 | warn:There may be undetonated mines throughout South Ossetia. In addition, terrorists in the area often use car bombs to attack military and security facilities. Tourists must maintain a high level of personal safety awareness when visiting South Ossetia. (November 2017) |
South OssetiaFor a slaveGeorgiaThe separated "factual" independent state. Except northRussiaNorth CaucasusofNorth Ossetia, East, west and south are nearGeorgia. The Republic of South Ossetia is currently recognized as an independent countryUnited NationsMember StateRussia、Nauru、VenezuelawithNicaragua。
city
- Zsinvali — The capital of South Ossetia and the largest town in the region, is the seat of the South Ossetia government
- Leningori(Russian and Ossetian)/Akagoli(Georgia) — a small town that was under the jurisdiction of Georgia before 2008 and is the seat of the Lomisi brewery
- Jawa — It is the Jawa district under the jurisdiction of Georgia in name, but it is currently under the jurisdiction of South Ossetia
Other destinations
learn
As South Ossetia has gone through years of war in the past, the restoration and reconstruction of the area has been quite slow, coupled with the corruption of local officials, and the government management is also quite loose and weak; coupled with the trouble entering South Ossetia, Therefore, tourists still think twice. The altitude of 89.3% of South Ossetia is above 1000 meters; in terms of temperature, the average temperature in January is 4.5℃, and the average temperature in July is 20.3℃. The annual average rainfall is 598mm.
More than half of the local population is Ossetian (Ирæттæ), mainly speaking Ossetian (Ирон ӕвзаг). The South Ossetians are different from the Georgians. They belong to the Alan descendants of the Aran kingdom; they are the same race as the Russian North Ossetia on the other side of the Caucasus Mountains.
history
Before 1989Soviet UnionDuring the period, the state of peace was basically maintained between the South Ossetian Self-Government and Georgia. But in 1990, just as Georgia began to take the steps of independence from the Soviet Union, the South Ossetian Parliament announced the establishment of the South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic loyal to Moscow in September of that year. The Georgian Congress responded by announcing the abolition of South Ossetia’s autonomous status. Georgia believes that the independence movement was instigated by the Soviet Union and aimed at creating an excuse to interfere in Georgia's independence. Georgian police also clashed with local people, causing casualties. At the end of 1991, the conflict gradually expanded, resulting in the death of about 1,000 people, and 100,000 South Ossetians fled their homes, most of whom entered North Ossetia. In January 1992, South Ossetia held a referendum. The results of the referendum showed that the vast majority of South Ossetia residents supported independence. In order to avoid further expansion of the conflict with Russia, Georgia, Russia and South Ossetia reached a ceasefire agreement in Dagomes that year.
After this war, South Ossetia was independent; the Georgian government had almost no control over highly autonomous areas. Georgia established a government during the "Rose Revolution" in 2003, keen to regain the lost South Ossetia andAbkhaziaControl.
The situation in Georgia is heavy, and the rude handling reached its peak in 2008, shelling the capital of South Ossetia.ZsinvaliAs part of military operations to maintain its authority. After Georgia encircled Zsinvali, Russia, which supported South Ossetia, sent hundreds of tanks and more than 10,000 soldiers used North Ossetia to enter South Ossetia, fought fierce exchanges of fire with Georgian troops and launched air strikes on the Georgian mainland. At the same time, they are also substantively independent regionsAbkhaziaWar was also declared on Georgia, and the Russian army also sent troops into Abkhazia and blocked Georgian ports with the navy. Under Russian heavy bombing, South Ossetia and Abkhazia were separated from Georgian control.
Since the “liberation” of the region, the Russian government has been trying to integrate Ossetia and Russia, but the problems of Georgia and South Ossetia have not been formally resolved, and the Russian government has not succeeded.
politics
Although there are sporadic conflicts between South Ossetia and the Georgian central government, it is much lower than that during the 2008 war. It is mainly due to the great military influence of the Russian "peacekeeping force", which has also caused the Olympics. The Setians are very grateful to Russia for its military intervention in the Georgian government. As for the population, during the 2008 war, South Ossetia, which had a population of 70,000 in 2007, dropped to 55,000 in 2012, and some South Ossetians have migrated to Russia.
arrival
Tourists can go directly to South Ossetia from Georgia, but do not return to Georgia after entering South Ossetia, because the Georgian government does not recognize the independence of South Ossetia. After the tour, tourists should take a cross-border bus, minibus or shuttle bus to the destinationRussiaGoverned by the governmentRepublic of North Ossetia。
Visas and permits
travel
Travel around
Language
People in South Ossetia can speak Ossetian,RussianwithGeorgian. However, due to South Ossetia andGeorgiaThe conflict between the two has been happening since the early 1990s, and after 2008, the vast majority of local people refused to use Georgian to talk, if tourists useGeorgianTry to talk to the locals, which will not have a good impression on the locals and may be hostile to you. Similarly, since the local area has experienced years of war, the hatred of Georgians remains high. Therefore, it is recommended that tourists useRussianIt is more appropriate to come and talk with the locals.
As for tourists who want to use English to talk to locals, it was basically impossible in the past because English is not popular in the area and the locals have limited English proficiency. But with the popularity of smartphones, tourists can use smartphone translators to communicate with locals in English.
go sightseeing
- existZsinvali, There are sights related to the 2008 Russia-Georgian War.
- Mountains-South Ossetia is located in the Caucasus Mountains, and most parts of the country are above 1,000 meters above sea level.
Activity
Shopping
currency
Russian ruble
The exchange rate fluctuates from time to time, and the current official exchange rate can be adjusted fromXE.comFind. |
Russian rubleIt is the currency of South Ossetia.
diet
Ossetian cuisine is delicious, which is a little similar to Georgian cuisine but obviously different from Caucasian cuisine. At the banquet, you must eat Ossetian pie. This dish is similar to hachapuri (cheese bread), but uses meat and mushrooms instead of cheese.
Nightlife
stay
Learn
Work
Safety
South Ossetia is no longer dangerous, but it is not easy to visit due to the lack of standard entry procedures. If you have "approved to visit", you will be able to visit the local area effortlessly.
Tourists must apply for at least two entry visas to travel to Russia. You cannot travel from Georgia to the local area, you must travel from Russia to the local area. It is understandable to photograph the sights of Ossetia, but tourists may be arrested by the military and police if they want to shoot at will, and any photographic equipment may even be confiscated. Similarly, the local military and police may think that tourists may be spying in their country when shooting. Another point is that it is a bad idea to talk about your own political views on the conflict between South Ossetia and Georgia; but visitors can listen to the locals’ opinions and express sympathy in a blurry focus.
Medical treatment
Although the war and conflict have ended, the recovery and reconstruction has not yet ended, and the medical aspect may not be expected. Due to years of war in South Ossetia, all heating, electricity, and water supply pipelines have basically been destroyed. The local medical equipment is also quite shabby, so tourists must prepare their own medicines and buy bottled water.
manner
communication
Next stop
- The only legal route in South Ossetia is from Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia, Russia. As for the road to go from Georgia, foreign tourists are not allowed to go. Vladikavkaz andZsinvaliIn between, there are buses and taxis running between the two places every day.
- Tourists who drive can drive through the Rocksky Tunnel; this is a passage connecting North Ossetia and South Ossetia in Russia.