The city of Tyrnyauz is located at an absolute altitude of over a thousand meters above sea level, in the upper reaches of the Baksan River, in Kabardino-Balkaria. It is the administrative center of the Elbrus region. It is 89 kilometers away from Nalchik. The area of the city is 60 square kilometers. The postal code of the city of Tyrnyauz is 361624.
Origin of the name
According to philologists, “tyrnyauz” is translated from the Karachay-Balkarian language as “crane gorge”. In the city, you can really observe this phenomenon when, in fog or low clouds, cranes fly low over the river valley.
There is another version of the translation of the toponym, where "tyrna" - "scratch", "auz" - "gorge", and the toponym is translated as "harrowed gorge". Before the founding of the city, the wide valley was littered with pebbles, and its appearance resembled a deeply plowed furrow.
Geographic location of the city
The city of Tyrnyauz is located in the valley of the Baksan River, 40 kilometers from Mount Elbrus. Through it, along the river valley, the Elbrus-Baksan road was laid, which leads to the foot.
The settlement is located in the mountainous part of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. This is one of the high-mountainous cities of Russia.
Its entire territory is located in the valley of the Baksan Gorge.
The subsoil of the settlement is rich in deposits of feldspar raw materials, talc, tungsten, building gypsum, argillite clays, various types of marble, facing granites, molybdenum, high-strength granite gneisses, aplite (porcelain stone), roofing shale and other minerals.
The city's water resources are the Gerkhozhan-Su and Baksan rivers, as well as small streams flowing from the ridges. Many springs of mineral waters have been discovered. The proximity of the mountains and the location in the gorge form a special type of climate, in which the weather in the city of Tyrnyauz differs sharply from the conditions of the plain and foothill part of the republic. The climate is characterized by sharp temperature changes and strong dry winds from the mountains (foehn). The average air temperature is +16°С in summer and -4°С in winter. Average annual - 6°С. Rainfall is about 850 mm per year.
History
In 1934, the village of Girkhozhan was founded near the deposit of tungsten-molybdenum ores.
Three years later, the first factories began to be built in the upper reaches of the gorge.
In 1937, the village of Girkhozhan was renamed the village of Nizhny Baksan.
In 1955, the settlement was renamed Tyrnyauz and received city status.
No major historical events took place here. The city is interesting due to the fact that the Baksan Gorge is very popular withclimbers and skiers of Russia, as well as the researchers of the Great Patriotic War. After all, the highest mountain front line passed through the Elbrus passes here.
With the collapse of the USSR and the closure of the molybdenum plant, the population of the city began to decline sharply. So, from 1989 to 2002. The population of the city has decreased by a third. Mudflows in 2000 contributed to a rapid and sharp decline in the population.
The fate of the Tyrnyauz mines
The huge complex of the plant was built in the shortest possible time, and by 1940 it was put into operation. However, in 1942 it had to be destroyed, as German troops were approaching the Baksan Gorge.
After the liberation of the territory from the Nazi invaders, the inhabitants recreated the plant from the ruins. Already in 1945 he started working again. For ten years, kindergartens and schools, a stadium and a hotel, the House of Pioneers and three clubs were built around it. The village of Nizhny Baksan turned into a typical settlement and was renamed. Thus, the city of Tyrnyauz, a mining workers' town, appeared in the Elbrus region.
By the end of the 1990s, the mining plant became one of the leading enterprises in the country. The city of Tyrnyauz in the KBR was recognized as one of the most comfortable and beautiful.
But in the 2000s, the plant practically suspended its work. It is currently in disrepair. The population of the city has decreased. But, there are prospects for the restoration of the plant and the city: there is a project for the construction of a mining and metallurgical complex in Tyrnyauz aspromising investment project for the development of industry in Kabardino-Balkaria.
Mudflow tragedy of the city
The city of Tyrnyauz became sadly famous in mid-July 2000, when a powerful mudflow hit the city. There was a destruction of the automobile bridge, flooding of houses. More than 1000 people were evacuated, 8 were killed, 8 were injured and about 40 were missing.
After 17 years, the tragic fate of the city was repeated. So, on August 14, 2017, a powerful mudflow descended on the city of Tyrnyauz. A state of emergency was introduced. Luckily, the mudflow did not affect the socially significant objects of the city and residential buildings of the townspeople. About 300 people were evacuated from dangerous regions. The administration of the city of Tyrnyauz and all operational services were on high alert. The work of the task force and headquarters was organized.
Population of the city of Tyrnyauz
As of 2017, the city has a population of 20,574.
The main part of the population of Tyrnyauz in national terms are Balkars - 52% of the total number of citizens, Russians - 25%, Kabardians - 15%. The population density is approximately 337 people per square kilometer. The age and sex structure is dominated by the population aged 15 to 60 years old - 69% of the total number of citizens, up to 14 years old - 18%, the share of pensioners over 60 years old - 13%. The average age of citizens is 36 years. The share of women is 55%, and men - 45%.
Education, he alth and culture
4 out of educational institutions work in the cityprimary and 3 secondary schools, a gymnasium and a lyceum. In addition, there is the Special Child Rehabilitation Center, created for children with disabilities. Here, parents are assisted in raising such children.
The city's he alth care facilities include a dental clinic, a district clinic and a district hospital.
From cultural institutions, the Center for National Crafts, the Central Library, the Museum of Local Lore and the stadium for 2500 people open their doors here.
Attractions
Sights of the city of Tyrnyauz, Elbrus region, are not numerous. The building of the city is mainly one-story, as well as 3-4-story houses. But there are also several skyscrapers that were built in the 50s of the 20th century. Industrial buildings are located in a sheer cliff.
There are no historical buildings and structures in the city, all its development was carried out in the 20th century.
During the Great Patriotic War, 16,000 Balkars (30% of the Balkar population) took part in the fight against the Nazi invaders. In honor of them, a stele was erected in the center of the city and the "Eternal Flame" was lit.
A special place in the city is occupied by a modest monument, which is located on top of the city. This is an obelisk to Flerova Vera. The monument is dedicated to the discoverers of the ore deposits of these places.
The sad story of Vera Flerova and Boris Orlov
Boris and Vera met in 1932. She was a student trainee and he was a geologist. Together they were engaged in research and geological exploration on the territory of the Tyrnyauz ridge.
Hunters very often found here strange stones with lead, but very unusual, since bullets could not be cast from it. These samples were brought to geologists. They analyzed it and found it to be molybdenum. The discovery of the deposit marked the beginning of the industrial life of the city.
Vera and Boris continued to study the scree of the ridge. They fell in love and wanted to get married. But tragic fate disrupted their plans. In 1936, near the settlement of Nizhny Baksan (Tyrnyauz), a girl fell from a rope bridge into a gorge and crashed.
Boris survived her a little. During the war years, he went to the front, in 1945 he was demobilized, returned to Tyrnyauz to the plant. However, in January 1946, he died tragically.
The created plant, on the site of the deposit they discovered, has long been the pride of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.
In honor of them and their love, an obelisk was erected over the city.
Famous people born in Tyrnyauz
- Zaur Kuramagomedov, Greco-Roman wrestler, champion of Russia, winner of the European and World Championships, bronze medalist of the London Olympics.
- Valery Kokov, the first President of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.
- Khadzhimurat Akkaev, weightlifter, Olympic medalist in Beijing and Athens.
- Igor Konyaev, theater actor and director, laureate of the State Prize of Russia.
- Igor Rozin, climber, priest of the Russian Orthodox Church.
- Tanzila Zumakulova, poet.
Museums and galleries
The main attraction is the Elbrus Defense Museum. It is considered the highest mountain museum in the world. Located at an altitude of 3500 meters above sea level in the village of Terskol.
The city also has a local history museum of the Elbrus region of Kabardino-Balkaria, which presents expositions about the nature and history of the native land, the Great Patriotic War, the mining plant and the history of the discovery of the deposit.
Does the city have a future?
In 2015, in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, work began on the reconstruction of the city of Tyrnyauz and regional roads that lead to Elbrus and the city of Nalchik.
The city of Tyrnyauz is considered the face of the Elbrus region, as the Elbrus-Baksan road passes through it, leading to the foot of the mountain.
For a long time the settlement was in disrepair, and finally, its reconstruction began. The regional authorities allocated money for the restoration and repair of monuments, streets and houses.
Currently, the issue with the mining plant and its administrative buildings, which are in a terrible abandoned state, has not yet been resolved. To demolish them, additional funding is needed, but there are no free funds in the budget yet.
A project for the construction of a mining and metallurgical complex in the settlement has been developed. He would have revived the dying city of Tyrnyauz in Kabardino-Balkaria, provided jobs for the able-bodied population. But so far the project has not been implemented. The city is gradually falling into decay.
What's in store for him in the future? What will happen tohim in ten years? What will happen to the younger generation? These issues are relevant not only for the city of Tyrnyauz, but also for all small towns in Russia. And there are no answers yet.
