The legal definition of this southern Russian city contains the word "resort". It is with this direction of the economy that the life and history of Kislovodsk is connected. It ranks second in the Russian Federation in terms of the number of balneological and climatic resorts (after Sochi), and has the largest number of health resorts.
From the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages
Archaeologists have carried out thorough research on the territory of Kislovodsk, as well as in its vicinity, they have identified artifacts belonging to different periods. According to the conclusions of scientists, the first inhabitants of these territories appeared in the Eneolithic era, back in the 5th century BC.
In general, historians suggest the following chronological division for this region:
- the Bronze Age (Eneolithic, Maikop culture);
- the Iron Age, associated primarily with the Koban culture and the Sarmatians;
- the early Middle Ages, in which three stages are distinguished - the Dogun period, the early and late Alanian periods;
- modern period.
According to scientists, the modern period begins in 1803, it was in that year that a new settlement appeared as part of the Russian Empire, from here the history of Kislovodsk as a city and resort begins.
Development of Kislovodsk
It all started with the construction of a fortress at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. The peculiarity of the area was the presence of "acidic waters", as the balneological springs were called then. The mission of the new settlement is defensive, but very soon it will cease to play a major role.
In the summer, more and more people who want to relax begin to come to the fortress and its surroundings. In 1812, the first three baths appeared, before that the process was more primitive, baths from narzan were taken in holes dug in the ground.
If we talk about the people who played a role in the history of Kislovodsk (briefly), then General Alexei Ermolov should be named. During his reign, the raids of the highlanders decreased, on his order funds were allocated for the development of the settlement and the arrangement of territories.
Soviet period
Since 1903, the Kislovodsk Sloboda by decree of Nicholas II receives the status of a city and the corresponding powers and rights. The Soviet government made its own adjustments to the life of the city, but the main direction remained the same. In the 1920s, there was an active construction of health resorts, sanatoriums and mud baths.
During the war years, the territory of Kislovodsk first turns into a huge hospital base, where soldiers of the Soviet army wounded at the fronts enter. Then the city was occupied by the Germans and liberated in 1943. The city returned to its former life, sanatoriums and medical institutions were restored.
