MINERALNYE VODY

town, Stavropol kray (region), southwestern Russia. It lies along the Kuma River and the main rail line between Rostov-na-Donu and Baku (Azerbaijan). Mineralnye Vody is a spa (its name means mineral waters) on the northern edge of the Caucasus Mountains. It has an airport serving other Caucasian spa-resorts, and railway freight yards and workshops reflect its junction position on main rail lines. The town's food-processing industries also are important. Pop. (1993 est.) 73,700.