Dagestan Lights is the smallest and youngest city not only in the Republic of Dagestan, but also in the Southern Federal District of Russia, but its significance in the history and development of Dagestan is significant. After all, the village of Dagestan Lights was known to Russia and even Europe before the Republic of Dagestan itself was formed, since before the revolution, neither in Russia nor in Europe there was a single glass industry enterprise that ran on natural gas. And in Ogni, the Malyshev brothers from Astrakhan in 1914 managed to set up such production and even start producing glassware in a still unfinished plant. This was a major breakthrough in the glass industry for the period when natural gas began to be used instead of coal and wood to produce glass.
This is a young city, not all maps have managed to mark it. For the city, age is not yet old; old age is still far away. They say that in Dagogni there are no miscalculations characteristic of similar cities that have recently appeared like mushrooms in Russia. And they also say that this is a city of paradoxes and miracles.
Dagestan Lights is an unusual city in all respects. It contrasts sharply with neighboring Derbent; it seems to be constantly arguing with its powerful neighbor, defending its right to exist, throwing off the label of a satellite city. And every time he responds to any attack addressed to him with something of his own, unlike anything else. Lights appeared around the glass factory? But the plant was no less the pride of Dagestan than the Derbent fortress. Is Derbent ancient and wise? And Ogni is a young and ambitious city. And at the same time modest (in size), content with little, not like the owner's neighbor. No one will argue that Dagestan Lights is a city with character. Even this alone makes him interesting, pushes him to get to know each other more closely, makes him want to take a closer look at what is hidden behind the point on the map, behind the sign on the highway and the houses rushing past the car window on the road to the same inevitable neighboring Derbent?
Even in ancient times, this area was known for natural outlets of flammable gas. And in 1914, the industrialists Malyshev brothers from Astrakhan built a factory here that ran on local gas.
Therefore, the village got its name - Dagestan Lights. It was a cottage industry where all processes were carried out by hand. The first master glassblowers were brought from Astrakhan, where a glass production plant was already operating. Working conditions at the new plant were extremely difficult, so workers called the place “the valley of death and fire.” The Malyshevs never managed to complete the construction of the plant - during the Civil War the plant was destroyed, then restored and put into operation in 1926. The restoration and construction of a new glass factory based on natural gas in Southern Dagestan became one of its top priorities. Today this is the only operating enterprise in the city, where about 99 percent of Dagestan glassware production capacities are concentrated.
The question of restoring the old pre-revolutionary plant in Ogni arose immediately after the October Revolution. V.I. Lenin considered this issue even when he was ill, and in 1922, 400 thousand rubles were first allocated for the construction of an experimental glass factory using natural gas, and then 1.2 million rubles in gold were allocated for the construction of an experimental mechanized factory.
Undoubtedly, the “calling card” has always been and remains the glass factory with its most interesting and fascinating history, preserved to some extent in its original form, although technological progress in industry has made adjustments not only to the appearance, but also to its internal content. We must pay tribute to the Government of the Republic of Dagestan, the city administration, and the leadership of the plant itself in the revival and establishment of a bankrupt enterprise, which once shipped its products not only to the Transcaucasian republics of the USSR, but also to foreign countries such as Iran, Turkey, and Japan.
The plant has always been a symbol of the unity of all peoples of the country. In 1922, people of 29 nationalities from different regions of the country took part in its construction.
And in the 60s, he achieved such success in production that on the 100th anniversary of the birth of M.I. Kalinin, who visited here twice, for his successes in the 9th Five-Year Plan he was given the name of the All-Union Elder Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin.
It was here that the mountain peoples of Dagestan felt the deep meaning of Russian traditions, Russian culture, enormous spiritual wealth and heritage. They brought the culture and language of a great people to the Russian hinterland, which do not go out today in the life of the Dagognians. Of course, time takes its toll, and noticeable changes occur not only in the way of life of the Dagognians, but also in the very appearance of the young city.
The plant produced sodium silicate, facing slabs, and insulators. A few years later, they began to produce glass pipes for the chemical and food industries, fortunately the enterprise was equipped with advanced technology, the main production processes were mechanized and automated.
In 1961, the glass factory "Dagestan Lights" was awarded the title of enterprise of communist labor, it was awarded diplomas and the Order of the Badge of Honor. Representatives of 29 nationalities worked at the plant: Russians and Lezgins, Azerbaijanis and Tabasarans, Dargins and Ukrainians, Avars and Tats, Kumyks and Belarusians. The Lezgin Hero of Socialist Labor Gebek Alievich Nasrullaev grew up here. The whole country was talking about him.
The city is young, but the village itself is about 100 years old, if you also take into account that, according to legend and the stories of old-timers, the Dagogna shrine - fire - almost stopped Genghis Khan and Tamerlane who were heading north. If you study the Russian province on the southern borders, then you should start with Dagognea!
Old-timers also remember that these places gave shelter to travelers who lit fires at night. And often the flames of the fires spread along cracks in the soil, and then the travelers fled in superstitious fear. This “miracle” apparently gave the name of the area - Lights.
Having learned about the “burning” land in Dagestan, the Astrakhan capitalists, the Malyshev brothers, examined the area and became convinced of the possibility of organizing glass production. Moreover, they discovered natural quartz sands in the villages of Sabnava and Ali adjacent to this area: the main raw material for glass production. In 1913, they rented a 10-hectare plot from the Derbent Khan for the construction of a plant, and in 1914 they began its construction. The plant began to produce glass products in small volumes. Working conditions at the new plant were extremely difficult, so workers called the place “the valley of death and fire.” The revolution and civil war prevented the completion of construction. The Soviet government was able to solve the problem.
In 1922, the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR decided to build a new mechanized glass factory to produce 10 million bottles per year and 18 thousand boxes of sheet glass monthly. For the production of bottles, it was planned to purchase imported automatic machines "OUENA", and for glass - equipment of the English "Furko" system. Such a plant could supply the entire North Caucasus and Transcaucasian republics with glass and glass containers. Builders from the Bryansk region, Azerbaijan, Moscow, Leningrad, Ukraine, Turkmenistan and the North Caucasus began to come to the construction site. Workers and specialists from abroad came here: Czechoslovakia, Germany, Poland. And in February 1926, the Dagestan Lights plant went into operation and began producing its first products. In subsequent years, the development of the plant continued; in the 80s, more than 2 thousand people already worked here. Today 10 thousand people live in the city.
The city arose as a result of the merger of the village of the same name, which was part of Derbent, and the Ilyich state farm in the Derbent region on March 4, 1991. The merger took place just before the collapse of the USSR. At that moment, the established economic ties within the Union were being destroyed. After this there were years of economic crisis. It’s probably not worth listing everything. Everyone knows what happened then. This is where the main problem of the city lies. All these problems fell on the townspeople, who were left alone with them. The Dag.Ogni glass factory, along with other enterprises in the country, fell into a whirlpool of chaos. In a matter of years, it lost its consumer, all economic and commercial ties were severed. More than a thousand glass factory workers found themselves outside the factory gates. Debts on wages, gas and electricity grew, and problems with creditors appeared. Finally the plant stopped.
Received city status in 1990. It is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in the northeastern part of the foot of the Greater Caucasus.
The history of the city began in 1914, in connection with the construction of a glass factory and a workers' village, the inhabitants of which were builders engaged in the construction of production buildings. The combustible natural gas extracted at the construction site was used as an energy source, which gave the name to the area and the village as Dagestan Lights.
Today it is completely unknown when natural mysterious torches appeared in the Derbent region, which gave the name to this area. Scientists suggest that a major earthquake described in historical sources in 1904 disrupted layers of limestone rocks, allowing natural gas to leak through cracks. Which self-ignited and gave a characteristic blue glow at night.
Old-timers and local residents of the city remember that in the old days the bonfires were a place of refuge for wanderers on foot and rare tourists who lit bonfires for the night. Over time, the cracks widened and the flame began to burn with a blue flame constantly.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Astrakhan entrepreneurs of the Menshov family learned about the burning land in Dagestan, came, initially inspected it, and subsequently organized glass production. In close proximity to the villages of Achi and Sabnava, large deposits of natural quartz sand were discovered, which served as the main raw material for glass production.
In 1913, the Menshov family came to the site of the future city, rented 10 hectares of land from the Derbent Khan and began building a glass factory. In 1914, the plant began producing its first products - glassware and small souvenirs.
The first glass blowers were invited from Astrakhan. Living and working conditions in the first years of work were difficult, so workers began to call this place “the valley of the death of fire.” The Malyshev family never managed to fully complete the construction of the plant - they were prevented by the revolution and the subsequent civil war, the village was empty and fell into disrepair.
The village and the glass factory received a rebirth after Soviet power came to it. The construction and restoration of the Dagestan glass factory became one of the primary tasks of that time.
The modern city of Dagestan Lights still remains the glass center of Dagestan. The city-forming enterprise is a glass factory. The city also operates and produces products: a bearing factory, a carpet factory, a brick factory and a wine factory.
Dagestan Lights is a small city in Dagestan, located 2.5 kilometers from the Caspian Sea, 118 kilometers from the capital of the republic. The area of the settlement is 9.3 square kilometers.
General data and historical facts
In 1913, entrepreneurs the Malyshev brothers leased land from the Khan of Derbent to build a glass factory, and a year later they began construction.
During the revolution and civil war, the enterprise was destroyed.
In 1922, the country's authorities decided to build a new mechanized glass production plant that would meet the glass needs of the entire Caucasus and neighboring republics.
After 4 years, the new plant was built and began producing its first products.
The company was the only glass factory that ran on natural gas.
In 1961, the plant was awarded the title of communist labor, awarded with diplomas and the Order of the Badge of Honor.
In 1990, the workers' settlement was transformed into a city of republican subordination, Dagestan Lights.
In 1991, the village of the Ilyich state farm was classified as a populated area.
In 2014, the city was included in the list of single-industry towns in which there is a risk of a deterioration in the economic situation.
Industrial enterprises of the city: glass factory, bearing factory, wine factory, carpet production, brick production.
The telephone code of Dagestanskiye Ogney is 87275. Postal code is 368611.
Climate and weather
A temperate continental climate prevails in Dagestan Ogni.
Winters are very short and mild. The average temperature in January is +1 degree.
Summer is hot and dry. The average temperature in July is +25 degrees.
The average annual precipitation is 370 mm.
Total population of Dagestan Lights for 2019-2020
Population data was obtained from the State Statistics Service. Graph of changes in the number of citizens over the past 10 years.
The total number of residents in 2019 was 29.5 thousand people.
The data from the graph shows a steady increase in the population from 25,800 people in 2007 to 29,555 people in 2019.
The national composition of the Dagestan Lights: Tabasarans - 46%, Azerbaijanis - 23%, Lezgins - 17.9%, Dargins - 6.5%, Aguls - 3%, Russians - 1%, Kumyks - 0.6%.
As of January 2019, the settlement ranked 509th out of 1,117 cities in the Russian Federation in terms of the number of residents.
Attractions
1.Natural State Reserve- these natural areas were taken under control in 1987. The reserve is home to more than 260 species of birds, 70 species of fish, and 44 species of mammals.
2.Naryn Fortress - Kala- The area of this structure is about 5 kilometers. Inside the fortress there are ancient buildings, baths, and ruined buildings. This fortress is included in the list of national monuments and UNESCO heritage.
Transport
In Dagestanskie Ogni there is a railway station of the same name, which connects the city with Derbent, Makhachkala, Mamedkala, Izberbash, Kaspiisky, Buinaksky.
Public transport is represented by several bus routes and minibuses.
From the city bus station there are bus routes to Makhachkala, Derbent, Kaspiysk, Vladikavkaz.
Detailed map
On this Yandex Map you can easily see street names, house numbers, and also find out the location of a settlement on a map of Russia.
