Baksan River is located in the North Caucasus Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, and is a major right tributary Malki. It is the second longest river of the country. The basin area - 6800 sq. km, the average height of a watershed is 2,030 m, length - 173 km. The origins of Baksan takes from the slopes of Mount Elbrus, with its southern and south-eastern side.

It is assumed that the Baksan river was named after the Duke of Baksan, who lived in this valley in the Caucasus. After the death of the Grand Duke and his seven brothers who were killed in the IV century. Goths, invaded the land Antes, sister buried them in the Baksan Valley. In memory of his brother, it changed the name of the Baksan river Altud to Baksan.

In the upper reaches of the river Baksan has a huge number of tributaries that flow from the glaciers of Elbrus, the Greater Caucasus and the main ridge. In the mountainous part of the largest tributary of the Baksan river is Gundelen that flows into it near the village Zayukovo. Baksan Valley laid on debris fans and glacial moraines. In some places it narrows and widens in some form so narrow gorges. The river has a mixed diet, namely the underground, snow and glaciers. In the upper Baksan dominated by glacial and snow power, the village Zayukovo their share slightly decreased, and vice versa underground increases.

Leading the way through the rocky, Cretaceous and side ridges, river carries a lot of suspended particles that are deposited in the form of deposits mostly on flat land. Baksan, like all the other edge of the river, forming a huge number of individual water streams: Yamansu, Baksanenok, Geduko and others. Before the confluence of the river Malka, near the cooler river Baksan accepts two very large inflows - and Cherek Chegem.

In the upper Baksan River located mountaineering camps "Baksan", "Elbrus", "Djan-Tugan" and others, as well as an observatory "Terskol" and National Park "Elbrus".