Nalchik (Russian: На́льчик; Kabardian: Налшык; Balkar: Нальчик) is the capital city of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia, situated at an altitude of 550 meters (1,800 ft) in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains; about 100 kilometers (62 mi) northwest of Beslan in the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania.[10] It covers an area of 131 square kilometers (51 sq mi). Population: 240,095 (2010 Census preliminary results);274,974 (2002 Census);[5] 234,547 (1989 Census).