Karachay-Cherkessia

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Karachay-Cherkessia
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Information
Country:	Russia
Major roads:	A156, A165
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Karachay-Cherkessia (Russian: Карачаево-Черкесия) is a republic within the Russian Federation, part of the North Caucasian Federal District.

The capital is the city of Cherkessk.

It borders Krasnodar Krai to the west, Stavropol Krai to the north, Kabardino-Balkaria to the east, and to the south along the Main Caucasus Ridge with Georgia, as well as Abkhazia.

Subject code: 09, traffic police code: 09

Cities

Settlements with a population of more than 5,000 people:

• Cherkessk
• Ust-Dzheguta
• Karachaevsk
• Zelenchukskaya
• Uchkeken
• Storozhevaya
• Teberda
• Psyzh
• Pregradnaya
• Tereze
• Kardonikskaya
• Khabez
• Pervomayskoye
• Kurdzhinovo
• Mednogorsky
• Ali-Berdukovsky
• Chapaevskoye
• Kumysh

Hitchhiking and Travel Features

• Hitchhiking here is better than in central Russia. There is good traffic on the asphalt roads and a hitchhiker leaves quickly from almost any spot. On the "Kavkaz" highway, you are most likely to get rides from Chechens and other religious Muslims.
• In general, as everywhere in the Caucasus, most locals are friendly to travelers. Outside the cities, hospitality and openness to guests are preserved. However, when communicating with locals, it is better not to discuss ethnic topics or the Deportation of Circassians.
• There can be problems moving around during counter-terrorist operations. You will be warned about such operations before entering these zones. Do not attempt to enter an area under KTO!
• Even outside KTO zones, do not try to photograph block posts, border outposts, or any military or police objects.
• Do not accept offers to drink, smoke, use drugs, etc. In most cases, such activities end unpleasantly for travelers, especially in a region like the Caucasus.
• It is best to cross borders to neighboring regions via main roads. There are no crossings between this republic and Georgia! The border is strictly guarded, and border guards may use lethal force, considering all trespassers to be illegal armed fighters. To reach Georgia legally, go via the Verkhny Lars - Darial border crossing near Vladikavkaz. To enter Abkhazia, only use the official Adler - Psou border crossing in Sochi.
• The border zone in Karachay-Cherkessia is a strip along the Caucasus ridge, including the village of Arkhyz (notable for archaeological and architectural sites), the upper reaches of the Kuban River (a popular tourist area), as well as the village of Verkhnyaya Teberda—blocking the road towards Dombai and the Teberda Nature Reserve. To visit the border zone, you must obtain a special permit in advance (for example, via the Gosuslugi website).

Nature Reserve

• Teberda State Nature Biosphere Reserve 369210 Karachay-Cherkessia Tel: 8(87879) 51-2-61, 51-1-97, 51-3-79 Tel/fax: 8(87879) 51808 Teberda, Baduksky Lane, 1 E-mail: [email protected]

Major Highways

• A156 – access road from the A155 Cherkessk – Dombay – border with Republic of Abkhazia, to the international resort center "Arkhyz" and to the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
• A165 – federal highway Lermontov – Cherkessk, 75 km in length.