Derbent,[a] also historically known as Darband,[7][8][9] or Derbend,[10] is the southernmost city in Russia. It is situated along the southeastern coast of the Republic of Dagestan, occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, and connecting the Eurasian Steppe to the north and the Iranian Plateau to the south. Derbent covers an area of 69.63 square kilometres (26.88 sq mi) with a population of roughly 120,000 residents.
Derbent is considered the oldest city in Russia, with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BC, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.[11] Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, and Shirvan kingdoms. In the early 19th century, the city came under control of the Russian Empire through the Treaty of Gulistan signed with Qajar Iran.[12]
