MAKHACHKALA - THE CAPITAL OF DAGESTAN
MY UNIVERSITY
I'm a first-year undergraduate at Dagestan State Technical University, the largest higher education establishment in our republic. It was founded in 1972. The University has all the necessary facilities for teaching.
I'm doing a Bachelor's degree in (Physics, Ecology, Maths, ...). A Bachelor's course at the university normally lasts 4 years. Each academic year which consists of 2 terms begins in September and goes till the end of June.
Like all undergraduates at the faculty of Information Systems I study some major subjects such as physics, higher mathematics, descriptive geometry, technical drawing. Apart from them there are some social science like history, economy and philosophy which are also compulsory subjects for all students. Every week day we have lectures and seminars. We try not to skip a single lecture because missing them is a sure way to fail exams. We have exams twice a year. Those who pass exams and do well, get a state scholarship, and those who screw them up, have a resist and don't get a scholarship.
As a rule we have 3 or 4 classes a day. They start at 8.30 a.m. and are over 13.50 or 15.30 p.m. As for me, I live not far from the university and it takes me 15 minutes to walk there on time, but most students get to the university by a van. During the working day we have a big interval for lunch and several short 10 minute intervals between periods (classes). From time to time we should go to the library to get ready for practical classes or to write a report or abstract.
After final exams we have to defend a senior thesis in order to get a Bachelor's degree. If we want to continue for a Master degree, we stay at the university for more two years, and for a PhD we should do research and study another 3 years.
THE REPUBLIC OF DAGESTAN
Dagestan, the largest of the North Caucasian autonomous republics of the Russian Federation, is situated on the western coast of the Caspian Sea. It is the southernmost territory of the Russian Federation. Geographically Dagestan is situated at the junction of two continents -Europe and Asia.
Dagestan means «The Land of Mountains» and the republic lives up to its name, because a vast part of its territory is covered with mountains except for the flat depopulated steppes and semideserts in the north.
By land and the Caspian Sea Dagestan borders on five states -Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran, and within the Russian Federation it neighbours on the Stavropolsky Krai, Kalmykia and Chechnya.
The most distinctive feature of Dagestan is its ethnic diversity; the two- million-strong population is predominantly of Caucasian or Turkish origin, comprising a total of 35 nationalities and ethnic groups, each having and speaking their own language. The most numerous are Avars (28 %), Darghins (16 %), Kumyks (13 %), Lezghins (12 %) and Laks (5 %), Chechens, Tabasarans and Azerbaijanians each comprise 4.5 %, and Nogays less than 2 per cent. The other nationalities living in Dagestan are Rutuls, Aghuls, Tsakhurs, Mountain Jews and Tats, Russians, Armenians, Georgians, Tatars and many others. The working language is Russian, spoken by all.
There is no other place in the world with such a great number of peoples inhabiting such a small territory. None of the nationalities constitutes a clear majority, or occupies a dominant position, and the Dagestanis living in peace are proud of the fact of having no national conflicts in the present or in their history.
The territory of Dagestan is divided into 54 administrative districts.
The capital of Dagestan is Makhachkala. It was founded in 1744 by Peter the Great as a seaport that's why the first name of our town was Port Petrovsk. Makhachkala is situated on the Caspian Sea at the foot of Tarki -Tau Mountain. It was named after the outstanding Dagestan revolutionary Makhach Dakhadayev. In 1923 Makhachkala became the capital of Dagestan. Since then it has greatly changed and is getting prettier and prettier with every passing year.
Today Makhachkala is the largest industrial, cultural, educational, and scientific centre of Dagestan. There are many schools, colleges, institutes and universities in our city. Makhachkala has a lot of theatres, cinemas, museums, a philharmonic society, a TV centre, many clubs, parks and stadiums.
There are a lot of places where we can spend our free time. The favorable natural and climatic conditions account for the fact that today Dagestan is becoming major health resort of the Russian Federation. In summer many tourists come to Makhachkala, because the beaches on the sunny coast of the Caspian Sea and mountains attract their attention.
MAKHACHKALA - THE CAPITAL OF DAGESTAN
The Republic of Dagestan is a part of Russian Federation. It borders on Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Dagestan literally means «The land of mountain». There are 41 districts, 10 towns and 14 settlements. Dagestan has another name, i.e. «the mountain of languages». People speak here more than 50 languages, the books, magazines and journals are published in 14 languages.
The city of Makhachkala is placed on the ribbon plain on the west coast of the Caspian Sea between Tarki-Tau and the sea which in ancients time was called «Dagestan corridor». Tarki-aul located on the territory of modern Makhachkala played an important role in the struggle for the possession of this corridor. Since 15th century Tarki was famous was known as a commercial center through which caravan road led to Derbent - one of the most ancient cities of the world. It is reputed that in the 7th century the capital of Khazarian Empire the city of Semender was situated in the place of Makhachkala.
Makhachkala derives its name on May 14, 1921 in memory of Makhach Dakhadaev, one of the organizers of the struggling for Soviet power in the Republic of Dagestan. Later Makhachkala became the capital of Dagestan
Modern Makhachkala - the capital of the Republic of Dagestan is a big economic, administrative, political, scientific and cultural South center of the Russian Federation.
The territory of Makhachkala is divided into three administrative districts: Leninskiy, Sovetskiy and Kirovskiy. Eight urban settlements and six rural areas belong to the administrative territory of the city.
The sea port of Makhachkala is the only non-freezing sea port in Russia. Makhachkala is a big industrial center in the South Federal district. 262 budget institutions, 423 government, municipal and private enterprises function in the city.
Industrial enterprises of the city specialize in production of defence, wood, metalworking, electronic, fish-processing industries. Makhachkala is a big scientific center in the North Caucasus. The Dagestan scientific center RAN and about 20 research institutes are located here.
Makhachkala is not only a scientific, but a cultural center as well. There are two republic museums: fine art and local history museum, 5 state theatres: Russian, avar, lak, kumyk, puppet show and Philharmonic Society in Makhachkala. There are 3 cinemas with modern equipment, 3 republican libraries: The National with 1, 5 million volumes, Library for Youth in memory of Pushkin, children's and city libraries with 13 branches in the capital of Dagestan.
Makhachkala is the largest rail junction of Dagestan. Makhachkala is the main sea port of the Caspian Sea where a new International sea port is being built now. An airport of international significance has been built with the city.
THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world. It occupies about one-seventh of the earth's surface. It covers the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. Its total area is about 17 million square kilometres. The country is bordered by 12 seas of 3 oceans: the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. In the south, Russia borders on China, Mongolia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In the west it borders on Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Belorussia, and the Ukraine. It also has sea-borders with the USA.
There is hardly a country in the world where such a variety of scenery and vegetation can be found. We have steppes in the south, plains and forests in the midland, tundra and taiga in the north, highlands and deserts in the east.
There are two Great Plains in Russia: the Great Russian Plain and the West Siberian Lowland. There are several mountain chains on the country's territory: the Urals, the Caucasus, the Altai and others. The largest mountain chain, the Urals, separates Europe from Asia. There are over two million rivers in Russia. Europe's biggest river, the Volga, flows into the Caspian Sea. The main Siberian Rivers, the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena, flow from south to north. The Amur in the Far East flows into the Pacific Ocean. Russia is rich in beautiful lakes. The world's deepest lake is Russia's Lake Baikal. It is much smaller than the Baltic Sea, but there is much more water in it than in the Baltic Sea. The water in the lake is so clear that if you look down you can count the stones on the bottom.
Russia has one-sixth of the world's forests. They are concentrated in the European north of the country, in Siberia and in the Far East.
On the vast territory of the country there are various types of climate, from arctic in the north to subtropical in the south. In the middle of the country the climate is temperate and continental.
Russia is very rich in oil, iron ore, natural gas, copper, nickel and other mineral resources.
Russia is a parliamentary republic. The Head of State is the President. The legislative powers are exercised by the Duma.
The capital of Russia is Moscow. It is the country's largest political, scientific, cultural and industrial centre and is one of the oldest Russian cities.
At present, the political and economic situation in the country is rather complicated. There are a lot of problems in the national economy of the Russian
Federation. Industrial production is decreasing. Prices are constantly rising, and as a result, the rate of inflation is very high. People are losing their jobs because many factories and plants are going bankrupt.
But in spite of the problems Russia is facing at present, there are a lot of opportunities for this country to become one of the leading countries in the world. I'm sure that we, the younger generation, can do very much to make Russia as strong and powerful as it used to be.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia. It is one of the biggest and most beautiful cities in the world. Moscow is a modern city now. The population of the city is about 9.8 million people. Moscow is a political centre, where the government of our country works. Moscow was founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruky. The total area of Moscow is about nine hundred square kilometres.
We say that Moscow is a port of five seas, as the Moscow—Volga Canal links Moscow with the Baltic, White, Caspian and Black seas and the Sea of Azov.
The Bolshoi Theatre is one of the famous theatres all over the world. If you are fond of painting you can go to the Tretyakov Art Gallery or to the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum and see a lot of interesting portraits and landscapes there. We say that the Tretyakov Art Gallery is a treasure-house of Russian art. Young people like to visit the Central Military Museum. There are many tanks, guns and war documents there.
One can see the Kremlin and Red Square in the city. There are many fine buildings, wide streets, green parks, large squares, churches and monuments in Moscow.
Moscow is a very big city, and its transport must be comfortable and fast.
One can see a lot of cars, buses, trolley-buses, trams in the streets of our city. The Moscow metro began its work on the 15th of May, 1935. There were 13 stations at that time. Now it has 190 stations. Our metro is a beautiful and convenient one.
There are nine railway stations in Moscow and five airports around the city. The airports connect it with other parts of our country and many other countries.
Moscow can be called a city of students. There are a great number of schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, colleges, institutes and universities there. There are many stadiums in Moscow. The Central Stadium is in Luzhniki. Many competitions and football matches are held there.
Moscow is very beautiful. Plenty of green parks, large squares and wide streets make Moscow very attractive. I live in Moscow and I am proud of this city.