The Gizeldon (Russian: Гизельдон or Гизель-Дон; Ossetian: Джызæлдон, Džyzældon), is a river in North Ossetia–Alania just west of Vladikavkaz. It drains the northern slopes and glaciers of Mount Kazbek north to the Terek. The river is 80 kilometres (50 mi) long, with a drainage basin of 604 square kilometres (233 sq mi).[1] A valley with many cliffs and a 4000-metre peak,[2] the area is prone to avalanches; 30 were reported in 1967–1968.[3] The terrain is described as having "craggy, gashed terrain", with cattle breeding, lumbering, and lead-zinc mining being the principal economic pursuits of the people of the Gizeldon valley.[4] A hydroelectric plant has been built on the Gizeldon.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Река Гизель-Дон (Архонка, Штри-Дон) in the State Water Register of Russia". textual.ru (in Russian).
  2. ^ Richmond, Simon (1 March 2009). Russia. Lonely Planet. p. 531. ISBN 978-1-74104-722-6. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  3. ^ American Meteorological Society; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, Inc. Internet Database Service (1970). Meteorological and geoastrophysical abstracts. American Meteorological Society. p. 2273. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  4. ^ a b Bahr, Lauren S.; Johnston, Bernard (1993). Collier's encyclopedia: with bibliography and index. P.F. Collier. p. 643. Retrieved 24 December 2011.