Балаган на Чистой
The place
Балаган на Чистой ("Balagan on the Chistaya") in Krasnodar Krai, Sochi/Krasnaya Polyana area (Caucasus State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia), at 1890 m elevation, northern slope of the Western Caucasus. Continuous Russian Caucasus cluster (batches 250-391). Shepherd's balagan on the Chistaya river (Chistaya "clean/clear" mountain river + Kavkazsky Zapovednik, Russia's oldest reserve 1924, UNESCO 1999 Western Caucasus, 3000 km², last wild population of European bison Bison bison bonasus, reintroduced to the Kavkazsky reserve 1946-1990, ~100 individuals) + Krasnaya Polyana Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, 22nd edition, Aibga/Rosa Khutor + Bolshoy Fisht 2867 m, iconic summit + heritage of the Circassian Adyghe people (northwest Caucasian people, 700,000 Adyghe, Kabardian, Circassian speakers of the Circassian language + the 1864 Muhajir genocide by the Russian Empire, 90% of the population exiled to Ottoman lands, 1.5 M victims, present-day Turkey hosts a 3 M diaspora).
The setting
Krasnodar Sochi/Krasnaya Polyana Caucasus State Reserve Karachay-Cherkessia Russia 1890 m N slope W Caucasus, continuous cluster batches 250-391, shepherd's balagan on the Chistaya "clean/clear" + Kavkazsky Zapovednik 1924 UNESCO 1999 Western Caucasus 3000 km² bison reintroduced 1946-1990 ~100 ind + Krasnaya Polyana Sochi 2014 + Bolshoy Fisht 2867 m, Circassian Adyghe NW 700,000 Circassian speakers + 1864 Muhajir genocide Russian Empire 90% exiled to Ottomans 1.5 M.
