Beslan

Population 35835 (2007), Beslan is the third largest city in North Ossetia after Vladikavkaz and Mozdok. National composition of the population (2002): Ossetians - 81.77%, Russians - 13.51%. The city is located on the right bank of the Terek River, 15 km north of Vladikavkaz, 8 km from the border with Ingushetia. Beslan is an important railway junction located on the Rostov-on-Don branch - Baku and is the starting point of the branch leading to Vladikavkaz. It was founded in 1847 by settlers from other parts of Ossetia and was named Beslanykau (Ossetian Beslanykhæu"Settlement of Beslan") after the name of the local feudal lord Beslan Tulatov. Officially, the village was called "Tulatovo" or "Tulatovo". The village was renamed Iriston (Ossetia) in 1941, and in 1950, when acquiring the status of a city, in Beslan. Beslan is one of the centers of Ossetian alcohol production. On the territory of the city there are three enterprises for the production of alcohol: OJSC "Ariana-C", CJSC "Revival", LLC "Phoenix".