Amazingly beautiful mountain landscapes can be seen in these wonderful and unique in their beauty places. The most impressive peaks are the Greater Caucasus Range. This is the territory of the highest and largest mountains in the Caucasus region.
The Lesser Caucasus and the valleys (Riono-Kurinsky Depression) represent the Transcaucasus in a complex.
Caucasus: general description
The Caucasus lies between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea in southwest Asia.
This region includes the mountains of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, as well as the depression between them called the Riono-Kurinsky Depression, the Black Sea and Caspian Seas, the Stavropol Upland, a small part of the Caspian Lowland (Dagestan) and the Kuban-Priazovskaya Lowland to the left bank of the Don River section of its mouth.
The mountains of the Greater Caucasus have a length of 1,500 kilometers, and the highest peak is Elbrus. The length of the mountains of the Lesser Caucasus is 750 km.
Below we consider the Caucasus Range in more detail.
Geographical position
In the western part, the Caucasus borders on the Black and Azov Seas, in the east - on the Caspian. In the north lies the East European Plain, with the border between it and the Caucasian foothills repeating the border between Asia and Europe. The latter passes along the river. Kuma, at the bottom of the Kumo-Manychskaya depression, along the Manych and East Manych rivers, and then along the left bank of the Don.
The southern border of the Caucasus is the Araks River, beyond which are the Armenian and Iranian highlands, and the river. Choroch. And beyond the river begins the mountains of the Pontic Peninsula of Asia Minor.
Caucasus Range: Description
The most courageous people and climbers have long chosen the Caucasus mountain range, which attracts extreme people from all over the planet.
The most important Caucasian ridge divides the whole Caucasus into 2 parts: Transcaucasia and the North Caucasus. This mountain range extends from the Black Sea to the shores of the Caspian.
The length of the Caucasus Range is more than 1200 kilometers.
The site, located in the reserve, is represented by the highest mountains of the Western Caucasus. Moreover, the heights here are very diverse. Their marks vary from 260 to more than 3360 meters above sea level.
A wonderful combination of light mild climate and amazing landscapes make this place ideal for active tourist holidays at any time of the year.
The main Caucasian ridge on Sochi territory has the largest peaks: Fisht, Huko, Lysaya, Venets, Grachev, Pseashkho, Chugush, Malaya Chura and Assara.
The composition of the ridge rocks: limestones and marls. There used to be an ocean floor. Throughout the vast massif, one can observe strongly pronounced folding with numerous glaciers, turbulent rivers and mountain lakes.
About the height of the Caucasus Range
The peaks of the Caucasus Range are numerous and quite diverse in height.
Elbrus is the highest point of the Caucasus mountain range, which is the highest peak not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The location of the mountain is such that a variety of nationalities live around it, giving it their unique names: Oshkhomaho, Alberis, Yalbuz and Mingitau.
The most important mountain in the Caucasus ranks fifth on Earth among mountains formed in this way (as a result of a volcanic eruption).
The height of the gigantic peak of Russia is five kilometers six hundred forty-two meters.
In more detail about the highest peak of the Caucasus
The highest height of the Caucasus Range is the highest mountain in Russia. It looks like two cones, between which (a distance of 3 km from each other) at a height of 5200 meters is a saddle. The highest of them has, as already noted, a height of 5642 meters, a smaller one - 5621m.
Like all peaks of volcanic origin, Elbrus consists of 2 parts: a 700-meter pedestal of rocks and a bulk cone (1942 meters) - the result of a volcanic eruption.
The peak is covered with snow starting at a height of approximately 3,500 meters. In addition, there are glaciers, the most famous of which are Small and Big Azau and Terskop.
The temperature at the highest point of Elbrus is -14 ° C. Precipitation here almost always falls in the form of snow and therefore glaciers do not melt. Due to the good visibility of the peaks of Elbrus from different remote places and at different times of the year, this mountain still has an interesting name - Lesser Antarctica.
It should be noted that for the first time the eastern peak was climbed by climbers in 1829, and the western one in 1874.
The glaciers located at the top of Elbrus feed the Kuban, Malku and Baksan rivers.
Central Caucasus: ranges, parameters
Geographically, the Central Caucasus is part of the Greater Caucasus, located between the mountains Elbrus and Kazbek (in the west and in the east). On this section, the length of the Main Caucasian Range is 190 kilometers, and if you take into account the meanders, about 260 km.
The border of the Russian state passes through the territory of the Central Caucasus. Behind it are South Ossetia and Georgia.
22 kilometers west of Kazbek (the eastern part of the Central Caucasus), the Russian border shifts a little to the north and goes to Kazbek, skirting the Terek River valley (upper part) belonging to Georgia.
On the territory of the Central Caucasus, 5 parallel ranges are distinguished (oriented along latitudes):
- The main Caucasian ridge (height up to 5203 m, Mount Shkhara).
- Lateral Ridge (height up to 5642 meters, Mount Elbrus).
- The Rocky Ridge (up to 3646 meters high, Mount Karakai).
- Pasture Range (up to 1541 meters).
- Ridge Forest (height 900 meters).
Tourists and climbers mainly visit and storm the first three ridges.
North and South Caucasus
The Greater Caucasus, as a geographical object, originates from the Taman Peninsula, and it ends in the region of Absheron (peninsula). All subjects of the Russian Federation and countries located in this region belong to the Caucasus. However, in terms of the location of the territories of the subjects of Russia there is a certain division into two parts:
- The North Caucasus includes Krasnodar Territory and Stavropol Territory, North Ossetia, Rostov Region, Chechnya, the Republic of Adygea, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan and Karachay-Cherkessia.
- South Caucasus (or Transcaucasia) - Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan.
Elbrus region
Geographically, the Elbrus region is the westernmost section of the Central Caucasus. Its territory covers the upper reaches of the Baksan River with its tributaries, a site north of Elbrus and the western spurs of Mount Elbrus to the right bank of the Kuban. The largest peak in the area is the famous Elbrus, which is located to the north and located in the Lateral Ridge. The second highest peak is Mount Ushba (4700 meters).
The Elbrus region is famous for a large number of peaks with steep ridges and rocky walls.
The largest glaciers are concentrated in the huge Elbrus glacier complex, numbering 23 glaciers (total area - 122.6 sq. Km).
Location of states in the Caucasus
- The Russian Federation partially occupies the territory of the Greater Caucasus and its foothills from the Dividing and Main Caucasus ridges to the north. 10% of the total population of the country lives in the North Caucasus.
- Abkhazia also has territories that are parts of the Greater Caucasus: the region from the Kodorsky to the Gagra ranges, the Black Sea coast between the river. Psou and Inguri, and north of Inguri a small part of the Colchis lowland.
- South Ossetia is located in the central region of the Greater Caucasus. The beginning of the territory is the Main Caucasian Range. The territory extends southward from it, between the Rachinsky, Suramsky and Lomissky ranges, to the very valley of the Kura River.
- Georgia has the most fertile and populated parts of the country in the valleys and lowlands between the ridges of the Caucasus Small and Greater to the west of the Kakheti ridge. The most mountainous sections of the country are Svaneti, a section of the Greater Caucasus between the Kodorsky and Suramsky ranges. The Georgian territory of the Lesser Caucasus is represented by the Meskhet, Samsar and Trialeti ranges. It turns out that all of Georgia is located within the Caucasus.
- Azerbaijan is located between the Dividing Range in the north and the Araks and Kura Rivers in the south, and between the Lesser Caucasus and the Kakheti Range and the Caspian Sea. And almost all of Azerbaijan (the Mugan Plain and the Talysh Mountains belong to the Iranian Plateau) is located in the Caucasus.
- Armenia has a part of the territory of the Lesser Caucasus (a little east of the Akhuryan River, which is a tributary of the Araks).
- Turkey occupies the southwestern section of the Lesser Caucasus, representing the 4 eastern provinces of this country: Ardahan, Kars, partly Erzurum and Artvin.
The mountains of the Caucasus are both beautiful and dangerous. According to the assumptions of some scientists, it is likely that in the next hundred years a volcano (Mount Elbrus) may wake up. And this is fraught with disastrous consequences for the regions located nearby (Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria).
But, be that as it may, the conclusion follows that there is nothing more beautiful than mountains. It is impossible to describe the whole magnificent nature of this fabulous mountainous country. To feel all this, you should visit these amazingly beautiful paradise places. They are especially impressive from the heights of the Caucasus Mountains.