Magas, Russia

Magas (Russian: Мага́с) is the capital town of Ingushetia, Russia. It was founded in 1995 and replaced Nazran as the capital of the republic in 2002. Due to this distinction, Magas is the smallest capital of a federal subject in Russia. In 2019, it had a population of 8,771 inhabitants, up from 5,841 in 2010 and 272 in 2002.

Magas Магас
Town[1]
From the top to bottom-right, View of Central Magas, The City at night, Tower of Concord, Kadyrov Alley, Entrance Sign
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Magas
Magas Location of Magas Show map of Republic of Ingushetia Magas Magas (European Russia) Show map of European Russia Magas Magas (Russia) Show map of Russia Magas Magas (Europe) Show map of Europe
Coordinates: 43°10′N 44°48′E
Country	Russia
Federal subject	Ingushetia[1]
Founded	1995[2]
Town status since	2000[2]
Government
• Body	Town Council[3]
• Mayor [ru]	Zayt Ortskhanov [ru][4]
Area [5]
• Total	12.6261 km2 (4.8750 sq mi)
Elevation	200 m (700 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)[6]
• Total	2,502
• Estimate  (2018)[7]	8,771 (+250.6%)
• Density	200/km2 (510/sq mi)
Administrative status
• Subordinated to	town of republic significance of Magas[8]
• Capital of	Republic of Ingushetia[1]
• Capital of	town of republic significance of Magas[8]
Municipal status
• Urban okrug	Magas Urban Okrug[9]
• Capital of	Magas Urban Okrug[9]
Time zone	UTC+3 (MSK [10])
Postal code(s)[11]	386001
Dialing code(s)	+7 8734
OKTMO ID	26701000001
Website	www.adm-magas.ru

History

The Republic of Ingushetia came into existence in 1992, having been split from the Chechen–Ingush ASSR. Nazran, the largest of three towns of the new republic, was made a temporary capital.

Presidential Palace

In 1995, President Ruslan Aushev founded Magas just a few kilometers south of Nazran, naming it after the medieval city of Maghas.^[12] The new town was supposed to serve purely for administrative needs. Magas/Maghas is 28 miles from the frontline for parts of 1942–1943.

It replaced Nazran as capital of the Republic in 2002.

City of Magas from the height of the Consent Tower

The name is given in Persian as Magas or Makas. The name Magas is a homonym of the Persian word magas, meaning "fly", and the medieval writers al-Mas'udi and Juvayni made plays on words about the city's name. The Chinese transcription Muzashan uses the characters for wood (mu, 木) and mountain (shan, 山), which John Latham-Sprinkle interprets as a possible reference to the city's location in rough terrain.

Geography

Location

View of Magas

Magas is located in the western area of Ingushetia, at the borders with Prigorodny Raion of North Ossetia-Alania. It is surrounded by Nazranovsky Raion, and the nearest settlements are Ekazhevo, the city of Nazran, and Ali-Yurt. The town is also 30 km from the North Ossetian-Alanian capital city, Vladikavkaz.

Administrative and municipal status

Entrance to Magas

Magas is the capital of the republic.^[1] Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as the town of republic significance of Magas—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.^[8] As a municipal division, the town of republic significance of Magas is incorporated as Magas Urban Okrug.^[9]

Climate

Magas has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfb) with warm summers and cold winters.

Climate data for Magas
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	2.0 (35.6)	3.6 (38.5)	8.3 (46.9)	13.8 (56.8)	18.7 (65.7)	22.8 (73.0)	25.7 (78.3)	26.0 (78.8)	20.7 (69.3)	14.6 (58.3)	8.3 (46.9)	3.7 (38.7)	14.0 (57.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−2.3 (27.9)	−0.9 (30.4)	3.4 (38.1)	9.0 (48.2)	14.3 (57.7)	18.5 (65.3)	21.2 (70.2)	21.3 (70.3)	16.4 (61.5)	10.3 (50.5)	3.9 (39.0)	−0.7 (30.7)	9.5 (49.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−6.1 (21.0)	−5.0 (23.0)	−1.4 (29.5)	3.8 (38.8)	9.2 (48.6)	13.5 (56.3)	16.2 (61.2)	16.5 (61.7)	12.1 (53.8)	6.3 (43.3)	0.2 (32.4)	−4.3 (24.3)	5.1 (41.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	35 (1.4)	37 (1.5)	62 (2.4)	75 (3.0)	102 (4.0)	110 (4.3)	77 (3.0)	70 (2.8)	67 (2.6)	57 (2.2)	42 (1.7)	34 (1.3)	768 (30.2)
Average relative humidity (%)	85	81	75	66	65	63	60	62	66	74	80	85	72
Mean monthly sunshine hours	89.9	93.2	127.1	159	229.4	261	269.7	263.5	213	161.2	93	77.5	2,037.5
Mean daily sunshine hours	2.9	3.3	4.1	5.9	7.4	8.7	8.7	8.5	7.1	5.2	3.1	2.5	5.6
Source: Climate data(1991-2021)[13] Weather2visit[14]

Demographics

Magas' population, with a hundred inhabitants at the beginning, increased in early 2010s.^[2][15]

Population over time

2001	2002	2003	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
100	275	300	337	338	354	415	2,502	2,581	3,367	4,106	4,756	5,841

Gallery

• 
  The fountain of "Akhmad Kadyrov Alley"
• 
  Magas town hall
• 
  Magas Airport
• 
  Tower of Concord

Transport

Magas Airport serves the town and the nearby city of Nazran, which is home to the nearest train station.