The Russian Republics 3: Dagestan And Its Anthem () ()

Dagestan is a Russian region located in the North Caucasus, with access to the Caspian Sea. Its area is slightly larger than Slovakia, and its population is about 3 million people.
The southernmost point of Russia is located in Dagestan, at coordinates 41 degrees north latitude. And the region is also home to the oldest still existing city in Russia – Derbent, which is more than 2000 years old. A significant part of the republic is covered with mountains, which means that it is a pretty good place for mountain tourism.
A large number of different peoples live in the republic, and its constitution says that the official languages of the region are the languages of those peoples who live there. Of those languages that have a writing system and are mentioned anywhere, in addition to Russian, it is possible to see Aghul, Avar, Azerbaijani, Chechen, Dargwa, Kumyk, Lezgin, Lak, Nogai, Rutul, Tabasaran, Tat and Tsakhur.
In recent times the region has been recognized for producing some of the world’s best athletes in combat sports and produces the most MMA fighters of any region relative to population. Dagestani born Khabib Nurmagomedov was a UFC Lightweight Champion who retired undefeated.
Let’s talk about it’s anthem. It is quite new since it was adopted in 2016. The anthem is called "the Oath". Its lyrics are a translation into Russian of a part of a poem by the famous Dagestani poet Rasul Gamzatov, and the music was written by one of the Dagestani composers.
The Lyrics of the anthem in English are below as always.
Lyrics:
Down the peaks creeks stream into the seas,
Away the birds fly into the heights.
You are my heart, you are my fountain,
You are my oath, Dagestan.
Chorus:
To you I swear my loyalty,
You’re the air I breathe; you’re the air I sing.
Constellation of families aplenty,
O my little nation, yet so imposing.
Feats of highlanders, kinship, honour,
There you were, and now here you are!
O my Dagestan and my Russia,
Together and forever!
To you I swear my loyalty,
You’re the air I breathe; you’re the air I sing.
Constellation of families aplenty,
O my little nation, yet so imposing.
Dagestan!