Baksan River, also known as Azau (Russian: Баксан, Азау) is a river in Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia, a right tributary of the Malka River (Terek's basin). The length of the Baksan is 173 km, the area of its drainage basin is 6,800 km². The Baksan originates in the glaciers of the Elbrus. The towns of Tyrnyauz and Baksan are located on the Baksan River.
Coordinates: 43°43′52″N 44°03′43″E / 43.73111°N 44.06194°E / 43.73111; 44.06194
Baksan (Russian: Бакса́н) is a town in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia, located 24 kilometers (15 mi) northwest of Nalchik on the left bank of the Baksan River (Terek's basin). Population: 36,857 (2010 Census preliminary results); 35,805 (2002 Census); 28,767 (1989 Census).
It was founded in 1822 as a Russian military settlement.[citation needed] In the 1860s, the Kabarda settlement of Kuchmazukino was founded to the east of Baksan; it was renamed Staraya Krepost in 1920. In 1891, to the west of the settlement, the selo of Baksan was founded. Baksan and Staraya Krepost were merged in 1960. Urban-type settlement status was granted to it in 1965; town status was granted in 1967.
Baksan serves as the administrative center of Baksansky District, although it is not administratively a part of it. Administratively, along with one rural locality, it is incorporated as the town of republic significance of Baksan—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.Municipally, the town of republic significance of Baksan is incorporated as Baksan Urban Okrug.