Caucasus Mountains. Main Caucasus Range: description, parameters, peaks

The Caucasus Mountains are a mountain system between the Black, Azov and Caspian seas. The etymology of the name has not been established.

It is divided into two mountain systems: the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus.

The Caucasus is often divided into the Northern Caucasus and Transcaucasia, the border between which is drawn along the Main, or Watershed, ridge of the Greater Caucasus, which occupies a central position in the mountain system.

The Greater Caucasus extends more than 1,100 km from northwest to southeast, from the Anapa region and the Taman Peninsula to the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian coast, near Baku. The Greater Caucasus reaches its maximum width in the area of the Elbrus meridian (up to 180 km). In the axial part is the Main Caucasian (or Watershed) Range, to the north of which a number of parallel ridges (mountain ranges), including a monoclinal (cuesta) character, extend (see Greater Caucasus). The southern slope of the Greater Caucasus mostly consists of en echelon ridges adjacent to the Main Caucasus Range. Traditionally, the Greater Caucasus is divided into 3 parts: the Western Caucasus (from the Black Sea to Elbrus), the Central Caucasus (from Elbrus to Kazbek) and the Eastern Caucasus (from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea).

Countries and Regions

South Ossetia
Abkhazia
Russia:

Adygea
Dagestan
Ingushetia
Kabardino-Balkaria
Karachay-Cherkessia
Krasnodar region
North Ossetia Alania
Stavropol region
Chechnya

Cities of the Caucasus

Adygeisk
Alagir
Argun
Baksan
Buynaksk
Vladikavkaz
Gagra
Gelendzhik
Grozny
Gudauta
Gudermes
Dagestan lights
Derbent
Dusheti
Essentuki
Zheleznovodsk
Zugdidi
Izberbash
Karabulak
Karachaevsk
Kaspiysk
Kvaysa
Kizilyurt
Kizlyar
Kislovodsk
Kutaisi
Leningor
Magas
Maykop
Malgobek
Makhachkala
Mineral water
Nazran
Nalchik
Nartkala
Nevinnomyssk
Novorossiysk
Ochamchira
Chill
Pyatigorsk
Stavropol
Stepanakert
Sukhum
Urus-Martan
Tbilisi
Terek
Tuapse
Tyrnyauz
Khasavyurt
Tkuarchal
Tskhinvali
Cherkessk
Yuzhno-Sukhokumsk

Climate

The climate in the Caucasus varies both vertically (altitude) and horizontally (latitude and location). Temperatures generally decrease with elevation. The average annual temperature in Sukhum, Abkhazia at sea level is 15 degrees Celsius, and on the mountain slopes. Kazbek is at an altitude of 3700 m, the average annual air temperature drops to −6.1 degrees Celsius. On the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus Range it is 3 degrees Celsius colder than on the southern slopes. In the high mountainous regions of the Lesser Caucasus in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, there is a sharp contrast in temperatures between summer and winter due to a more continental climate.

Precipitation increases from east to west in most areas. Altitude plays an important role: the Caucasus and mountains usually receive more rainfall than lowland areas. The northeastern regions (Dagestan) and the southern part of the Lesser Caucasus are dry. The absolute minimum annual precipitation is 250 mm in the northeastern part of the Caspian lowland. The western part of the Caucasus is characterized by high rainfall. On the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus Range there is more precipitation than on the northern slopes. Annual precipitation in the western part of the Caucasus ranges from 1000 to 4000 mm, while in the Eastern and Northern Caucasus (Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Ossetia, Kakheti, Kartli, etc.) precipitation ranges from 600 to 1800 mm . The absolute maximum annual precipitation is 4100 mm in the region of Meskheti and Adjara. Precipitation levels in the Lesser Caucasus (southern Georgia, Armenia, western Azerbaijan), not including Meskheti, vary from 300 to 800 mm per year.

The Caucasus is known for its high snowfall, although many regions that are not located along windward slopes do not receive much snow. This is especially true for the Lesser Caucasus, which is somewhat isolated from the influence of humidity coming from the Black Sea and receives significantly less precipitation (in the form of snow) than the Greater Caucasus Mountains. On average, in winter the snow cover in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains ranges from 10 to 30 cm. Heavy snowfalls are recorded in the Greater Caucasus Mountains (in particular, on the southwestern slope). Avalanches are common from November to April.

Snow cover in some regions (Svaneti, in the northern part of Abkhazia) can reach 5 meters. The Achishkho region is the snowiest place in the Caucasus, with snow cover reaching a depth of 7 meters.

Landscape

The Caucasus Mountains have a varied landscape, which mainly varies vertically and depends on the distance from large bodies of water. The region contains biomes ranging from subtropical low-level swamps and glacial forests (Western and Central Caucasus) to high-mountain semi-deserts, steppes and alpine grasslands in the south (mainly Armenia and Azerbaijan).

On the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, oak, hornbeam, maple and ash are common at lower altitudes, while birch and pine forests predominate at higher elevations. Some of the lowest areas and slopes are covered with steppes and grasslands.

The slopes of the Northwestern Greater Caucasus (Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, etc.) also contain spruce and fir forests. In the high mountain zone (about 2000 meters above sea level) forests predominate. Permafrost (glacier) usually begins at approximately 2800-3000 meters.

On the southeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus, beech, oak, maple, hornbeam and ash are common. Beech forests tend to dominate at higher altitudes.

On the southwestern slope of the Greater Caucasus, oak, beech, chestnut, hornbeam and elm are common at lower altitudes, coniferous and mixed forests (spruce, fir and beech) are common at higher altitudes. Permafrost begins at an altitude of 3000-3500 m.

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It is divided into two mountain systems: the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus. The Caucasus is often divided into the Northern Caucasus and Transcaucasia, the border between which is drawn along the Main, or Watershed, ridge of the Greater Caucasus, which occupies a central position in the mountain system. The Greater Caucasus extends more than 1,100 km from northwest to southeast, from the Anapa region and the Taman Peninsula to the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian coast, near Baku. The Greater Caucasus reaches its maximum width in the area of the Elbrus meridian (up to 180 km). In the axial part there is the Main Caucasian (or Watershed) ridge, to the north of which a number of parallel ridges (mountain ranges), including a monoclinal (cuesta) character, extend (see Greater Caucasus). The southern slope of the Greater Caucasus mostly consists of en echelon ridges adjacent to the Main Caucasus Range. Traditionally, the Greater Caucasus is divided into 3 parts: the Western Caucasus (from the Black Sea to Elbrus), the Central Caucasus (from Elbrus to Kazbek) and the Eastern Caucasus (from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea).

The most famous peaks - Mount Elbrus (5642 m) and Mount Kazbek (5033 m) are covered with eternal snow and glaciers. The Greater Caucasus is a region with extensive modern glaciation. The total number of glaciers is about 2,050, and their area is approximately 1,400 km2. More than half of the glaciation in the Greater Caucasus is concentrated in the Central Caucasus (50% of the number and 70% of the area of glaciation). Large centers of glaciation are Mount Elbrus and the Bezengi Wall (with the Bezengi glacier, 17 km). From the northern foot of the Greater Caucasus to the Kuma-Manych depression, the Ciscaucasia stretches with vast plains and hills. To the south of the Greater Caucasus are the Colchis and Kura-Araks lowlands, the Inner Kartli Plain and the Alazan-Avtoran Valley [Kura Depression, within which the Alazan-Avtoran Valley and the Kura-Araks Lowland are located]. In the southeastern part of the Caucasus are the Talysh Mountains (up to 2477 m high) with the adjacent Lenkoran Lowland. In the middle and west of the southern part of the Caucasus is the Transcaucasian Highlands, consisting of the ridges of the Lesser Caucasus and the Armenian Highlands (Aragats, 4090 m). The Lesser Caucasus is connected to the Greater Caucasus by the Likhsky ridge, in the west it is separated from it by the Colchis Lowland, in the east by the Kura Depression. Length - about 600 km, height - up to 3724 m. Mountains near Sochi - Achishkho, Aibga, Chigush (Chugush, 3238 m), Pseashkho and others (Krasnaya Polyana resort area) - will host participants in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Geology The Caucasus is a folded mountain range with some volcanic activity that formed as the Alps during the Tertiary period (approximately 28.49-23.8 million years ago). The mountains are composed of granite and gneiss, among other things, and contain deposits of oil and natural gas. Estimated reserves: up to 200 billion barrels. oil. (For comparison, Saudi Arabia, the country with the world's largest oil reserves, has an estimated 260 billion barrels.) From a geophysical perspective, the Caucasus forms a broad deformation zone that is part of the continental plate collision belt from the Alps to the Himalayas. The architecture of the region is shaped by the northward movement of the Arabian Plate onto the Eurasian Plate. Pressed by the African Plate, it moves about a few centimeters every year. Therefore, at the end of the 20th century, large earthquakes occurred in the Caucasus with an intensity of 6.5 to 7 points, which had catastrophic consequences for the population and economy in the region. More than 25 thousand people died in Spitak in Armenia on December 7, 1988, approximately 20 thousand were injured and approximately 515 thousand were left homeless. The Greater Caucasus is a grandiose folded mountain region, which occurred on the site of the Mesozoic geosyncline due to Alpine folding. At its core lie Precambrian, Paleozoic and Triassic rocks, which are successively surrounded by Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene deposits. In the middle part of the Caucasus, ancient rocks come to the surface.

Geographical affiliation There is no clear agreement on whether the Caucasus Mountains are part of Europe or Asia. Depending on the approach, the highest mountain in Europe is considered to be either Mount Elbrus (5642 m) or Mont Blanc (4810 m) in the Alps, on the Italian-French border. The Caucasus Mountains are located in the center of the Eurasian Plate between Europe and Asia. The ancient Greeks saw the Bosphorus and the Caucasus Mountains as the border of Europe. This opinion was later changed several times for political reasons. During the Migration Period and the Middle Ages, the Bosphorus Strait and the Don River separated the two continents. The border was defined by the Swedish officer and geographer Philipp Johann von Stralenberg, who proposed a border running through the peaks of the Urals and then down the Emba River to the coast of the Caspian Sea, before passing through the Kuma-Manych depression, which lies 300 km north of the Caucasus Mountains . In 1730, this course was approved by the Russian Tsar, and since then has been adopted by many scientists. According to this definition, mountains are part of Asia and, according to this point of view, the highest mountain in Europe is Mont Blanc. On the other hand, La Grande Encyclopedie clearly defines the border between Europe and Asia, south of both Caucasian ranges. Elbrus and Kazbek are European mountains by this definition.

Fauna and flora In addition to the ubiquitous wild animals, there are wild boars, chamois, mountain goats, and golden eagles. In addition, wild bears are still found. The Caucasian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) is extremely rare and was only rediscovered in 2003. During the historical period there were also Asiatic lions and Caspian tigers, but soon after the birth of Christ they were completely eradicated. A subspecies of the European bison, the Caucasian bison, became extinct in 1925. The last example of the Caucasian moose was killed in 1810. There are a lot of species of invertebrate animals in the Caucasus, for example, approximately 1000 species of spiders have been confirmed there so far. In the Caucasus, there are 6,350 species of flowering plants, including 1,600 native species. 17 species of mountain plants originated in the Caucasus. Giant Hogweed, considered a neophyte invasive species in Europe, originates from this region. It was imported in 1890 as an ornamental plant to Europe. The biodiversity of the Caucasus is falling at an alarming rate. From a nature conservation point of view, the mountain region is one of the 25 most vulnerable regions on Earth.

Landscape The Caucasus Mountains have a varied landscape, which mainly varies vertically and depends on the distance from large bodies of water. The region contains biomes ranging from subtropical low-level swamps and glacial forests (Western and Central Caucasus) to high-mountain semi-deserts, steppes and alpine grasslands in the south (mainly Armenia and Azerbaijan). On the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, oak, hornbeam, maple and ash are common at lower altitudes, while birch and pine forests predominate at higher elevations. Some of the lowest areas and slopes are covered with steppes and grasslands. The slopes of the Northwestern Greater Caucasus (Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, etc.) also contain spruce and fir forests. In the high mountain zone (about 2000 meters above sea level) forests predominate. Permafrost (glacier) usually begins at approximately 2800-3000 meters. On the southeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus, beech, oak, maple, hornbeam and ash are common. Beech forests tend to dominate at higher altitudes. On the southwestern slope of the Greater Caucasus, oak, beech, chestnut, hornbeam and elm are common at lower altitudes, coniferous and mixed forests (spruce, fir and beech) are common at higher altitudes. Permafrost begins at an altitude of 3000-3500 meters.

Russia is a huge country. It is not surprising that it contains all the terrain that is found in nature. Among the plains and steppes, mountain ranges and peaks occupy a special place. They attract travelers and researchers, scientists and tourists, archaeologists and climbers. What mountains are there in Russia? What you should pay attention to?

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Origin

Mountainous regions are formed as a result of complex processes. Tectonic crushing, faulting and faulting of rocks occur in the earth's crust. They are carried out continuously during the entire existence of the planet, in ancient time eras such as the Paleozoic, Mesozoic or Cenozoic. Those who are located in the Far East, Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands are considered young. These areas often experience seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.

In the European part of Russia there is a large plain, which has a geographical border in the east in the form. These are unique natural sculptures that evoke national pride.

Interesting! Only in the Urals there is a natural reserve protecting mineralogy. The Ilmensky place has a huge variety of minerals, unique and amazing in their structure and structure.

There are many tourist centers in the Urals, with ski resorts located on them. Climbers conquer these majestic heights.

Options for the Russian mountains

Baikal region and Transbaikalia;
Altai;
Sayan Mountains;
Verkhoyansky and Stanovoy ridges;
Chersky ridge.

Each of the areas is interesting and beautiful, the names of the mountains in their composition are unique and owe their origin to the peoples who inhabit the surrounding territories. These regions attract harsh conditions, tests for body and spirit. Altai is one of the most popular destinations for tourists. But the Chersky ridge is on the map, but has been little studied so far, but experts suggest that it will also become an attractive place for travelers.

Diversity of territories

The Far East is a region consisting primarily of mountainous terrain. The southern territorial part consists of medium and low ones, but in the north there are high ridges. The highest point in the Far East is Klyuchevskaya Sopka is a volcano 4750 m high.

The mountains in this region are constantly growing; they are located at the junction of plates that are in motion, which is why there are many volcanoes. In addition to them, there is a unique object for which it is worth going to Kamchatka - the Valley of Geysers.

Important! Sikhote-Alin, located in the Primorye region, is part of the World Heritage Site. This system is rich not only in the diversity of flora and fauna. This point of Russia on the map is the homeland of the Far Eastern leopard and Amur tiger.

Caucasus

The Caucasus deserves a separate description. This massif extends from the Black to the Caspian, its length is more than 1200 km. The Caucasus Range is divided into the Northern part and Transcaucasia.

The height of the Caucasus Mountains varies along the entire length of the ridge. It is he who has the highest point in the whole country and Europe– this is Elbrus. The mountain was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption. It has an altitude of 5600 m above sea level. Elbrus is located in such a place that it can be seen from all sides. Travelers approached it back in the early 19th century. At its peak, the temperature does not rise above -14 degrees. Snow falls on the mountain constantly, which makes its snow cap ideal. This peak feeds the two largest ones - Kuban and Terek.

The Greater Caucasus contains the three highest mountains in Russia:

Elbrus;
Dykhtau;
Kazbek.

Interesting! In addition to the Caucasus Mountains, Kamchatka and Altai are famous for their large hills, among them: Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Belukha, Ichinskaya Sopka.

10 high mountains

A little more detail about each of the largest hills:

It’s already clear about Elbrus; it is an inactive volcano that is part of the national park. Its height is 5642 meters.
Dykhtau ranks second among the country's mountain peaks. This mountain, part of the Caucasus Range, rises to 5200 m. The ascent to this peak was first carried out only in 1888.
The country's third largest mountain is located on the border of Russia and Georgia. This is Pushkin Peak. It rises near Dykhtau in the center of the Caucasus ridge. Its conquest took place in 1961. It is interesting that this ascent was made not by professionals, but by football players of the Spartak club. The height of the peak is 5100 meters.
A little lower, namely a hundred meters, rises Kazbek. It is also related to the Greater Caucasus, located in its lateral part in the Khokh mountain range. Three London climbers conquered this peak back in the mid-19th century.
Near the border of Georgia and Kabardino-Balkaria there is the fifth highest point in size in Russia called Gestola. At its top, glaciers have accumulated that date back to the Paleozoic era. The most famous of them is Adishi.
Sixth in the top ten is the peak of Shota Rustaveli. Although the name on the map of the peak is of a famous person of Georgian origin, it still refers to the Russian part of the Caucasus. The peak stands on the border, no wonder both countries claim rights to it. The mountain has 4895 meters.
A little lower (4780 meters) is Mount Jimara. It is located in Alanya, near the border of Russia and Georgia. Again, this is part of the Greater Caucasus.
In ninth place is Mount Saukhokh, again from the Greater Caucasus, located in North Ossetia. The height of the peak is 4636 meters. It belongs to the unconquered peaks, just like Kukurtli-Kolbashi. This mountain completes the list of the ten largest peaks in Russia, its height is 4324 meters.

Interesting! So far no one has conquered the mountain formations located in 8th, 9th and 10th places on the list. This may prompt travelers to new exploits.

Lowest mountains

In addition to the highest mountain peaks, it is interesting to know the rating of the lowest ones. The concept of the lowest mountain is very difficult. It turns out that it is not so easy to name it. Only what is higher can be called mountains

The Caucasus Mountains, as if holding together the space between the Black and Caspian Seas, consist of two mountain systems - the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus. The Greater Caucasus is picturesque, majestic and famous. All the largest rivers in the region begin here. The state border of Russia with two states at once - Georgia and Azerbaijan - runs along it.

From northwest to southeast, the Greater Caucasus extends for almost 1,150 km: near the Black Sea, its foothills rise in the Anapa region, and on the opposite side it begins at the Absheron Peninsula, not far from the capital of Azerbaijan. Near Novorossiysk, the width of this mountain system is only 32 km; near Elbrus, the Greater Caucasus is almost 6 times wider.

To make it easier to identify the peaks, this mountain range is traditionally divided by scientists into three sections:

The Western Caucasus (from the Black Sea coast to the foot of Elbrus) consists mainly of low mountains (up to 4000 m), the highest point is Mount Dombay-Ulgen (4046 m);

The Central Caucasus (Elbrus and the mountain range from it up to Mount Kazbek) has 15 highest peaks (5000-5500 m);

Eastern Caucasus (from Kazbek to the Caspian coast). The highest mountain in this part of the massif is Mount Tebulsomta (4493 m).

In addition, the Greater Caucasus is conventionally divided into three belts (longitudinal segments):

The axial part of the mountain system. It is based on the Main Caucasian (Watershed) Ridge and next to it (on the left) is the Side Ridge.

The northern slope belt consists of mainly parallel mountain ranges in the central and western parts of the Greater Caucasus. These ridges decline to the north.

Southern slope of the mountain system. It consists mostly of en echelon ridges that are adjacent to the GKH.

There are a huge number of glaciers on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus - more than two thousand. The glaciated area is approximately 1400 km². The largest glacier in the Greater Caucasus is Bezengi, its length is 17 km, it is located on the Bezengi wall. The record holder for the number of glaciers in the entire mountain system is Mount Elbrus. Most of all eternal ice is located in the central part of the Greater Caucasus; about 70% of all glaciers are concentrated here. Thanks to their clear structure and white peaks, the Greater Caucasus Mountains are clearly visible on the map; this mountain range cannot be confused with any other.

Main peaks of the Greater Caucasus

Elbrus is the highest point not only in the Greater Caucasus, but throughout Russia. Its height is 5,642 m. Elbrus is located on the border of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria, and is a Mecca for mountaineering. Several of the highest mountaineering shelters in Europe are built on its slopes.

Dykhtau (5204.7 m) is the second highest mountain in the Greater Caucasus, which is part of the Bezengi wall. Like Elbrus, Dykhtau is a “two-headed” mountain. The next in the list of the highest mountains of the mountain system - Koshtantau (5152 m) and Pushkin Peak (5100 m) - are also located in the Bezengi wall massif.

Dzhangitau (5085 m) is the central mountain of the Bezengi Wall, a popular mountaineering destination. Located on the border of Russia and Georgia.

How did the Greater Caucasus appear?

A huge mountain system cannot have a simple geological structure. The tectonic structure of the Greater Caucasus is complex and heterogeneous, which is associated with the history of the formation of the mountain range. According to recent studies, the Greater Caucasus arose as a result of the interaction of the East European and Arabian lithospheric plates. Millions of years ago, in this place there was a bay of the ancient Tethys Ocean, which united the Caspian, Black and Azov seas. At the bottom of this ocean there was active volcanic activity, hot rock poured into the earth's crust. Gradually, mountainous massifs formed, which either sank under the water, then rose again on it, and as a result, in the middle of the Mesozoic, in those areas that became islands, sandy-clayey sediments were deposited; in some troughs, these deposits reached several kilometers. Gradually, several islands formed one large island, which was located where the central part of the Greater Caucasus lies today.

At the beginning of the Quaternary period, the Arabian Plate increased pressure on the East European Plate, the Elbrus and Kazbek volcanoes erupted - in general, the formation of the mountain range was active. The sediments on the slopes of the stone islands were compressed into complex folds, which then underwent faulting. The central part of the modern Greater Caucasus rose. The rock rose everywhere and unevenly, and river valleys formed in the faults. At the same time, while the mountains were growing, their icing began against the background of a general cooling. The mountains were almost completely covered with ice. The movements of ice masses and frost weathering completed the appearance of the modern Caucasus mountains: it was thanks to them that the shape of the relief of the Greater Caucasus remained as we know it now - with sharp ridges and moraine ridges.

The Greater Caucasus has long been transformed from a series of impregnable mountain walls into a territory completely inhabited by humans. People live in river valleys, as well as on mountain slopes (sometimes quite high!). There are a huge number of historical monuments here, dear to the people living here. Through numerous passes of the Greater Caucasus, communication has been established between the republics within the Russian Federation, as well as with neighboring states.