Where in the world are the Caucasus?

Click on map to enlarge

We live in the Southwestern part - Arizona, as it were - of Russia. The Caucasus are a mountain range that divides Europe and the Middle East. Our region - the northern part of the Caucasus, is politically and geographically a part of Russia; however, ethnically and religiously, it's more akin to the Middle East.


Nalchik is halfway between the Black and Caspian Seas. Turkey and Iran are among our southern neighbors. We're also due west of the troubled Chechen republic which has been at war to gain independence from Russia for almost a decade. And you may have heard of the tragic events that took place in the school in Beslan two years ago - well, that's less than fifty miles from our town.