Kalmykia
Kalmykia, officially the Republic of Kalmykia, is a republic of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region of Southern Russia. The republic is part of the Southern Federal District, and borders Dagestan to the south and Stavropol Krai to the southwest; Volgograd Oblast to the northwest and north and Astrakhan Oblast to the north and east; Rostov Oblast to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. Through the Caspian Depression, the Kuma river forms Kalmykia'a natural border with Dagestan. Kalmykia is the only region in Europe where Buddhism is the predominant religion.
Republic of Kalmykia | |
|---|---|
Republic | |
| Республика Калмыкия | |
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Kalmyk | Хальмг Таңһч |
| Anthem: "Khalmg Tanghchin chastr" "Anthem of the Republic of Kalmykia" | |
| Coordinates: 46°34′N 45°19′E | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal district | Southern |
| Economic region | Volga |
| Capital | Elista |
| Government | |
| • Body | People's Khural |
| • Head | Batu Khasikov |
| Area | |
| • Total | 74,731 km2 (28,854 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 42nd |
| Population | |
| • Total | 267,133
|
| • Estimate (2018) | 275,413 |
| • Rank | 78th |
| • Urban | 46.7% |
| • Rural | 53.3% |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK ) |
| ISO 3166 code | RU-KL |
| License plates | 08 |
| OKTMO ID | 85000000 |
| Official languages | Russian; Kalmyk |
The Kalmykia republic covers an area of 76,100 square kilometres (29,400 square miles), with a small population of about 275,000 residents. The republic is home to the Kalmyks, a people of Mongol origin who are primarily of Buddhist faith. The capital of the republic is the city of Elista.