Bandera de Osetia del Norte-Alania (Rusia) - Flag of North Ossetia-Alania (Russia) (Mei 2024)
Noord-Ossetië – Alania, ook wel Noord-Ossetië genoemd, Russische Severnaya Osetiya – Alaniya, respublika (republiek) in het zuidwesten van Rusland, aan de noordelijke flank van de Grote Kaukasus. Het wordt in het zuiden begrensd door Georgië en in het noorden door de reeksen Sunzha en Terek. De hoofdstad en grootste stad is Vladikavkaz.
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Noord-Ossetië is bergachtig, met de Glavny (Main) Range die 4.780 meter hoog is op de berg Dzhimara en andere toppen in de republiek die meer dan 4.250 meter hoog zijn. Parallel aan de top van de Glavny-bergketen is een reeks lagere bergketens waardoor de rivieren diepe en pittoreske kloven hebben doorgesneden. De republiek ligt volledig in het stroomgebied van de bovenste Terek-rivier en de snelstromende zijrivieren, die opduiken in de bergen en samenkomen voordat ze door de Sunzha-reeks naar het noorden snijden in een andere diepe kloof. Een noordelijke panhandle van de republiek strekt zich uit over de Sunzha- en Terek-reeksen en omvat een deel van de middelste Terek-vlakte rond Mozdok.
Het klimaat, de bodem en de vegetatie variëren sterk met het reliëf. In de laagste gebieden is er steppevegetatie op vruchtbare zwarte bodems, die hoger plaats maken in dichte loofbossen van eiken en beuken. Hoger nog zijn naaldbossen van sparren, sparren en dennen, die uiteindelijk plaatsmaken voor alpenweiden en uiteindelijk voor kale rotsen en ijs. De ernst van het temperatuurregime en de regenval nemen beide toe met de hoogte. In de stroomgebieden is de neerslag 24 inch (600 mm) per jaar of minder; in hogere gebieden, tot 35 inch (900 mm).
Ossetes are of mixed Iranian-Caucasian origin; their language belongs to the Iranian group of the Indo-European family of languages. From the 7th century bce to the 1st century ce Ossetia came under Scythian-Sarmatian influence, which was succeeded by that of the warlike Alani, who are believed to be the direct ancestors of the present-day Ossetes. Later the Mongol empire of the 13th century extended its sway over Ossetia, and the Alani were forced to move into the mountainous regions. Russian colonization began in the northern Ossetian area especially after the establishment of the fortress of Vladikavkaz in 1784. In addition to Ossetes and Russians, the republic is populated by Ingush, Armenians, Georgians, and Ukrainians. Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion, and Sunni Muslims make up a small but significant minority. Indigenous pre-Christian and pre-Islamic practices exist alongside these and other faiths, and elements of traditional beliefs have been integrated into North Ossetian religious life.
In the 1990s many Ingush in the republic were forced to flee to neighbouring Ingushetiya, and fighting flared in the South Ossetia region of Georgia, where Ossetes sought independence or union with North Ossetia. The city of Beslan, in northeastern North Ossetia, was the site of ethnic violence in 2004, when Chechen militants seized a school and some 1,200 hostages, mostly children; following an armed battle between the militants and Russian security forces, some 325 people were killed and about 700 were wounded.
Industry in the republic is concentrated in Vladikavkaz and includes metallurgy and the manufacture of building materials, chemicals, and foodstuffs; lead, zinc, and dolomite are mined. Timber exploitation, particularly of beech forests, is important on both flanks of the Caucasus. The mountains are also a popular tourist destination. Hydroelectric plants have been built on the Terek River at Vladikavkaz and on the Gizeldon River. Agriculture is concentrated on the lower slopes and near Mozdok; the irrigated fields produce wheat, corn (maize), potatoes, hemp, and fruit. Sheep and cattle are raised on the higher slopes.
Two major highways across the Caucasus pass through Ossetia—the Georgian and Ossetian military highways, which were built in the 19th century during the Russian conquest of the Caucasus. Construction began in the late 20th century on a new all-weather highway. Vladikavkaz is also linked by highways with Grozny (Chechnya) and the Caspian and with Rostov-na-Donu. The republic is also served by the Rostov-Baku railway. Vladikavkaz is the seat of the state university (founded 1969), which is named for the Ossetian national poet Kosta Khetagurov (1859–1906). Area 3,100 square miles (8,000 square km). Pop. (2010) 712,877.
