Tyrnyauz
Tyrnyauz
Watchdog journalism
Tyrnyauz is situated on the main road leading to the Upper Baksan valley area and on the main climbing route for Mt. Elbrus. The town was founded around a tungsten (wolfram) mine and processing plant, which is still the main employer in the area. In June 2001 the town was devasted by a massive flood and mudslide. Apartment blocks were buried in mud up to the fourth floor. No reliable figures exisit for the number of casualties. The town has now (2004)largely recovered but the scars are still clearly visible. Tyrnyauz is the largest town in the Baksan valley and an essential provisioning point for trips into the Elbrus region.<p>This city is a birthplace of <a href="Valery Kokov">Valery Kokov</a>.