Cherkessk celebrated its 200th anniversary

The capital of Karachay-Cherkessia celebrates this significant date. Cherkessk, a city that has become the cultural and economic center of the region, where all spheres of life are developing, and residents are proud of its rich historical heritage, has turned 200 years old.

For two centuries, the capital of Karachay-Cherkessia has gone from a small settlement to a modern city. History and multinational flavor are intertwined in Cherkessk.

Cherkessk, like the whole republic, has long been a magnet for residents of the whole country. And this is not only tourism, but also science. Many guests come here to be "closer to the stars", where there is also a large-scale complex for exploring deep space. Discoveries and scientific breakthroughs are being made in the mountains, at an altitude of 2,000 m.

"It is in this observatory that the largest telescope in Eurasia is located. Its height is 42 m and its weight is 850 tons. It is not only the scale that amazes, but also the possibilities. Thanks to this huge device, up to 10 billion stars can be seen," said Sergey Khaidarov, a correspondent for Izvestia.

Astronomer Tatiana Burlakova shared that during the five years of operation of the observational equipment, in particular the fiber-optic spectrograph, 25 exoplanets were discovered.

Cherkessk is now a fast—growing city with a developed infrastructure and economy. But 200 years ago, its history began with a small Cossack village, which was supposed to serve as a shield of the state.

"The initial stage of the outbreak was the battle of the Russian imperial troops under the command of General German with the Turkish corps led by Seraskir Batal Pasha. Batal Pasha was defeated by our troops," explained Khanafiy Khasanov, director of the State Karachay—Cherkess Historical, Cultural and Natural Museum-Reserve.

This is also the first time in history that a city has been named after a defeated commander. Since then, Cherkessk has changed its name several times. But the steely character of its inhabitants and defenders remained unchanged. Especially during the Great Patriotic War (WWII), when the republic was occupied by the Nazis.

In 1943, the Nazis were driven out of these places. Russians, Karachays, Circassians, Abaza, Nogais and representatives of many other nationalities fought for freedom together. Now, as then, they live in peace and friendship in the same republic, and this is the main charm of Karachay-Cherkessia.

"To see the republic in miniature, all nationalities, all faiths are, of course, Cherkessk. Representatives of different nationalities know the traditions of other people in the same way as their own, and they treat them with great respect, because in many ways everything is similar," explained Rashid Temrezov, head of the Karachay—Cherkess Republic.

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