this forest.

The higher, the rarer and lighter the mountain forests. Beech is gradually being replaced by mountain maple. Pine and birch trees appear. The trees here are small, with gnarled, curved trunks. Only the birch reaches the upper limit of the forest. But the harsh climate of the highlands oppresses her. Here she never has the strength, power and beauty that are characteristic of her in the forests of central Russia.

In addition to the fluffy birch, the relict Radde birch is common, which differs from the white shape and size of the leaves and catkins. The bark of this birch is pinkish in color, in old trees it is very flaky. At the upper border of the forest, among stunted birch groves and thickets of shrubs, there are areas where tall grasses grow unusually luxuriantly. In damp beams, the grass reaches such a height that a man on a horse can hide in them.

A little higher than the birch forests, the free areas of the meadow are covered with continuous thickets of evergreen Caucasian rhododendrons with hard shiny leaves. This shrub has perfectly adapted to harsh conditions and feels great here.

An amazing picture is the rhododendron at the time of flowering. In June, large, very beautiful, slightly creamy flowers bloom at the ends of its branches, collected in large inflorescences. Reminiscent of roses from a distance, they stand out as bright spots against the background of dark green foliage or the blue mountain sky.

Forests are a great wealth of the republic. The most common and valuable breed is beech. He goes to the manufacture of furniture, musical instruments, plywood, parquet. Hornbeam, oak, ash, maple, elm, linden are of industrial importance.

Clearings along the valleys of some rivers had a very unfavorable effect on their water regime. Floods have increased, sometimes during heavy rains they take on the character of floods. The water in the rivers becomes less in the summer. With deforestation in the mountains, springs disappear. In order to protect nature, the development of forests in the republic has been significantly reduced.

The fauna of mountain forests is rich and diverse. Of the large animals, the bear is found here. His favorite habitats are dense mountain forests, narrow rocky gorges littered with windbreak. On the edges and forest glades you can meet a shy beauty - a roe deer. There are many wild boars in the forests of the republic. They keep in herds, sometimes two or three dozen heads. A wild forest cat lives in the deaf beams, occasionally a lynx is found. Of the other animals in the mountain forests, there are wolves, foxes, hare, pine and stone martens, badgers, weasels, and others. A squirrel was brought to the republic from the Altai Territory.

There are many birds in the mountain forests, although less than in the steppes. Buzzards soar over the clearings with a plaintive cry, hawks quickly sweep by. Woodpeckers are found in dense thickets, there are several species of them. Finches, tits, warblers, bullfinches, and nuthatch scurry along the branches. Thrushes sing melodiously, restless jays call out. Owls find shelter in beech forests. Their loud cries are often heard at night.

ZONE OF MOUNTAIN MEADOWS

The mountain-meadow zone covers a strip enclosed between the heights of 1800 and 3800 meters. It is represented by three belts: subalpine (1800-2700 meters), alpine (2700-3200 meters) and subnival (3200-3800 meters).

The climate of this zone is moderately cold. The summer is cool: the average July temperature is plus 14° at the lower boundary of the zone and 4? - at the top. Winter is long and snowy. Precipitation falls 700-800 millimeters. There is more precipitation in the subalpine zone than in the alpine zone. But in the subalpine belt, on the southern slope of the Rocky and Andean ranges, there are places where precipitation is less than 500 millimeters.

Soils in the zone are mountain-meadow with a high content of humus, which increases with height. In the mountain-meadow soils of the Alpine belt, the amount of humus sometimes reaches 35-40 percent. This is explained by the fact that as the height increases, the temperature decreases and the growing season shortens, which delays the decomposition processes. Due to the accumulation of semi-decomposed plant mass, a peaty layer is formed. The thickness of mountain meadow soils decreases up the slopes of the ridges. The soils of the Alpine belt are thin and gravelly.

CLIMATE.

The climate of the republic is formed as a result of complex interactions of both local climate-forming factors and those general climatic processes that take place far beyond its borders, in the vast expanses of the Eurasian continent. Local factors that have a significant impact on the climate of Chechnya include its geographical position: complex, strongly dissected relief, proximity to the Caspian Sea.

Located in the same latitudinal zone with the subtropics of the Black Sea coast and southern France, the republic receives a lot of solar heat throughout the year. Therefore, the summer here is hot and long, and the winter is short and relatively mild. The northern slope of the Caucasus Range serves as a climatic boundary between the moderately warm climate of the North Caucasus and the subtropical climate of Transcaucasia. The main Caucasian ridge forms an insurmountable barrier to the flow of subtropical air from the Mediterranean region. In the north, the republic does not have high barriers, and therefore continental air masses move relatively freely across its territory from the north and east. The continental air of temperate latitudes dominates the plains and foothills of Chechnya at all times of the year.

The temperature conditions of Chechnya are very diverse. The main role in the temperature distribution here is played by the height above sea level. A noticeable decrease in temperature, associated with an increase in altitude, is already observed in the Chechen Plain. So, the average annual temperature in the city of Grozny at an altitude of 126 meters is 10.4 degrees, and in the village of Ordzhonikidzevskaya, located at the same latitude, but at an altitude of 315 meters - 9.6 degrees.

Summer in most of the republic is hot and long. The highest temperatures are observed in the Tersko-Kuma lowland. The average July air temperature here reaches +25, and on some days it rises to +43. When moving south, with increasing altitude, the average July temperature gradually decreases. So, on the Chechen plain, it fluctuates in the intervals of +22 ... +24, and in the foothills at an altitude of 700 meters it drops to +21 ... + 20. On the plains, three summer months have an average air temperature above 20, and in the foothills - two.

In the mountains at an altitude of 1500-1600 meters, the average July temperature is +15, at an altitude of 3000 meters it does not exceed +7 ... +8, and at the snowy peaks of the Side Range it drops to +1. Winter on the plains and in the foothills is relatively mild, but unstable, with frequent thaws. The number of days with thaws here reaches 60-65.

In the mountains, thaws are less frequent, so there are no such sharp temperature fluctuations here as on the plains. As altitude increases, the mean January temperature decreases. On the Chechen plain it is -4 ... -4.2, in the foothills it drops to -5 ... -5.5, at an altitude of about 3000 meters - up to -11, and in the zone of eternal snows - up to -18.

However, the most severe frosts in the republic are not in the mountains, but on the plains. The temperature in the Tersko-Kuma lowland can drop to -35, while in the mountains it never falls below -27. This is because with relatively warm winters and cool summers in the mountains, the contrasts between summer and winter temperatures smooth out. Consequently, the climate becomes less continental and more even with increasing altitude.

Throughout the year, the air in Chechnya, with the exception of the mountainous part, is characterized by significant humidity. The average annual absolute humidity on the territory of the republic ranges from 6-7 millibars in the highlands to 11.5 millibars in the plains. The lowest absolute humidity is observed in winter; in summer, on the contrary, it is always high, its maximum occurs in July. The absolute humidity decreases with altitude.

One of the most important climate-forming factors is cloudiness. Cloudiness softens the summer heat and moderates winter frosts. In cloudy weather, there are usually no night frosts. At the same time, clouds are carriers of precipitation. On the plains of the republic, the greatest cloudiness is observed in winter. The cloudiest month is December. In summer, cloudless and partly cloudy weather prevails. August is the least cloudy. In the mountains, on the contrary, the clearest are the winter months, and the most cloudy are the summer months.

There are much more clear days in the year in the foothills and mountains than on the plains. Thus, in the village of Shatoy, ten months of the year have a clear sky probability of more than 30 percent of the days, and in Grozny - only 6 percent. Atmospheric precipitation in the territory of Chechnya is unevenly distributed. The least precipitation falls on the Tersko-Kuma lowland: 300-400 millimeters. When moving south, the amount of precipitation gradually increases to 800-1000 or more millimeters. In deep river valleys and basins, precipitation is always less than on the surrounding slopes. Few of them also fall in the longitudinal valleys. The Alkhanchurt valley is especially dry in the republic.

Precipitation falls unevenly throughout the year in Chechnya. Summer precipitation prevails over winter. Their maximum everywhere falls on June, the minimum - on January-March. Summer precipitation falls mainly in the form of showers. IN cold period precipitation falls in the form of snow. But on the plains and during the winter months some of it may fall as rain. With an increase in altitude, the amount of solid precipitation increases, and in the highlands, snow falls in spring, autumn, and even summer. The share of solid precipitation here can account for almost 80 percent of their total.

On the plains of the republic, snow cover appears in early December. Usually it is unstable and during the winter it can melt and reappear several times. In winter there are 45-60 days with snow cover. Its average maximum height does not exceed 10-15 centimeters. The snow cover disappears in mid-March. In the foothills, snow appears at the end of November, and melts at the end of March. The number of days with snow here increases to 75-80, and the average maximum snow cover height is up to 25 centimeters.

At altitudes of 2500-3000 meters, a stable snow cover appears in September and lasts until the end of May. The number of days with snow reaches 150-200 or more. The height of the snow cover depends on the relief. From open places, it is blown away by the wind, and accumulates in deep valleys and windward slopes. At altitudes of 3800 meters and above, snow persists throughout the year.

Nadterechny municipal district is one of the fifteen municipal districts of the Chechen Republic. In addition to regional municipalities, the Republic also includes two urban districts - the city of Grozny and the city of Argun.

The municipal formation "Nadterechny municipal district" is located on the northwestern outskirts of the Chechen Republic. The Nadterechny region borders in the north with the Stavropol Territory and the Naursky region of the Chechen Republic, in the east and south with the Grozny region, in the southwest with the republics of North Ossetia-Alania and Ingushetia.

Intra-regional ties provide communication to Nadterechny municipal district with neighboring municipalities, as well as with the capital of the Republic - the city of Grozny.

The territory of the region is divided into two geomorphological elements, which differ sharply from each other. The first geomorphological element includes the northern part of the area's land use, the second - the southern part.

The area of ​​the republic is 16.139 km. The population is 1.2 million people. The capital is the city of Grozny. Administratively, the republic is divided into 15 districts. It is located in the southeastern part of the North Caucasus, on the northern slope of the Caucasus Range and adjacent plains. In the west, the Chechen Republic borders on Ingushetia and North Ossetia, in the north - on the Stavropol Territory, in the north and east - on the Republic of Dagestan and in the south - with the Georgian Republic.

The southern border runs along the crests of the ridges, there are no clearly defined natural boundaries for the rest of the length and the border is drawn along imaginary lines. From north to south, the Chechen Republic stretches for 170, and from west to east - for 150 kilometers. The geographical position of the Chechen Republic is advantageous. Important railroads and highways pass through its territory, connecting the main regions of the North Caucasus with the Transcaucasus and the European part of the country.

The Chechen Republic is a land of amazing contrasts of nature. It is rare to find such an extraordinary variety of natural landscapes in such a small area. The majestic beauty of mountain landscapes: snowy peaks and gigantic rocky cliffs, turbulent rivers and azure-blue lakes, dense forests and colorful subalpine meadows - is replaced on the plains by no less remarkable views of the endless steppe expanses, amazing pictures of the wavy sea of ​​sandy breakers, among which there are areas dune sands - typical landscapes of the deserts of Central Asia.

The nature of the Chechen Republic is not only diverse, but also rich. Its bowels store large reserves of "black gold" and building materials. Long hot summers and fertile soils make it possible to cultivate a wide variety of highly valuable agricultural crops. Extensive natural pastures serve as an excellent base for the development of animal husbandry. Mountain beech forests provide the most valuable timber. Diverse mineral springs, clean mountain air, abundance of sunshine, favorable climatic conditions, beautiful landscapes are the healing forces that can be widely used to organize recreation and restore the health of workers. The main reason that determines the diversity of the natural conditions of the Chechen Republic is the peculiarities of the structure of its surface.

Relief and minerals.

The varied relief of the surface of the Chechen Republic is due to its complex geological history. In a relatively recent geological period, here, as well as throughout the Caucasus, powerful mountain-building processes took place.

As a result of these processes, mountain folds appeared in some places, and troughs and depressions appeared in others. The primary relief, created by the internal forces of the earth, subsequently underwent profound changes under the influence of external forces: water, air temperature, and wind.

About half of the territory of the Chechen Republic is occupied by mountains and uplands, and the rest of the territory falls on lowlands and plains. Spread in the north of the republic Tersko-Kuma lowland, which is part of the vast Caspian lowland. Its flat surface has a slight slope towards the Caspian Sea. To the east of the village of Karga-linskaya, it lies already below the level of the ocean.

Representing a bending area earth's crust, in historical times, the Tersko-Kuma lowland was repeatedly flooded with the waters of the Caspian Sea and strata of marine sediments were layered on its surface. The rivers flowing into the ancient Caspian basin deposited in their mouths the fine detrital material brought by them and created large sandy deltas.

Now these deltas have been preserved on the Tersko-Kuma lowland in the form of large sandy massifs. With their strongly hilly relief, they stand out sharply from the surrounding plains. Only the southern part of the Tersko-Kuma lowland belongs to the territory of the Chechen Republic. Almost three quarters of its entire area is occupied by the Pritersky sandy massif. Its eolian relief was formed under the influence of the eastern winds prevailing in the lowlands.

Here you can observe the most diverse forms of sandy relief. Ridge and hilly sands overgrown with herbaceous vegetation are widespread. And in the northern and eastern parts of the massif there are areas of loose sand dunes. Dune sands were formed as a result of dispersal of ridge sands. The reason that caused their dispersal was the destruction of the vegetation cover that held the sands together as a result of immoderate grazing or improper plowing.

Within the Tersko-Kuma lowland, the valley of the Terek River stands out. Its left slope here has a number of distinct terraces. The lower terraces are covered with forest and shrubs, swampy in places. To the south of the Terek River stretches Tersko-Sunzhenskaya Upland. It consists of two low ridges - Tersky and Sunzhensky, which are separated by the narrow Alkhanchurt valley.

Both ranges have a folded structure, highly complicated by numerous faults and secondary folds. They are composed of rocks of the Cenozoic age, among which shale clays, sandstones, and conglomerates are widespread.

In many places, these rocks are covered from above with a thick layer of loose loess-like loams. The ridges have soft, rounded outlines. Their gently sloping, mostly soddy slopes are strongly dissected by numerous gullies and ravines. Both ranges rise towards the west. The height of the Sunzhensky Range reaches 872 meters (Mount Kurp), while individual peaks of the Tersky Range do not rise above 700 meters above sea level.

The Bragunsky and Gudermessky ridges can be considered a continuation of the Tersky Range in the eastern part, although in terms of their geological structure they are independent mountain folds. At the exit of the Alkhanchurt valley to the Chechen plain, between the Tersky and Sunzhensky ridges, there is a small Grozny Ridge, on which the Old crafts are spread. The Grozny ridge is connected by a narrow bridge with the Sunzhensky ridge. In the southeastern part of Grozny rises Novogroznensky ridge(New trades), or Aldynskaya hill, dissected by the Khankala gorge into two separate massifs.

Between the Terek Range and the Terek River, the Nadterechnaya Plain stretched out. Its width reaches 10-12 kilometers. It consists of several river terraces, ledges descending to the Terek. The space between the Tersko-Sunzhenskaya Upland and the front chain of mountains of the Caucasus Range is occupied Chechen foothill plain. The valley of the Sunzha River in the west connects it with the Ossetian foothill plain, part of which is within the territory of the Chechen Republic.

The Chechen Plain in geological terms is a deep piedmont trough in the form of a huge basin. During the epoch of the Quaternary glaciation, clastic material was deposited in this basin, which was brought by high-water rivers from the vast mountain glaciers at that time.

Glacial and alluvial deposits, consisting of boulders, pebbles, gravel, sand and clay, completely filled the basin and gave it the appearance of a plain inclined to the north. From above, these deposits are covered with young river sediments. The Chechen Plain is the most populated place in the republic. Over its entire area, large Chechen villages and Cossack villages are picturesquely spread out, immersed in the greenery of orchards. The entire southern mountainous part of the republic is located on the slope of the Greater Caucasus, which is the northern wing of the huge Caucasian fold.

The alternation in the sedimentary stratum of the northern slope of the Caucasus Range of strong and easily destructible rocks led to its division into a number of longitudinal ridges. Ridges formed where resistant rocks were exposed, and the valleys separating them arose where less resistant rocks were distributed.

Thus, four parallel ridges were formed, rising to the south in the form of giant steps. The northernmost of these ranges is black mountains- is composed mainly of sandy-clayey rocks of the Cenozoic age, which is why its relief has soft, rounded outlines of typical low mountains. Their height rarely exceeds a thousand meters above sea level.

From the foot to the peaks, the Black Mountains are overgrown with forest, which gives them a dark color from afar. This is where their name came from. Low, with a strongly dissected relief, the Black Mountains are a zone of foothills.

South of the Black Mountains stretches Pasture ridge. In the west, it branches into two, and in some places into three separate ridges. It got its name from the abundance of beautiful mountain pastures on its slopes. Many peaks of the Pasture Range rise to a height of over 2 thousand meters.

Behind the Grassland Ridge rise sharp ridges and bizarre cliffs. Rocky ridge. The peaks of the Rocky Range reach a height of 3,000 meters.

The pasture and rocky ranges are composed of limestones of the Mesozoic age, have a different structure of their northern and southern slopes. The northern slopes, coinciding with the direction of the fall of the rock layers, are long and more or less gentle. The southern slopes, on the contrary, are short and break off with steep ledges. The landscape of the southern slope of the Rocky Range is especially majestically beautiful. Here, almost along its entire length, it forms a sheer cliff. And on this light limestone wall with a pinkish-yellowish tinge, individual trees and shrubs are molded at a terrible height.

The river valleys crossing the limestone ridges have a peculiar structure. They alternate between narrow and wide sections. Where the river cuts into the strong limestone rocks that make up the ridges, its valley looks like a deep narrow gorge with steep rocky slopes. Even on a hot, sunny day, darkness and coolness reign in the gloomy gorges of such a gorge. River valleys are completely transformed in the gaps between the ridges. Here the mountains, as it were, part, forming vast light hollows, elongated along the river. The prevailing clayey composition of the rocks composing the basins determines here soft, rounded relief forms with gentle slopes. In such places, convenient for settlement, mountain villages are usually located.

A chain of silver-white snowy peaks stretches along the southern border of the republic. Lateral ridge. The Side Ridge is composed of sandy-argillaceous sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic age. In this section of the Caucasus, the Lateral Range is almost 1,000 meters higher than the Main Range. The peak located on it Tebulos-Mta rises to 4,494 meters above sea level. This is the highest peak not only in the Chechen Republic, but also in the Eastern Caucasus.

In the Chechen Republic, the links of the Lateral Range are Piriki-Tel Range with the peaks of Tebulos-Mta, Kamito-Data, X-court (4271 m.), Donos-Mta (4178 m.) and snow ridge, the highest point of which is Mount Diklos-Mta (4274 m.).

All these peaks are covered with eternal snows and glaciers. The snow line in the Chechen Republic runs at an altitude of 3700-3800 meters. On the territory of the republic, glaciers are located in four groups. In the west, the first glaciers appear in the upper reaches of the Armkhi River. The next small group is concentrated on the top of Mahis Magali (3,986 meters). Further to the east, along the entire length of the Lateral Range to the top of Tebulos-Mta, there are no firn fields and glaciers. On Tebulos Mta, glaciers occupy both the northern and southern slopes. There are more and larger glaciers on the northern slope. The firn fields and glaciers have the most significant development in the fourth group, which stretches in a strip of 30 kilometers between the peaks of Kachu and Diklos-Mta. In total, there are 58 glaciers in the Chechen Republic with a total area of ​​27 square kilometers. Geography of the Chechen Republic -A.L.Ustaev