The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania is a republic within the Russian Federation. It is located on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Its capital is the city of Vladikavkaz. It is part of the North Caucasus Federal District.
It covers an area of 7,987 km². It borders Kabardino-Balkaria, Stavropol Krai, Ingushetia, the Chechen Republic, Georgia, and South Ossetia. The republic is also divided into eight administrative districts.
The population of the republic is almost 700,000. Most of the republic's inhabitants are Ossetians and Russians. There are also representatives of other peoples: Ingush, Armenians, Georgians, etc. The official languages are Ossetian and Russian.
The main sectors of the economy of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania are industry and agriculture. Industry is dominated by non-ferrous metallurgy, machine building, mining, electronics, light industry, glass, and food production. In agriculture, crop production accounts for the bulk of output. Tourism is also well developed in the republic.