They are no less famous in the world than the Cordillera, a mountain system stretching along the western edges of North and South America for as much as eighteen thousand kilometers in length and 1,600 kilometers in width, with the highest peak of Denali at 6,190 meters above sea level in North America, in also Aconcagua - 6963 meters above sea level in South America. Many countries border the Cordillera - Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. No less famous is the Cordillera Himalaya mountain system with the highest peak Chogori - 8611 meters above sea level on the border of the PRC and Pakistan and with another peak Lhotse, exceeding a height of eight kilometers on the border of the PRC and Nepal. The world also admires Tibet with the highest peak in the world, Everest - 8852 meters above sea level. However, there are other mountain systems on Earth on different continents that attract attention and which thousands and thousands of brave peak conquerors strive to climb.

From the legendary Taman to the gray Caspian Sea

The Great Caucasus Mountains are essentially two mountain systems - the Greater and Lesser Caucasus in Eurasia. They stretched for more than 1,100 kilometers from north-west to south-east, and even more specifically, from the Taman Peninsula in the region and along the Black Sea coast to the Absheron Peninsula near the gray Caspian Sea and near the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. The maximum width of the mountain system is 180 kilometers. Compared to the Cordilleras, this is almost a ninth part, but nevertheless noticeable and the root cause of the appearance of the subtropical zone in Russia. In which over 15 million of both our fellow citizens and guests from near and far abroad improve their health every year and have a good rest. The Greater Caucasus is divided into three parts: Western - from the Black Sea to Elbrus; Central - from Elbrus to Kazbek and finally the Eastern Caucasus - from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea. As for the height above sea level, for Everest it is 5642 meters, for Kazbek it is 5033. The total area of ​​the Great Caucasus Mountains is 1400 square kilometers. In part, this is a land of eternal snow and glaciers. The area of ​​glaciers exceeds 2050 square kilometers. A major icing center is Mount Elbrus plus the Bezengi Wall - 17 kilometers.

The land of five dozen nations

The Great Caucasus Mountains are densely populated. This refers to its foothills. Abkhazians, Ingush, Ossetians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Adygs (Circassians) and many other nationalities live here, united by the common name - Caucasian peoples. The majority are Muslims. But Christians are also widely represented - Ukrainians, Georgians, Russians, Armenians, as well as a noticeable part of Ossetians and Abkhazians. By the way, Armenian and Georgian churches are the oldest in the world. Thanks in large part to them, these two peoples of the Great Caucasus have preserved their identity, morals and customs. Let's add to this - the Caucasian peoples were under foreign rule for a hundred years - Turks, Persians, Russians. Now others have gained independence and become sovereign.

Twenty-five sky-high peaks

This is exactly how many of them the Great Caucasus has from Elbrus to Dombay-Ulgen - 4046 meters above sea level. Popular among climbers: Dykhtau - 5204 meters above sea level; Pushkin Peak - 5100 m, we have already mentioned Kazbek; Shota Rustaveli - 4960m, Gulchi-Tau - 4447 meters, etc.

The Great Caucasus is replete with rivers, lakes and waterfalls

Originating at mountain peaks, some flow into the Bzyb, Kodor, Ingur (Inguri), Rioni, Mzymta, etc. B is the largest Kuban in the Krasnodar Territory. And in the Caspian - Kura, Samur, Terek, Sunzha, Baksan - there are more than two dozen of them in total. Among the majestic Caucasus Mountains is the world famous Lake Sevan (Armenia). It is located at an altitude of 1900 meters above sea level. Its area is 1240 square kilometers, depth - from twenty to over eighty meters. 28 rivers flow into the lake, but only one flows out - Hrazdan, a tributary of the Araks. By the way, it will be noted that both the Caspian and Black Seas are the remnants of the once world ocean Tethys. The names of the Black Sea have changed since ancient times - Khazar, Sugdes, Temarun, Cimmerian, Akhshaena, Blue, Tauride, Holy and even Ocean. The current name refers to its color during raging storms. It really looks black then. In the old days he was also cautiously called unhospitable and angry. The Caspian reservoir received its name from the name of the Caspian tribes of horse breeders who once lived near its shores. It was also called Girkansky, Dzhurazhansky, Khvalynsky, Derbent - in total over seven dozen names.

And about another unique water body of the Great Caucasus - the Zeygalan Waterfall, which is fantastic in natural beauty (otherwise it is also called the Great Zeygelan Waterfall). It is located in North Ossetia in the valley of the Midagrabindon River, seven kilometers south of the village of Dzhimara. The height of the fall is 600 meters. Translated from Ossetian - “falling avalanche”. It is one of the ten most grandiose and famous waterfalls on Earth. It pushes aside its brother Gavarnie in France - 422 meters high and the Krimml in Austria - 380 meters. It originates from under a hanging glacier at an altitude of 650-700 meters. The peak flow occurs in the summer months of July-August. In winter it dries out and is marked only by ice smudges on the rocks. The waterfall area is part of the Kazbek-Dzhimarai mountain cluster, the largest not only in North Ossetia, but in the entire Great Caucasus. The place is amazing in its beauty - on the slopes of the mountains there is a sea of ​​flowers, herbs, the aromas of alpine meadows make heads turn. But you should be careful - the waterfall is dangerous for people: rockfalls occur, and sometimes pieces from a melting glacier fly from above. Nevertheless, we actively visit the waterfall. Tourists take pictures of the grandiose panorama of the waterfall with a camera or television camera.

Flora and fauna of the Great Caucasus

As for the flora, it is represented by almost six and a half thousand flowering plants. Of these, 166 are unique to mountains. The subtropics are famous for dozens of species of palm trees. Relict juniper and pistachio grow here; Pitsunda pine, oaks, hornbeams, mimosa, tulip tree, magnolias, bamboo - you can’t list all the tree species. Individual patriarchal oaks over a thousand years old. Tourists are advised to walk in juniper groves. Especially for those who have asthma or bronchitis. The breath of juniper kills all germs and viruses in a person in minutes. A day, two, three walks, and it’s as if you were born again! This is also facilitated by sea air, thickly infused with salts of bromine, calcium, potassium, etc.

As for the fauna of the Great Caucasus Mountains, it is also rich and diverse here. You will also come across wild boars (beware of mothers and fathers with cubs: the fangs of males are sharp, and there have been cases when encounters with wild boars ended in serious injuries or worse - death!). Chamois, mountain goats, and bears are also found here. Once upon a time there lived both lynxes and leopards. Asiatic lions and tigers. The Caucasian bison became extinct in 1925. The last elk was killed in 1810. A great variety of invertebrates - there are a thousand species of spiders alone. The Great Caucasus is also the habitat of golden eagles, which are hunted by poachers and sold abroad for big money. They like to hunt with golden eagles in the Caucasus itself, and in Kazakhstan, and in Kyrgyzstan, and in Saudi Arabia, and in other regions and countries of the planet.

Stele "Soaring Eagle"

It appeared in 2013 near the resort villages and Supsekh, not far from Varvarovka, where the gas pipeline called “Turkish Stream” originates, and was opened as a race for Russia Day. Nine kilometers from Anapa. The authors are sculptor V. Polyakov in collaboration with architect Yu. Rysin.

The monument is made of cold bronze, which guarantees its durability and is not afraid of any weather changes. A soaring eagle with a wide wingspan and head proudly raised to the sky signifies the beginning of the Great Caucasus Mountains. In front of the stele there is a platform for vehicles. Tourists, and there are thousands and thousands of them here, traveling to other resort villages of Bolshoi and Maly Utrish, and they are sure to stop and take photographs or film the monument with a video camera. By the way, from the “Soaring Eagle” there is a stunning view of Anapa and the bays where the city is freely spread out (in ancient times it bore the mysterious ancient Greek name Gorgippia, and there was an active slave trade, minted its own coins, and representatives of the nobility from different regions of the Caucasus came and sailed here for white-faced brides!). In good weather, the coast is visible right up to the Bank of Mary Magdalene, which is near the village - and where divers come and flock not only from all over Russia, but also from abroad. So, the Great Caucasus Mountains begin from the foothills and, in particular, from Bald Mountain, which is only 319 meters high above sea level, other hills are even lower. The foothills are at the very beginning of the Semisamsky ridge, which is part of the chain of the Caucasus Mountains. And Bald Mountain is called because of the absence of any vegetation on it at all. No, no, there are herbs and flowers there. But not more. Let us remind you once again that it is nine kilometers from the center of Anapa to Lysaya Gora, and three times less from the outskirts of the city. And it’s a stone’s throw, as they say, to Maly and. And these places are well known to tourists.

Bolshoy Utrish has one of the main attractions of the beginning of the Great Caucasus - a dolphinarium on the open sea and with a theater. During the high season, several performances are given daily. The artists are sea animals. At the end of a peculiar performance, bottlenose dolphins deftly jump onto the platform and willingly take pictures with everyone or be filmed on a television camera. You can hug them heartily, kiss them, or swim in the waters of the dolphinarium. Meanwhile, the seal, leaning on its tail, enthusiastically applauds the audience with its flippers. On Big Utrish, as legends say, the hero Prometheus was chained to one of the rocks, giving people the sacred fire and thereby causing fierce anger in the main god of Olympus, Zeus the Thunderer. Zeus ordered the disobedient man to be chained to a rock with strong chains, and a bloodthirsty eagle flew to the martyr to torment his liver with sharp claws. True, residents of neighboring Sochi Anapa object that de Prometheus was chained in the Eagle Rocks area near the former capital of the 2014 Winter Olympics. And they even built a monument to the hero - Prometheus stands on the mountain with the chains torn on his hands, and he has the proud appearance of a winner! And yet, the statement of the Sochi residents raises doubts: Eagle Rocks are located far from the sea, near a fast river. But in the open-air museum in the center of Anapa "Gorgippia" they found a crypt with frescoes of the exploits of another mythological hero - Hercules. And from the myths of Ancient Greece it is known for certain that it was Hercules who freed Prometheus from the chains. He also drove away the bloodthirsty eagle. Let the experts decide who is right and who is wrong. But in Anapa, which is no less than two and a half thousand years old, they stubbornly believe that the Prometheus Rock is still located on Bolshoy Utrish. In their opinion, another legend is also irrefutable - that the Argonauts, led by their brave captain Jason, sailed past the rocks of Big Utrish in search of the Golden Fleece. These are the mysteries that shroud the beginning of the Great Caucasus Mountains near Anapa and the soaring eagle stele.

Peaks from Novorossiysk to Gelendzhik

Today there are five resort areas: Sochi, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Anapa and Taman. From each of them to the other, as they say, is just a stone's throw away. And they all stretch along the Black Sea coast with the exception of Taman, which also has access to the Sea of ​​Azov. And the Black Sea coast is mainly protected by mountains. Except for Anapa, where, as we noticed, the Great Caucasus Mountains begin, but in general the municipality extends from the sea to the steppe expanses. And only in the area of ​​Novorossiysk, as a continuation of the Semisamsky ridge with Bald Mountain, the foothills gradually rise, moving into the Markotkhsky ridge or in Adyghe into Markotkh, which stretches from Novorossiysk towards Gelendzhik for more than ninety kilometers. The highest mountain rising above Novorossiysk is Sugarloaf (558 meters above sea level). Gradually rising, the Markotkhsky ridge in some places goes up more than 700 meters. It consists of limestone, sandstone, clay, but its main component is marl, which is used to make cement. This is especially noticeable in Novorossiysk - there are factories producing this type of building materials, and there is a lot of dust all around. The Markotkhsky ridge, we note, runs parallel to and south of the Main Caucasian ridge. There are many attractions between Novorossiysk and Anapa. In particular, the Sheskharis juniper woodland is a natural monument. We talked about the healing properties of relict juniper above, so we won’t repeat ourselves, we’ll only emphasize that it is especially useful in the treatment of asthma and bronchi. From Anapa to Novorossiysk it is directly 40 kilometers, along the highway - 52. You can overcome them in a little more than forty minutes. And if you drive another 14 kilometers towards Gelendzhik, you will find yourself on the Abrau Peninsula, at the southern end of which is Bolshoi Utrish with its famous open sea dolphinarium and theater. But the main feature of the peninsula is undoubtedly the town of Abrau-Dyurso, comfortably located among the mountains and part of the municipality of the resort town of Novorossiysk.

Appanage estate of Russian sovereigns

The village has a double name - . And there is a reason for this. One village is located in the mountains, among fantastically beautiful nature. There is a river with the same name and the largest freshwater lake in the Caucasus with the same name as the village. With a population of about three thousand, living like in paradise. Mild climate, warm winters and vineyards, vineyards, vineyards. Lake Abrau is 3100 meters long, 630 wide, 8 to 11 meters deep, and by the way, it is home to fish. A gorgeous embankment - with gazebos and benches. In summer the water is warm and you can enjoy swimming in the lake. But you can also plunge into the Black Sea. Near the second village of the royal estate - Durso. Today there are recreation centers and health resorts where you can relax and receive treatment.

The village of Abrau is known throughout the world for its exquisite tasting Russian champagne. Prince Lev Golitsyn was at the origins of its production. And the baton was picked up, not surprisingly, by Joseph Stalin, who ordered the production of domestic champagne in the southern regions of the country and in Abrau, in particular. And this instruction was contained in the government decree of 1936. As for the production of champagne under the patronage of Golitsyn, its first batch was produced in 1898. And two years later, Abrau had its own powerful winery. A highway was built from Novorossiysk to the village. Now in Abrau there is a museum of famous wines, as well as a company store where tourists, if desired, can buy Russian champagne under the Abrau-Durso brand, dry wines and even cognac. There is a lot of entertainment on the coast in Durso - water rides, “bananas”, “pills”, you can rush through the waves on jet skis. And in Abrau, horseback riding in the local foothills, mountain tourism, including jeeping or extreme trips, but on mountain bikes, are popular.

Markotkh near Gelendzhik

The distance to the resort, no less famous than Anapa, from Novorossiysk is mere trifles - three dozen kilometers directly, ten kilometers more along the highway. The trip will take about a little over forty minutes. And now you will see the longest embankment in the world - 14 kilometers. With a graceful figure of a bride made of white marble, which is clearly visible from the height of the Markotkh ridge, 762 meters above sea level. Translated from Adyghe, “Markotkh” literally means “berry places,” and here you can pick buckets of really tasty blackberries. It’s prickly, it’s true, but as they say, “you can’t catch a fish out of a pond without difficulty!” There are several high peaks in the vicinity of Gelendzhik - Shakhan near the Zhane River (700 meters above sea level); Pshada - 741 meters near the river of the same name and 43 kilometers long, flowing into the Black Sea; Gebius - 735 meters above sea level. The Markotkhsky ridge itself stretches along the Gelendzhik Bay - charmingly beautiful from a bird's eye view, and even more so from the tops of the surrounding mountains. The resort is famous for its Safari Park, where lions, tigers, bears and other animals live in natural conditions. You can also observe their life from the chairlift. At the top of the Mrkotkhsky ridge there is a fantastic forest - with a goblin, a mermaid on the branches of a tree, Baba Yaga and other fairy-tale characters. From the observation deck you can clearly see yachts and other ships in the bay, seagulls, cormorants, petrels, soaring over the blue sea with white crested waves.

And the mountains are getting higher, and the mountains are getting steeper!

And this is indeed true if you drive from Gelendzhik to Bolshoi - the southern capital of Russia, stretching along the Black Sea coast for as much as one hundred and forty-five kilometers. There is only one city in the world longer than the former capital of the past Winter Olympic Games, which our team triumphantly won and which amazed the planet with its colorful opening and closing ceremonies - the capital of Mexico, Mexico City - 200 kilometers. And in its native Fatherland, Sochi is ahead of Volgograd in length, stretching along the great Volga River for more than 90 kilometers. So about the height of the local mountains. Having covered the distance from Gelendzhik to Sochi of 246 kilometers in almost four hours (worth the effort!), you can climb, including as part of excursion groups, to one of the surrounding peaks. You can start small - Mount Akhun - 663 meters above sea level. And then the height of the mountains will increase: Sakharnaya, fifteen kilometers from the city - 1555 meters; Pshegishwa - 2216 meters; Bolshoy Tkach - 2368 meters; Achishkho - 2391 meters; Bzerli peak - 2482 meters; Transshipment South - 2503 meters; Stone pillar - 2509 meters; Pshekho-Su - 2743 meters; Oshten - 2804 meters; Fisht - 2853 meters; Kozhevnikov peak - 3070 meters; Igolchaty Peak - 3168 meters; Sugar Pseashkho - 3189 meters; Atheista - 3256 meters and finally the highest peak of the entire Kuban, Tsakhvoa - 3346 meters above sea level. This is not so little, considering that the highest peak of the Great Caucasus Mountains and even Europe is Elbrus, 5642 meters above sea level.

The famous ski resort "Krasnaya Polyana"

It is located in the middle reaches of the mountain river Mzymta, which in translation from Adyghe means “mad”, uncontrollable”, “indomitable” - there are other interpretations. It flows into the Black Sea. It is 39 kilometers long. Above the gorge above it is the famous pedestrian suspension bridge longest in the world. From it, extreme sports enthusiasts jump into the abyss on an elastic rope. A popular attraction here is a giant swing with a pendulum swing of half a kilometer. To the west is Mount Achishkho, to the east is the Aibga ridge. There is also the Fisht peak in the vicinity, in whose honor was the name of the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games took place in 2014. Krasnaya Polyana is a ski resort that can easily compete with its counterparts in Switzerland or other mountainous places on the planet.More than a million compatriots and foreigners vacation here every year guests. They have at their disposal more than a hundred kilometers of snow trails of different difficulty levels - 6 green, 8 blue, 16 red and 6 black. Experienced skiers, beginners and children can feel comfortable on them. Among the independent ski resorts are Rosa Khutor, Alpika-Service, Gorki Gorod and the Gazprom State Tourist Center. Day skiing, evening discos, karaoke, pleasant evenings in cafes, restaurants, casinos. There is enough accommodation for everyone - hotels, inns, guest houses, you can rent a cottage. No problems with transport. Adler is forty kilometers away. You can fly there by direct flights from many regions of Russia. And then railway transport with the famous “Swallows”, or regular buses, even faster personal cars. The road will not seem tiring to you. Especially with such fantastic natural beauties! By the way, in Krasnaya Polyana there are enough bases with rentals of skis, snowboards, sleds, and so on.

When you come to Sochi for rest and treatment (it receives more than five million tourists a year, not including those who prefer snow slopes, which operate from November to April inclusive, and sometimes even into the beginning of May), be sure to visit the Olympic Park. It is located right next to the Black Sea. With the Fisht stadium and other sports facilities built for the White Olympics. All of them have unique architecture. The ice palace resembles the Beijing Opera - in the form of an icy drop. And the Olympic Flame Cup! She looks like the Firebird from a Russian folk tale. There is a Formula 1 track in the Olympic Park, and the driver competitions leave no one indifferent. Fans come from all parts of the world and are very delighted. The park has its own Disneyland with dozens of attractions. As a souvenir, you can buy souvenirs in local paths, including Games mascots. Just keep in mind that you can’t get around the park in one day. It covers an area of ​​almost two hundred hectares. In the Imereti Lowland. You can’t travel around it in a day even with electric cars: there are so many attractions in it. Natural beauty of Tuapse

The famous resort town is located between Gelendzhik and Sochi. It is 117 kilometers away from the southern capital of Russia - less than two hours' drive. From Gelendzhik it is 129 kilometers away, the drive is just over two hours. Protecting the resort from the evil northern winds, the mountains have an average height of 1352 to 1453 meters above sea level. But there are exceptions - the peak of Chessy rose to the sky at 1839 meters. Among the attractions are Mount Semiglavaya, the Wolf Gorge, and the Alexander Kiselev Rock, which juts out into the sea and is named after the artist. In the city itself there are subtropical plants. In the foothills, both locals and tourists enjoy picking European blackberries. In the resort area there are sanatoriums, boarding houses, and children's health camps. Both cargo and passenger ships moor at the seaport. You can rent a yacht, go out on the open sea, go fishing, swim in the clearest water or sunbathe on the deck. Tourists also like to have picnics during boat trips.

Republic of Adygea

It is part of the Southern Federal District with the capital Maykop with a population of half a million. Part of the North Caucasus economic region. It is surrounded on all sides by the Krasnodar Territory. There are forty-five auls in the republic, there are villages, villages, and hamlets. From the streets of Maykop the Main Caucasus Range is clearly visible. Attractions - the Lago-Naki plateau, popular among tourists. Ten Rufabgo waterfalls - each with its own name. The rivers Kuban, Belaya, Laba. The Belaya River is 260 kilometers long. And it is fed by mountain streams and springs of Fisht, Oshten and Abago. A granite canyon four kilometers long and two hundred meters deep. Sahrai waterfalls. Mountain lake Psevdonakh. Frequently visited by tourists are the Devil's Finger rock, the Monk, Big Weaver, Trident, Camel mountains, and the Una-Koz ridge. The mountains are quite high; let us remind you that the peak of Fisht rises 2868 meters above sea level. It was her name that was given to the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games took place in 2014, so striking with their colorfulness and originality inherent in the Russian mentality.

Dagestan - a country of mountains

There is a popular saying about this. It is especially often cited in speeches on December 11, when the whole world celebrates International Mountain Day. And the highest of the peaks of the Great Caucasus here is Shalbuzdag - 4150 meters above sea level. In July and August there is a real pilgrimage to it: here is the grave of the righteous Suleiman. The mountain resembles a pyramid with a jagged top. There is a belief that if you climb it, all your wishes and dreams will come true. And thousands of tourists are trying to do this. But the capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala, directly stretches along Mount Tarki-Tau - a unique natural monument made of a mountain monolith. It is also well known because in 1722 the army of Peter the Great entered Tarki. The peak of the Great Caucasus under the name Bazardyuzyu is considered the southernmost point of Russia. She rose to a height of 4466 meters above sea level. The first ascent of it was made in 1935.

We can talk about the mountains of Dagestan for a long time. But it has another unique attraction - just fifteen kilometers from Makhachkala, its capital, the gray Caspian Sea splashes - the largest enclosed body of water on Earth, the largest closed lake on the planet at the junction of Europe and Asia. Its area is 371 thousand square kilometers. The depth exceeds a kilometer. It is home to more than 140 species of fish, of which the most famous is the beluga, which if you meet, you will be scared: is it a shark?! There are sturgeons that produce black caviar and species such as bream, asp, bleak, river eel, spike, burbot - you can’t list them all! The great Russian river Volga, 3,530 kilometers long, flows into the Caspian Sea (lake), off the banks of which the 300,000-strong Nazi army led by Field Marshal Paulus was captured at Stalingrad. Thousands and thousands of tourists, both our compatriots and foreign ones, come to the Caspian Sea every year to vacation. In particular, near Makhachkala there are sanatoriums, boarding houses, and children's health camps. True, the shores of the Caspian Sea have not yet been very well developed, but a course has been taken to create another popular resort area here. And what? White fine sand, clear water - sunbathe, swim, catch fish, cook fragrant soup from it on the shore!

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: Western Caucasus (from the Black Sea to Elbrus), Central Caucasus (from Elbrus to Kazbek) and 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.

In the ridge of the Caucasus Mountains is Elbrus. It is also considered throughout Europe. Its location is such that several peoples live around it, who call it differently. Therefore, if you hear names such as Alberis, Oshkhomakho, Mingitau or Yalbuz, know that they mean the same thing.

In this article we will introduce you closer to the highest mountain in the Caucasus - Elbrus, which was once an active volcano, and ranks fifth on the planet among mountains formed in the same way.

The height of the peaks of Elbrus in the Caucasus

As already mentioned, the highest mountain in Russia is an extinct volcano. This is precisely the reason that its top does not have a pointed shape, but looks like a two-peaked cone, between which there is a saddle at an altitude of 5 km 200 m. Located at a distance of 3 km from each other, the two peaks are different: the eastern one is 5621 m, and the western one is 5642 m. m. Reference books always indicate a large value.

Like all former volcanoes, Elbrus consists of two parts: a pedestal of rocks, in this case it is 700 m, and a bulk cone formed after the eruptions (1942 m).

Starting from an altitude of 3500 m, the surface of the mountain is covered with snow. First mixed with scatterings of stones, and then turning into a uniform white cover. The most famous glaciers of Elbrus are Terskop, Bolshoi and Maly Azau.

The temperature at the top of Elbrus remains virtually unchanged and is -1.4°C. A large amount of precipitation falls here, but due to this temperature regime, it is almost always snow, so the glaciers do not melt. Since the snow cap of Elbrus is visible all year round for many kilometers, the mountain is also called “Little Antakrtida”.

Glaciers located on the top of the mountain feed the largest rivers of these places - the Kuban and Terek.

Climbing Elbrus

To see the beautiful view from the top of Elbrus, you need to climb it. This is quite easy to do, since the height of 3750 m can be reached along the southern slope on a pendulum or chairlift. The Barrels shelter for travelers is located here. It consists of 12 insulated trailers for 6 people and a stationary kitchen. They are equipped in such a way that you can wait out any bad weather in them, even for a long time.

The next stop is usually at an altitude of 4100 m at the Shelter of Eleven Hotel. A parking lot here was established in the 20th century, but was destroyed by fire. Then a new building was built in its place.

The peaks of Elbrus were first conquered in 1829 by the eastern peak and in 1874 by the western peak.

Nowadays, the Donguzorun and Ushba massifs, as well as the Adylsu, Adyrsu and Shkheldy gorges, are popular among climbers. Mass ascents to the peaks are increasingly being organized. On the south side is the Elbrus Azau ski resort. It consists of 7 trails with a total length of 11 km. They are suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers. The distinctive feature of this resort is freedom of movement. All routes have a minimum number of fences and dividers. It is recommended to visit it from October to May; during this period the snow is the heaviest.

Elbrus is, at the same time, a very beautiful and dangerous mountain. After all, according to scientists, there is a possibility that in the next 100 years the volcano will awaken, and then all nearby regions (Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia) will suffer.

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 of 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

Geographical location of the Caucasus Mountains

The Caucasus Mountains are located between the Azov, Black and Caspian Seas. In addition, this territory can be called multinational, because The Caucasus is part of the Russian Federation, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and.

Characteristics of the relief of the Caucasus Mountains

Orographically, this region is a mountain system consisting of the main ridge, Ciscaucasia and Transcaucasia (North and South Caucasus). The relief of the Ciscaucasia is distinguished by plains and foothills: Kuban, Taman Peninsula, Stavropol Upland. The Transcaucasian region is represented by more mountainous areas, which belong to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Georgia and Eastern Turkey. In addition, the Caucasus is divided into 2 mountain systems: the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. The Greater Caucasus stretches between the Caspian and the Black Sea for 1100 km. In the region of the highest point of the Caucasus - Mount Elbrus (5642 m), the width of the mountain range reaches 180 km. In addition, the Greater Caucasus is divided into three regions: Western, Central and Eastern. The Lesser Caucasus is a mountain system of the Transcaucasian region, which is limited in the west by Colchis and in the east by the Kura Depression. The maximum height of the Lesser Caucasus is 3724, length is only 600 km. The Likhsky ridge region is a place connecting the mountain systems of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus.

Natural and climatic features of the Caucasus

The mountainous terrain has caused climate change and the amazing landscape diversity of the Caucasus. Thus, the lowlands of Transcaucasia are distinguished by subtropical landscapes, where different climatic conditions allow the cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, cotton and other crops. High in the mountains, in the Elbrus region, the landscape changes dramatically - perennial ice and snow reign here. It should be noted that the geographical law of altitudinal zonality is weakly expressed in mountains with low altitudes.
The Caucasus Mountains can easily be called an open-air museum, which is why environmental protection activities are actively developed here. Thus, in the Caucasus there are 3 national parks and 5 nature reserves.

Development of tourism in the Caucasus

The Caucasus region is distinguished by a variety of recreational resources that attract tourists. These can be natural objects: gorges, canyons, caves, waterfalls; mineral springs and climate; historical and cultural monuments. In addition, the Caucasus Mountains will especially delight fans of extreme sports: rafting, canyoning, rock climbing, caving - this is not a complete list of extreme tourism areas.


Mountain tourism in the Caucasus

The most accessible and practically safe way to enjoy the landscapes of the mountainous Caucasus is mountain tourism. The most popular and well-developed areas of mountain tourism include the Western Caucasus, where there is a network of tourist routes of varying difficulty levels. For beginners, it is advisable to choose simple routes laid in the low-mountainous western part (Arkhyz region). Particularly popular are the routes that go to the sea: the extreme journey ends with a swimming and beach holiday. It should be noted that tourists who visit the Caucasus Mountains for the first time are advised to use the services of experienced escorts, even if they have experience in climbing in other mountainous areas.

Canyoning in the Caucasus

Canyoning is a type of extreme tourism associated with overcoming canyons without the use of kayaks, canoes, inflatable boats and other watercraft. There are several types of canyoning: technical, walking and play.
The Adygea region has excellent conditions for the development of this type of extreme recreation. Many routes follow the canyon of the Rufabgo River and the Big Rufabgo Creek. In addition, there are routes along the Meshoko River gorge and in the area of ​​the Universitetsky waterfall.

Rafting on the rivers of the Caucasus

Unlike canyoning, rafting, on the contrary, actively uses catamarans, kayaks and inflatable rafts for rafting down mountain rivers. Rafting routes in the Caucasus are distinguished by difficulty category: the second category is for beginners, and the sixth is the most difficult. Although, rafting above the third category is already quite dangerous.
Fans of rafting prefer rafting on the Zelenchuk or Bolshoy Zelenchuk rivers, which can be classified into category 3. The extreme journey lasts 5-7 days, but it is necessary to take into account the changeability of the weather. In addition to Zelenchuk, another mountain river is of interest - Vzmyta, which originates on the Central Caucasus Range. Rafting takes only 3-4 days.


Speleotourism in the Caucasus

Caving is very popular among young people. It involves visiting various caves, mines, wells and labyrinths. In the Caucasus, optimal conditions for speleotourists are found in the Lagonaki Highlands. The most varied forms of speleorelief are presented here. These include extensive mines, wells, and horizontal galleries that stretch for kilometers. The Lagonaki cavities are suitable for both beginners (regular uncategorized routes) and professional speleologists (difficulty category 5).