| 7th | Caspian_Sea">Top rivers of Russia: Caspian Sea |
| Terek River | |
|---|---|
![]() Terek River in North Georgia |
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| Origin | Zilgakhokh, Kazbek, Caucasus Major, Georgia |
| Mouth | Caspian Sea |
| Basin countries | Georgia; North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Stavropol Krai, Chechnya and Dagestan, Russia |
| Length | 623 km (387 mi) |
| Source elevation | 5,037 m (16,530 ft) |
| Mouth elevation | -28 m (−92 ft) |
| Avg. discharge | 305 m3 (10,800 cu ft) per second |
| Basin area | 43,200 km2 (16,700 sq mi) |
The Terek River (Russian: Терек; Georgian: თერგი, Tergi; Ossetic: Терк, Avar: Терек, Terek, Chechen: Теркa, Terka) 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 100 km (62 mi) 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.
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.
TEREK, a river of Russian Caucasia. It rises in the Caucasus, on the slopes of Mount Kasbek, in several head-streams, and flows north as far as Vladikavkaz, just above which it emerges from the mountains. Then it flows N.W. and N. as far as approximately 43° 45' N., whereupon it swings round to the E. and pursues that direction as far as 46° 30' E. Finally, after a comparatively short run towards the N.N.E., it branches out into a large delta on the west side of the Caspian Sea. This river, the ancient Alutas, is at first an impetuous mountain torrent, as are also all its chief tributaries - the Zunzha on the right, and the Ardon, Urukh, Cherek, Urvan, Chegem, Baksan and Malka on the left. All these streams, except the firstnamed, rise at altitudes of 8000 to 9000 ft. between Mount Kasbek and Mount Elbruz. In its lower course the Terek becomes very sinuous and sluggish, and frequently overflows its banks with disastrous results. Opposite its mouth it forms large sand-banks in the Caspian, and is nowhere navigable. Its length is 300 m., and the area of its drainage basin extends to 22,800 sq. M.
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