Abaza

 city, district center

Abaza (Russian and Khakas: Абаза, Abaza) is a town in the Republic of Khakassia, Russia, located on the Abakan River 144 kilometers (89 mi) south of Abakan. Population: 17,115 (2010 Census).
It was founded in 1856 and developed on the strength of iron ore deposits; the extraction industry is still important to the local economy. The metallurgical plant was in operation until 1926. The settlement serving the plant was known as Abaza, an abbreviation of Abakan and Zavod (plant). The extraction work of iron ore is carried out at a mine 5 km from the city. Iron ore is sent to Novokuznetsk metallurgical enterprises. Abaza was granted urban-type settlement status in 1957 and town status in 1966. Since 1995, the Abakan mining group has been operating as a division of the OJSC "West-Siberian metallurgical plant».