North Caucasus - 北高加索

North Caucasus,lie inSouth RussiaCaucasusAn area of ​​a mountain range, relative to the southGeorgia, North neighborKrasnodar Territory、Stavropol TerritoryandKalmyk. Unfortunately, although the local area has special natural landscapes and diverse ethnic groups, it is also the preferred destination for adventurous tourists; however, the local security is very poor and the crime rate is high, coupled with sporadic terrorist attacks, it is not recommended for tourists to go Go. If tourists really want to go, they should be more careful to avoid entering the dangerous area of ​​the North Caucasus for evaluation as a priority. LikeNorth Georgia、North Azerbaijan,as well asKrasnodar TerritorysouthernSochiwithKrasnaya Polyana; The above situation will change from time to time, so be sure to check the latest local situation before you decide to go. In addition, it is recommended that tourists do not casually discuss political issues with locals.

area

city

• Cherkessk — The capital of Karachay-Cherkessia
• Derbent — With a history of more than 6000 years, it is the oldest city in Russia. Its fortresses, ancient cities and fortresses were listed in 2003List of World Cultural Heritage. This was once the place where the Khazarians competed with Iran for Armenia (that is, the ancient ear classes)
• Grozny — Developing cities
• Makhachkala — The capital of Dagestan, the largest city in the North Caucasus
• Nalchik — Capital of Kabardino-Balkaria
• Vladikavkaz — The capital of North Ossetia, a transportation hub in the North Caucasus

Other destinations

• Dombey — The beautiful mountain resort of Karachay-Cherkessia
• Mount Elbrus,EuropePeak
• Mount Dick, the second highest mountain in Europe
• Mount Kostain, the third highest mountain in Europe

learn

The North Caucasus is one of the most beautiful regions in Russia, especially the mountains. The local peaks are fullEuropeandRussiaThe highest altitude area. Due to its proximity to the Black Sea in the west, the climate is subtropical, while the eastern part of the Caspian Sea is much drier. The most beautiful thing in this area is the natural scenery and the magical canyons. There are also ancient ruins left by the local area, like fortress-like stone hilltop villages; andDerbentThere are ancient fortress heritage left by the Sassanid dynasty. The local cultural and historical assets are worthy of your visit.

AlthoughRussiaIt has a relatively diverse and quite large autonomous ethnic group, among which the Russian ethnic group is one of the most populous ethnic groups in the country. But in the North Caucasus, the opposite is true. When tourists enter any region in the North Caucasus, they often feel that they have come to a different cultural country.

The North Caucasus is not only one of the regions in Russia where non-Russians occupy the majority; it has been the most unstable and often turbulent region in Russia since the beginning of the 19th century. Due to this kind of factors, the long-term inter-ethnic hatred has brought huge changes to the local area. In the western part of the region, there have been heinous genocide incidents; the Circassians are a Northwestern Caucasus ethnic group, a branch of the Adyge people; during the 19th century, Tsarist Russia obtained the cooperation of Ottoman Turkey and carried out the activities in the Northwest Caucasus. Ethnic cleansing, a large number of Circassians emigrated or deported to Ottoman Turkey, some moved to the Middle East to settle, they believe in Sunni Islam, they are the origin of the Crimean Tatars. Most of the Eastern Caucasus nations were expelled after World War II because Stalin condemned them for cooperating with the Nazis.Kazakhstan. This mass expulsion was cruel and most of these peoples died of starvation and lack of shelter. But during the period between Malinkov and Khrushchev, they were allowed to return to their land.

The North Caucasus is still an area of ​​constant conflict, and any tourist who wants to visit must first understand the local situation. On October 27, 1991, DudayevChechnyaCapitalGroznyFormally announced his withdrawal from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the official declaration of Chechnya's independence. Soon after, the Chechen War officially broke out; in 1999, Vladimir Putin, the then Prime Minister of Russia, ordered the army, police, and other security forces to enter the Chechen separatist area. In the Second Chechen War, by the beginning of 2000, the government’s security forces occupied most of the area. The high-intensity fighting lasted for several years and caused thousands of civilian casualties. By 2005, the Chechen rebel leader Abu Dulle Halim Saduraev promulgated the establishment of the Caucasus Front to resist Russia, which includes Islamic believers in the North Caucasus, in an attempt to expand the conflict between Chechnya and Russia. After his death, the successor Doka U Marov announced that the jihadist will continue. It will establish an Islamic fundamentalist Islamic emirate in the North Caucasus and further develop it. Russia's Chechnya policy will establish a pro-Moscow regional government for local security. The obvious factor for the success of this suppression is the dependence on the local head of state. However, in the pro-Moscow Chechen family Ramzan Kadyrov, terrorist attacks in the North Caucasus increased sharply from 2007 to 2010. In the summer of 2009, only a short period of time. More than 442 people died in terrorist attacks in the North Caucasus within 4 months, compared to only 150 people who died in terrorist attacks in 2008. Throughout 2009, according to official statistics from the Russian government, 235 Interior Ministry personnel were killed and 686 were injured, while more than 541 terrorists were killed and more than 600 supporters were arrested. Compared with 2008–2009, there were fewer terrorist attacks in 2010. However, in 2010, the civilian casualty rate increased significantly throughout the North Caucasus, and more and more terrorist attacks were outside Chechnya. From 2010 to 2014, the number of casualties in the North Caucasus insurgent areas declined year by year, and the overall death toll fell by more than half. The reasons for its decline include the death of high-level insurgent commanders, the construction of a lot of local infrastructure, and the outflow of insurgents to other conflict areas.

In addition to anti-Russian conflicts in the North Caucasus, there are alsoOssetiaConflict with Ingushetia: For more information, seeIngushe。

Language

The North Caucasus region has its own national languages. English is not spoken locally. The most common language isRussian. If tourists want to go to the local area but cannot communicate with the locals, it will be very difficult to adapt. However, body language can be used. Although there are obstacles to self-guided travel in the local area, it is not so difficult as imagined. The local people are generally friendly and hospitable. Even if the language is imperfect during the journey, they will receive enthusiastic help from the locals many times.

arrival

The main gateway cities of the North Caucasus, there areStavropol、Stavropol TerritoryMineral Water Citynearby,Krasnodar TerritorySochi、North OssetiaVladikavkaz,as well asDagestanMakhachkala。

Travel around

go sightseeing

Travel route

Activity

• ski
• Mountaineering
• Hiking/biking trip
• Relax in the Caucasus Soviet resort
• Participate in local traditional dance performances (together with enthusiasm!)

Dining

Russian dumplings, cheese bread, and blyn cakes are the most popular in the area and are regarded as delicacies.

Nightlife

Safety

There have been large-scale military operations, terrorist bombings, kidnappings, and extortion in an endless stream. In the entire region, local crimes are mainly kidnapping. Most of the kidnappings are Americans, Canadians and British, and tourists will be extorted for ransom. Even if you ask local people to coordinate, it may not guarantee smoothness. The saddest thing is that some locals pose a greater threat than anti-government armed groups and gangs.

Tourists should probably know that there is a notorious terrorist organization in the area.Emirate of CaucasusTherefore, there will be greater fear and threat to tourists in the local area.

In such an emergency, the embassy can do very little, even local officialsPowerless to help. All the government can afford, they will only send email messages to the families of tourists.

This is a fact, when you are about to enter the North Caucasus, it is a nuisance for foreign governments. Therefore, unless you have adventurous tourists with relevant experience or know locals, and have basic Russian skills; otherwise, this will only create more trouble for yourself or the government. Since December 2012, although the number of terrorist attacks generally has decreased in the local area, this does not mean that troubles will not come to you.

The following are some things that tourists should pay attention to and be vigilant when going to certain areas of the North Caucasus:

Chechnya

Chechnya used to be one of the most turbulent regions in Russia. Although the Chechen government has continuously made local stable policies and construction development; however, incidents of violence and terrorist attacks continue to affect the entire country sporadically. According to the experience of tourists, under normal circumstances, the safest and reasonable travel experience is to visit less unfamiliar places. The center of Grozny is safe, but the situation outside Grozny is still relatively turbulent, especially in the border areas of Georgia, Dagestan, and Ingushetia. Tourists must be aware of the situation in most areas of the country, as well as violence and political turmoil. Pay more attention.

Many foreign governments, including Britain, Canada and the United States, have strongly warned their citizens not to travel to Chechnya. According to reports from foreign governments, there have been incidents of tourists being kidnapped and extorted locally. Even Russian nationals or Chechen nationals have been killed and kidnapped locally, and some foreign media pointed out that the Chechen authorities will oppose the government and support homosexuality in the middle of the night. The locals were kidnapped and killed in some remote areas. Although the Chechen authorities welcome foreign tourists to visit Chechnya and travel freely, due to the conservative customs of Chechnya and the relatively closed country, tourists should avoid discussing topics related to the anti-Chechen government or supporting homosexuality with local people when traveling to avoid being caught. The Chechen authorities are looking for trouble for questioning.

In November and December 2012, the local situation has stabilized. In particular, there are many police stationed in the local area. Tourists can even travel freely within a safe range. The locals are also very friendly to foreign tourists. If tourists want to visit a local mosque, please remember not to take photos or make them unfriendly. If you want to stay and rest in the local area, the price of an average hotel is usually around 2,500 rubles a night. If you stay in a hotel in the capital of Grozny, it only costs about 9,000 rubles for a night; even if you are lucky, you can also live in Hollywood starsJean-Claude Van DammeandKeira KnightleyRooms that have been in.

The capital of Grozny has many attractions. You will probably need two days to visit the area. The local attractions include the Kadyrov Monument, Parliament Building, Chechen Museum, and some other attractions. There are also some historical sites outside Grozny. The ruins and the aerial ropeway gliding are worthy of visitors' experience. In December 2012, according to the local people in Grozny, it was considered that foreign tourists came to travel there.Rareof.

Ingushe

So far, Ingushetia is one of the most dangerous areas in the North Caucasus. The political turmoil, poor security, hotbeds of terrorism, civil strife, and large-scale military operations are enough to prove that the local situation is very unstable. Ingushetia is also the poorest region in Europe (including Russia) and the entire North Caucasus. The local unemployment rate is higher than that of other parts of Russia or any country in Europe. Tourists should not travel alone. The local civil strife is enough to make people fearful. In addition, there are kidnappings from time to time. Tourists should avoid traveling or sightseeing at night, and it is best to return to your hotel or local home and big city before the evening. In addition, there are many unstable and turbulent regional roads in Ingushetia. There will be military or police checkpoints. When tourists take a long-distance minibus, bus or ride through the checkpoint, they may have to show their passports to the checkpoint. People view. Since December 2012, the local situation has eased somewhat, but sporadic conflicts still exist. If tourists want to travel in the local area, apart from organizing a group or traveling with locals, familiarity with basic Russian is the best bridge to communicate with the local area.

Dagestan

DagestanIt is one of the unstable and more dangerous tourist destinations. There are terrorist attacks, poor public security, and organized armed operations in the local area, making locals and tourists a certain threat. For tourists who don't know much about Dagestan, it is recommended not to go to this republic, because incidents of attacks in the local area are likely to happen to them at any time, and there are still terrorist attacks in the republic until 2018. Like some cities likeKizlyar、Kizil yurtAnd the capitalMakhachkalaThe most dangerous place. As of 2010, there are many police and military forces still present in the local area for armed suppression.

Hasavyurt is an interesting city, the local environment is almost the same as the movie Star Wars. A desert-like environment and garbage everywhere. Tourists will even find that local cows, dogs and cats will look for food in the garbage dump because the local food is quite scarce. However, Makhachkala is a pretty good city; there are quite decent restaurants in the area, as well as large theaters (mainly Russian-language movies), parks, and the coast of the Caspian Sea. However, there are many undercover police and military patrolling the government building. Please do not film them. You may be arrested and interrogated for 90 minutes, and even troublesome things will happen to you. Although Derbent is a small city, the local attractions are good; here you can see the fortress and the large market, and a day trip in Derbent is definitely enough. The local people are almost friendly and hospitable; since foreign tourists come to the local area to travel is rare, the locals will still be curious. Although attacks in these cities continue to take place, kidnappings no longer occur in the cities. Before heading to Dagestan, apart from organizing a group, familiarity with basic Russian is the best bridge to communicate with the local area.

North Ossetia

Here is likeSouth OssetiaThe same is a rather unstable and unsafe place. Although there have been few crimes, in the capitalVladikavkazIn recent days, independent groups and separatist groups have still attacked each other, and they have continued to be staged. If you are an experienced tourist, you will often understand that this is the safest republic in the North Caucasus. Because the locals believe in the Orthodox Church as the majority, Muslims are in the minority. However, where there are Muslims, there will still be sporadic assassinations, mainly from extremists of the Salafist movement. In addition, the situation in the border zone bordering the Republic of Ingushetia is still turbulent, and there are police checkpoints on the cross-border highway. The cities 15 kilometers north of Beslan and Vladikavkaz are worth visiting destinations; although Beslan hostage crisis has occurred, the incident was basically over in September 2004.

Karachay-Cherkessia

Karachay-Cherkessia is safer than other North Caucasus regions, but there are still sporadic attacks in this area.

Kabardino-Balkar

This republic is dominated by the Muslim population, and the local security is still not stable. In the past, due to the increasing frequency of terrorist militants and the continuous occurrence of attacks, local security has become a concern. Especially in Nalchik there has been a very unstable situation. However, as of November and December 2012, the city appeared to be safe. Yes, because the local area has been heavily suppressed by the government, making the situation more stable than before. There are good restaurants in the local area, and everything is within walking distance. Although there are not many local attractions and activities to visit in Nalchik, the local people are very friendly.

manner

The North Caucasus is dominated by Sunni Islam, so your personal behavior should be appropriate.

Next stop

In fact, it is very difficult to "leave" from the North Caucasus. The borders of the Republic in this area are also under the control of the Russian authorities; the North Caucasus is a dangerous place, so every time a border station is reached, there will be personnel stationed to interrogate tourists. Nevertheless, there are ways to leave the Caucasus, including: take a train or plane from Grozny, the capital of the Chechen RepublicMoscow;FromDagestanHeading southAzerbaijan(Including trains and buses) leave; you can also choose to goGeorgia Military Road(Purely the name of the road does not mean that there are any current military activities on this road), fromNorth OssetiaVladikavkazGo toGeorgiacapitalTbilisiOn the way, you can admire the amazing mountain scenery at an altitude of nearly 2,400 meters; although the military road has been used until now, this road will still bring people an impressive miserable condition. The road conditions on the border between Russia and Georgia are the worst. There will even be an avalanche.

Another way to cross the Greater Caucasus is through the Rocky Tunnel fromNorth Ossetia, Come and goSouth OssetiaofTranscaucasus Highway, This tunnel was built during the Soviet era. Unfortunately, this road has been closed and impassable, due to political factors, resulting inSouth OssetiawithGeorgiaThe border between them was forced to close, so tourists may eventually be repatriated toNorth Ossetia。

In this case, it is better to choose to fly away. The local capital of the North Caucasus, there are flights toMoscowAirplane flight. Or, you can choose another way to leave: throughSochiorStavropol/Mineral cityLeave. FromSochi, You can go toAbkhaziaAlong the coast. But want to get fromKabardino-Balkar, It is impossible to go to the border of Abkhazia, in fact, it is also the most infeasible way.