Autonomous republic of western USSR, situated
E of the Caucasus, bordering the Caspian Sea.
Capital Makhachkala; area 50,300 sq km/19,421
sq mi; population (1982) 1,700,000. It is
mountainous, with deep valleys, and its
numerous ethnic groups speak a variety of
distinct languages. Annexed 1723 from Iran,
which strongly resisted Russian conquest, it
became an autonomous republic in 1921.