Kabardino-Balkaria

The Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (, "Kabardino-Balkarskaya Respublika"; Kabardian: Къэбэрдей-Балъкъэр Республикэ, "Ķêbêrdej-Baĺķêr Respublikê"; Karachay-Balkar: Къабарты-Малкъар Республика, "Qabartı-Malqar Respublika") or Kabardino-Balkaria (, "Kabardino-Balkariya"), is a federal subject of Russia (a republic) located in the North Caucasus. As of the 2010 Census, its population was 859,939 on 12,500 square km. Its capital is Nalchik. The area contains the highest mountain in Europe, Mount Elbrus, at 5,642 m. Mount Elbrus has 22 glaciers that feed three rivers — Baksan, Malka and Kuban. The mountain is covered with snow year-round.
Kabardino-Balkaria includes two major ethnic communities, the Kabardins (Circassians), who speak a North-West Caucasian language, and the Balkars who speak a Turkic language. Kabardins make up the bulk of the republic's population, followed by Russians and Balkars. Other groups include Ossetians, Turks, Ukrainians, Armenians, Koreans, Chechens. According to a 2012 survey, 60% of the population adheres to Islam, 15.6% to the Russian Orthodox Church, 3% to Adyghe (Kabardian) folk religion (Khabze) and other indigenous faiths, and 5% are unaffiliated generic Christians. In addition, 12% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious".
Geography.
The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains, with plains in the northern part.
Kabardino-Balkaria is traversed by the northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude.
Rivers.
Major rivers include:
Lakes.
There are about 100 lakes in the Republic, none of which is large. Just over half (55) are located between the Baksan and Malka Rivers, the largest each of an area of no more than . Some of the lakes are:
Mountains.
Other major mountains include:
Natural resources.
Kabardino-Balkaria's natural resources include molybdenum, tungsten, and coal.
Climate.
The republic has a continental type climate.
History.
 Germany penetrated this Area in 1942–3.
Politics.
The head of government in Kabardino-Balkaria is the Head. The current Head is Kazbek Kokov.
The legislative body of the Republic is the Parliament comprising 72 deputies elected for a five-year term.
Demographics.
Population.
Population: 
Vital statistics.
Note: TFR 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 source.
Ethnic groups.
Kabardino-Balkaria includes two major ethnic communities, the Kabardins (Circassians), who speak a North-West Caucasian language, and the Balkars who speak a Turkic language.
According to the 2010 Census, Kabardins make up 57.2% of the republic's population, followed by Russians (22.5%) and Balkars (12.7%). Other groups include Ossetians (1.1%), Turks (1.6%), Ukrainians (0.6%), Armenians (0.6%), Koreans (0.5%), Chechens (0.2%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population.
Religion.
According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people, 60% of the population of Kabardino-Balkaria adheres to Islam, 15.6% to the Russian Orthodox Church, 3% to Adyghe (Kabardian) folk religion and other indigenous faiths, 5% are unaffiliated generic Christians. In addition, 12% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 5.4% is Atheist or follows other religions including Jehovah's Witnesses.