View source for Makhachkala

{{Infobox Russian city
|en_name=Makhachkala
|ru_name=Махачкала
|loc_name1=Гьанжи
|loc_lang1=Lak
|loc_name2=МахӀачхъала
|loc_lang2=Avar
|loc_name3=Магьачкъала
|loc_lang3=Lezgian
|image_skyline=Montage-of-Makhachkala-(2016).png
|image_caption=
|latd=42
|latm=58
|lats=
|longd=47
|longm=30
|longs=
|map_label_position=right
|image_coa=Coat of Arms of Makhachkala.png
|coa_caption=
|image_flag=Flag of Makhachkala (Dagestan).svg
|flag_caption=
|anthem=
|anthem_ref=
|holiday=
|holiday_ref=
|federal_subject=[[Republic of Dagestan]]
|federal_subject_ref=
|adm_data_as_of=December 2013
|adm_city_jur=[[City of federal subject significance|City]] of Makhachkala
|adm_city_jur_ref=<ref name="Ref294" />
|capital_of=Republic of Dagestan
|capital_of_ref=<ref name="Ref294" />
|adm_ctr_of=City of Makhachkala
|adm_ctr_of_ref=<ref name="Ref294" />
|inhabloc_cat=City
|inhabloc_cat_ref=<ref name="Ref294" />
|inhabloc_type=
|inhabloc_type_ref=
|mun_data_as_of=May 2015
|urban_okrug_jur=Makhachkala Urban Okrug
|urban_okrug_jur_ref=<ref name="Ref416" />
|mun_admctr_of=Makhachkala Urban Okrug
|mun_admctr_of_ref=<ref name="Ref416" />
|leader_title=City Head
|leader_title_ref=
|leader_name=Musa Musayev
|leader_name_ref=
|representative_body=Assembly of Deputies
|representative_body_ref=
|area_of_what=
|area_as_of=
|area_km2=468.13
|area_km2_ref=<ref>[http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/munst/munst82/DBInet.cgi Подсчитано по базе данных муниципальных образований РФ на 2008 год]</ref>
|pop_2010census=572076
|pop_2010census_rank=27th
|pop_2010census_ref=<ref name="2010Census" />
|pop_density=
|pop_density_as_of=
|pop_density_ref=
|pop_latest=
|pop_latest_date=
|pop_latest_ref=
|established_date=1844
|established_title=
|established_date_ref=
|current_cat_date=1857
|current_cat_date_ref=
|prev_name1=Petrovskoye
|prev_name1_date=1857
|prev_name1_ref=
|prev_name2=Petrovsk-Port<ref name="russia.rin.ru">http://russia.rin.ru/guides_e/4939.html</ref>
|prev_name2_date=1921
|prev_name2_ref=
|prev_name3=
|prev_name3_date=
|prev_name3_ref=
|postal_codes=367000-367999
|postal_codes_ref=
|dialing_codes=8722
|dialing_codes_ref=
|website=http://www.mkala.ru
|website_ref=
|date=April 2010
}}
'''Makhachkala''' ({{lang-rus|Махачкала|p=məxət͡ɕkɐˈla}}; [[Lak language|Lak]]: Гьанжи; [[Avar language|Avar]]: МахӀачхъала; [[Lezgian language|Lezgian]]: Магьачкъала; [[Rutul language|Rutul]]: МахаӀчкала; [[Kumyk language|Kumyk]], “Fort Maghach”) is the [[capital city|capital]] [[types of inhabited localities in Russia|city]] of the [[Republics of Russia|Republic]] of [[Dagestan]], [[Russia]]. It is located on the western shore of the [[Caspian Sea]] and is home to the [[Makhachkala Grand Mosque]], one of Russia’s largest. As of the [[Russian Census (2010)|2010 Census]], the city had a population of 572,076, making it the largest in the [[North Caucasus Federal District]].<ref name="2010Census">{{ru-pop-ref|2010Census}}</ref> The city has an ethnic plurality, with the [[Avars (Caucasian)|Avars]] and  [[Laks (Dagestan)|Laks]] as the largest groups.

Founded as a fortress of the [[Russian Empire]] in 1844 and given city status thirteen years later, the city bore the name of the Russian Tsar [[Peter the Great]] until 1921. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Makhachkala has been affected by Islamist insurgents as spillover from the [[Second Chechen War]] when militants invaded Dagestan leading to a renewed conflict between the Russian Federation and militants in the North Caucasus region.

==History==
{{See also|Timeline of Makhachkala}}
[[File:Peter der-Grosse 1838.jpg|thumb|left|Russian Tsar [[Peter the Great]] visited what is now Makhachkala in 1722, and the settlement bore his name from 1844 to 1921]]

Makhachkala's historic predecessor was the town of [[Tarki]], now a nearby suburb, whose history goes back to the 15th century and possibly much earlier. The modern city of Makhachkala was founded in 1844 as a fortress; town status was granted in 1857. The original Russian name of the city was '''Petrovskoye''' ({{lang|ru|Петро́вское}})—after the Russian [[Tsar]] [[Peter I of Russia|Peter the Great]] who visited the region in 1722 during his [[Persian campaign, 1722-1723|Persian Campaign]].  However, among the locals it was known as '''Anzhi-Qala''', ''The Pearl Fortress'' (''Qala'' means fortress, while ''Anzhi'' means pearl in [[Kumyk language|Kumyk]]). After gaining city status, the Petrovskoye fortress was renamed '''Petrovsk-Port''' ({{lang|ru|Петро́вск-Порт}}) in 1857, sometimes simply '''Petrovsk'''.<ref name="russia.rin.ru"/> In 1894, a railway line linked the city to [[Vladikavkaz]] (in present-day [[North Ossetia-Alania]]) and [[Baku]] (in present-day [[Azerbaijan]]), yet a report from 1904 detailed the spread of [[malaria]] and unsuitable drinking water in the city.<ref name="a-u-l.narod.ru">http://a-u-l.narod.ru/Markovin-V-I_Dorogami_i_tropami_Dagestana.html#glava02</ref>

In January 1919, during the [[Russian Civil War]], the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[No. 221 Squadron RAF|No. 221 Squadron]] [[Royal Air Force]] based themselves at Petrovsk.  In March they were joined by [[No. 266 Squadron RAF|No. 266 Squadron]] and both squadrons were involved in bombing operations against Bolshevik forces in [[Astrakhan]] and elsewhere. In August 1919 both squadrons were withdrawn from Petrovsk.<ref>{{cite book |title=RAF Operations 1918-1938 |last=Bowyer |first=Chaz |year=1988 |publisher=William Kimber |location=London |isbn=0-7183-0671-6 |pages=40, 41 }}</ref> The city was invaded by the [[Red Army]] in Spring 1920.<ref name="a-u-l.narod.ru"/>

As part of the Soviet revolution, place names relating to monarchy or religion were changed, and thus on 14 May 1921, Petrovsk was renamed Makhachkala, after Dagestani revolutionary [[:ru:Дахадаев, Магомед-Али|Magomed-Ali 'Makhach' Dakhadaev]]. On the same day, it became capital of the newly formed [[Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]].<ref name="a-u-l.narod.ru"/> The city incurred major damage during an [[earthquake]] on 14 May 1970.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1007/BF00876415| title = Comparison analysis of magnitude values for the daghestanian and Kirghiz earthquakes by observations of Soviet and American stations| year = 1973| last1 = Gorbunova | first1 = I. V.| last2 = Kondorskaya | first2 = N. V.| journal = Pure and Applied Geophysics PAGEOPH| volume = 103| pages = 381}}</ref>

The area was used as a Soviet-era [[Soviet navy|naval]] testing station, leaving behind a curious sea fort off nearby [[Kaspiysk]].<ref>[http://news.distractify.com/dark/science/abandon-places/ Abandoned Places: Soviet naval testing station in Makhachkala, Russia], distractify.com, accessed 12 July 2014</ref>{{Coord|42.896598|N|47.681274|E|display=inline}}

A report of the International Crisis Group from 2013 describes the city as being "a city of almost one million and gained spectacular economic resources due to a construction boom, skyrocketing land prices, substantial federal funds for reconstruction, infrastructure, transport, housing, courts and administrative services. But even a short visit revealed acute problems, including dirty streets, dilapidated buildings, inadequate utilities, hectic construction, lack of planning and poorly organised public transport".<ref>[http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/caucasus/226-the-north-caucasus-the-challenges-of-integration-iii-governance-elections-rule-of-law.pdf The North Caucasus: The Challenges of Integration (III), Governance, Elections, Rule of Law, p. 23]</ref>

==Administrative and municipal status==
Within the [[subdivisions of Russia#Administrative divisions|framework of administrative divisions]], it is, together with eight [[urban-type settlement]]s and six [[types of inhabited localities in Russia|rural localities]], incorporated as the '''[[City of federal subject significance|City]] of Makhachkala'''—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the [[administrative divisions of the Republic of Dagestan|districts]].<ref name="Ref294">Law #16</ref> As a [[subdivisions of Russia#Municipal divisions|municipal division]], the City of Makhachkala is incorporated as '''Makhachkala Urban Okrug'''.<ref name="Ref416">Law #6</ref>

===City divisions===
For the purposes of administration, the city is divided into three city districts, from west to east: [[Kirovsky City District, Makhachkala|Kirovsky]], [[Sovetsky City District, Makhachkala|Sovetsky]] and [[Leninsky City District, Makhachkala|Leninsky]]. In May 2015, these three city districts were granted municipal status.<ref name="Ref416" />

===Symbols===
The coat of arms and flag of Makhachkala were adopted on 15 December 2006. The coat of arms shows the city's historic fortress in silver on a red field, with flames coming from either tower and a [[solar symbol]] above. It is supported by a [[golden eagle]] on each side, a crown on top, and crossed anchors (representing its maritime history) entangled with grapevines at the bottom.
[[File:Кинотеатр Октябрь в Махачкале.jpg|thumb|A street in Makhachkala]]
[[File:Парк на проспекте Ленина в Махачкале.JPG|thumb|Makhachkala, 2012]]

In proportions of 2:3, the flag displays the main shield of the city's coat of arms.<ref>http://zakon.scli.ru/ru/legal_texts/act_municipal_education/extended/index.php?do4=document&id4=36392d56-1041-4306-a8db-7fbd78aeb3a2</ref>

==Unrest==
Makhachkala is close to areas of fighting and therefore it and the surrounding region has a heavy security service presence. On 25 November 2011, a protest took place in Makhachkala attended by up to 3,000 people demanding an end to illegal activities perpetrated by the security services.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/16/russian-journalist-gunned-down-dagestan ''Russian journalist gunned down in violent republic of Dagestan''], Guardian, retrieved 16/12/2011</ref>

On December&nbsp;15, 2011, [[Gadzhimurat Kamalov]], a Russian investigative journalist and founder of the independent [[Chernovik]] newspaper was shot dead in an apparent assassination.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/16/russia-journalist-safety?intcmp=239 ''Newspaper chief's murder in Dagestan adds to toll of Russian journalists''], Guardian, retrieved 16/12/2011</ref>

==Demographics==
The population of Makhachkala includes (2002 Census data): [http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rndaghestan.html]
*[[Avar people (Caucasus)|Avars]] (26.5%)
*[[Lak people (Dagestan)|Laks]] (14.6%)
*[[Kumyks]] (13.9%)
*[[Dargwa people|Dargins]] (13.7%)
*[[Lezgian people|Lezgins]] (13.6%)
*[[Russians]] (9.1%)
*[[Tabasaran people|Tabasarans]] (2.2%)
*[[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijani]] (1.4%)
*[[Rutul people|Rutuls]] (1.2%)

==Transportation==
The city is served by [[Uytash Airport]], a regional airport providing connections to other Russian cities. [[Russian Railways]] via the [[North Caucasus Railway]] provides freight and passenger traffic to and from Makhachkala.{{cn|date=April 2017}}

The [http://en.portnews.ru/news/135575 Caspian Sea International Port] handles crude oil, petroleum, construction materials, grain, cargo and timber and operates 24 hours a day. The port offers communications with the rest of [[Russia]], as well as with [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]], the [[Baltic states|Baltic]] states, [[Iran]], [[Turkey]] and [[Central Asia]]. A railyard at the port connects the port to the North Caucasus Railway network.<ref name="en.portnews.ru">http://en.portnews.ru/news/135575/</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Anzhi-Arena-2014_(2).jpg|thumb|[[Anzhi Arena]] is home of [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala]] of the [[Russian Premier League]]]]

The city's football team, [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala]] of the [[Russian Premier League]], play at the 15,200-seat<ref>http://www.stadiumguide.com/dinamostadiummakhachkala/</ref> Dynamo Stadium.

Founded in 1991, the side returned to the Premier League in 2009 and in January 2011 were purchased by Dagestani commodities billionaire [[Suleyman Kerimov]],<ref>http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/08/15/five-reasons-you-should-look-out-for-anzhi-makhachkala/</ref> whose investment has allowed the club to sign players such as Brazilian World Cup winner [[Roberto Carlos (footballer)|Roberto Carlos]]<ref>http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/881588/roberto-carlos-joins-russian-side-anzhi?cc=5739</ref> and Cameroonian striker [[Samuel Eto'o]] who, during his time at the club, became the world's highest paid player.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/aug/23/samuel-etoo-internazionale-anzhi-makhachkala</ref> However, due to recent unrest in the region, the players currently live and train in [[Moscow]], and an armed guard patrols their matches.<ref>{{cite news|title=Blackburn Rovers defender Chris Samba joins Anzhi Makhachkala|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17152566|publisher=BBC|location=Manchester|date=24 February 2012}}</ref>

==Climate==
Makhachkala has a [[semi-arid climate#Cold semi-arid climates|cool semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BSk'') with warm to hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. The strong [[rain shadow]] of the Caucasus and the ability of the [[Siberian High]] to freely move westwards from its source in the Tibetan and Mongolian plateaux makes the climate quite dry although frequently dull throughout the winter, which is owing to the relatively low latitude and nearness to the Caspian Sea nonetheless very mild by Russian standards. Summers are sunnier but also dry as the region is exposed to steep descending vertical velocity from the Indian monsoon, and the greatest rainfall occurs in the autumn season from September to November. October 1987 with {{convert|245|mm|in|2|disp=or}} has been the wettest month, whilst no precipitation occurred in February 1958, October 1974 and April 1986.

The coldest month since records began in 1882 has been February 1929 with a mean monthly temperature of {{convert|−9.5|C|F|1|disp=or}}, whilst the hottest have been July 2010 and August 2014 with means of {{convert|27.1|C|F|1|disp=or}} each, although 31 July 2011 and 4 August 1998 are the equal hottest days, reaching {{convert|38.7|C|F|disp=or}}. The coldest night was on February&nbsp;9, 2012, when the mercury fell to {{convert|−26.9|C|F|disp=or}}, beating the previous record of {{convert|−26.5|C|F|disp=or}} from December&nbsp;28, 1888.
{{Weather box
|location=Makhachkala (1981–2010)
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan record high C=19.0
|Feb record high C=20.9
|Mar record high C=28.8
|Apr record high C = 33.5
|May record high C = 35.1
|Jun record high C = 36.3
|Jul record high C = 38.7
|Aug record high C = 38.7
|Sep record high C = 35.0
|Oct record high C = 28.9
|Nov record high C = 23.1
|Dec record high C = 19.9
|year record high C = 38.7
|Jan high C = 4.2
|Feb high C = 4.2
|Mar high C = 7.9
|Apr high C = 14.4
|May high C = 20.2
|Jun high C = 25.9
|Jul high C = 28.9
|Aug high C = 28.7
|Sep high C = 23.9
|Oct high C = 17.5
|Nov high C = 10.7
|Dec high C = 5.7
|year high C = 16.0
|Jan mean C = 1.2
|Feb mean C = 1.2
|Mar mean C = 4.7
|Apr mean C = 10.4
|May mean C = 16.1
|Jun mean C = 21.6
|Jul mean C = 24.7
|Aug mean C = 24.5
|Sep mean C = 20.0
|Oct mean C = 13.9
|Nov mean C = 7.5
|Dec mean C = 2.7
|year mean C = 12.4
|Jan low C = -1.4
|Feb low C = -1.5
|Mar low C = 1.9
|Apr low C = 7.1
|May low C = 12.6
|Jun low C = 17.7
|Jul low C = 20.7
|Aug low C = 20.5
|Sep low C = 16.6
|Oct low C = 10.6
|Nov low C = 4.5
|Dec low C = 0.0
|year low C = 9.1
|Jan record low C = -25.1
|Feb record low C = -26.8
|Mar record low C = -13.5
|Apr record low C = -5.1
|May record low C = 0.0
|Jun record low C = 5.8
|Jul record low C = 9.7
|Aug record low C = 8.0
|Sep record low C = 0.7
|Oct record low C = -6.6
|Nov record low C = -19.7
|Dec record low C = -26.5
|year record low C = -26.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 33
|Feb precipitation mm = 27
|Mar precipitation mm = 23
|Apr precipitation mm = 17
|May precipitation mm = 33
|Jun precipitation mm = 22
|Jul precipitation mm = 21
|Aug precipitation mm = 28
|Sep precipitation mm = 51
|Oct precipitation mm = 43
|Nov precipitation mm = 41
|Dec precipitation mm = 32
|year precipitation mm = 371
|Jan humidity = 84
|Feb humidity = 83
|Mar humidity = 83
|Apr humidity = 79
|May humidity = 76
|Jun humidity = 71
|Jul humidity = 70
|Aug humidity = 72
|Sep humidity = 75
|Oct humidity = 80
|Nov humidity = 83
|Dec humidity = 85
|year humidity = 78
|Jan rain days = 11
|Feb rain days = 10
|Mar rain days = 12
|Apr rain days = 11
|May rain days = 12
|Jun rain days = 11
|Jul rain days = 9
|Aug rain days = 10
|Sep rain days = 11
|Oct rain days = 13
|Nov rain days = 13
|Dec rain days = 12
|year rain days = 135
|Jan snow days = 9
|Feb snow days = 10
|Mar snow days = 4
|Apr snow days = 0.2
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 3
|Dec snow days = 6
|year snow days = 32
|Jan sun = 74
|Feb sun = 71
|Mar sun = 105
|Apr sun = 171
|May sun = 246
|Jun sun = 278
|Jul sun = 282
|Aug sun = 270
|Sep sun = 194
|Oct sun = 151
|Nov sun = 81
|Dec sun = 67
|year sun = 1990
|source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net<ref name="pogoda">{{cite web
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/37472.htm
| title = Weather and Climate - The Climate of Makhachkala
| accessdate = 25 November 2016
| publisher = Weather and Climate (Погода и климат)
| language = Russian}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/RE/37472.TXT
| title = Makhachkala Climate Normals 1961-1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = 25 November 2016}}</ref>
}}

==Notable people==
*[[Gasret Aliev]], Soviet hero
*[[Sergei Agababov]], composer
*[[Ruslan Agalarov]], former association football player
*[[Kamalutdin Akhmedov]], association football player
*[[Ali Aliyev (boxer)|Ali Aliyev]], amateur boxer
*[[Malik Akhmedilov]], editor
*[[Abdulla Alishayev]], TV host
*[[Ali Gadzhibekov]], association football player
*[[Shamil Gitinov]], Armenian wrestler
*[[Ali Isayev]], Azeri wrestler
*[[Gadzhimurat Kamalov]], editor
*[[Rustam Khabilov]], mixed martial artist
*[[Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov]], wrestler
*[[Shamil Lakhiyalov]], association football player
*[[Jamaladdin Magomedov]], Azeri wrestler
*[[Khadzhimurad Magomedov]], Olympic Azeri wrestler
*[[Rashid Magomedov]], mixed martial artist
*[[Aleksandr Maslov]], former association football player
*[[Sharif Mukhammad]], association football player
*[[Magomed Musaev]], Olympic Kyrgyz wrestler
*[[Marid Mutalimov]], Olympic Kazakh wrestler
*[[Vladimir Nazlymov]], sabre fencer and coach
*[[Gadzhimurad Nurmagomedov]], Olympic Armenian wrestler
*[[Khabib Nurmagomedov]], mixed martial artist
*[[Eduard Puterbrot]], artist
*[[Muslim Salikhov]], kickboxer
*[[Serder Serderov]], association football player
*[[Sharif Sharifov]], Olympic Azeri wrestler
*[[Ruslan Sheikhau]], Belarusian wrestler
*[[Ilyas Shurpayev]], television journalist
*[[Nikita Timoshin]], association football player
*[[Zalimkhan Yusupov]], Olympic Tajik wrestler

==Twin towns and sister cities==
{{Main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Russia}}

Makhachkala is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*{{Flagicon|Tunisia}} '''[[Sfax]]''', [[Tunisia]]
*{{Flagicon|China}} '''[[Siping (city)|Siping]]''', [[China]]
*{{Flagicon|United States}} '''[[Spokane]]''', [[United States]]
*{{Flagicon|Russia}} '''[[Vladikavkaz]]''', Russia
*{{Flagicon|France}} '''[[La Roche-sur-Yon]]''', France
*{{Flagicon|Turkey}} '''[[Yalova]]''', [[Turkey]]
*{{Flagicon|Zambia}} '''[[Ndola]]''', [[Zambia]]
*{{Flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Oldenburg]]''', [[Germany]]
*{{Flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Smolyan]]''', [[Bulgaria]]
*{{Flagicon|India}} '''[[Maharajganj]]{{dn|date=April 2017}}''', [[India]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{RussiaAdmMunRef|da|adm|law}}
*{{RussiaAdmMunRef|da|mun|list}}

==External links==
*[http://www.islamdag.info/news/1300 Makhachkala organizes charity iftars]
*Badkhen, Anna. "[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/everyone-in-makhachkala-packs-a-gun/253303.html Everyone in Makhachkala Packs a Gun]." ''[[The Moscow Times]]''. May 31, 2001.

{{Republic of Dagestan}}
{{Russian republics capitals}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2012}}

[[Category:Makhachkala| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1844]]
[[Category:1844 establishments in Russia]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Caspian Sea]]