The Caucasus Mountains are the highest in Europe: description, photos, videos, Caucasus Mountains on the map. The highest Caucasian ranges. The watershed ridge of the Caucasus.
I like it more unofficial name ridge - Cardiogram of the Caucasus. If you look closely, in the pre-dawn twilight the silhouettes of the mountains really resemble a heartbeat graph. It’s really hard to imagine the size of this heart)
During the foray to Elbrus, the view of the GKH was my main goal; I had long been excited by the panoramas of mountains taken from Bochek or Pastukhov rocks. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the weather I really wanted to photograph - low clouds. But we were lucky to catch incredible light.
Frankly speaking, filming at altitudes above 3000 meters was a bit difficult. On the first evening, I generally thought about how to take the next step, and not about the composition) What can we say, when just tying the laces on a shoe is a real feat!
Nevertheless, we managed to take great pictures, catch an incredible sunset and see the most high mountains in Europe.
1. In general, in height, the Caucasus Range significantly exceeds the Alps; it has no less than 15 peaks exceeding 5,000 m, and more than 20 peaks higher than Mont Blanc, the highest peak in all Western Europe. The advanced elevations accompanying the Main Range, in most cases, do not have the character of continuous chains, but represent short ridges or mountain groups connected to the watershed ridge by spurs and broken in many places by deep river gorges, which, starting in the Main Range and breaking through the advanced elevations, descend to the foothills and emerge onto the plains.
2. The highest is the middle part of the ridge, between Elbrus and Kazbek (average heights are about 3,400 - 3,500 m above sea level); Its highest peaks are concentrated here, the highest of which - Elbrus - reaches an altitude of 5,642 m above sea level. m.; East of Kazbek and west of Elbrus, the ridge decreases, more significantly in the second direction than in the first.
3. First sunset on Elbrus. Moving with difficulty in the snow, I managed to take a few shots.
4. And the first dawn - after a sleepless night filled with PAIN. Frankly speaking, I didn’t even want to get out of my sleeping bag, but greed won - I wanted more shots))
5.
6. This shot was taken standing almost waist-deep in snow
General characteristics of the Caucasian mountain system
The Caucasus Mountains are a mountain system located between the Azov, Black and Caspian seas. All the Caucasus Mountains are divided into the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus, connected by the Likhsky ridge.
The North Caucasus and Transcaucasia are also separately distinguished. The border between them runs along the Main (Water Dividing) Ridge of the Caucasus.
The Ciscaucasia extends from the northern foothills of the Greater Caucasus to the Kuma-Manych depression. The Ciscaucasia region is represented by vast hills and plains.
The Talysh Mountains are located in the southeastern part of the Caucasus. Their height reaches 2492 m.
In the central and western parts of the South Caucasus there is the Transcaucasian Highlands, which includes the ridges of the Armenian Highlands (with the highest point - Mount Ararat, 4090 m) and the ridges of the Lesser Caucasus.
Greater Caucasus
The Greater Caucasus stretches from the northwest (Anapa region and the Taman Peninsula) to the southeast (on the coast of the Caspian Sea to the Absheron Peninsula) for 1100 km.
The mountain range reaches its greatest width in the area of the meridian of Mount Elbrus - up to 180 km.
To the north of the Main Ridge stretches a chain of parallel ridges, some of which are cuesta (monoclinal) in nature.
The southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus are represented by echelon-shaped ridges connected to the Main Caucasus Range.
Note 1
The Main Dividing Range runs through the Greater Caucasus.
The Greater Caucasus is divided into three parts: Central Caucasus - occupies the territory from Elbrus to Kazbek; Western Caucasus - stretches from the Black Sea to Elbrus; Eastern Caucasus - occupies the territory from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea.
Main peaks: Mount Elbrus (5642 m) and Mount Kazbek (5033 m).
The following belts are distinguished in the Greater Caucasus:
- Axial part. Includes the Main Caucasus Range (altitude from 3500 to 5000 m), Side Range (3000 m).
- Northern slope belt. Includes parallel ridges descending to the north. The main ridges: Skalisty (3300-3600 m), Pastbishchny (1200-1500 m), Lesisty (1326 m).
- Southern slope of the Greater Caucasus. It consists mainly of echelon-shaped ridges that are adjacent to the Main Range of the Greater Caucasus.
Note 2
The Greater Caucasus is distinguished by significant areas of modern glaciation. In total, there are more than 22 thousand glaciers in the territory, occupying an area of about 1400 square meters. km. Most of the glaciation occurs in the Central Caucasus - 70% of the total glaciation area.
Large centers of glaciation: Bezengi Wall, Bezengi Glacier (Ullu Chiran) stretches for 17 km and covers an area of 36 square meters. km; The Dykh-Su glacier covers part of the slopes of Bashkhaauzbashi, Shkhara, Koshtantau, Krumkol, the length of the glacier is 13.5 km, the area is 34 sq. km; Big Azau and Small Azau together form the Baksan glacier, located on the southern shoulder of Elbrus and part of the Hoti-Tau ridge.
The most significant peaks (by height) of the Greater Caucasus: Elrus (5642 m), Dykhtau (5204 m), Koshtantau (5152 m), Pushkin Peak (5100 m), Dzhangitau (5085 m), Shkhara (5068 m), Kazbek (5034 m) etc.
Lesser Caucasus
The Lesser Caucasus is a mountain system located in the South Caucasus and includes a complex system of volcanic highlands, ridges and plateaus, with a total length of about 600 km.
The highest point of the Lesser Caucasus is the city of Gyamash (3724 m), located on the Murovdag ridge in Nagorno-Karabakh.
In the west, the Lesser Caucasus is separated from the Greater Caucasus by the Colchis Lowland, and in the east by the Kura-Araks Lowland. From the north and northeast, the region is surrounded by the Armenian Highlands. Significant territories of the central part of the Lesser Caucasus are occupied by the Karabakh, Armenian and Javakheti volcanic highlands with large stratovolcanoes.
The Lesser Caucasus system is made up of ridges that form an arc with its convex side facing the northeast.
Ranges of the Lesser Caucasus:
- Trialetsky,
- Meskheti,
- Somkhetsky,
- Sevan, or Shahdag,
- Murovdagsky, or Mravsky,
- Murguzsky,
- Karabakh.
Main ridge of the Greater Caucasus
The Main Range of the Greater Caucasus, the Main Caucasus Range or the Watershed Range occupies a central position in the Caucasus mountain system.
The entire system of the Caucasus ridge covers an area of about 2600 square meters. km. (the northern slope accounts for 1,450 sq. km, the southern slope – 1,150 sq. km). The width of the ridge in its western and eastern parts is up to 160-180 km, in the central part – about 100 km.
The Greater Caucasus Range is divided into seven regions:
- Black Sea Caucasus – 265 km, from Anapa to Oshten;
- Kuban Caucasus – 160 km, from Oshten to the sources of the Kuban;
- Elbrus Caucasus - 170 km, from the sources of the Kuban to the peak of Adai-Khokh;
- Terek Caucasus – 125 km, from Adai-Khokh to the peak of Barbalo;
- Dagestan Caucasus - 130 km, from Barbalo to the city of Sari-dag);
- Samur Caucasus – 130 km, from the top of Sari-dag to Mount Baba-dag;
- Caspian Caucasus – 170 km, from the city of Baba-dag to the peak of Ilkhi-dag.
The height of the mountains ranges from 260 to 3360 m.
The Greater Caucasus Range is composed mainly of limestone. High basins are observed throughout the mountain range.
There are about 15 peaks in the Caucasus Range with a height of more than 5000 m. The elevations accompanying the Main Range are mountain groups or short ridges connected to the main range by spurs.
Figure 1. The main ridge of the Greater Caucasus. Author24 - online exchange of student works
Northern slope Great Ridge forms several spurs perpendicularly adjacent to the main ridge. The Elbrus fault zone separates the waters of the Kuban and the Caspian Sea. This section gradually decreases by ledges and passes into the mountains of Pyatigorsk and the Stavropol Upland.
On the eastern side of the northern slope of the Caucasus Range, on the Dagestan side, there are more developed mountain ranges with several peaks with a height of 3500 m (Vaza-Khokh, Kargu-Khokh, etc.). Towards the north they decline and become the Black Mountains.
The southern slope of the Great Range is less developed, especially its western and eastern parts. This area is adjacent to hills that form the Rioni, Enguri, and Tskhenis-Tskali valleys. To the south of the mountain range there are spurs separating the basins of the Kura, Alazani, and Iori rivers. The most significant peak is Mt. Zagatala (3000 m). Difficult passes include the Mamisonsky and Krestovy passes.
Russia has regions with stunning mountain landscapes. The highest and most impressive peaks are located on the Main Caucasus Range. Throughout the entire mountain range, the peaks are distinguished by their height and massiveness. The direction of the ridges of the Caucasus Mountains is from northwest to southeast.
Caucasus region
Where do you think the Caucasus is located? This amazing mountainous region is located between the Black and Caspian seas. It includes the mountains of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. The Caucasus ridge includes the Riono-Kura depression (depression), the coast of the two above-mentioned seas, the Stavropol Upland, a small part of Dagestan, that is, the Caspian lowland, as well as part of the Kuban-Azov slopes.
The main peak of the ridge is the snow-white Mount Elbrus. The entire system of the Main Caucasus Range occupies approximately 2600 km². The northern slope occupies about 1450 km², and the southern slope - about 1150 km². Now let's look at the description of the mountain range in more detail.
Description of the Greater Caucasus Range
Fans of extreme sports, be it climbers or alpine skiers, have chosen this place for a long time. Those who have traveled through the Caucasus Mountains return to these places again. Extreme sports enthusiasts come here for thrills from all corners of our planet.
The Main Caucasus Range, photos of which are presented in the article, divides the Caucasus into two historical and cultural regions: Northern and Southern. You can find the ridge on the map between the Black and Caspian Seas. For convenient viewing, the mountain range is usually divided into 7 parts:
- Black Sea Caucasus (from Anapa to Oshten - 265 km).
- Kuban Caucasus (from Oshten to the source of the Kuban - 160 km).
- Elbrus Caucasus (from the source of the Kuban to the peak of Adai-Khokh - 170 km).
- Terek Caucasus (from Adai-Khokh to the town of Barbalo - 125 km).
- Dagestan Caucasus (from Barbalo to the top of Sari-dag - 130 km).
- Samur Caucasus (from Sari-dag to Baba-dag - 130 km).
- Caspian Caucasus (from Baba-dag to the peak of Ilkhi-dag - 170 km).
As you can see, the 7 regions of the Greater Caucasus Range are divided into sections of approximately equal length.
The height of the mountains is varied: it ranges from 260 to 3360 meters. The climate in these places is light and mild, and combined with beautiful scenery, this corner of the planet becomes an ideal place for active recreation in winter and summer.
The Caucasus Range is mainly composed of limestone. In ancient times, this place was the location of the ocean floor. Today, if you look at the mountain range from a bird's eye view, you can see folds of mountains, a huge number of glaciers, active rivers and deep lakes. High basins can be observed along the entire length of the mountain range.
A few words about the northern slope
This side of the Main Caucasus Range is well developed. It is formed from large quantity spurs that adjoin at an angle of 90 to the main ridge. The Elbrus fault zone separates the waters of the Caspian Sea and the Kuban. Further, this section decreases with ledges and gently passes into the mountains of Pyatigorsk, as well as the Stavropol Upland.
More developed mountains are located on the northern slope of the Caucasus mountain range on the eastern side, where Dagestan is located. Heading north, they descend, and from there begin the mountain ranges called the Black Mountains. They are gentle and long slopes. Why do you think they were called Black? The thing is that their slopes are covered with dense and impenetrable forests. The height of the Black Mountains is insignificant. However, in this area there are peaks whose height reaches 3500 meters. Such peaks include the mountains Kargu-Khokh, Vaza-Khokh and others.
Information about the southern slope
Compared to the northern slope, the southern slope is much less developed, especially the eastern and western parts of the Caucasus Range. Looking at the map, you can read that this section of the mountain range is adjacent to hills that form the longitudinal valleys of Enguri, Rioni, and Tskhenis-Tskali. To the south, very long spurs extend from the mountain range, which separate the basins of the Alazani, Kura and Iori rivers.
The steepest section of the southern side of the ridge is Mount Zagatala. Its height reaches 3 km above sea level.
Otherwise, the Main Caucasian Range on the southern side is passable, with the exception of two passes: Krestovy and Mamisonsky. Roads across the ridge are almost accessible all year round. In some places they resemble pack trails.
The Cross Pass is of great importance in this area, as the Georgian Military Road passes through it.
About glaciers
Few people suspect, but the size, number and area of the glaciers of the Caucasus Range, the photo of which is given in the article, are practically not inferior to the glaciers of the Alpine Mountains. Their largest number is concentrated in the area of the Elbrus and Tersky ridges.
There are about 183 glaciers of the first order in the basins of the Kuban, Rioni, Terek and Inguri rivers. And there are several times more glaciers of the 2nd category - about 680. Soviet years Extensive research took place in the Caucasus, as a result of which geologists compiled the “Catalog of Glaciers of the USSR.” Soviet scientists in the early 80s counted 2050 glaciers. Their total area was almost 1500 km 2.
As for the glacial dimensions of the Caucasus Range, there is no clear answer. Their area is varied. For example, the Bezengi glacier is almost as large in size as the Aletsch glacier, which is located in the Alps. The Caucasian ice masses, unlike the Alpine ones, never descended low. The most famous glaciers are Bezengi, Chatyntau, Tsey, Big Azau and Tsaneri. Bezengi is the largest glacier in the Caucasus Range. Its length is 17 km.
During the Ice Age, the ice masses of the ridge were larger and more numerous than today. Nowadays, they are in a stage of retreat, which has been going on for decades.
Bezengi
This is a mountainous region located in Kabardino-Balkaria. It is considered the central ridge, as well as one of the highest parts of the Caucasian chain. It includes the Bezengi Wall. It is a 42-kilometer mountain range. This is a high section of the ridge. The boundaries of the Bezengi wall are considered to be from the west - the Lyalver peak, and from the east - Mount Shkhara.
From the north, the Bezengi wall abruptly breaks off to 3 thousand meters in the direction of the Bezengi glacier. In Kabardino-Balkaria it is also called Ullu-Chiran. On the Georgian side, the terrain is complex, there is even an glacial plateau. The most significant peaks of the region are the Bezengi Wall, Yesenin Peak, Shota Rustaveli Peak, Lyalver, Dzhangitau and others.
The main peak of Georgia
The highest point in Georgia is the peak of Shkhara. Its height above sea level is 5193 meters, but some researchers claim that it is higher - 5203 m. The mountain peak is located approximately 90 km north of the city of Kutaisi. Shkhara is the third highest peak in the Caucasus and Russia.
The mountain consists of crystalline schist and granite. Its slopes are covered with snow-white glaciers: on the northern side - the Bezengi glacier, and on the southern side - Shkhara. This place is popular among climbers. The first ascent of this mountain was made in 1933. The hill is also notable for the fact that on the southern slope at an altitude of 2000 meters there is a village that is included in the UNESCO list.
Tseysky glacier
Now let's talk about the glacier, which is located in the North Caucasus. The Tseysky glacier is one of the largest and lowest-sloping glaciers in the Caucasus. You can find it in North Ossetia. It feeds on snow from the top of Adai-Khokh. The height of the glacier is about 4500 meters. It descends to an altitude of 2200 m above sea level. Firn fields, consisting of grain snow, reach about 9 km. The glacier is narrow at the bottom, and the higher it is located, the more it expands. It is constrained by rocks, so it is dotted with cracks, and there are also icefalls.
The Tseysky glacier consists of large and small branches. There are four of them in total. There is also a river that flows out of a beautiful ice arch. Its bed passes through picturesque places rich in centuries-old pine trees. Nearby is the Ossetia tourist center, mountaineering camps, hotels, a weather station and the Caucasus Mining and Metallurgical Institute. There are two cable cars leading to the glacier. Yuri Vizbor wrote poems about this wonderful place. Local peoples composed a lot of legends, songs and tales about the glacier.
Mount Achishkho
This mountain range is located on the western Caucasus side. Refers to Krasnodar region. The height of the mountain reaches 2400 meters and is located 10 kilometers from Krasnaya Polyana. This ridge differs from all others in its rock composition. It consists of shale and volcanic rocks. The landscapes feature ancient glacial landforms, karst lakes and even waterfalls. The mountains are surrounded by a humid climate, with up to 3 meters of rainfall per year. It is considered the largest value in Russia. The snow cover is about 10 meters. As you may have guessed, sunny days there is very little in this mountainous corner of the year - no more than 70 days.
The slopes of Mount Achishkho on the northern side are covered with fir forests. On the tops there are mountain meadows, on the other sides there are broad-leaved and beech forests. This place is popular among tourists who prefer walking. Here you can find dolmens - stone buildings of ancient peoples.
Biosphere Reserve
There is a nature reserve in the Western Caucasus, its total area reaches about 300 thousand hectares. In February 1979, UNESCO decided to assign biosphere status to the reserve.
In 2008, it was named after Kh. G. Shaposhnikov, the founder of the Caucasus Nature Reserve. But he became famous not only for this, but also for his breakthrough discoveries in the field of biology. At the beginning of the 20th century, the scientist noticed that the Caucasian bison was disappearing in this territory, so in 1909 he wrote a letter to Russian Academy sciences with a request to develop a reserve. But since the land belonged to the Kuban Cossacks, it was very for a long time the matter was not progressing. The scientist made several attempts, and 10 years later, namely in 1919, the matter got off the ground. In 1924, the bison reserve began to function.
Conclusion
You and I have made a journey from the foot of the Black Sea mountains to the Caspian peaks. Thus, the length of the Caucasus Range is 1150 km. Now you know that it is divided into Northern and Southern historical and cultural regions. The total length of the ridge is divided into 7 parts, each of which has almost the same length. Each mountain region is characterized differently.
Those planning a trip should definitely visit the Caucasus Mountains. You will remember these fabulous landscapes for the rest of your life. Terraincourt, rock climbing, river rafting, skiing and many other types of active recreation are offered to tourists by the Caucasus.
Georgia Georgia
Russia, Russia
Abkhazia Abkhazia(partially recognized)
South Ossetia South Ossetia(partially recognized)
Main Caucasian (Watershed) Ridge- a continuous mountain chain stretching more than 1100 km from northwest to southeast from the Black Sea (Anapa region) to the Caspian Sea (Mount Ilkhydag northwest of Baku). The Caucasus Range divides the Caucasus into two parts: Ciscaucasia (North Caucasus) and Transcaucasia (South Caucasus).
The Main Caucasus Range separates the basins of the Kuban, Terek, Sulak and Samur rivers in the north and the Inguri, Rioni and Kura rivers in the south.
- Western Caucasus (bounded from the east by Elbrus);
- Central Caucasus;
- Eastern Caucasus (bounded from the west by Kazbek).
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general information
The entire system of the Main Caucasus Range occupies approximately 2,600 km². The northern slope occupies about 1450 km², and the southern slope about 1150 km².
The northern slope is even more developed in the eastern part of the Caucasus ridge, where numerous, and very significant in height and length, its spurs form the vast mountainous country of Dagestan ( Dagestan ledge) - a large mountainous region, closed by the high Andean, Sala-Tau and Gimry (2334 m) ridges. Gradually descending to the north, the northern slope is formed by many advanced hills, which in some places appear in the form of ridges and mountain spurs; These mountain ranges include the so-called Black Mountains (see) (Pasture Range), located north of the Main Range, at a distance 65 km from it. The Black Mountains form gentle and long slopes, in most areas covered with dense forests (hence the name), and fall into steep cliffs to the south. Rivers flowing from the Main Range break through the Black Mountains through deep and narrow, very picturesque gorges (the Sulak Canyon is up to 1800 m deep); the height of this advanced chain is generally insignificant (to the west of Dagestan ledge ).
The southern slope is particularly poorly developed in the western and eastern parts of the ridge, reaching quite significant orographic development in the middle, where it is adjacent to parallel hills that form the longitudinal valleys of the upper reaches of the Rioni, Inguri and Tskhenis-tskhali, and long spurs extending to the south, separating the Alazani basins , Iori and Kura .
The steepest and least developed section of the southern slope is where it falls towards the Alazani Valley; The city of Zakatala, located at an altitude of 355 m at the southern foot of the Caucasus Range, is located in a straight line only 20 km from its crest, which here reaches an altitude of more than 3,300 m above sea level. The Caucasus Range is not particularly passable; Only at its western and eastern extremities are there convenient and low passes that are fully accessible all year round for communication.
Throughout the rest of the length, with the exception of the Mamison and Cross passes (see Georgian Military Road), the paths through the ridge in most cases are pack or even pedestrian paths, partly completely inaccessible for use in winter time of the year. Of all the passes, the most important is Krestovy (2,379 m), through which the Georgian Military Road passes.
Glaciers
In terms of the number of glaciers, their area and size, the Caucasus Range is almost as good as the Alps. The largest number of significant glaciers is located in the Elbrus and Terek parts of the ridge, and there are about 183 glaciers of the first category in the Kuban, Terek, Liakhva, Rioni and Inguri basins, and 679 of the second category. In total in the Greater Caucasus, according to the “Catalog of Glaciers of the USSR” (1967 -1978), 2,050 glaciers with a total area of 1,424 km². The size of the Caucasian glaciers is very diverse, and some of them (for example, Bezengi) are almost as large as the Aletsch glacier in the Alps. The Caucasian glaciers nowhere descend as low as, for example, the glaciers of the Alps, and in this respect they present great diversity; so the Karaugom glacier descends at its end to a height of 1,830 m above sea level, and the Shah-Dag glacier (Shah-Dag (4243 m), in the area BazaarDuzyu) - up to an altitude of 3,320 m above sea level. The most famous glaciers of the Caucasus Range are:
| Glacier name | The mountain from which it descends | The height of the lower end of the glacier, in m above sea level |
Glacier length in km, Total |
Glacier area in km² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bezengi (bass. Cherek Bezengisky) | Bezengi wall: Gestola, Shkhara, Dzhangitau, Katyntau |
2,080 m | 17,6 | 36.2 km² |
| Dykh-Su (Dykh-Kotyu-Bugoisu) (bass. Cherek Balkarsky) |
Shkhara, Ailama, Bashkhaauzbashi | 2,070 m | 15.3 km | 34.0 km² |
| Karaugom (Urukh, bass. Terek) | Karaugom (and/or Burdzhula), Wilpata, Skatikom (Skaticomkhoh) | 1,830 m | 13.3 km | 26.6 km² |
| Tsaneri [Tzanner] (bass Inguri) | Tetnuld | 2,390 m | 12 km | 28.8 km² |
| Devdoraki (bass Amali) | Kazbek | 2,260 m | 7.3 km | 7.0 km² |
| Big Azau (Baksan, Terek basin) | Elbrus, southern shoulder | 2,500 m | 10.1 km | 19.6 km² |
| Snow Valley Jikiugankez [frozen lake, Jikauchenkez] (Malka and Baksan) |
Elbrus, eastern shoulder | |||
| Tsey (Ardon, bass. Terek) | Wilpata, Chanchakhi, Mamison | |||
| Lekhzyr [Lekzyr, Lekziri] (bass. Inguri) |
Ullukara, Latsga, Dzhantugan, Bashiltau | 13.6 km | ||
| Ezengi (Yusengi) (b. Yusengi, bass. Baksan) |
Donguzorun-Cheget-Karabashi (zap.), Yusengi ridge (east) |
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| Shkhelda glacier (Adilsu, bass. Baksan) |
Shhelda (4368 m), Chatyntau (4411 m) |
IN glacial period the glaciers of the Caucasus range were much more numerous and extensive than now; from the numerous traces of their existence, found far from modern glaciers, we can conclude that the ancient glaciers extended in length for 53, 64 and even up to 106.7 or more kilometers, descending into valleys to heights of 244...274 meters above sea level. Currently, most of the glaciers of the Caucasus Range are in a period of retreat, which has lasted for several decades.
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Notes
- This geographical object is located in Abkhazia. According to the Georgian constitution, Abkhazia is part of Georgia as the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. In fact, Abkhazia is the Republic of Abkhazia
- This geographical feature is located in South Ossetia. According to the Georgian Constitution, the territory of South Ossetia is included in Georgia. In fact, South Ossetia is a partially recognized state, the territory of which is not controlled by the Georgian government.
- Dolgushin L.D., Osipova G.B. Glaciers. - M.: Thought, . - 447 p. - ISBN 5-244-00315-1.
- The width of the mountain ranges of (the entire) Greater Caucasus, not just the Greater Caucasus mountain range.
Based on the above, the area of the axial Dividing Ridge is 2,600 km², and the length is 1100-1150 (directly on the map) - 1500 km (along the ridge). That is, the width of the Main Caucasian ridge [mountain ridge - the line of intersection of the slopes, the top part of the ridge along which the watershed line runs] in the estimated area is on average 2 (1.75-2.25) km. - Black forest, black forest, black forest, deciduous forest: birch, linden, alder, elm (birch bark), aspen, oak, ash, sedge, etc. (and also (?) Caucasian persimmon - ebony); in which are found (found during the conquest of the Caucasus) black game, wild boar, wild boar, blacktail (kara-kuiruk), and black mushrooms, volvolyanka, owls, russula and pigs...
- We are no longer talking about Black Mountains, located to the north in the lower reaches and middle reaches of rivers - at altitudes generally not exceeding 1200- 1500 m.
- Map Sheet K-38-40 Top. Zgid. Scale: 1: 100,000. State of the area in 1984. 1988 edition
Karaug 42°47′44″ n. w. 43°46′00″ E. d. / 42.79556° N. w. 43.76667° E. d. / 42.79556; 43.76667(G) (I)
Burjula 42°47′00″ n. w. 43°41′57″ E. d. / 42.78333° N. w. 43.69917° E. d. / 42.78333; 43.69917(G) (I)
Links
- veskavkaz.narod.ru/lib/eastkavkaz/index.html
- veskavkaz.narod.ru/lib/dagestan/index.html
- veskavkaz.narod.ru/lib/malkavkaz/index.html
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An excerpt characterizing the Main Caucasus Range
Princess Marya, straining all her attention, looked at him. The comic labor with which he moved his tongue forced Princess Marya to lower her eyes and with difficulty suppress the sobs rising in her throat. He said something, repeating his words several times. Princess Marya could not understand them; but she tried to guess what he was saying and repeated the questioning words he said to the elephant.“Gaga – fights... fights...” he repeated several times. There was no way to understand these words. The doctor thought that he had guessed right, and, repeating his words, asked: is the princess afraid? He shook his head negatively and repeated the same thing again...
“My soul, my soul hurts,” Princess Marya guessed and said. He hummed affirmatively, took her hand and began to press it to various places on his chest, as if searching for the real place for her.
- All thoughts! about you... thoughts,” he then said much better and more clearly than before, now that he was sure that he was understood. Princess Marya pressed her head against his hand, trying to hide her sobs and tears.
He moved his hand through her hair.
“I called you all night...” he said.
“If only I knew...” she said through tears. – I was afraid to enter.
He shook her hand.
– Didn’t you sleep?
“No, I didn’t sleep,” said Princess Marya, shaking her head negatively. Unwittingly obeying her father, she now, just as he spoke, tried to speak more signs and as if he was also having difficulty moving his tongue.
- Darling... - or - friend... - Princess Marya could not make out; but, probably, from the expression of his gaze, a gentle, caressing word was said, which he never said. - Why didn’t you come?
“And I wished, wished for his death! - thought Princess Marya. He paused.
“Thank you... daughter, friend... for everything, for everything... forgive... thank you... forgive... thank you!..” And tears flowed from his eyes. “Call Andryusha,” he suddenly said, and something childishly timid and distrustful was expressed in his face at this demand. It was as if he himself knew that his demand made no sense. So, at least, it seemed to Princess Marya.
“I received a letter from him,” answered Princess Marya.
He looked at her with surprise and timidity.
- Where is he?
- He is in the army, mon pere, in Smolensk.
He was silent for a long time, closing his eyes; then in the affirmative, as if in response to his doubts and to confirm that he now understood and remembered everything, he nodded his head and opened his eyes.
“Yes,” he said clearly and quietly. - Russia is dead! Ruined! - And he began to sob again, and tears flowed from his eyes. Princess Marya could no longer hold on and cried too, looking at his face.
He closed his eyes again. His sobs stopped. He made a sign with his hand to his eyes; and Tikhon, understanding him, wiped away his tears.
Then he opened his eyes and said something that no one could understand for a long time, and finally only Tikhon understood and conveyed it. Princess Marya looked for the meaning of his words in the mood in which he spoke a minute before. She thought that he was talking about Russia, then about Prince Andrei, then about her, about his grandson, then about his death. And because of this she could not guess his words.
- Put on yours White dress“I love him,” he said.
Realizing these words, Princess Marya began to sob even louder, and the doctor, taking her by the arm, led her out of the room onto the terrace, persuading her to calm down and make preparations for departure. After Princess Marya left the prince, he again started talking about his son, about the war, about the sovereign, twitched his eyebrows angrily, began to raise a hoarse voice, and the second and final blow came to him.
Princess Marya stopped on the terrace. The day had cleared up, it was sunny and hot. She could not understand anything, think about anything and feel anything except her passionate love for her father, a love that, it seemed to her, she did not know until that moment. She ran out into the garden and, sobbing, ran down to the pond along the young linden paths planted by Prince Andrei.
- Yes... I... I... I. I wanted him dead. Yes, I wanted it to end soon... I wanted to calm down... But what will happen to me? “What do I need peace of mind when he’s gone,” Princess Marya muttered aloud, with quick steps walking through the garden and pressing his hands on his chest, from which sobs convulsively burst out. Walking around the garden in a circle that led her back to the house, she saw m lle Bourienne (who remained in Bogucharovo and did not want to leave there) coming towards her and unknown man. This was the leader of the district, who himself came to the princess in order to present to her the necessity of an early departure. Princess Marya listened and did not understand him; she led him into the house, invited him to have breakfast and sat down with him. Then, apologizing to the leader, she went to the door of the old prince. The doctor with an alarmed face came out to her and said that it was impossible.
- Go, princess, go, go!
Princess Marya went back into the garden and sat down on the grass under the mountain near the pond, in a place where no one could see. She didn't know how long she was there. Someone's running female steps along the path made her wake up. She got up and saw that Dunyasha, her maid, who was obviously running after her, suddenly, as if frightened by the sight of her young lady, stopped.
“Please, Princess... Prince...” Dunyasha said in a broken voice.
“Now, I’m coming, I’m coming,” the princess spoke hastily, not giving Dunyasha time to finish what she had to say, and, trying not to see Dunyasha, she ran to the house.
“Princess, God’s will is being done, you must be ready for anything,” said the leader, meeting her at the front door.
- Leave me. It is not true! – she angrily shouted at him. The doctor wanted to stop her. She pushed him away and ran to the door. “Why are these people with frightened faces stopping me? I don't need anyone! And what are they doing here? - She opened the door, and bright daylight in this previously darkened room terrified her. There were women and a nanny in the room. They all moved away from the bed to give her way. He was still lying on the bed; but the stern look of his calm face stopped Princess Marya at the threshold of the room.
“No, he’s not dead, that can’t be! - Princess Marya said to herself, walked up to him and, overcoming the horror that gripped her, pressed her lips to his cheek. But she immediately pulled away from him. Instantly, all the strength of tenderness for him that she felt in herself disappeared and was replaced by a feeling of horror at what was in front of her. “No, he is no more! He is not there, but there is right there, in the same place where he was, something alien and hostile, some terrible, terrifying and repulsive secret... - And, covering her face with her hands, Princess Marya fell into the arms of the doctor who supported her.
In the presence of Tikhon and the doctor, the women washed what he was, tied a scarf around his head so that his open mouth would not stiffen, and tied his diverging legs with another scarf. Then they dressed him in a uniform with orders and placed the small, shriveled body on the table. God knows who took care of it and when, but everything happened as if by itself. By nightfall, candles were burning around the coffin, there was a shroud on the coffin, juniper was strewn on the floor, a printed prayer was placed under the dead, shriveled head, and a sexton sat in the corner, reading the psalter.
Just as horses shy away, crowd and snort over a dead horse, so in the living room around the coffin a crowd of foreign and native people crowded - the leader, and the headman, and the women, and all with fixed, frightened eyes, crossed themselves and bowed, and kissed the cold and numb hand of the old prince.
Bogucharovo was always, before Prince Andrei settled there, an estate behind the eyes, and the Bogucharovo men had a completely different character from the Lysogorsk men. They differed from them in their speech, clothing, and morals. They were called steppe. The old prince praised them for their tolerance at work when they came to help with cleaning in the Bald Mountains or digging ponds and ditches, but did not like them for their savagery.
Prince Andrei's last stay in Bogucharovo, with its innovations - hospitals, schools and ease of rent - did not soften their morals, but, on the contrary, strengthened in them those character traits that the old prince called savagery. There were always some vague rumors going around between them, either about the enumeration of all of them as Cossacks, then about the new faith to which they would be converted, then about some royal sheets, then about the oath to Pavel Petrovich in 1797 (about which they said that back then the will came out, but the gentlemen took it away), then about Peter Feodorovich, who will reign in seven years, under whom everything will be free and it will be so simple that nothing will happen. Rumors about the war in Bonaparte and his invasion were combined for them with the same unclear ideas about the Antichrist, the end of the world and pure will.
In the vicinity of Bogucharovo there were more and more large villages, state-owned and quitrent landowners. There were very few landowners living in this area; There were also very few servants and literate people, and in the life of the peasants of this area, those mysterious currents of Russian folk life, the causes and significance of which are inexplicable to contemporaries, were more noticeable and stronger than in others. One of these phenomena was the movement that appeared about twenty years ago between the peasants of this area to move to some warm rivers. Hundreds of peasants, including those from Bogucharov, suddenly began to sell their livestock and leave with their families somewhere to the southeast. Like birds flying somewhere across the seas, these people with their wives and children strove to the southeast, where none of them had been. They went up in caravans, bathed one by one, ran, and rode, and went there, to the warm rivers. Many were punished, exiled to Siberia, many died of cold and hunger along the way, many returned on their own, and the movement died down by itself just as it had begun without an obvious reason. But the underwater currents did not stop flowing in this people and gathered for some kind of new strength, which has to manifest itself just as strangely, unexpectedly and at the same time simply, naturally and strongly. Now, in 1812, for a person who lived close to the people, it was noticeable that these underwater jets produced strong work and were close to manifestation.
Alpatych, having arrived in Bogucharovo some time before the death of the old prince, noticed that there was unrest among the people and that, contrary to what was happening in the Bald Mountains strip on a sixty-verst radius, where all the peasants left (letting the Cossacks ruin their villages), in the steppe strip , in Bogucharovskaya, the peasants, as was heard, had relations with the French, received some papers that passed between them, and remained in place. He knew through the servants loyal to him that the other day the peasant Karp, who had a great influence on the world, was traveling with a government cart, returned with the news that the Cossacks were destroying the villages from which the inhabitants were leaving, but that the French were not touching them. He knew that yesterday another man had even brought from the village of Visloukhova - where the French were stationed - a paper from the French general, in which the residents were told that no harm would be done to them and that they would pay for everything that was taken from them if they stayed. To prove this, the man brought from Visloukhov one hundred rubles in banknotes (he did not know that they were counterfeit), given to him in advance for the hay.
Finally, and most importantly, Alpatych knew that on the very day he ordered the headman to collect carts to take the princess’s train from Bogucharovo, there was a meeting in the village in the morning, at which it was supposed not to be taken out and to wait. Meanwhile, time was running out. The leader, on the day of the prince’s death, August 15, insisted to Princess Mary that she leave on the same day, as it was becoming dangerous. He said that after the 16th he is not responsible for anything. On the day of the prince’s death, he left in the evening, but promised to come to the funeral the next day. But the next day he could not come, since, according to the news he himself received, the French had unexpectedly moved, and he only managed to take his family and everything valuable from his estate.
For about thirty years Bogucharov was ruled by the elder Dron, whom the old prince called Dronushka.
Dron was one of those physically and morally strong men who, as soon as they get old, grow a beard, and so, without changing, live up to sixty or seventy years, without one gray hair or lack of teeth, as straight and strong at sixty as at thirty.
Dron, soon after moving to the warm rivers, in which he participated, like others, was made head mayor in Bogucharovo and since then he has served in this position impeccably for twenty-three years. The men were more afraid of him than the master. The gentlemen, the old prince, the young prince, and the manager, respected him and jokingly called him minister. Throughout his service, Dron was never drunk or sick; never, not after sleepless nights, not after any kind of work, did not show the slightest fatigue and, not knowing how to read and write, never forgot a single account of money and pounds of flour for the huge carts that he sold, and not a single shock of grain for each tithe of Bogucharovo fields.
Amazingly beautiful mountain landscapes can be seen in these wonderful and uniquely beautiful 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-Kura Depression) form the Transcaucasus complex.
Caucasus: general description
The Caucasus is located between the Caspian and Black Seas in southwest Asia.
This region includes the mountains of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, as well as the depression between them called the Riono-Kura Depression, the coasts of the Black Sea and Caspian Seas, the Stavropol Upland, a small part Caspian lowland(Dagestan) and the Kubano-Priazovskaya lowland to the left bank of the Don River at its mouth.
The Greater Caucasus Mountains are 1,500 kilometers long, and Elbrus is the highest peak. The length of the Lesser Caucasus mountains is 750 km.
Below we will take a closer look at the Caucasus Range.
Geographical position
In the western part, the Caucasus borders on the Black and Seas of Azov, in the east - with the Caspian. In the north lies the East European Plain, and the border between it and the Caucasian foothills repeats the latter, which runs along the river. Kuma, the bottom of the Kuma-Manych depression, along the Manych and Vostochny 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 Plateaus, and the river. Chorokh. And already across the river the peninsulas of Asia Minor begin.
Caucasus Range: description
The most brave people and climbers have long chosen the Caucasus mountain range, which attracts extreme sports enthusiasts from all corners of the planet.
The most important Caucasian ridge divides the entire Caucasus into 2 parts: Transcaucasia and Northern Caucasus. This mountain range stretches from the Black Sea to the shores of the Caspian.
The length of the Caucasus Range is more than 1200 kilometers.
The site, located on the territory of the reserve, represents the highest mountain ranges of the Western Caucasus. Moreover, the heights here are very diverse. Their elevations vary from 260 to more than 3360 meters above sea level.
The wonderful combination of a light, mild climate and amazing landscapes make this place ideal for active tourist recreation in any season.
The Main Caucasus Range on Sochi territory has the largest peaks: Fisht, Khuko, Lysaya, Venets, Grachev, Pseashkho, Chugush, Malaya Chura and Assara.
Composition of the rocks of the ridge: limestones and marls. There used to be an ocean floor here. Throughout the huge massif one can observe strongly pronounced folding with numerous glaciers, stormy rivers and mountain lakes.
About the height of the Caucasus ridge
The peaks of the Caucasus Range are numerous and quite varied in height.
Elbrus is the highest point in the Caucasus, which represents 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 own unique names: Oshkhomakho, Alberis, Yalbuz and Mingitau.
The most important mountain in the Caucasus ranks fifth on Earth among mountains formed in a similar way (as a result of a volcanic eruption).
The height of the most gigantic peak in Russia is five kilometers, six hundred and forty-two meters.
More details about the highest peak of the Caucasus
The most high altitude The Caucasus Range is Russia. It looks like two cones, between which (a distance of 3 km from each other) at an altitude of 5200 meters there is a saddle. The highest of them, as already noted, has a height of 5642 meters, the smaller one - 5621 m.
Like all peaks of volcanic origin, Elbrus consists of 2 parts: a 700-meter pedestal made of rocks and a bulk cone (1942 meters) - the result of a volcanic eruption.
The peak is covered with snow starting at an altitude of approximately 3500 meters. In addition, there are glaciers, the most famous of which are Small and Big Azau and Terskop.
Temperature at most high point Elbrus is -14 °C. Precipitation here almost always falls in the form of snow and therefore the glaciers do not melt. Due to the good visibility of the peaks of Elbrus from various distant places and in different times years, this mountain still has interesting name- Little Antarctica.
It should be noted that the eastern peak was first conquered by climbers in 1829, and the western peak in 1874.
Glaciers located on the top of Elbrus feed the Kuban, Malka and Baksan rivers.
Central Caucasus: ridges, parameters
IN geographically The Central Caucasus is part of the Greater Caucasus, located between the Elbrus and Kazbek mountains (in the west and in the east). In this section, the length of the Main Caucasian Ridge is 190 kilometers, and if we take into account the meanders, about 260 km.
Border Russian state passes through the territory of the Central Caucasus. Behind it are South Ossetia and Georgia.
22 kilometers west of Kazbek (eastern part of the Central Caucasus), the Russian border shifts slightly to the north and runs to Kazbek, skirting the Georgian-owned Terek River valley (upper part).
On the territory of the Central Caucasus there are 5 parallel ridges (oriented along latitudes):
- Main Caucasus Range (height up to 5203 m, Mount Shkhara).
- Bokovoy Ridge (height up to 5642 meters, Mount Elbrus).
- Rocky Ridge (up to 3646 meters high, Mount Karakaya).
- Pastbishchny Ridge (up to 1541 meters).
- Lesisty Ridge (height 900 meters).
Tourists and climbers mainly visit and climb the first three ridges.
Northern and Southern Caucasus
The Greater Caucasus, as a geographical object, originates from the Taman Peninsula, and it ends in the region All subjects Russian Federation and the countries located in this area belong to the Caucasus. However, in terms of the location of the territories of the constituent entities of Russia, there is a certain division into two parts:
- The North Caucasus includes the 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, the area north of Elbrus and the western spurs of Mount Elbrus to the right bank of the Kuban. The largest peak in this area is the famous Elbrus, located to the north and located in the Side Range. The second highest peak is (4700 meters).
The Elbrus region is glorious big amount 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 occupies part of the territory of the Greater Caucasus and its foothills from the Watershed and Main Caucasus ranges to the north. 10% of the country's total population lives in the North Caucasus.
- Abkhazia also has territories that are parts of the Greater Caucasus: the region from the Kodori to Gagra ranges, the Black Sea coast between the river. Psou and Enguri, and north of Enguri a small part of the Colchis lowland.
- South Ossetia is located in central region Greater Caucasus. The beginning of the territory is the Main Caucasian Ridge. The territory extends to south direction from it, between the Rachinsky, Suramsky and Lomissky ridges, 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 Lesser and Greater Caucasus ranges west of the Kakheti range. The most mountainous areas of the country are Svaneti, a section of the Greater Caucasus between the Kodori and Suram ridges. The Georgian territory of the Lesser Caucasus is represented by the Meskheti, Samsara and Trialeti ranges. It turns out that all of Georgia is within the Caucasus.
- Azerbaijan is located between the Watershed 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 part of the territory of the Lesser Caucasus (slightly east of the river Akhuryan, 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, partially Erzurum and Artvin.
The Caucasus Mountains are both beautiful and dangerous. According to some scientists, there is a possibility that in the next hundred years the volcano (Mount Elbrus) may awaken. And this is fraught with catastrophic consequences for nearby regions (Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria).
But, whatever it is, the conclusion follows that there is nothing more beautiful than the mountains. It is impossible to describe all the magnificent nature of this fabulous mountainous country. To experience all this, you should visit these amazingly beautiful heavenly places. They are viewed especially impressively from the heights of the Caucasus Mountains.
