Kaspiysk
Kaspiysk is a city of 116,000 (2018) on the Caspian Sea, 18 km (11 mi) southeast of Makhachkala in Dagestan. The center of Kaspiysk retains the appearance of a Soviet industrial city with a slight touch of a resort: it stands on the sea, and there is a lot of greenery on the streets.
Understand
The city is one of the newer urban centers in Dagestan. It began in 1932 as a worker's encampment, serving the needs of the nearby naval diesel engine manufacturer, Dagdizel. At the time, it was called Dvigatelstroy (Дви́гательстро́й), based upon the Russian word for "engine". During World War II, the site grew due to the war effort, and it became a center for major arms producers. In 1947, the settlement received the status of a city, and was given its current name, reflecting its location on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
The city is home to a large naval storage facility, and to machine-building factories, that produce diesel engines, electric motors, torpedoes, and other products for the Russian Navy, and other military and commercial use.
At the north side of the city is a seaport.
The city has a very mixed population of mountain peoples, including Leslie's, Darvin, Adarsh, Laks and Kumyks. Less than 10% of the population is Russian (2010).
Climate
The climate is moderately continental. Winters are mild and short. Summers are dry and hot.
Get in
By train
The Kaspiysk railway station of the same name connects the city with Makhachkala, Kizilyurt, Izberbash, Dagestan Lights, Derbent, and Khasavyurt.
By local transport
From Makhachkala - trolleybuses 3 and 12 and bus 100. There are regular minibuses to Derbent (after filling, about every hour), there are other intercity options, but 1-2 times a day - you have to adjust or go through Makhachkala.
By car
There are two exits to the city from the P217 "Caspian" highway: from the north in the area of the village of Novy Khushet and from the south in the area of the airport; both are not very convenient for getting to the center, but there are no other options.
By plane
Makhachkala airport is closer to Kaspiysk than to Makhachkala. You still have to get to the city by taxi: theoretically, a minibus 320 calls into the airport, but in practice, neither its schedule nor even the interval is known.
Get around
There are fixed-route taxis.
Trolleybus route number 12 goes to the Dagdizel plant.
See
The city is not the most remarkable and would attract only lovers of Soviet architecture if not for one highlight: in the sea, three kilometers from the city, there is the huge bulk of an abandoned Torpedo workshop.
- 🌍 Dagdizel Palace of Culture. The Caspian recreation center was built in several stages for between 1940 and 1967. The result is an unusual shape - it consists of two separate buildings, together forming something similar to symmetry, and content - although in general the palace is attributed to Stalinist neoclassicism, the later parts are more like modernism. A park has been preserved around the palace.
- 🌍 Torpedo workshop 8. It was built in the constructivist style for testing torpedoes, and was abandoned in 1966. From a distance it can be seen from the embankment, in good weather there are people with boats who are ready to give a ride closer.
Do
- FC Anzhi Makhachkala football club, Anzhi Arena stadium. They compete in the Russian Football Premier League.
Eat
- Sochno Vostochno Sushi Na Zakaz, Makhachkalinskaya Ulitsa, 80а / Махачкалинская ул., 80а, ☏ +7 9117186666.
Sleep
- Grand Hotel, Komsomolskaya st. 1, ☏ +8 988 696-99-11. The hotel is by the sea, has a restaurant and cafe. Many different rooms from 4 stars.