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, also in 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 Cordillera mountain system 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, there are other mountain systems on Earth 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 1100 kilometers from northwest to southeast, and even more specifically, from Taman Peninsula in the area 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, then at Everest it is 5642 meters, at Kazbek 5033. total area The Great Caucasus Mountains are 1,400 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 noticed - both the Caspian and Black Sea the essence of the remnant 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, 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!). AT 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 museum under open sky in the center of Anapa "Gorgippia" they found a crypt with frescoes of the exploits of another mythological hero - Hercules. And from the myths 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 Sea of ​​Azov. BUT Black Sea coast 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, comfortably located among the mountains and part of municipality 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, as it is not surprising, by Joseph Stalin, who ordered the production of domestic champagne in southern regions 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 there is a museum of famous wines in Abrau, 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. A lot of entertainment on the coast in Durso - water attractions, "bananas", "pills", you can rush through the waves with a breeze on jet skis. 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, 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. So observation deck clearly visible yachts and other vessels in the bay, gulls, cormorants, petrels, hovering over blue sea with white crests.

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. Only one city in the world is longer former capital past 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 great river Volga 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 enthusiasts 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 Switzerland or other mountainous places on the planet. guests with more than 100 kilometers of snow trails different levels difficulty - 6 green, 8 blue, 16 red and 6 black. Experienced skiers and beginners and children can feel comfortable on them. Among independent ski resorts- "Rosa-Khutor", "Alpika-Service", "Gorki Gorod" and GTZ "Gazprom". Happy skiing, evening discos, karaoke, pleasant evenings in cafes, restaurants, casinos. There will be enough places for everyone - hotels, 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 railway transport with the famous "Swallows", or scheduled 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, operating from November to April inclusive, and sometimes grabbing the beginning of May), be sure to visit 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. Ice Palace reminiscent of the Peking Opera - in the form of an icy drop. And the Olympic cauldron! She looks like the Firebird from Russian folk tale. AT Olympic park- Formula 1 track, and competitions for pilots leave 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. AT Imereti lowland. Do not go around it in a day and on electric cars: there are so many sights in it. Natural beauty of Tuapse

Famous resort town located between Gelendzhik and Sochi. From southern capital Russia is 117 kilometers away - less than two hours away. From Gelendzhik - 129 kilometers, a little over two hours drive. Protecting the resort from evil northern winds mountains with an average height of 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 and locals and tourists are happy to collect European blackberries. In the resort area there are sanatoriums, boarding houses, children's health camps. AT seaport moored and cargo, and passenger ships. You can rent a yacht, go to the open sea on it, go fishing, swim in the clearest water or sunbathe on the deck. Loved by tourists during sea ​​trips organize picnics.

Republic of Adygea

It is part of the South Federal District with the capital Maykop with a population of half a million. Part of the North Caucasian economic region. Surrounded on all sides 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 Pseudonach. 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 were held, 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 - unique natural monument from a mountain monolith. It is also well known because in 1722 the army of Peter the Great entered Tarki. The top of the Great Caucasus under the name of Bazarduzu is considered the most south point 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 on the planet drainless lake at the crossroads 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! AT Caspian Sea(lake) flows into the great Russian river Volga, 3530 kilometers long, off the banks of which a 300,000-strong Nazi army led by Field Marshal Paulus was captured 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 Sea have not yet been very well developed, but a course has been taken to create another popular resort area. And what? White fine sand, clear water - sunbathe, swim, catch a fish, cook fragrant fish soup from it on the shore!

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Caucasian mountains- the great division between Europe and Asia. The Caucasus is a narrow strip of land between the Black and Caspian Seas. It strikes with an incredible variety of climate, flora and fauna.

The pride of the Caucasus is its mountains! The Caucasus is not the Caucasus without mountains. The mountains are unique, majestic and impregnable. The Caucasus is amazingly beautiful. He is so different. You can look at the mountains for hours.

The mountain range of the Greater Caucasus is a lot of pastures, forests, as well as amazing natural wonders. More than 2 thousand glaciers descend through narrow gorges. The chain of large mountains stretched for almost one and a half thousand kilometers from the northwest to the southeast. The main peaks exceed 5 thousand meters and significantly affect the weather in the regions. The clouds that form over the Black Sea are pouring rain, running into Mountain peaks Caucasus. On one side of the ridge there is a harsh landscape, and on the other - rough vegetation. Here you can find more than 6 and a half thousand plant species, a quarter of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

There are many legends about the origin of the Caucasus Mountains:

Long ago, when the earth was still very young, in place modern territory Caucasus stretched a huge plain. Huge sled heroes lived here in peace and love. They were kind and prudent, they met with joy both day and night, they knew neither evil, nor envy, nor deceit. The ruler of this people was the gray-haired giant Elbrus, and he had a beautiful son, Beshtau, and his son had a charming bride, the beautiful Mashuki. But they had an evil envious - Kite. And he decided to harm the Narts. He prepared a terrible potion in which he mixed the teeth of a wolf, the tongue of a boar and the eyes of a snake. At a big feast, he poured a potion into all the drinks of the Narts. And having drunk it, they acquired the greed of a boar, the anger of a wolf, and the cunning of a snake. And from that time on, the happy and carefree life of the Narts ended. The father decided to take the young bride away from his son and, sending him on a hunt, wanted to forcefully marry Mashuki. But Mashuki resisted Elbrus. And in an evil battle she lost her wedding ring. I saw the Beshtau ring and hurried to help the bride. And a terrible battle began not for life, but for death, and half of the Narts fought on the side of Elbrus, and the other half on the side of Beshtau. And the battle lasted for several days and nights, and all the sledges perished. Elbrus chopped his son into five parts, and the son, inflicting the last blow, dismembered the gray head of his father into two halves. Mashuki came out after the battle on the battlefield and did not see a single living soul. She approached her lover and plunged a dagger into her heart. So the life of a great and old people stopped.

And in this place now rise Caucasian mountains: a helmet from the head of Beshtau - Mount Zheleznaya, Mashuk's ring - Mount Ring, five peaks - Mount Beshtau, nearby - Mount Mashuk and far, far from others - a gray-haired or simply snow-covered handsome Elbrus.

The Caucasus Mountains are the result of the convergence of two plates

Let's look at one of the narrowest places in this grandiose mountain belt. At its northern outskirts, in the Ciscaucasia, there are flat areas that belong to a solid plate called the Scythian. Further south are the sublatitudinal (i.e., stretching roughly from west to east) mountains Greater Caucasus up to 5 km high, narrow depressions of Transcaucasia - Rionskaya and Kura lowlands - and also sublatitudinal, but convex to the north mountain ranges of the Lesser Caucasus in Georgia, Armenia, Eastern Turkey and Western Iran (up to 5 km high).

To the south are the plains of Northern Arabia, which, like the plains of Ciscaucasia, belong to a very strong, monolithic Arabian lithospheric plate.

Therefore, the Scythian and Arabian plates- it's like two parts of a giant vise, which are slowly approaching, crushing everything that is between them. It is curious that directly opposite the northern, relatively narrow end of the Arabian Plate, in Eastern Turkey and Western Iran, there are the highest mountains in comparison with the mountains located to the west and east. They rise just in the place where the Arabian plate, like some kind of solid wedge, squeezed the pliable deposits most strongly.

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mountain range Achishkho is the ridge closest to Krasnaya Polyana and the most picturesque. The highest mountain - Achishkho has a height of 2391 meters above sea level. Interesting fact about the name of the ridge: "Achishkho" in translation from the Abkhazian means "horse". This confirms the view from below, from Polyana to the mountain range. If you look closely, you can see the outline of a horse. The most popular hiking route passes through a special place located on the side of the mountain, approximately 1800 meters above sea level, where from the 30s to the 90s there was a weather station.

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The Aibga mountain range is located on the territory of Sochi national park, from the east side of Krasnaya Polyana. The ridge has a length of more than 20 kilometers, and consists of four highest points, called peaks. The most popular mountain peak among tourists is the Black Pyramid, 2375 meters above sea level. She has unusual shape which makes it very popular with climbers. In addition, a wonderful, breathtaking landscape opens up from the top of the mountain. Having conquered this mountain, you will see the valley of the Mzymta River, the peaks of Chugush and Pseashkho.

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One of the most beautiful resort places our country is Dombay. The main attractions of this city are its scenic spots. Mussa Ridge - Achitara is considered the most picturesque ridge of this part of the Caucasus. In order to appreciate all the beauty that surrounds the guests of the resort, you need to climb the slope of the mountain along cable car. This place offers a wonderful scenic view peaks and glaciers of the Main Range, Teberda and Gonachkhiri valleys.

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Peak Ine is located near the place where the northern Dzhugurlutchat glacier originates. The name of the mountain is translated as “Needle”, the mountain got its name because of its pointed top, this unusual view of mountains attracts many tourists from all over the world. The top of Ine Peak is covered with snow all year round, and although its sheer cliffs are relatively difficult to conquer, the top of Ine Peak is quite a popular destination for climbers. The height of the "needle" reaches 3455 meters, which is about 600 meters below the high mountain Caucasian watershed range. It is best to view the mountain from the site of Mount Mussa-Achi-Tara, it is 400 meters lower than Ine Peak, but for that it can be reached by funicular.

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In the North Caucasus, among the Dombai glade, several east of the mountain Behind (Small) Belalakai there is a peak called Sufruju. The height of the mountain is 3871 m. A wide depression divides the massif into two equal parts - Southern and Northern. Both peaks are clearly visible from the ski Musat-Cheri. southern part They named the Tooth Sufruju, which means "Tiger's Fang". The massif stretches for 3600 m and acts as the main attraction of the mountain Dombay.

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Belalakai is a mountain located near the village in Dombay, since the village is a resort mountain has become a symbol of this village and attracts a lot of tourists. Its height is 3861 meters. Although the height of this mountain is 200 meters lower than the highest in Abkhazia, it is no less an attraction. Belalakai owes its fame to quartz. For the most part, the mountain consists of dark rocks of soil and dark granite, however, due to centuries of geological processes, there are deposits of quartz on the mountain. It is this quartz that has created the white streaks that adorn the top of this mountain, the white streaks of Belalakai are especially visible at the end of summer. Because of the beauty of the local landscapes, the mountain was mentioned more than once in songs and poems.

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Dzhuguturluchat is a relatively small massif, in the large Caucasian ridge. The mountain range rose to a height of 3921 meters, which is only 120 meters less than the most high point on the Caucasian ridge. Herds of tours are found in the highest regions of the mountain range, it was they who gave these mountains the name "Dzhugurluchat" - which translates as: "herd of tours". mountain range originates from the Dombai plateau, however, the most Beautiful places open from a place called "Mussa-Achi-Tara" is where most tourists gather.

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Cheget is one of the highest mountains in the Caucasus. Its height reaches about 3770 meters. This is popular place for tourism among travelers. From the mountain you can enjoy the view of the most high peak Europe - Elbrus. Another feature of Mount Cheget is the second line of the cable car, which passes through the area where the snow lies, which does not melt throughout the year.There are three lines of the cable car in total. The height of the first reaches about 1600 meters. It is one of the most popular for tourists who come to Cheget to enjoy the view of Elbrus.

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This mountain after Elbrus is the second most popular among climbers. All because it is also quite high - 4454 meters above sea level.

There are several ways to get to the mountain by cable car or on foot. Tourists who have chosen the first method can use the Cheget cable car at the final point, where small cafes are located. The second and more difficult path, which takes several hours, is from the Cheget glade along a path already full of tourists. However, it is better to go on a journey with an experienced guide, otherwise there is a chance to get lost in the mountains.

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The North Caucasus will captivate many tourists with its beauties and landscapes. Mount Semyonov-Bashi, located in the east of the Caucasus Range, is no exception. In reality, this is just a ledge 3602 m above the ground. The mountain was named after the Russian explorer P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky. This person was a traveler and was the chairman of the Russian Geographical Society.

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Mount Chotcha is part of Caucasian ridge which is famous for its picturesque mountains and cliffs. Chotcha, unlike other mountains, is divided into two parts, as if someone cut the mountain in the middle into two halves. Unlike the mountains, which have just a smaller mountain nearby, at first glance it is clear that the mountain has one base on which there are two rocks. The rock in the foreground is lower than the back one, it has 3637 meters in height, it is 400 meters lower than the highest mountain of the Caucasian ridge. The second rock is only three meters higher than the first one, it is 3640 meters above sea level.

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Mount Ertsog is included in the list of one of the most visited places of the Caucasian ridge. At the foot of the mountain, the Alibek River flows, in addition to the mountain itself, this place has a very beautiful lowland. In the gorge where the river flows, a massive slope descends, it becomes especially beautiful in spring, when the sun illuminates the slope full of bright green vegetation. Mount Ertsog is part of the Teberdinsky ridge, the ridge itself encircles a lowland with a river and makes a very strong impression on tourists who visit it.

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Mount Sulohat is located in the Dombay region and is one of the most big dots Caucasian watershed range. The height of the mountain is 3439 meters, which is about 600 meters lower than the big mountain on the Caucasian ridge. Mount Sulohat is surrounded by many legends, the most popular one is about the origin of the name of the mountain. In ancient times, the foot of the mountain was inhabited by the Alans tribe. In this tribe lived a girl named Sulohat, she was extraordinary beauty and courage and was the daughter of the leader of the tribe.

Geographical position

Stretched between the Black and Caspian Seas, the Caucasus Mountains are the natural border between Asia and Europe. They also separate the Near and Middle East. Because of their vast territory, they can be safely called "the country of ridges and highlands." There are two versions of the origin of the word "Caucasus". According to the first, that was the name of the epic king from the Shahnameh poem - Kavi-Kaus. The second hypothesis ascribes a name to the translation: "Supporters of the sky." Geographically, the Caucasus is divided into two mountain systems: Big and Small. In turn, they also have divisions into ridges, chains and highlands.

Height of the Caucasus Mountains

The Caucasus often appears in the list of "most-most". For example, the highest permanent settlement of Ushguli (Georgia) is located here. It lies on the slope of Shkhara (5068 m above sea level) and is included in the UNESCO list. Ushba gained gloomy fame among climbers as the most difficult peak to conquer - the "four-thousander". The mysterious Ararat is surrounded by biblical legends. There are also high mountain lakes - Ritsa, for example. And Zeygalan waterfall ( North Ossetia) is the largest in Russia (600 m). This attracts many climbers, athletes and just tourists to the region. The highest snow-capped peaks, glaciers shining in the sun, hard-to-reach passes, narrow gorges, waterfalls and turbulent, bubbling rivers - all these are the Caucasus Mountains. The height of the largest peaks - Elbrus (5642) and Kazbek (5034) - exceeds Mont Blanc (4810), which is considered the culminating point of Western Europe.

Myths and legends

The Caucasus is mentioned in the Bible. In the Book of Genesis, the ark of the righteous Noah landed during the great flood on Mount Ararat, and from there a dove brought an olive branch. To the country of sorcerers Colchis (the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus) Jason sailed for the Golden Fleece. Here the eagle of Zeus punished Prometheus for giving people fire. The Caucasus Mountains also have their own regional legends. Each people living on the slopes of this majestic country of glaciers and snowy peaks - and there are about fifty of them - composes legends and myths about them.

Geology

The Caucasus is a young mountain system. It was formed relatively recently - about 25 million years ago, in the Tertiary period. Thus, the Caucasus Mountains belong to the Alpine folding, but with little volcanic activity. Eruptions have not been observed for a long time, but earthquakes are frequent. The largest in last time happened in 1988. In Spitak (Armenia) then 25 thousand people died. The main geological wealth of the mountains is oil. The field reserves are estimated at 200 billion barrels.

Flora and fauna

The Caucasus Mountains are home to many species of wild animals. Bears live in the gorges, as well as golden eagles, chamois, wild boars, and argali. There are also endemics - species that, except for the Caucasus, you will not find anywhere else on the planet. These include local species of leopard, lynx. Prior to the beginning of our era, manuscripts mention the presence of Caspian tigers and Asiatic lions. The biodiversity of this region is rapidly declining. The last Caucasian bison died out in 1926, the local subspecies - in 1810. In this region of subtropical forests, alpine meadows and high mountain lichens, 6350 plant species have been recorded. Of these, more than one and a half thousand are endemic.