Terek River

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For other uses, see Terek (disambiguation).

Terek River
Terek River in North Georgia
Origin	Zigalkhokh, Kazbek, Caucasus Major, Georgia
Mouth	Caspian Sea
Basin countries	Georgia; North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Daghestan, Russia
Length	623 km
Source elevation	5,037
Mouth elevation	-28
Avg. discharge	305 m³/s
Basin area	43,200 km²

The Terek (Russian: Терек; Georgian: თერგი, Tergi; Avar: Терек, Terek, Chechen, Ossetic: Терк, Terk) is a major river in the Northern Caucasus, flowing through Georgia and Russia into the Caspian Sea. It rises in Georgia near the juncture of the The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and the Khokh Range, to the southwest of Mount Kazbek, then flows north through North Ossetia and the city of Vladikavkaz. It turns east to flow through Chechnya and Dagestan before dividing into two branches which empty into the Caspian Sea. Below the city of Kizlyar it forms a swampy river delta around 60 miles (100 km) wide. Major inflows are Gizeldon, Ardon, Urukh, Fiagdon, Malka, Baksan and Sunzha rivers. The river is a key natural asset in the region, being used for irrigation and hydroelectric power in its upper reaches.

The main cities on the Terek are Vladikavkaz, Mozdok and Kizlyar. Several minor hydroelectrostation are constructed on Terek: Dzau electrostation (in Vladikavkaz), Bekanskaya and Pavlodolskaya.

[edit] Human history

The capital of Khazaria Samandar was possibly placed at the bank of the river.

The Terek river was the site of the final defeat of the Hulagu, khan of the Ilkhanate, Army, against the army of Berke, khan of the Golden Horde, led by Nogai Khan, in the first civil war of the Mongol Empire, the Berke-Hulagu war. Also is the site of a battle that Timur defeated Tokhtamysh in 1395. It was home to the Terek Cossack Host.