The article studies the migration of a large group of people from the North Caucasus to Turkey in the second half of the XIX century. The author discovers the reasons and factors of this phenomenon, drawing attention to its complex character. The migration of some part of mountain population from the North Caucasus territory outside the Russian Empire resulted from armed confrontation in the first half of the XIX century. Migrating to Turkey the Adygs suffered the largest demography losses, for they traditionally had cultur- al, economic and family ties with the Osmans. They expected improvements in their social and economic status at the new residence. However, the dreams flailed.The fatal character of migration caused the death of many mukhadzhirs of deseases, starvation, hardships and poor organization.