Adygea


The Republic of Adygea, also known as the Adyghe Republic, is a federal subject of Russia. It is geographically located in the North Caucasus region of European Russia, and is part of the Southern Federal District. Adygea covers an area of, the fifth-smallest Russian federal subject by area, with its territory an enclave within Krasnodar Krai. Adygea has a population of 439,996.
Maykop is the capital and the largest city of Adygea, home to one-third of the republic's population.
Adygea is one of Russia's ethnic republics, primarily representing the indigenous Adyghe people, a Circassian ethnic group that form 25% of the Republic's population, while ethnic Russians form a majority at 60%, and with minority populations of Armenians and Ukrainians. The official languages of Adygea are Russian and the Adyghe language.

Geography

Adygea lies in Russia's Southern Federal District of Eastern Europe, in the foothills of the Northwestern Caucasus in the Caucasus Mountains System, with plains in the northern areas and mountains in the southern area. Forests cover almost 40% of its territory.
The long Kuban River is one of the major navigable rivers in the Caucasus region. It forms part of the northern border between the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai.

Other rivers include:
The republic has no large lakes. However, the several large reservoirs include:
The republic's major mountains and peaks range in height from, and include:
The republic is rich in oil and natural gas. Other natural resources include gold, silver, tungsten, and iron.

Climate

February 15, 2010 recorded the absolute maximum for the winter months—in the capital, the city of Maykop, the temperature was.

History

The Cherkess Autonomous Oblast was established within the Russian SFSR on July 27, 1922, on the territories of the Kuban-Black Sea Oblast, primarily settled by the Adyghe people. At that time, Krasnodar was the administrative center. It was renamed Adyghe Autonomous Oblast on August 24, 1922, soon after its creation. In the first two years of its existence the autonomous oblast was a part of the Russian SFSR, but on October 17, 1924, it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the newly created North Caucasus Krai within the RSFSR.
It was renamed Adyghe Autonomous Oblast in July 1928. On January 10, 1934, the autonomous oblast became part of the new Azov-Black Sea Krai, which was removed from North Caucasus Krai. Maykop was made the administrative center of the autonomous oblast in 1936. Adyghe AO became part of Krasnodar Krai when it was established on September 13, 1937.
On July 3, 1991, the oblast was elevated to the status of a republic under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. The first President of the republic was Aslan Dzharimov, elected on 5 January 1992.
Relations between the Adyghe and ethnic Russians in Adygea are currently good. Russians make up two-thirds of the population within Adygea. The current Head of Adygea is Murat Kumpilov.

Divisions

The Republic of Adygea is administratively divided into seven districts, two cities/towns, and five urban-type settlements. Municipally, the republic is divided into two urban okrugs, five urban settlements, and 46 rural settlements.
Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate Crude death rate Natural change Fertility rates
1970386,0005,6813,3072,37414.78.66.2-
1975396,0005,9003,9071,99314.99.95.0-
1980409,0006,6104,8281,78216.211.84.4-
1985423,0006,9665,2831,68316.512.54.0-
1990436,0006,1715,37579614.212.31.82.06
1991439,0005,9125,905713.513.50.01.96
1992444,0005,3065,969- 66312.013.5-1.51.73
1993447,0004,7746,662-1 88810.714.9-4.21.54
1994449,0004,9076,519-1 61210.914.5-3.61.59
1995450,0004,7986,475-1 67710.714.4-3.71.55
1996450,0004,6256,382-1 75710.314.2-3.91.49
1997450,0004,4306,302-1 8729.814.0-4.21.42
1998451,0004,3406,245-1 9059.613.9-4.21.38
1999450,0003,8796,215-2 3368.613.8-5.21.22
2000448,0004,0716,710-2 6399.115.0-5.91.27
2001447,0004,2126,566-2 3549.414.7-5.31.31
2002447,0004,5406,715-2 17510.215.0-4.91.39
2003446,0004,6346,929-2 29510.415.6-5.21.40
2004444,0004,6486,645-1 99710.515.0-4.51.37
2005443,0004,5506,726-2 17610.315.2-4.91.32
2006441,0004,6066,686-2 08010.415.2-4.71.33
2007440,0005,2106,454-1 24411.814.7-2.81.50
2008440,0005,6016,558- 95712.714.9-2.21.60
2009439,0005,5136,219- 70612.514.2-1.61.66
2010439,0005,7216,065- 47613.014.1-1.11.70
2011441,0005,5116,197- 55412.513.8-1.31.66
2012444,0005,7005,924- 22412.913.4-0.51.71
2013445,0005,5685,814- 24612.513.1-0.61.68
2014448,0005,6995,938- 23912.713.3-0.61.73
2015450,0005,6135,841- 22812.513.0-0.51.72
2016453,0005,4515,818- 36712.112.9-0.81.69
2017453,0004,7585,734- 97610.512.7-2.2

Ethnic groups

According to the 2010 Census, ethnic Russians make up 63.6% of the republic's total population, while the ethnic Adyghe are 25.8%. Other groups include Armenians, Ukrainians, Kurds and Tatars.

Religions

According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people, 35.4% of the population of Adygea adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, 12.6% to Islam, 3% are unaffiliated Christians and 1% are Orthodox Christian believers who don't belong to church or are members of other Orthodox churches. In addition, 30% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 9% is atheist, and 8.6% follows other religions or did not answer to the question.

Politics

The chief executive of the government of the Republic of Adygea is the Head, who is appointed for a five-year term. Proficiency in the Adyghe language is a prerequisite for the candidate.
The current Head, Murat Kumpilov, succeeded Aslan Tkhakushinov, initially as acting Head of the region. There is also a directly elected State Council, which comprises the Council of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. Both councils are elected every five years and have 27 deputies each.
The Republic sends three representatives to the parliament of the Russian Federation; one to the State Duma and the other two to the Federation Council.
The Constitution of the Republic of Adygea was adopted on May 14, 1995.

Economy

Even though it is one of the poorest parts of Russia, the republic has abundant forests and rich soil. The region is famous for producing grain, sunflowers, tea, tobacco, and other produce. Hog and sheep breeding are also developed.
Food, timber, woodworking, pulp and paper, heavy engineering, and metal-working are the most developed industries.

Transportation

There is a small airport in Maykop. Several rail lines pass through the republic.

Culture

The Adyghe language is a member of the isolate Northwest Caucasian language family. Along with Russian, Adyghe is the official language of the republic.
There are 8 state and 23 public museums in the republic. The largest museum is the National Museum of the Republic of Adygea in Maykop.

Education

and Maykop State Technological University, both in the capital Maykop, are the two major higher education facilities in Adygea.

Notable people