The settlement of Izberbash in Dagestan, Russia originated in 1931 as a camp for oil workers developing nearby oil deposits. In 1949, it was granted town status. Today it is a multi-ethnic town of 40,000 people located 65km south of the capital Makhachkala. The name Izberbash comes from the Turkish word "izbar" meaning a mountain pass, which was changed by German engineers to "Izberg" and later to the current name by the local population. Izberbash has grown from marshes and swamps into a town with wide streets, trees, gardens, high-rise buildings, industrial enterprises, and cultural sites.