The Adygeya Republic, though often seen as one of the Caucasian republics, doesn't border them as it is surrounded by the Krasnodar Territory on all sides. The city of Maikop is the capital of the republic.

The territory of Adygeya is 7800 square kilometers; its population is 450 thousand people. Adygeya has two towns, seven regions, five urban-type communities, and fifty-five rural districts.

The Constitution of Adygeya, adopted in 1995, is founded on the principles of free-will joining the Russian Federation, preserving the entity and integrity of Russia, protecting the interests of multinational people of Adygeya, guaranteeing the rule of law and order, securing peace and inter-ethnic harmony in Adygeya.

The republic has a warm climate and good location between three rivers making agriculture one of the key industries. In many Russian shops you can find white cheese produced in Adygeya – it features a mild taste and is perfect for breakfast.

Agricultural produce is widely assorted and ecologically clean. Favorable climactic conditions and fertile soil allow for cultivating various cereals and crops such as wheat, barley, corn, rape, rice, sunflower and many scent and oil-bearing plants. The republic takes pride in its tea, which is grown farther north than any other in the world does, and is very popular with connoisseurs. Poultry farming is another major agricultural branch. The republic produces chicken, geese and duck. A farm producing dietary turkey meat, one of the largest in the CIS, is located in the Republic.

Founded on 27 July 1922, the Adygeya Republic can boast a great variaty of nationalities living in piece on its territory for many years: the Russians account for 52% of the population, the Adygeis make up 24.2%, among the others are the Belarusians, the Ukranians, the Armenians, the Greeks, etc.

Besides, like many other republics located in the Caucasian Region, Adygeya is known for long-livers – 22% of the population are older than the working-age population.

Adygheya is a legendary place on the famous Medieval Silk Way. The ancestors of Adyghe people founded the so called Maykop Culture, well-known in the world archeology.

There are eight state-supported and twenty-three local museums in Adygeya. The National Museum of Adygeya owns unique archaeological, ethnographic and nature collections. A special section dedicated to the life of Adyghe diaspora was opened. As a result, the museum funds were considerably replenished with the exhibits of the Caucasian War period.

Adygeya is proud of its children: world champions and prize-winners of the Olympic Games. These are judoists Vladimir Nevzorov and Arambii Emizh, basket-ball player Tamara Kalyagina, weight-lifter Mukharbii Kirzhinov, handball player Vladimir Maksimov, unarmed self-defense wrestlers Arambii Khapaj, Vladimir Dutov, Vladimir Gurin, Gumer Kostokov, Sagid Meretukov, Murat Khasanov, Mukhamed Kunizhev, Skhatbii Alkhaov, Alexander Konovalov, judoist Khazret Tletseri, weight-lifter Valerii Talaev, master of bullet shooting Alexander Fedorinov, Greco-Roman fighter Asker Tatlok, boxer Andzhej Cholokyan, and others. The champion of XXVII Olympic Games in Sidney in rapid pistol shooting was Sergej Aliferenko, a citizen of Maykop.

Tourism and Vacation

If you seek beauty of true nature, fresh air full of oxigen and ecologically clean food – Adygeya is one of the best places to go on holiday in Russia.

An abundance of deep caves, snowcapped mountain tops, mountain rivers with waterfalls and calm lakes will make you forget of the life in the city.

Adygeya has good sanatoriurns and spas and a great potential for developing tourism. The Lagonaki plateau has attracted downhill racers and tourists for over a quarter of a century (snow there doesn’t melt until June).

Adygeya is popular with both downhill racers and recreational skiers. The snowy slopes of the Lagonaki plateau are so various that both amateurs and professional alpine skiers will find suitable routes. Spelunking is also well developed in Adygeya, which boasts 125 mines and caves. The local mountains also attract gliders. The first Russian gliding championship was held in Adygeya in 1991.

Map of Adygea is courtesy of RareLibra of Wikimedia Commons.

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