Brief information on town Beslan where the bandits seized school

Town Beslan is one of the six biggest cities of North Ossetia-Alania. It is located on Ossetian Plain, on the right bank of the Terek river, 22 kilometers North of city Vladikavkaz. Beslan is a big railway and highway hub, and is the administrative center of Pravoberezhny district.

The population of the republic is 673,800 people. 57.3% of them are Ossetians, 26.3% percent are Russians, 5.1% percent are Ingushes and 2.2 – Armenians. According to the census data of 2000, 34.500 people reside in Beslan.

Beslan is one of the republic’s industrial centers, the town has many plants and factories, there are major oil deposits near the town.

Agriculture is also well-developed in the area.