Pyatigorsk is located in the Stavropolsky kray (region) on the left bank of the Podkumok river, on the slopes of the Mashuk and Goryachaya mountains. It has a population of 133000. Pyatigorsk (means \”five mountains\” in Russian) has given its name in 1830 because of the closely located Beshtau (means \”five mountains\” in Turkic) mountain. It is an important balneological and mud health resort.