Šiaurės Osetija – Alanija, dar vadinama Šiaurės Osetija, Rusijos Severnaja Osetija – Alaniya, respublika (respublika) pietvakarių Rusijoje, Didžiojo Kaukazo diapazono šiauriniame šone. Iš pietų ji ribojasi su Gruzija, o šiaurėje - su Sunzha ir Tereko kalnais. Sostinė ir didžiausias miestas yra Vladikaukazas.
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Šiaurės Osetija yra kalnuota. Glavnio (pagrindinė) kalnagūbris siekia 15 682 pėdas (4780 metrų) ties Dzhimara kalnu ir kitomis respublikos viršūnėmis, siekiančiomis daugiau nei 14 000 pėdų (4 250 metrų). Lygiagrečiai su Glavnio keteros diapazonu yra keletas žemesnių diapazonų, per kuriuos upės iškirto gilius ir vaizdingus tarpekus. Respublika visiškai yra Aukštutinės Tereko upės baseine ir jos greitai tekančiais intakais, kurie kyla į kalnus ir jungiasi prieš pereinant per Sunzha kalną į šiaurę kitame giliame tarpeklyje. Šiaurinis respublikos panhandleas driekiasi per Sunzha, o Terekas driekiasi apimdamas dalį vidurinės Tereko lygumos aplink Mozdoką.
Klimatas, dirvožemis ir augmenija labai skiriasi priklausomai nuo reljefo. Žemiausiose vietose derlingose juodosiose dirvose yra stepių augmenija, kuri užleidžia aukščiau tankius ąžuolo ir buko lapuočių miškus. Aukštesni dar yra spygliuočių eglių, eglių ir pušų miškai, galiausiai užleidžiantys kelią į Alpių pievas ir galiausiai iki plikų uolų bei ledo. Temperatūros režimo sunkumas ir krituliai padidėja. Upių baseinuose kritulių kiekis yra 24 coliai (600 mm) ar mažiau per metus; aukštesnėse vietose iki 35 colių (900 mm).
Ossetes are of mixed Iranian-Caucasian origin; their language belongs to the Iranian group of the Indo-European family of languages. From the 7th century bce to the 1st century ce Ossetia came under Scythian-Sarmatian influence, which was succeeded by that of the warlike Alani, who are believed to be the direct ancestors of the present-day Ossetes. Later the Mongol empire of the 13th century extended its sway over Ossetia, and the Alani were forced to move into the mountainous regions. Russian colonization began in the northern Ossetian area especially after the establishment of the fortress of Vladikavkaz in 1784. In addition to Ossetes and Russians, the republic is populated by Ingush, Armenians, Georgians, and Ukrainians. Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion, and Sunni Muslims make up a small but significant minority. Indigenous pre-Christian and pre-Islamic practices exist alongside these and other faiths, and elements of traditional beliefs have been integrated into North Ossetian religious life.
In the 1990s many Ingush in the republic were forced to flee to neighbouring Ingushetiya, and fighting flared in the South Ossetia region of Georgia, where Ossetes sought independence or union with North Ossetia. The city of Beslan, in northeastern North Ossetia, was the site of ethnic violence in 2004, when Chechen militants seized a school and some 1,200 hostages, mostly children; following an armed battle between the militants and Russian security forces, some 325 people were killed and about 700 were wounded.
Industry in the republic is concentrated in Vladikavkaz and includes metallurgy and the manufacture of building materials, chemicals, and foodstuffs; lead, zinc, and dolomite are mined. Timber exploitation, particularly of beech forests, is important on both flanks of the Caucasus. The mountains are also a popular tourist destination. Hydroelectric plants have been built on the Terek River at Vladikavkaz and on the Gizeldon River. Agriculture is concentrated on the lower slopes and near Mozdok; the irrigated fields produce wheat, corn (maize), potatoes, hemp, and fruit. Sheep and cattle are raised on the higher slopes.
Two major highways across the Caucasus pass through Ossetia—the Georgian and Ossetian military highways, which were built in the 19th century during the Russian conquest of the Caucasus. Construction began in the late 20th century on a new all-weather highway. Vladikavkaz is also linked by highways with Grozny (Chechnya) and the Caspian and with Rostov-na-Donu. The republic is also served by the Rostov-Baku railway. Vladikavkaz is the seat of the state university (founded 1969), which is named for the Ossetian national poet Kosta Khetagurov (1859–1906). Area 3,100 square miles (8,000 square km). Pop. (2010) 712,877.
