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The Mari (also known as Cheremis in Russian and Çirmes in Tatar) are a Volga-Finnic people in the Volga area, the natives of Mari El, Russia.
The total population of the Mari is 670,900 ( 1989), 324,400 of whom are in Mari El, and 19,500 in Tatarstan.
The Mari speak two closely related Mari languages: Meadow Mari (марий йылме) and Hill Mari (мары йӹлмы). The languages can be divided further into dialects, including Eastern, and Northern-Western dialects.
Most Maris are Christians (converted in the 16th century by Ivan Grozny), while some are of the Marla faith, Christianity with a significant addition of pre-Christian elements.