Kaspiysk

Kaspiysk (Russian: Каспи́йск; Lezgin: Каспи [kaspi:]; Lak: Ккасппи; Avar: Каспиялъухъ) is a city in Dagestan, Russia, located on the Caspian Sea, 18 kilometers (11 mi) southeast of Makhachkala. The 2010 Russian census recorded the city as being the fourth-largest in Dagestan. It is a working-class satellite city to Makhachkala.

Kaspiysk Каспийск
City
City of Kaspiysk
Coat of arms
Location of Kaspiysk
Kaspiysk Location of Kaspiysk Show map of Russia Kaspiysk Kaspiysk (Republic of Dagestan) Show map of Republic of Dagestan
Coordinates: 42°52′49″N 47°38′18″E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Dagestan
Founded	1932
City status since	1947
Government
• Body	Assembly of Deputies[1]
Area [2]
• Total	32.94 km2 (12.72 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)[3]
• Total	100,129
• Rank	163rd in 2010
• Density	3,000/km2 (7,900/sq mi)
Administrative status
• Subordinated to	City of Kaspiysk[4]
• Capital of	City of Kaspiysk[4]
Municipal status
• Urban okrug	Kaspiysk Urban Okrug[5]
• Capital of	Kaspiysk Urban Okrug[5]
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK [6])
Postal code(s)[7]	87246
OKTMO ID	82720000001
Website	dagmo.ru/gorod-kaspiysk

Geography

Climate

Kaspiysk has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk).

Climate data for Kaspiysk
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	3.3 (37.9)	3.6 (38.5)	7.1 (44.8)	14.4 (57.9)	21.1 (70.0)	26.3 (79.3)	28.9 (84.0)	28.6 (83.5)	23.5 (74.3)	17.2 (63.0)	10.8 (51.4)	5.8 (42.4)	15.9 (60.6)
Daily mean °C (°F)	0.4 (32.7)	0.8 (33.4)	4.1 (39.4)	10.7 (51.3)	17.1 (62.8)	22.3 (72.1)	25.1 (77.2)	24.6 (76.3)	19.9 (67.8)	13.8 (56.8)	7.9 (46.2)	3.1 (37.6)	12.5 (54.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−2.4 (27.7)	−2.0 (28.4)	1.1 (34.0)	7.0 (44.6)	13.2 (55.8)	18.3 (64.9)	21.4 (70.5)	20.6 (69.1)	16.4 (61.5)	10.4 (50.7)	5.0 (41.0)	0.5 (32.9)	9.1 (48.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	22 (0.9)	28 (1.1)	21 (0.8)	18 (0.7)	28 (1.1)	25 (1.0)	26 (1.0)	23 (0.9)	38 (1.5)	43 (1.7)	31 (1.2)	29 (1.1)	332 (13)
Source: Climate-Data.org [8]

History

Derelict workshop of the Dagdizel Plant about 2 km out to sea

Lun-class ekranoplan at Kaspiysk in 2010

The city is one of the newer urban centers in Dagestan. It began in 1932 as a worker's encampment, servicing the needs of the nearby naval diesel engine manufacturer, Dagdizel. At the time, it was called Dvigatelstroy (Дви́гательстро́й), based upon the Russian word for "engine". During World War II, the site saw much growth due to the war effort, and became a center for major arms producers. In 1947, the settlement received the status of a city, and was given its current name, reflecting its location on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

On November 16, 1996, 68 people were killed in a Chechen bomb attack targeting an apartment.^[9]

On May 9, 2002, 43 people were killed after a bombing during a Victory Day Parade.^[10]

Satellite imagery of the Kaspiysk naval base and Dagdizel Plant

On November 6, 2024, Ukraine launched its first drone attack on the Kaspiysk naval base with an A-22 reportedly damaging two Gepard-class frigates and one Buyan-class corvette of the Caspian Flotilla and causing the nearby Makhachkala airport to halt operations.^[11][12][13] According to Russian social media the attack comprised four drones one of which crashed near a road causing a civilian to be hospitalized.^[14]

Administrative and municipal status

Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as the City of Kaspiysk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.^[4] As a municipal division, the City of Kaspiysk is incorporated as Kaspiysk Urban Okrug.^[5]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1939	17,689	—
1959	25,178	+42.3%
1970	38,990	+54.9%
1979	49,382	+26.7%
1989	60,069	+21.6%
2002	77,650	+29.3%
2010	100,129	+28.9%
2021	121,140	+21.0%
Source: Census data

Population: 121,140 (2021 Census);^[15] 100,129 (2010 Census);^[3] 77,650 (2002 Census);^[16] 60,069 (1989 Soviet census);^[17].

Ethnic groups (2021 census):^[18]

• Lezgins (31.3%)
• Dargins (17.5%)
• Laks (12.5%)
• Russians (10.5%)
• Avars (10.3%)
• Kumyks (8.6%)
• Tabasarans (4.7%)
• Aghuls (1.2%)
• Azerbaijanis (0.7%)

Religion

Predominant faiths of Kaspiysk city are Sunni Islam and Orthodox Christianity.

Islam

Russian Orthodox

The city belongs to the Diocese of Makhachkala. Kaspiysk parish was formed in 1990 with the blessings of the Metropolitan of Stavropol and Baku, and was officially registered in 1994. In 2000, the community consecrated St. Kazan Church.

Seventh Day Adventists

In 2010, the Seventh Day Adventists dedicated a house of worship in the city. It became the target of two explosives attacks within two months.

Economy

The city is home to:

• Dagdizel machine-building factory, founded in 1932. It produces diesel engines, electric motors, torpedoes, and other products for the Russian Navy.
• A naval base and harbour is located near the Dagdizel factory
• JSC Caspian Sea precision mechanics - machine-building factory, founded in 1960. It manufactures maritime navigation equipment for military and commercial use.
• a brick factory
• a stone processing factory.

At the North side of the city is a seaport.

Sports

The city hosts the Anzhi Arena stadium, home to the FC Anzhi Makhachkala Russian football club, which competes in the Russian Football Premier League.

The city was to bid to host the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics,^[19] however the bid was abandoned due to a lack of government support.^[20]

Notable people

• Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov (born 1976), boxer
• Sultan Ibragimov (born 1975), boxer
• Leonid Mikhelson (born 1955), entrepreneur, billionaire
• Magomed Omarow (born 1989), boxer
• Zamira Rakhmanova (born 1985), wrestler
• Albert Selimov (born 1986), boxer
• Ibragim Ibraginov (born 2001), wrestler

Miscellaneous

The city is home to a large naval storage facility that houses Russian hovercraft and ekranoplans.