The
Mari (, ), are a
Finno-Ugric ethnic group, who have traditionally lived along the
Volga and
Kama rivers in
Russia. Almost half of Maris today live in the
Mari El republic, with significant populations in the
Bashkortostan and
Tatarstan republics. In the past, the Mari have also been known as the
Cheremis in
Russian and the
Çirmes in
Tatar.