Gorodovikovsk (until 1971 - Bashanta, Kalm. Bәәshңtә) is a city
within Kalmykia in Russia. Gorodovikovsk is located in the extreme west of Kalmykia,
234 km west of the capital of the republic, Elista. The
administrative center of Gorodovikovskiy district. It forms the
Gorodovikovsk city municipality as the only settlement in it.
It is located in the extreme west of Kalmykia, 234 km west of
the capital of the republic, Elista.
Population - 8397
people. (2021).
Founded as the village of Bashanta in 1871,
in 1971 received the status of a city.
The architecture of Gorodovikovsk, a small town in the Republic of
Kalmykia, Russia, is characterized primarily by modest, low-rise
constructions, generally limited to one or two stories, reflecting its
rural steppe setting and historical development as a Kalmyk settlement
founded in 1871. Situated approximately 240 kilometers west of Elista,
the republic's capital, at an elevation of about 60 meters and spanning
15.6 square kilometers, the town is neatly split into two sections by
the Bashanta River, a modest waterway that flows through the region and
historically supported early nomadic and agricultural activities. The
river not only serves as a natural divider but also adds to the scenic,
open landscape typical of the Manych steppe. The historic core, along
with the bulk of the urban fabric, occupies the right bank, where
remnants of early 20th-century architecture endure amidst the central
area—these include structures from the pre-revolutionary era, such as
former administrative or religious buildings that survived the
tumultuous shifts of the Soviet period, including the 1943 deportation
of the Kalmyk population and subsequent rehabilitation in 1957.
Within the town, four sites are designated as cultural heritage objects
by the Republic of Kalmykia, highlighting its Soviet-era legacy and
wartime history:
The site of the former Monument to V.I. Lenin, a
once-prominent statue honoring the Bolshevik leader. This monument,
together with the nearby Kirov one, was taken down during post-Soviet
de-communization efforts, likely in the 1990s or early 2000s as part of
broader cultural shifts in Russia. In its stead, a decorative canopy
featuring intricate national Kalmyk ornaments—such as stylized motifs
inspired by Buddhist symbolism and nomadic traditions—was installed.
Regrettably, the original Lenin statue has vanished entirely, with no
records of its relocation or preservation, mirroring the fate of similar
Soviet icons across the region.
The location of the dismantled
Monument to S.M. Kirov, commemorating the influential Soviet politician
assassinated in 1934. This statue was also removed, paving the way for a
modern "dry" fountain installation known as "Lotus," which evokes Kalmyk
Buddhist themes through its design, symbolizing purity and enlightenment
in local folklore. Like the Lenin monument, the Kirov statue disappeared
without any trace, possibly scrapped or destroyed amid changing
political sentiments.
The Monument to G.M. Lazarev, dedicated to a
Hero of the Soviet Union. While specific biographical details on
Lazarev's connection to Gorodovikovsk are sparse, he is believed to be a
local or regional figure honored for valor during World War II, aligning
with the town's involvement in the conflict—Gorodovikovsk was occupied
by German forces in 1942 and liberated in January 1943 by Soviet troops,
including the 110th Kalmyk Cavalry Division. Such monuments typically
feature bronze or stone sculptures depicting heroic poses, serving as
focal points for patriotic commemorations.
The Memorial to the Fallen
Soldiers of the Great Patriotic War (the Soviet term for World War II),
a solemn tribute to local residents who lost their lives in the
1941–1945 conflict. This site likely includes an eternal flame, engraved
names of the deceased, and sculptural elements like obelisks or soldier
figures, common in Russian memorials to honor the estimated 27 million
Soviet casualties. It stands as a poignant reminder of the town's brief
occupation and the broader hardships faced by Kalmyks, many of whom
served in the Red Army despite later facing deportation.
These
heritage elements underscore Gorodovikovsk's evolution from a
19th-century Kalmyk village named Bashanta to a modern administrative
center with a population of around 9,565 (as of 2010), blending Russian,
Soviet, and indigenous Buddhist influences in its modest urban
landscape.
The original name of the city is Bashanta. The name
Bashanta is a distortion of Kalm. бәәшңтә - forms of joint case of
the word Kalm. бшң, which translates as palace, tower. There is a
version among local residents that the original name of the city of
Bashanta goes back to a local landmark - a water tower. However, the
tract in which the settlement arose was called Bashanta even before
the appearance of a settled settlement. In this regard, there was
another version among the old residents of the city.
Once the
Kalmyks, who first appeared in these places, saw the remains of a
stone building. The surviving skeletons of the building testified
that it was a large structure, perhaps it housed the headquarters of
the khan of the steppe state, of which there were many in the Great
Steppe, which stretched across the entire Eurasian plain from the
Carpathians to the Pacific Ocean. The place for the stake was very
convenient, the Yegorlyk River flowed nearby, there was a lake
called Tsagan Nur by the Kalmyks. The river originating from the
lake was named Bashanta, as well as the tract in which the Kalmyks
settled.
- Research work "Geographical place names in the names
of settlements Gorodovikovsky district
Ancient and Medieval History
The area around modern Gorodovikovsk
has evidence of human settlement dating back to prehistoric and medieval
times. Archaeological sites known as Bashanta-I and Bashanta-II, located
in the Manych steppe of Kalmykia, reveal settlements from the Khazar
Kaganate era, roughly the 8th to 10th centuries AD. Bashanta-I is
identified as a hillfort, with investigations along its northern wall
uncovering artifacts and structures typical of Khazar fortifications,
including defensive elements and evidence of daily life. Bashanta-II,
nearby, shows similar characteristics, suggesting a cluster of
communities in the basin between the Manych and Yegorlyk rivers. These
sites were excavated in 2008 and 2015 as part of joint expeditions by
the Kalmyk Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
highlighting the region's role in the Lower Volga's medieval
archaeological complex. The Khazars, a semi-nomadic Turkic people who
controlled much of the steppe, likely used these locations for trade,
defense, and settlement, influencing the cultural landscape long before
the arrival of modern ethnic groups like the Kalmyks.
Local folklore
ties into this ancient history, with the name "Bashanta" derived from
the Kalmyk word "бәәшңтә" (related to "бшң," meaning "palace" or
"tower"). Legends suggest it refers to ancient stone ruins near the
Yegorlyk River and Lake Tsagan Nur, possibly remnants of a khan's
headquarters or a large structure that gave the name to the surrounding
river and tract. This area was part of broader steppe migrations,
including those of Kalmyk clans like the Iki-Derbets, who, according to
oral traditions, settled between Esentuki and Bashanta.
Founding
and Early Development (Late 19th to Early 20th Century)
The modern
settlement of Gorodovikovsk was founded in 1871 as the village of
Bashanta by 150 Kalmyks from the Abganer clan. They established it on a
land plot of 8,195 dessiatines (approximately 8,900 hectares) along the
Bolshaya Bashanta River in the Bashanta gully, within what was then the
Stavropol Governorate of the Russian Empire. By 1873, according to the
List of Inhabited Places of the Stavropol Province, Bashanta (referred
to as a "khoton" or nomadic settlement) had 146 men, 110 women, and 57
households, primarily consisting of wagons. The inhabitants were all
Kalmyks and Buddhists, with religious structures including one wooden
khurul (Buddhist temple), one stone khurul, one wagon khurul, one wooden
house, and four adobe houses.
The settlement grew steadily in the
late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1906–1907, a water tower and
street water supply system were built, improving infrastructure. An ulus
(administrative division) higher primary school for 50 students opened
in 1907. In 1908, a 28-bed ulus hospital was completed, including
facilities for infectious diseases. By 1909, the headquarters of the
Bolshederbetovsky ulus in the Medvezhensky district moved from Ivanovka
to Bashanta, elevating its administrative status. The 1909 List of
Inhabited Places noted nine households, 74 males and 48 females, along
with a two-year school, a two-tier khurul in oriental style, a post
office, a savings and loan office, a pharmacy, and the hospital.
Cultural and religious developments included the consecration of the
first Orthodox church in Bashanta in 1914, just before the revolutionary
upheavals, reflecting the influence of Russian Orthodoxy alongside
traditional Kalmyk Buddhism. Photographs from this era, such as a
colorized image of a monument in 1914, capture the town's early
architectural and communal life.
Revolutionary Period and Early
Soviet Era (1917–1941)
Bolshevik power was established in Bashanta on
December 14, 1917, with the election of a 12-member Bolshederbetovsky
ulus executive committee. However, from July 1918 to February 1920, the
settlement was under the control of White Army forces led by General
Anton Denikin during the Russian Civil War. After being recaptured by
Red forces, Bashanta retained its role as the administrative center of
the Bolshederbetovsky ulus (renamed the Western Region in 1930) within
the Kalmyk Autonomous Region, which later became the Kalmyk ASSR.
In
1920, an agricultural college was opened, which evolved into the
Bashantinsky College named after F.G. Popov, now a branch of Kalmyk
State University. The surrounding district, established in 1920 as
Zapadny (Western) District, encompassed the area. On December 4, 1938,
Bashanta was transformed into a workers' settlement (urban-type
settlement). By this time, it featured a secondary school, the
agricultural technical school, a machine-tractor station (MTS), a brick
factory, and an ulus hospital, indicating growing industrialization and
education.
World War II, Occupation, and Deportation (1941–1957)
During World War II, Bashanta was occupied by German troops in the
summer of 1942, along with other settlements in the ulus. It was
liberated on January 21, 1943, by the 28th Army and the 110th separate
Kalmyk cavalry division. Tragically, on December 28, 1943, the entire
Kalmyk population was deported en masse by Soviet authorities to Siberia
and Central Asia as part of Stalin's ethnic purges, accused of
collaboration with the Nazis—a charge later acknowledged as unfounded.
This deportation devastated the region, with thousands perishing during
the journey and exile.
Following the deportation in 1944, Bashanta
became the center of the Western District within the Rostov Region, as
Kalmykia was temporarily dissolved. The Kalmyks were allowed to return
in 1957 after Stalin's death and Khrushchev's rehabilitation of
repressed peoples, at which point the district was restored to Kalmykia.
In April 1960, the district was renamed Gorodovikovsky District.
Post-War Development, Renaming, and Modern Era (1957–Present)
In
1970, Bashanta's borders expanded to incorporate nearby settlements like
Don-Ural, Blizhny, and Kumsky. On February 8, 1971, the workers'
settlement was elevated to city status and renamed Gorodovikovsk in
honor of Oka Ivanovich Gorodovikov (1879–1960), a prominent Kalmyk
military figure. Born in the nearby village of Mokraya Yelmuta,
Gorodovikov was an illiterate herdsman who rose through the ranks during
the Russian Civil War, serving alongside Semyon Budyonny in the Red
Cavalry. He became a colonel-general, Inspector-General of Cavalry
(1938–1941), and Deputy Commander of Cavalry (1943–1947), earning the
title Hero of the Soviet Union for his contributions.
Population
trends show a gradual decline: 11,902 in 1989, 10,940 in 2002, and 9,565
in 2010. The broader district's population has also decreased, from
20,922 in 1979 to 17,295 in 2010, with Gorodovikovsk comprising about
55.3% of the district's residents in the latter year. Today,
Gorodovikovsk remains the administrative center of Gorodovikovsky
District, covering 15.6 square kilometers at an elevation of 60 meters.
It is situated 240 kilometers west of Elista, the capital of Kalmykia,
and reflects the republic's unique Buddhist heritage amid Russia's
southern steppes. Notable modern figures from the town include
politician Vladimir Dovdanov, born in 1960. The town's history is
intertwined with Kalmykia's broader narrative as Europe's only
Buddhist-majority region, marked by migration, resilience through
repression, and cultural preservation.
Gorodovikovsk is a town in the Republic of Kalmykia, southern Russia, serving as the administrative center of Gorodovikovsky District. It is situated approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) west of Elista, the republic's capital, at coordinates 46°05′N 41°56′E, with an elevation of about 66 meters (217 feet) above sea level. The town lies on the Bashanta River and covers an area of 15.6 square kilometers (6.0 square miles), while the surrounding district spans 1,099 square kilometers (424 square miles). Kalmykia as a whole is part of the Volga region in the Southern Federal District, bordered by regions like Stavropol Krai to the southwest and the Caspian Sea to the east, positioning Gorodovikovsk in a transitional zone between steppe and semi-desert landscapes.
The topography of Gorodovikovsk and its district is predominantly flat, characteristic of the Caspian Depression—a vast lowland that dips as low as 27 meters (89 feet) below sea level in parts of Kalmykia. The area features wide-open steppes with minimal relief, interspersed with gentle hills and depressions. The highest point in the republic, at 222 meters (728 feet), is in the Yergeni hills to the north, but Gorodovikovsk itself sits in a lower, undulating plain. Soils are often sandy or saline, prone to erosion, and the landscape includes hundreds of ancient kurgans (burial mounds) dotting the uplands. The hydrographic network is poorly developed, with lowlands occasionally filled by runoff water, contributing to sporadic swampy areas. This flat terrain supports pastoral activities but is vulnerable to dust storms and desertification.
The Bashanta River flows through Gorodovikovsk, where a cascade of ponds has been created for irrigation and water management. Nearby, the Khagin-Sala River runs through parts of the district. Kalmykia's broader river system includes the Yegorlyk, Kuma, and Manych rivers, with a small stretch of the Volga in the east. Lakes in the region, such as Manych-Gudilo (the largest), Sarpa, and Tsagan-Khak, are significant, often saline and used for irrigation via canals like the Terek-Kuma and Kuma-Manych. These water bodies are crucial in this arid area, but over-irrigation has led to salinization and reduced flows.
Gorodovikovsk has a continental climate (Köppen Dfa), featuring warm,
mostly clear summers and long, freezing, snowy, windy, and mostly cloudy
winters. Annual temperatures range from lows around 21°F (-6°C) to highs
up to 87°F (31°C), with extremes rarely below 2°F (-17°C) or above 97°F
(36°C). Regionally, Kalmykia sees average January temperatures of -5°C
(23°F) and July averages of 24°C (75°F), with Gorodovikovsk aligning
closely due to its western position.
Temperature Ranges: The hot
season lasts 3.3 months (late May to early September), with daily highs
above 76°F (24°C), peaking in July at 86°F (30°C) highs and 66°F (19°C)
lows. The cold season lasts 3.7 months (late November to mid-March),
with highs below 44°F (7°C), and January averages 35°F (2°C) highs and
23°F (-5°C) lows.
Precipitation: Annual precipitation is low, ranging
from 170 mm (6.7 inches) in eastern Kalmykia to 400 mm (16 inches) in
the west, where Gorodovikovsk is located. Locally, the wetter season
lasts 3 months (mid-April to mid-July), with a >21% chance of wet days,
peaking in June at 2.0 inches over 8.5 days. The driest month is
February, with 0.4 inches of rain and 3.1 inches of snow. Snowfall
occurs mainly from November to March, with a snowy period of 4.5 months.
Humidity and Cloud Cover: Humidity remains low year-round, with muggy
conditions rare (dew point ≥65°F or 18°C), peaking at 1.3 days in July.
Cloud cover varies extremely: clearer from late May to mid-October (79%
clear in July), cloudier from mid-October to late May (71% overcast in
January).
Wind and Seasonal Variations: Winds are stronger from early
October to mid-April (>10.4 mph), peaking at 12.3 mph in February, and
calmer in summer (8.5 mph in July). Prevailing direction is easterly
most of the year. The growing season spans 6.7 months (early April to
late October). Summers are warm and clear, ideal for outdoor activities;
winters are harsh with snow and wind.
Vegetation in the Gorodovikovsk area consists of steppe grasses and semi-desert shrubs, adapted to arid conditions, with natural steppe surviving in patches on slopes amid cultivated lands. The region supports wildlife like the saiga antelope in protected areas such as the Chyornye Zemli Nature Reserve, and features tulip fields in places like Bamb Tsetsg Island National Park. Environmental challenges include widespread desertification from overgrazing and poor irrigation practices, creating artificial deserts over large areas. Natural resources comprise coal, oil, and natural gas, with the flat landscape offering potential for wind energy, though development is limited.