The highest peaks of the Caucasus on the map. Main Caucasian Range

Surprisingly beautiful mountain landscapes can be seen in these wonderful and unique 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) represent Transcaucasia in the complex.

Caucasus: general description

The Caucasus is located between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea in southwestern 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 the Caspian Seas, the Stavropol Upland, a small part of the Caspian lowland (Dagestan) and the Kuban-Azov lowland to the left bank of the Don River on part of its mouth.

The mountains of the Greater Caucasus have a length of 1500 kilometers, and the highest peak is Elbrus. The length of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains is 750 km.

A little lower, let's take a closer look at the Caucasus Range.

Geographical position

In the western part, the Caucasus borders on the Black and Azov seas, in the east - on the Caspian. In the north, the East European Plain extends, and the border between it and the Caucasian foothills repeats the latter passes along the river. Kuma, the bottom of the Kumo-Manychskaya 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, behind which are the Armenian and Iranian Highlands, and the river. Chorokh. And already beyond the river, the peninsulas of Asia Minor begin.

Caucasian Range: description

The most courageous people and climbers have long chosen the Caucasian mountain range, which attracts extreme people from all over the world.

The most important Caucasian ridge divides the entire Caucasus into 2 parts: Transcaucasia and the North Caucasus. This mountain range extends from the Black Sea to the shores of the Caspian Sea.

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 the most diverse. Their marks vary from 260 to more than 3360 meters above sea level.

The perfect combination of mild mild climate and amazing landscapes make this place ideal for an active tourist holiday at any time of the year.

The main Caucasian ridge on the Sochi territory has the largest peaks: Fisht, Khuko, Lysaya, Venets, Grachev, Pseashkho, Chugush, Malaya Chura and Assara.

The composition of the rocks of the ridge: limestones and marls. There used to be an ocean floor here. Throughout the vast massif, one can observe a pronounced folding with numerous glaciers, turbulent rivers and mountain lakes.

About the height of the Caucasus Range

The peaks of the Caucasus Range are numerous and quite diverse in height.

Elbrus is the highest point of the Caucasus, which is the highest peak not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The location of the mountain is such that a variety of nationalities live around it, giving it their unique names: Oshkhomakho, Alberis, Yalbuz and Mingitau.

The most important mountain in the Caucasus ranks fifth on Earth among mountains formed in this way (as a result of a volcanic eruption).

The height of the most gigantic peak in Russia is five kilometers six hundred and forty-two meters.

More details about the highest peak of the Caucasus

The highest height of 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 has, as already noted, a height of 5642 meters, a smaller one - 5621m.

Like all peaks of volcanic origin, Elbrus consists of 2 parts: a 700-meter pedestal of rocks and a bulk cone (1942 meters) - the result of a volcanic eruption.

The peak is covered with snow starting from a height of about 3500 meters. In addition, there are glaciers, the most famous of which are the Small and Big Azau and Terskop.

The temperature at the highest point of Elbrus is -14 °C. Precipitation here almost always falls in the form of snow and therefore the glaciers do not melt. Due to the good visibility of the Elbrus peaks from different remote places and at different times of the year, this mountain also has an interesting name - Small Antarctica.

It should be noted that for the first time the eastern peak was conquered by climbers in 1829, and the western one - in 1874.

Glaciers located on the top of Elbrus feed the Kuban, Malka and Baksan rivers.

Central Caucasus: ridges, parameters

Geographically, the Central Caucasus is part of the Greater Caucasus, located between the mountains of Elbrus and Kazbek (in the west and in the east). In this section, the length of the Main Caucasian Range is 190 kilometers, and if we take into account the meanders, about 260 km.

The border of the Russian state passes through the territory of the Central Caucasus. Behind it are South Ossetia and Georgia.

22 kilometers west of Kazbek (eastern part of the Central Caucasus), the Russian border shifts slightly to the north and runs to Kazbek, skirting the Georgian-owned Terek valley (upper part).

On the territory of the Central Caucasus, 5 parallel ridges are distinguished (oriented along the latitudes):

1. The main Caucasian ridge (height up to 5203 m, Mount Shkhara).
2. Ridge Lateral (height up to 5642 meters, Mount Elbrus).
3. Ridge Rocky (height up to 3646 meters, Mount Karakaya).
4. Ridge Pastbishchny (up to 1541 meters).
5. Ridge Wooded (height 900 meters).

Tourists and climbers mainly visit and storm the first three ridges.

North and South Caucasus

The Greater Caucasus, as a geographical object, originates from the Taman Peninsula, and ends in the region. All subjects of the Russian Federation and countries located in this region belong to the Caucasus. However, in terms of the location of the territories of the constituent entities of Russia, there is a certain division into two parts:

• The North Caucasus includes the Krasnodar Territory and Stavropol Territory, North Ossetia, the Rostov Region, Chechnya, the Republic of Adygea, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan and Karachay-Cherkessia.
• South Caucasus (or Transcaucasia) - Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan.

Elbrus region

The Elbrus region is geographically 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 of this region is the famous Elbrus, located to the north and located in the Side Range. The second highest peak is (4700 meters).

The Elbrus area is famous for a large number of peaks with steep ridges and rocky walls.

The largest glaciers are concentrated in the huge Elbrus glacier complex, which has 23 glaciers (total area - 122.6 sq. km).

Location of states in the Caucasus

1. The Russian Federation partially occupies the territory of the Greater Caucasus and its foothills from the Dividing and Main Caucasian Ranges to the north. 10% of the total population of the country lives in the North Caucasus.
2. Abkhazia also has territories that are parts of the Greater Caucasus: the area from the Kodori to the Gagra ranges, the Black Sea coast between the river. Psou and Enguri, and to the north of Enguri a small part of the Colchis lowland.
3. South Ossetia is located in the central region of the Greater Caucasus. The beginning of the territory is the Main Caucasian Range. The territory extends in a southerly direction from it, between the Rachinsky, Suramsky and Lomissky ranges, to the very valley of the Kura River.
4. Georgia has the most fertile and populated parts of the country in the valleys and lowlands between the Lesser and Greater Caucasus ranges to the west of the Kakheti range. The most mountainous parts of the country are Svaneti, a section of the Greater Caucasus between the Kodori and Suram ranges. The Georgian territory of the Lesser Caucasus is represented by the Meskheti, Samsar and Trialeti ranges. It turns out that the whole of Georgia is within the Caucasus.
5. Azerbaijan is located between the Dividing Range in the north and the Araks and Kura rivers in the south, and between the Lesser Caucasus and the Kakheti Range and the Caspian Sea. And almost all of Azerbaijan (the Mugan Plain and the Talysh Mountains belong to the Iranian Highlands) is located in the Caucasus.
6. Armenia has part of the territory of the Lesser Caucasus (slightly east of the Akhuryan River, which is a tributary of the Araks).
7. Turkey occupies the southwestern section of the Lesser Caucasus, representing 4 eastern provinces of this country: Ardahan, Kars, partly Erzurum and Artvin.

The mountains of the Caucasus are both beautiful and dangerous. According to the assumptions of some scientists, there is a possibility that in the next hundred years the volcano (Mount Elbrus) may wake up. And this is fraught with catastrophic consequences for neighboring regions (Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria).

But, whatever it may be, the conclusion follows that there is nothing more beautiful than the mountains. It is impossible to describe all the magnificent nature of this fabulous mountain country. To feel it all, you should visit these amazingly beautiful paradise places. They are especially impressively viewed from the heights of the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains.

Geographical position 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

In orographic terms, this region is a system of mountains, consisting of the main ridge, Ciscaucasia and Transcaucasia (North and South Caucasus). The relief of the Ciscaucasia is distinguished by plains and foothills: the Kuban, the Taman Peninsula, the Stavropol Upland. The Transcaucasian region is represented by more mountainous areas that 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 bounded in the west by Colchis, and in the east by the Kura depression. The maximum height of the Lesser Caucasus is 3724, the length is only 600 km. The region of the Likh Range is a place connecting the mountain systems of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus.

Natural and climatic features of the Caucasus

The mountainous relief has led to climate change and the amazing landscape diversity of the Caucasus. Thus, the lowlands of the Transcaucasus are distinguished by subtropical landscapes, where various climatic conditions make it possible to grow citrus fruits, tea, cotton and other crops. High in the mountains, in the Elbrus region, the landscape changes dramatically - long-term ice and snow reign here. It should be noted that the geographical law of altitudinal zonation (zonality) is weakly expressed in mountains with low altitudes.
The Caucasus Mountains can be safely called an open-air museum, so environmental protection activities are actively developed here. So, in the territory of the Caucasus, 3 national parks and 5 reserves are distinguished.

Development of tourism in the Caucasus

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


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 various categories of complexity. For beginners, it is advisable to choose simple routes laid in the low-mountain western part (Arkhyz region). Routes that go to the sea are especially popular: the extreme trip ends with a swimming and beach vacation. It should be noted that it is advisable for tourists who visit the Caucasus Mountains for the first time to use the services of experienced guides, even if they have experience of climbing in other mountainous areas.

Canyoning in the Caucasus

Canyoning is a kind 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, hiking and game.
The region of Adygea stands out for its excellent conditions for the development of this type of extreme recreation. Many routes pass through the canyon of the Rufabgo River and Big Rufabgo Creek. In addition, there are routes passing through the gorge of the Meshoko River 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 on 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.
Rafting fans prefer rafting on the Zelenchuk or Bolshoi Zelenchuk rivers, which can be classified into category 3. Extreme travel lasts 5-7 days, but you need to take into account the changeability of the weather. In addition to Zelenchuk, another mountain river of interest is Vzmyta, which originates in the Central Caucasian Range. Rafting takes only 3-4 days.


Speleotourism in the Caucasus

Speleotourism is very popular among young people. It involves visiting various caves, mines, wells and labyrinths. In the Caucasus, the optimal conditions for speleotourists are on the Lagonaki highlands. Here are the most diverse forms of speleorelief. These are vast mines, wells, horizontal galleries that stretch for kilometers. The Lagonak cavities are suitable for both beginners (regular non-category routes) and professional speleologists (5th category of difficulty).

They are no less famous in the world than the Cordillera, a mountain system that stretches along the western outskirts of North and South America for as much as eighteen thousand kilometers in length and in width for 1600 kilometers, with the highest peak of Denali at 6190 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 mountain system of the Himalayas with the highest peak Chogori - 8611 meters above sea level on the border of China and Pakistan and with another peak Lhotse, exceeding a height of eight kilometers on the border of China and Nepal. On the globe, Tibet is also admired with the highest peak in the world, Everest - 8852 meters above sea level. However, on Earth there are other mountain systems on different continents that attract attention and which thousands and thousands of brave conquerors of peaks strive to climb.

From the legendary Taman to the gray Caspian

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 northwest to southeast, and more specifically, from the Taman Peninsula in the region and along the Black Sea coast to the Absheron Peninsula near the gray Caspian and near the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. The maximum width of the mountain system is 180 kilometers. Compared to the Cordillera, this is almost a ninth, but nevertheless noticeable and being the root cause of the appearance of a subtropical zone in Russia. In which over 15 million of our fellow citizens and guests from near and far abroad improve their health and have a good rest every year. 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, at Everest it is 5642 meters, at Kazbek 5033. The total area of ​​the Great Caucasus Mountains is 1400 square kilometers. In part, this is the land of eternal snows and glaciers. The area of ​​glaciers goes off scale for 2050 square kilometers. A major center of icing is Mount Elbrus plus the Bezengi wall - 17 kilometers.

The land of five dozen nations

The Great Caucasus Mountains are densely populated. Meaning its foothills. Abkhazians, Ingushs, Ossetians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Adygs (Circassians) and many other nationalities live here, united by a common name - the Caucasian peoples. Most of them 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 largely to them, these two peoples of the Great Caucasus have retained their identity, customs and customs. We add to this - the Caucasian peoples for a hundred years were under foreign control - the Turks, Persians, Russians. Now others have gained independence, become sovereign.

twenty-five sky-high peaks

That is how many of them the Great Caucasus has from Elbrus to Dombay-Ulgen - 4046 meters above sea level. Popular with 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 abundant in rivers, lakes and waterfalls

Originating at the mountain peaks, some flow into - Bzyb, Kodor, Ingur (Inguri), Rioni, Mzymta, etc. B - 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, the depth is 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 - both the Caspian and the Black Seas are the remnants of the once world ocean Tethys. The names of the Black Sea have changed since ancient times - Khazar, Sugde, Temarun, Cimmerian, Akhshaena, Blue, Tauride, Holy and even Ocean. The current name is due to its color in raging storms. It really does look black. In the old days, he was also fearfully called not hospitable, angry. The Caspian reservoir got its name from the tribes of horse breeders who once lived near its shores - the Caspians. It was also called Girkansky, Dzhurazhansky, Khvalynsky, Derbent - more than seven dozen names in total.

And about one more unique water body of the Great Caucasus - the Zeygalan waterfall, which is fantastic in terms of 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 in the world. It pushes back fellow Gavarni in France - 422 meters high and Krimml in Austria - 380 meters. It originates from under the hanging glacier at an altitude of 650-700 meters. The peak flow occurs in the summer months of July-August. In winter it dries up and is marked only by ice smudges on the rocks. The waterfall area is part of the Kazbek-Dzhimarai mountain junction, the largest not only in North Ossetia, but in the entire Great Caucasus. The place is delightful in its beauties - on the slopes of the mountains, a sea of ​​​​flowers, herbs, aromas of alpine meadows are dizzy. But you should be careful - the waterfall is dangerous for people: rockfalls happen, sometimes pieces from a melting glacier fly from above. Nevertheless, the waterfall is actively visited. Tourists shoot a grandiose panorama of the waterfall with a camera or TV 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 palm species. Relic 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 the juniper groves. Especially for those with asthma or bronchitis. The breath of juniper kills all microbes and viruses in a person in minutes. A day, two, three walks, and you seem to be 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 were cases when a meeting with wild boars ended in serious injuries or, worse, death!). There are also chamois, mountain goats, and bears. Once 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 - only spiders in a thousand species. The Great Caucasus is also the habitat of golden eagles, which are caught 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, in other regions and countries of the planet.

Stele of the Soaring Eagle

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

The monument is made of cold bronze, which guarantees its durability and which is not afraid of any weather changes. A soaring eagle with a wide wingspan and head proudly raised to the sky means the beginning of the Great Caucasus Mountains. In front of the stele there is a platform for vehicles. Tourists, and here they are, passing to other resort villages of Bolshoi and Maly Utrish, thousands and thousands will definitely stop and take pictures or film the monument on a video camera. By the way, the "Soaring Eagle" offers a stunning view of Anapa and the bays, in which the city is freely spread out (in ancient times it bore the mysterious ancient Greek name Gorgippia, and the slave trade was actively conducted in it, its own coins were minted, 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 with a height of only 319 meters above sea level, other hills are even lower. The foothills enter 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, herbs and flowers are found there. But not more. Let us remind you once again - from the center of Anapa to Bald Mountain is nine kilometers, and from the outskirts of the city it is three times less. And with your hand, as they say, file up to the Small and. And these places are well known to tourists.

Near Bolshoi Utrish, one of the main attractions of the beginning of the Great Caucasus is a dolphinarium on the high seas and with a theater. During the high season, several performances are given daily. Artists are sea animals. Towards the end of a kind of performance, bottlenose dolphins deftly jump onto the platform and willingly take pictures with everyone or 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, recklessly applauds the audience with its flippers. On the Big Utrish, according to legends, the hero Prometheus was chained to one of the rocks, who gave people the sacred fire and thereby caused fierce anger from the main god of Olympus, Zeus the Thunderer. Zeus ordered the disobedient 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, 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 is standing on a mountain with chains torn in his hands, and he has a proud look of a winner! And yet, the assertion 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 "Gorgippiya" 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 drove the bloodthirsty eagle away. Who is right and who is wrong - let the experts decide. But in Anapa, which is no less than two and a half thousand years old, they stubbornly believe that the rock of Prometheus is still located on Bolshoi Utrish. In their opinion, another legend is irrefutable - de the Argonauts, led by their brave captain Jason, sailed past the rocks of the Big Utrish in search of the Golden Fleece. These are the secrets shrouded in the beginning of the Great Caucasus Mountains near Anapa and the stele of the Soaring Eagle.

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, within easy reach. And all of them stretched 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 mostly protected by mountains. Except for Anapa, where, as we have noticed, the Great Caucasus Mountains begin, but in general the municipality goes from the sea to the steppe expanses. And only in the region of Novorossiysk, as a continuation of the Semisamsky ridge with Lysa Gora, the foothills gradually rise, passing into the Markotkhsky ridge or on the Adygsky to Markotkh, stretching from Novorossiysk towards Gelendzhik for more than ninety kilometers. The highest mountain towering over 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 near Novorossiysk - factories for the production of this type of building materials are operating, and dust is around the pillar. Markotkhsky ridge, we note, runs parallel to and south of the Main Caucasian ridge. There are many sights between Novorossiysk and Anapa. In particular, the natural monument is the Sheskharis juniper forest. We talked about the healing properties of the relic juniper above, therefore we will not repeat ourselves, we only emphasize that it is especially useful in the treatment of asthma and bronchi. From Anapa to Novorossiysk 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, then you will find yourself on the Abrau Peninsula, at the southern end of which is Bolshoi Utrish with its famous dolphinarium on the high seas and a theater. But the main feature of the peninsula is undoubtedly the place Abrau-Dyurso, nestled among the mountains and part of the municipality of the resort city of Novorossiysk.

Specific estate of Russian sovereigns

The village has a double name -. And this has its own reason. One village is located in the mountains, among fantastically beautiful nature. There is a river of 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 meters wide, 8 to 11 meters deep, by the way, there are fish in it. Gorgeous embankment - with gazebos, benches. In summer, the water is warm, and you can swim in the lake with pleasure. But you can plunge into the Black Sea. At the second village of the royal estate - Durso. Today there are recreation centers and health resorts where you can relax and get medical treatment.

The village of Abrau is known in the world for its exquisite taste of Russian champagne. At the origins of its production was Prince Lev Golitsyn. And the baton was picked up, surprisingly, by Joseph Stalin, who ordered the production of domestic champagne in the southern regions of the country and in Abrau, in particular. And such an indication of his was contained in a 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, a powerful winery appeared in Abrau. A highway was laid from Novorossiysk to the village. Now in Abrau there is a museum of famous wines, as well as a company store where tourists can buy Russian champagne under the Abrau-Durso brand, dry wines and even cognac if they wish. There are many entertainments on the coast in Durso - water rides, "bananas", "pills", you can rush through the waves on jet skis with a breeze. And in Abrau, horseback riding along the local foothills, mountain tourism, including jeeping or extreme trips, but already on mountain bikes, are popular.

Markoth near Gelendzhik

To the famous no less than Anapa, a resort from Novorossiysk, the distance is mere trifles - directly three dozen kilometers, ten kilometers more along the highway. The trip will take somewhere 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 Markoth Range at 762 meters above sea level. Translated from the Adyghe "Markotkh" literally means "berry places", and here you can collect really tasty blackberries in buckets. It pricks, it's true, but what is called "you can't even catch a fish from 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 Markothsky Range 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 watch their life from the chairlift. At the top of the Mrkotkh 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, yachts and other vessels in the bay, gulls, cormorants, petrels, soaring over the blue sea with white crests of waves, are clearly visible.

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

And this is true if you go from Gelendzhik to the 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 last Winter Olympic Games, in which our team triumphantly won and which amazed the planet with their colorful opening and closing ceremonies - the capital of Mexico, Mexico City - 200 kilometers. And in the 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 overcome the distance from Gelendzhik to Sochi of 246 kilometers in almost four hours (the game is worth the candle!), You can climb, including as part of excursion groups, 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: Sugar, fifteen kilometers from the city - 1555 meters; Przegishva - 2216 meters; Big Weaver - 2368 meters; Achishkho - 2391 meters; Bzerli peak - 2482 meters; Perevalnaya South - 2503 meters; Stone pillar - 2509 meters; Pshekho-Su - 2743 meters; Oshten - 2804 meters; Fisht - 2853 meters; Peak Kozhevnikov - 3070 meters; Peak Needle - 3168 meters; Sugar Pseashkho - 3189 meters; Atheist - 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 is translated from the Adyghe - "mad", uncontrollable", "indomitable" - there are other interpretations. It flows into the Black Sea. It is 39 kilometers long. Over the gorge above it, the famous pedestrian suspension bridge is the most longest in the world. From it, extreme sports lovers jump into the abyss on an elastic cable. Here, a popular attraction is a giant swing with a pendulum span of half a kilometer. From the west near Mount Achishkho, from the east - the Aibga ridge. Immediately in the vicinity is Fisht peak, in honor of which was named the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games were held in 2014. Krasnaya Polyana is a ski resort that can compete with its counterparts in the same Switzerland or in other mountainous places on the planet. They have at their disposal more than a hundred kilometers of snow slopes of various difficulty levels - 6 green, 8 blue, 16 red and 6 black. Experienced skiers and beginners and children can feel it. Among the independent ski resorts are Rosa-Khutor, Alpika-Service, Gorki Gorod and the GTZ Gazprom. Skiing during the day, discos, karaoke in the evening, pleasant evenings in cafes, restaurants, casinos. There will be enough places for everyone - hotels, guest houses, you can rent a cottage. There are no problems with transport. Adler is forty kilometers away. You can fly there by direct flights from many regions of Russia. And then rail transport with the famous "Swallows", or regular buses, even faster personal cars. The road will not seem tedious to you. Especially with such fantastic natural beauties! By the way, in Krasnaya Polyana there are enough bases for renting skis, snowboards, sleds and so on.

Arriving in Sochi for rest and treatment (it receives more than five million tourists a year, not including those who prefer snow slopes that operate from November to April inclusive, and sometimes taking the beginning of May), be sure to visit the Olympic Park. It is located near the Black Sea. With the stadium "Fisht" 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 cauldron! She looks like the Firebird from a Russian folk tale. In the Olympic Park there is a Formula 1 track, and the competition for pilots leaves no one indifferent. Fans come from all parts of the world and remain in great delight. The park has its own "Disneyland" with dozens of rides. Souvenirs, including the mascots of the Games, can be bought as a keepsake in local places. Just keep in mind - you can't get around the park in one day. It covers an area of ​​almost two hundred hectares. In the Imeretinskaya lowland. Do not go around it in a day and on electric cars: there are so many sights 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 away. From Gelendzhik - 129 kilometers, a little over two hours drive. The mountains that protect the resort from the evil northern winds, on average, are from 1352 to 1453 meters above sea level. But there are exceptions - the top of Chessy ascended to the sky at 1839 meters. Among the attractions are Mount Semiglavaya, the Wolf Gorge, the rock of Alexander Kiselev, protruding into the sea and named after the artist. In the city itself - subtropical plants. In the foothills, both locals and tourists are happy to collect European blackberries. In the resort area there are sanatoriums, boarding houses, children's health camps. Both cargo and passenger ships moor in the seaport. You can rent a yacht, go to the open sea on it, go fishing, swim in the clearest water or sunbathe on the deck. Tourists love to arrange 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 Caucasian economic region. It is surrounded on all sides by the Krasnodar Territory. There are forty-five auls in the republic, there are villages, villages, farms. From the streets of Maykop, the Main Caucasian Range is clearly visible. Sights - Lago-Naki plateau, popular with tourists. Ten waterfalls Rufabgo - each with its own name. 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. The granite canyon is four kilometers long and two hundred meters deep. Sahrai waterfalls. Mountain lake Pseudonakh. Often visited by tourists are the Devil's Finger rock, Monk, Big Weaver, Trident, Camel, Una-Koz ridge. The mountains are quite high, we recall that the top of Fisht ascended to 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 in 2014 took place, so striking with their colorfulness and originality inherent in the Russian mentality.

Dagestan - a country of mountains

There is also a popular saying about this. It is especially often used in speeches on December 11, when the whole world celebrates International Mountain Day. And the highest of the peaks of the Great Caucasus here - Shalbuzdag - 4150 meters above sea level. In July and August, there is a real pilgrimage to her: 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 desires and dreams will come true. And thousands of tourists are trying to do it. But the capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala, stretches directly along the Tarki-Tau mountain - a unique natural monument from 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 of Bazarduzu is considered the southernmost point of Russia. She ascended to a height of 4466 meters above sea level. The first ascent to it was made in 1935.

You 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-haired Caspian splashes - the largest closed reservoir on Earth, the largest drainless lake on the planet at the junction of Europe and Asia. Its area is 371 thousand square kilometers. The depth is more than a kilometer. It is home to more than 140 species of fish, of which the most famous is the beluga, which, if you meet, will get scared: is it really 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, 3530 kilometers long, flows into the Caspian Sea (lake), off the coast of which a 300,000-strong Nazi army led by Field Marshal Paulus was taken prisoner near Stalingrad. Every year, thousands and thousands of tourists, both our compatriots and foreigners, come to rest to the Caspian Sea. In particular, there are sanatoriums, boarding houses, and children's health camps near Makhachkala. True, the shores of the Caspian 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 a fish, cook fragrant fish soup from it on the shore!

The mountains of the Caucasus, born in the collision of the Eurasian and Arabian plates, are like a symbol of the mentality of the peoples living next to them. Proud and tall, they stand as a miraculous wall between the Asian and European parts of our continent on land. Mankind has not decided whether to attribute them to Europe or Asia.

The height of the Caucasus Mountains: 5642 m (Great Caucasus) and 3724 m (Little Caucasus).

The length of the Greater Caucasus: 1100 km. small - 600 km.

See the geographic location of the Caucasus Mountains or where they are located and how they are located on the map. To enlarge the map of the Caucasus Mountains, just click on it.

Not crossed by rivers, the Caucasian ranges are called the watershed line. The mountain system of the Caucasus, the same age as the Alps, with a history of thirty million years, is firmly inscribed in the memory of mankind through biblical lines and Greek myths. It was on one of the mountains of the system that a dove released from Noah's ark found a branch, on top of Ararat. The legendary Prometheus, who gave fire to people, was chained to one of the Caucasian rocks.

The Caucasus is divided into two parts, which are called the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. The first stretches from Taman almost to Baku and consists of the Western, Central and Eastern Caucasus. One and a half thousand square kilometers of ice, the highest point of Eurasia - Elbrus (the peak of the Caucasus Mountains), an iron mountain, and six mountain peaks, five thousand kilometers high - that's what the Greater Caucasus is.

The Lesser Caucasus is a mountain range near the Black Sea, with peaks up to four kilometers high.

The Caucasus Mountains are located between the Caspian and the Black Sea coasts and simultaneously on the territory of several countries. These are Russia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The climate of the Caucasus is diverse: from typically maritime in Abkhazia, it changes to sharply continental in Armenia.

The Caucasus is inhabited by unique animals - chamois, mountain goats, wild boars, in especially remote and hard-to-reach places you can meet a leopard or a bear.

Alpine meadow grasses, coniferous forests climbing up from the foothills, turbulent rivers, lakes, waterfalls, mineral water springs, the purest air.

It is thanks to such a successful combination of values ​​for human health that the region has a huge number of sanatoriums and resorts.

Rock climbers are attracted by the royal Elbrus and its neighbors - Shkhara, Kazbek, Dzhangitau, Dykhtau and Koshnantau. Among the snows of the Caucasus there is a place for skiers and snowboarders, lovers of hiking and thrills, adherents of rafting, as well as all those who value their health. Terrenkur, Norwegian walking, rock climbing, river rafting, skiing and many other outdoor activities are offered by the Caucasus.

Once having visited the mountains, sung by the "genius of Lermontov", you will remember them for a lifetime.

Video: Wildlife of Russia 4 of 6 Caucasus Mountains.

Video: Hiking in the Caucasus mountains.

The Caucasus is a mountain system located in Eurasia between the Black and Caspian Seas. The mountain chain stretches for 1100 km from the Taman Peninsula and Anapa to the Absheron Peninsula near the city of Baku.

It is customary to divide this territory according to several criteria: into the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, as well as into the Western (from the Black Sea to Elbrus), Central (from Elbrus to Kazbek) and Eastern (from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea). The mountain system reaches its greatest width in the central part (180 km). The mountain peaks of the Central Caucasus are the highest on the Main Caucasian (Dividing) Range.

The most famous mountain peaks of the Caucasus are Mount Elbrus (5642 m) and Mount Kazbek (5033 m). Both peaks are stratovolcanoes. Moreover, Kazbek is considered to be extinct, which cannot be said about Elbrus. The opinions of experts on this matter vary. The slopes of the two highest mountains of the Caucasus are covered with snow and glaciers. The Central Caucasus accounts for up to 70% of modern glaciation. For more than a century of observations of the glaciers of the Caucasus, their area has significantly decreased.

To the north, from the foot of the Greater Caucasus, an inclined plain extends, which ends with the Kumo-Manych depression. Its territory is dissected by lateral ridges and river valleys. The largest rivers in this area can be considered the river. Kuban and Terek. To the south of the Greater Caucasus are the Colchis and Kura-Araks lowlands.

The Caucasus Mountains can be considered young. They were formed in the era of Alpine folding about 28-23 million years ago. Their formation is due to the movement of the Arabian lithospheric plate to the north to the Eurasian one. The latter, pressed by the African plate, moves several centimeters a year.

Tectonic processes in the depths of the Caucasus continue to this day. The geological structure of Elbrus speaks of the great activity of the volcano in the recent past. Several powerful earthquakes occurred in the Caucasus in the 20th century. The most devastating was the earthquake in Armenia in 1988.

Seismic stations operating throughout the Caucasus annually register several hundred earthquakes. Experts say that some sections of the Caucasus Range "grow" by several centimeters per year.

Caucasus in Europe or in Asia?

This issue should be considered more in political and historical aspects. The Caucasus Mountains are located in the center of the Eurasian Plate, so the division can only be conditional. The border between Europe and Asia was proposed by the Swedish officer and geographer F. Stralenberg in 1730. The border that passed through the Ural Mountains and the Kuma-Manych depression was accepted by many scientists.

Despite this, several alternative proposals were proposed at different times, which justified the division of Europe and Asia along the Caucasus Mountains. Despite ongoing disputes, Elbrus is still considered the highest point in Europe. The history of the region suggests the special position of the Caucasus at the crossroads between European and East Asian cultures.

The highest mountains of the Caucasus

• Elbrus (5642 m). KBR, KChR. The highest point in Russia
• Dykhtau (5204 m). CBD
• Koshtantau (5122 m). CBD
• Pushkin Peak (5100 m). CBD
• Dzhangitau (5058 m). CBD
• Shkhara (5201 m). CBD. The highest point of Georgia
• Kazbek (5034 m). The highest point of North Ossetia
• Mizhirgi Western (5022 m). CBD
• Tetnuld (4974 m). Georgia
• Katyntau (4970 m). CBD
• Peak Shota Rustaveli (4960 m). CBD
• Gestola (4860 m). CBD
• Jimara (4780 m). Georgia, North Ossetia
• Ushba (4690 m). Georgia, North Ossetia
• Gulchitau (4447 m). CBD
• Tebulosmta (4493 m). The highest point of Chechnya
• Bazarduzu (4466 m). The highest point of Dagestan and Azerbaijan
• Shan (4451 m). The highest point of Ingushetia
• Adai-Khokh (4408 m). North Ossetia
• Diclosmta (4285 m). Chechnya
• Shahdag (4243 m). Azerbaijan
• Tufandag (4191 m). Azerbaijan
• Shalbuzdag (4142 m). Dagestan
• Aragats (4094). The highest point of Armenia
• Dombay-Ulgen (4046 m). KCHR

How many five-thousanders are in the Caucasus?

It is customary to call Caucasian five-thousanders mountains whose height exceeds five kilometers. From the list above, it is clear that Caucasus eight mountains "five-thousanders«:

• Elbrus(5642 m) is a dormant volcano and the highest mountain in Russia. The mountain consists of two peaks Western (5642 m) and Eastern (5621 m), connected by a saddle (5416 m).
• Dykhtau(5204 m) - mountain peak of the Lateral Range of the Greater Caucasus. The mountain consists of two peaks (both over 5000 m high), connected by a steep narrow saddle. The first ascent to the mountain took place in 1888. To date, about ten routes have been laid to the top of Dykhtau with a difficulty of 4A (according to the Russian classification).
• Koshtantau(5122 m) - a mountain peak on the border of Bezenga and the mountainous region of Balkaria.
• Pushkin Peak(5100 m) - being part of the Dykhtau mountain range, it is a separate peak. Named after A.S. Pushkin to the 100th anniversary of his death.
• Dzhangitau(5058 m) - a mountain peak in the central part of the Greater Caucasus. There are three peaks in the Dzhangitau massif, all of which have a height of more than five kilometers.
• Shkhara(5201 m) - a mountain peak of the Central Caucasus, which is part of the Bezengi wall.
• Kazbek(5034 m) is an extinct stratovolcano, the easternmost five-thousander of the Caucasus. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1868.
• Mizhirgi Western(5022 m) - a mountain peak as part of the Bezengi wall. The name of the mountain is translated from Karachay-Balkar as "connecting".