Kabardino-Balkaria (), officially the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 904,200. Its capital is Nalchik. The area contains the highest mountain in Europe, Mount Elbrus, at . Mount Elbrus has 22 glaciers that feed three rivers — Baksan, Malka and Kuban. The mountain is covered with snow year-round. Geography The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains, with plains in the northern part. The republic shares an international border with Georgia. Area: Borders: internal: Stavropol Krai (N/NE), North Ossetia–Alania (E/SE/S), Karachay–Cherkessia (W/NW) international: Georgia (Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Zemo Svaneti) (S/SW) Highest point: Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) Maximum N->S distance: Maximum E->W distance: Kabardino-Balkaria is traversed by the northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude. Rivers Major rivers include: Terek River (623 km) Malka River (216 km) Baksan River (173 km) Urukh River (104 km) Chegem River (102 km) Cherek River (76 km) Argudan River Kurkuzhin River Lesken River Lakes There are about 100 lakes in the Republic, none of which is large. Just over half (55) are located between the Baksan and Malka Rivers, the largest each of an area of no more than . Some of the lakes are: Tserikkel Lake (area 26,000 m2; depth 368 m) Lower Goluboye Lake Kel-Ketchen Lake (depth 177 m) Upper Tserikkel Lake (depth 18 m) Sekretnoye Lake Tambukan Lake (area 1.77 km2; depth 1.5 to 2 m), partially within Stavropol Krai. Mountains Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), a volcanic mountain and the highest peak in Europe, Russia, and the Caucasus Other major mountains include: Mount Dykhtau (5,402 m) Mount Koshtantau (5,151 m) Mount Shkhara (5,068 m) Pushkin Peak (5,033 m) Mount Mizhergi (5,025 m) Natural resources Kabardino-Balkaria's natural resources include molybdenum, tungsten, and coal. Climate The republic has a continental type climate. Average January temperature: (mountains) to (plains) Average July temperature: (mountains) to (plains) Average annual precipitation: 500–2,000 mm. History Politics The head of government in Kabardino-Balkaria is the Head. The current Head is Kazbek Kokov. The legislative body of the Republic is the Parliament comprising 72 deputies elected for a five-year term. The republic adopted a new constitution in 2001 which prevents the republic from existing independently of the Russian Federation. Administrative divisions Demographics Population Population: Life expectancy: Vital statistics Source: Russian Federal State Statistics Service Note: TFR 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 source. Ethnic groups Kabardino-Balkaria includes