Fiagdon

Fiagdon
Fiagdon River in Kurtat valley
Location
Country	North Ossetia–Alania (Russia)
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Caucasus Mountains
Mouth	Ardon
• coordinates	43°12′31″N 44°19′55″E
Length	75 km (47 mi)
Basin size	714 km2 (276 sq mi)
Basin features
Progression	Ardon→ Terek→ Caspian Sea

Fiagdon (Russian: Фиагдон, Ossetian: Фыййагдон, Fyjjagdon) is a river in North Ossetia–Alania (Russia) west of Vladikavkaz. It flows north between the Ardon and the Gizeldon and joins the Ardon before that river joins the Terek. The river is 75 kilometres (47 mi) long, with a drainage basin of 714 square kilometres (276 sq mi). Verkhny Fiagdon and Dzuarikau are some of the major villages that lie on Fiagdon River.

Etymology

Fiagdon is a river in Russia, located in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The name of the river is derived from the Ossetian words "fiyag" and "don", which mean "wooden shovel" and "water/river" respectively. According to local legends, the Kurtatinsky gorge, where the river flows, was once entirely covered with thick forest and the river was covered with moss. The first settlers of the gorge used wooden shovels to clear the riverbed and take water from it. This is believed to be the origin of the name "Fiagdon".