General character of the Caucasus Mountains. - Snow-covered parts of the Main Range. - The main ridge between Elbrus and the Georgian military road. - The eastern part of the Main Range between Begyul and Baba-dag. - Part of the Main Range, lying to the west of Elbrus and up to Mount Oshten. - The total length of the part of the Main Range covered with eternal snow. - Lateral ridge. - The highest points of the eastern part of it. - Pirikiteli and Bogosskiy ridges. - Western part of the Side Range. - Ararat, Alagyoz and other high points of Transcaucasia.

The high Caucasian ridge with its countless spurs and gorges is a gigantic threshold rising between Europe and Asia. Not only in its geographical position, but also in many other respects, it represents an intermediate or transitional link between the mountains of the two parts of the world mentioned. This is the first mountainous country from Asia, says K. Ritter, which is distinguished by European construction. Like the European Alps, it narrows in the west and widens greatly in the east, reaching nearly 50 geographical miles of width near the shores of the Caspian Sea. The northwestern part of the Caucasus, with its abundance of forests, resembles the mountains of Europe, while the southeastern part (Dagestan, in particular) approaches the mountains of Central Asia with its bare, lifeless cliffs.

“Here, on the threshold of Europe,” says Ritter, “the characteristic form of tall trees begins, which is distinctive character Central Europe. German oak (Quercus robur) and German beech (Fagus silvatica) overshadow the dwellings of the Indo-Germanic tribes in the North Caucasus.”

In terms of the height of the snow line, in terms of the size of both modern glaciers and glaciers of bygone eras, the Caucasus, as we will see below, also occupies the middle between the mountains of Europe and the giant ridges of Central Asia. Finally, by the height of the primary peaks, the average height of its crest, and some other features, the Caucasus also represents an intermediate link between the extreme members mentioned.

The well-known Russian scientist and traveler I. V. Mushketov says that, while doing research in Central Asia, he more than once came across questions that are completely insoluble with the help of those doctrines that were developed during the study of Europe, and that the study of such an intermediate area, like the Caucasus, should shed light on the study of Asia. Here, therefore, in particular, that fruitful idea is expressed, which was developed by Ritter in his numerous writings, namely, that the globe is not a lifeless mass, but an organism, all parts of which are in close connection and strict dependence on each other.

From the foregoing, the reader will understand that it is impossible to study the Caucasus, completely isolating it from the other mountains of both Europe and Asia, and that, of necessity, I will have to do it from time to time, although in in general terms touch the mountains and glaciers of other countries.

The main Caucasian ridge is a continuous chain of mountains stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea for 1420 versts. The highest part of it lies between Elbrus and Kazbek, and especially between Elbrus and Adai-khokh. Between the last two points, as E. Favre notes, there is not a single pass below 3 thousand meters (9840 feet) above sea level. To the east of Adai-hoch, which has 15,244 lbs. (4647 m) of height, the Main Range drops strongly, forming the so-called Mamissonovsky Pass (9300 ft., or, according to Favre, 2862 m). Still further to the east it rises again, with some peaks exceeding 12,000 feet. (Zekari and Zilga-hoch reach over 12,500 feet in height); further east again follows a decrease. Here is the Buslachirsky pass (7746 f.) between the Terek and Aragva and the pass of the Georgian Military Road, or Krestovy (7957 f.), behind which the Main Range in a distant space (300 versts) is almost devoid of snow and ice. Finally, in the eastern part, in an area of ​​80 versts, precisely between Begyul and Baba Dag, it again rises strongly, reaching an average height of 12,664 feet, while individual points of it rise still much higher. Behind Baba-dag, having 11,934 l. height and separated only by 70 versts in a straight line from the Caspian Sea, the mountains gradually lower and, finally, merge with the low-lying seashore.

To the west of Elbrus, the ridge also drops, but here the snow line also drops very noticeably, so that, starting from Elbrus and up to the upper reaches of the Bolshaya Laba on the north side and the Bzyb on the south, the peaks of the Main Range rise significantly above the snow line and therefore are covered with almost continuous eternal snow. Mount Psysh, whose snows nourish both Laba and Bolshoy Zelenchuk, is the extreme point in the west, exceeding 12,000 pounds. height. Beyond Psysh, the mountains, descending more and more, reach Oshten and Fisht, which make up one mountain range, rising to 9369 feet. (2856 m). This is the most extreme point in the west of the Main Caucasian Range, where you can still find eternal snow. Between Oshten and Psysh, the ridge is covered with snow, but not everywhere, but only in higher places. Further to the east, snow is visible on Abago and Shugus (10,624 ft.).

To the west of Oshten, the mountains immediately drop sharply, their crest is almost devoid of high bare rocks and is covered not only with meadows, but even with forests. It retains a similar character to the very shores of the Black Sea.

Thus, except for several peaks located in the eastern half of the Main Caucasian Range, only that part of it, which lies between the upper reaches of the Bolshaya Laba and the Georgian Military Highway, has the conditions necessary for the development of glaciers. This part, however, represents almost one-fifth of the entire Main Range. It is only about three hundred versts long, except for all the meanders.

The distribution of glaciers and eternal snows in the Caucasus is not limited, however, to the Main Range. The Caucasus, as noted by the famous geographer Karl Ritter, is similar in its relief to other ranges of Europe and is very different from the mountains of Asia. It is in it that there are nowhere such high plateaus that distinguish the mountains of Asia, but it represents a very complex system of high mountain ranges and their spurs. Thus, almost in the very middle of the Main Range, exactly where Adai-khokh rises, the Side Range intersects with the Main Range. To the west of Adai-khokh, this ridge stretches along the southern side of the Main, is separated from it by an average number of 25 versts, and reaches the Black Sea near Gagra. The other part of the Side Range, namely the one that stretches east of Adai-khokh, passes to the northern side of the Main Range, runs almost parallel to it, on average 20 versts from it and reaches the Caspian Sea.

The main Caucasian ridge, along its entire length from the Black to the Caspian Sea, is nowhere interrupted by transverse valleys and gorges, and represents a real watershed line, taken as the border between Europe and Asia; The side, of course, cannot form such a continuous ridge as the main one. The western part of it is interrupted by the following rivers: Rion, Tskhenistskhali, Ingur, Kodor and Bzybyu, and the eastern part - by Ardon, Terek, Argun, Andi Koisu, Avar Koisu and Samur.

Some parts of this ridge far exceed the parts of the Main one lying next to them, and in the same way, individual peaks of the first ridge rise above the highest (with the exception of perhaps 3-4, which are: Elbrus, Dykh-tau, etc.) points of the second. It is even possible that the highest part of the Lateral Range, lying between Adai-khokh and Kazbek, exceeds the highest part of the Main Range. In addition, most of the highest points of the Caucasus lie in this side chain. They include: Kazbek 16 546 f. (5043 m), Dzhimarai-khokh 15,694 f. (4783 m), Syrkhu-Barzoy 13,637 f. (4153 m), Tepli 14,510 f. (4422 m); and even further to the east, namely near the headwaters of the Argun, Avar and Andi Koisu, the side chain forms two very high ridge, located to the north of the Main, and has the following very high points: in the Pirikite ridge - Tebulosmta 14,781 f. (4506 m), Small Kachu, Diklosmta 13,717 f., Big Kachu 14,027 f. (4276 m), Kvavlosmta 13 7002, and in Bogossky - Ballakuri 12 323 f., Bochek, Kavalavissa and others. In addition, the peaks of the easternmost part of the Caucasus, namely: Shah-Dag (13,951 lbs.), Shalbuz-Dag (13,679 lbs.), Kizilkaya (12,247 lbs.), Are included in the Lateral Range.

The western part of the Side Range is much lower than the eastern part, and is completely devoid of especially high peaks. Among the most exalted belongs Shoda (on the five-verst map of the Caucasus - Shoba), located on the right side of Rion, not far from Oni, and reaching 11,128 f. On top of it lies several snow fields. To the west of Shoda stretches the Svaneti Range; in the space of 20 versts, namely, almost from Mushur to Lyaila, it is covered with snow. The peaks of Lakura, Lyaila and Lyasil, as well as many other sharp teeth of this ridge, rise far above the snow line. To the east of Mushur, eternal snows are on Dadiash 5. According to Ilyin, the Svaneti Range is not inferior in height to that part of the Main Range that limits Svanetia from the north, and extends between Uzhba and Tetnuld, these paramount giants of the Caucasus Range. Many glaciers also descend from the northern slope of the Svaneti Range, and the southern one is dotted with snow spots. It should be noted, however, that due to the proximity of the Black Sea and the abundance precipitation the snow line lies lower here than on most of the Main Range.

Even further to the west, that is, on the mountains located between Ingur and Kodor, there are probably also peaks covered with snow, but this area is very little known. The snowy peaks in both parts of the Side Range occupy a total of 273 versts in length, and together - the Side and Main Ranges - about 570 versts. Thus, only for 570 versts the mountains of the Greater Caucasus are covered with snow and glaciers.

This account does not include, however, those few points in the South Caucasus that rise above the snow line. These include: Big Ararat (16,916 lbs., 5160 m) and Alagoz (13,436 lbs.). In addition, in the eastern part of the Pontic Range, which runs along the southern coast of the Black Sea, there are also a few peaks that rise to the line of eternal snows. Of these, Varchembek-dag, having 12,152 f. height and, according to Palgreve, strikingly reminiscent of the Matterhorn in its shape, is located within Turkey, and Karchkhal, towering in the Karchkhal ridge (a continuation of the Pontic), has 11,248 f. and is located within Russia (20 versts from Artvin. On all these peaks of the South Caucasus, with the exception of Ararat and Alagyoz, snow forms only small fields and narrow ribbons in summer that cannot give rise to glaciers. According to Masalsky, about the snow line on Pontisky the ridge is out of the question, and eternal snow is here only on Karchkhala.

In the southeastern part of the Caucasus, not far from the Persian border, there are also peaks that are rare years free from snow. To them belong: Kapujih, having 12,855 f. height and located 40 versts east of Nakhichevan, and Kazangyol-dag, rising to 12,649 ft. Insignificant deposits of snow still remain on the southern slopes of Gyamish (12,269 ft.), Ginal-dag (11,057 ft.) and Murov-dag (11,219 ft.); their northern side, which is under the influence of the sultry Elisavetopol valley, is freed from snow in the summer. Occasionally snow remains for a whole year on Godorebi (10,466 lbs.) and Abul (10,826 lbs.), towering on a ridge running along the border of Tiflis and Akhaltsikhe counties

Let us also mention two very high extinct volcanoes, although they do not belong to the Caucasus, but are located very close to it and not far from the shores of the Caspian Sea. One of them is called Damavend, and the other is Savalan. The first has £18,600 and the second £15,792. absolute height. Therefore, both of them rise above the snow line. On the northern slope of Damavend, which is influenced by the Caspian Sea, there is a lot of snow, there are even glaciers; Savalan, on its top, where in former times there was a crater, a lake with warm water. Probably, the excess of heat inside the mountain largely prevents the accumulation of snow on its slopes.

I prefer the unofficial name of the ridge - Cardiogram of the Caucasus. If you look closely, then in the predawn twilight the silhouettes of the mountains really resemble a heartbeat graph. It's really hard to imagine the size of this heart)
During a sortie to Elbrus, the view of the GKH was my main goal, I have long been excited by the panoramas of the mountains taken from Bochek or Pastukhov rocks. Unfortunately, I did not find the weather that I so wanted to shoot - low cloud cover. But lucky to catch the incredible light.
Frankly, it was hard to shoot at an altitude above 3000 meters. On the first evening, I generally thought about how to take the next step, and not about the composition) What can we say, when just tying your shoelaces is a real feat!
Nevertheless, it was possible to shoot wonderfully, to catch an incredible sunset and see the most high mountains in Europe.


1. In general, in height, the Caucasian Range is much higher than the Alps; it has no less than 15 peaks exceeding 5,000 m, and more than 20 peaks above Mont Blanc, the highest peak in all of Western Europe. The advanced heights accompanying the Main Range, in most cases, do not have the character of continuous chains, but are short ridges or mountain groups connected with the watershed ridge by spurs and cut through in many places by deep gorges of rivers, which, starting in the Main Range and breaking through the advanced heights, descend to the foothills and out onto the plains.


2. The highest is the middle part of the ridge, between Elbrus and Kazbek (average heights are about 3,400 - 3,500 m above sea level); its highest peaks are concentrated here, the highest of which - Elbrus - reaches a height of 5,642 m above sea level. m.; east of Kazbek and west of Elbrus, the ridge drops, and more significantly in the second direction than in the first.


3. The first sunset on Elbrus. With difficulty moving through the snow, I managed to take a few shots


4. And the first dawn - after a sleepless night filled with PAIN. Frankly, I didn’t even want to get out of the sleeping bag, but greed won - I wanted more frames))


5.


6. This shot was taken standing almost waist-deep in snow

General characteristics of the Caucasian mountain system

The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system located between the Azov, Black and Caspian Seas. All the Caucasus Mountains are divided into the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus, connected by the Likhi Range.

The North Caucasus and Transcaucasia are also distinguished separately. The border between them runs along the Main (Dividing) Range of the Caucasus.

Ciscaucasia extends from the northern mountainous areas Greater Caucasus to the Kuma-Manych depression. Ciscaucasia is represented by vast uplands and plains.

The Talysh Mountains are located in the southeastern part of the Caucasus. Their height reaches 2492 m.

In the central and western parts of the South Caucasus, the Transcaucasian Highlands are located, including the ranges of the Armenian Highlands (with the highest point - the peak of Ararats, 4090 m) and the ranges of the Lesser Caucasus.

Greater Caucasus

The Greater Caucasus stretches from the northwest (the region of Anapa and the Taman Peninsula) to the southeast (on the coast of the Caspian Sea to the Absheron Peninsula) for 1100 km.

The mountain range reaches its greatest width in the region of the meridian of Mount Elbrus - up to 180 km.

To the north of the Main Range stretches a chain of parallel ranges, some of which are cuesto (monocline) in nature.

The southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus are represented by echelon-shaped ridges connected with the Main Caucasian ridge.

Remark 1

The Great Dividing Range passes through the Greater Caucasus.

The Greater Caucasus is divided into three parts: the Central Caucasus - occupies the territory from Elbrus to Kazbek; Western Caucasus - stretched from the Black Sea to Elbrus; Eastern Caucasus - occupies the territory from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea.

Main peaks: Mount Elbrus (5642 m) and Mount Kazbek (5033 m).

In the Greater Caucasus, the following belts are distinguished:

  • Axial part. Includes the Main Caucasian Range (height from 3500 to 5000 m), Lateral Range (3000 m).
  • Northern slope belt. Includes parallel ridges descending to the north. Main ranges: Rocky (3300-3600 m), Pasture (1200-1500 m), Wooded (1326 m).
  • Southern slope of the Greater Caucasus. It consists mainly of echelon-shaped ranges that adjoin the Main Range of the Greater Caucasus.

Remark 2

The Greater Caucasus is distinguished by significant areas of modern glaciation. In total, there are more than 22 thousand glaciers on the territory, covering an area of ​​​​about 1400 square meters. km. Most of the glaciation occurs in the Central Caucasus - 70% of the total glaciation area.

Large centers of glaciation: the Bezengi wall, the Bezengi glacier (Ullu chiran) stretches for 17 km and covers an area of ​​36 sq. km. km; The Dykh-Su glacier covers part of the slopes of Bashkhaauzbashi, Shkhara, Koshtantau, Krumkol, the length of the glacier is 13.5 km, the area is 34 sq. km. km; Big Azau and Small Azau, together form the Baksan glacier, located on the southern shoulder of Mount Elbrus and part of the Khoti-Tau ridge.

The most significant peaks (in height) of the Greater Caucasus: Elrus (5642 m), Dykhtau (5204 m), Koshtantau (5152 m), Pushkin Peak (5100 m), Dzhangitau (5085 m), Shkhara (5068 m), Kazbek (5034 m) etc.

Lesser Caucasus

The Lesser Caucasus is a mountain system located in the South Caucasus and includes a complex system of volcanic uplands, ridges and plateaus, total length about 600 km.

The highest point of the Lesser Caucasus is Gyamash (3724 m), located on the Murovdag ridge in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In the west, the Lesser Caucasus is separated from the Greater Caucasus by the Colchis lowland, and in the east by the Kura-Araks lowland. From the north and north-east, the region is surrounded by the Armenian Highlands. Significant territories of the central part of the Lesser Caucasus are occupied by the Karabakh, Armenian and Javakhetian volcanic highlands with large stratovolcanoes.

The system of the Lesser Caucasus is made up of ridges that form an arc facing the northeast with a convex side.

Ranges of the Lesser Caucasus:

  • Trialetsky,
  • Meskheti,
  • Somkhetsky,
  • Sevan, or Shahdag,
  • Murovdagsky, or Mravsky,
  • Murguzsky,
  • Karabakh.

The main ridge of the Greater Caucasus

The main ridge of the Greater Caucasus, the Main Caucasian ridge or the Dividing Range occupies a central position in the mountain system of the Caucasus.

The entire system of the Caucasus Range covers an area of ​​​​about 2600 square meters. km. (the northern slope accounts for 1450 sq. km, the southern slope - 1150 sq. km). The width of the ridge in its western and eastern parts is up to 160-180 km, in the central part - about 100 km.

The Greater Caucasus Range is divided into seven regions:

  • Black Sea Caucasus– 265 km, from Anapa to Oshten;
  • Kuban Caucasus - 160 km, from Oshten to the origins of the Kuban;
  • Elbrus Caucasus - 170 km, from the origins of the Kuban to the peak of Adai-hokh;
  • Terek Caucasus - 125 km, from Adai-khokh to the top of Barbalo;
  • Dagestan Caucasus - 130 km, from Barbalo to the city of Sari-Dag);
  • Samur Caucasus - 130 km, from the top of Sari-Dag to Mount Baba-Dag;
  • Caspian Caucasus - 170 km, from the town of Baba-Dag to the top of Ilkhi-Dag.

The height of the mountains ranges from 260 to 3360 m.

The Greater Caucasus Range is composed mainly of limestone. High basins are observed throughout the mountain range.

There are about 15 peaks higher than 5000 m in the Caucasus Range. The elevations accompanying the Main Range represent mountain groups or short ranges connected with the main range by spurs.

Figure 1. The main range of the Greater Caucasus. Author24 - online exchange of student papers

The northern slope of the Great Ridge forms several spurs perpendicular to the main ridge. The Elbrus fault zone separates the waters of the Kuban and the Caspian Sea. This section gradually decreases with ledges and passes into the mountains of Pyatigorsk and the Stavropol Upland.

On the eastern side of the northern slope of the Caucasus Range, on the side of Dagestan, there are more developed mountain ranges with several peaks, 3500 m high (Vaza-Khokh, Kargu-Khokh, etc.). To the north, they decrease and pass into the Black Mountains.

The southern slope of the Great Range is less developed, especially its western and eastern parts. Uplands adjoining this site form the valleys of Rioni, Enguri, Tskhenis-Tskhali. To the south of the mountain range there are spurs that separate the basins of the Kura, Alazani, and Iori rivers. The most significant peak is Zagatala (3000 m). The difficult passes include the Mamisonsky and Krestovoy passes.

Caucasian Range- By this name it is customary to designate a mountain range, which, crossing the entire Caucasian isthmus from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, in the form of a continuous huge wall, naturally divides the K. region into two parts: Ciscaucasia or the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia. This ridge, generally heading along the uplift axis from NW to SE, with very slight meanders, consists of a watershed ridge (separating the waters of the Kuban, Terek, Sulak and Samur on the one hand, from the basins of the Ingur, Rion and Kura - on the other), accompanying its swell-like advanced hills, ridges, mountain groups, and many more or less significant spurs extending on both sides of the watershed ridge, and mainly in the north, where they, colliding with others, form in places vast mountainous countries. The watershed ridge, unlike other components of the K. ridge, is called main ridge, the entire mountain system together is also called the Greater Caucasus, in contrast to the Lesser Caucasus, which fills the entire southwestern part of the K. region with its uplands and chains. The entire K. ridge system covers an area of ​​approximately 2,600 square meters. m, and sowing. its slope occupies about 1450 sq. m, while the southern one is only about 1150 sq. m. The main ridge at its western tip approaches Anapa on the Black Sea coast, and at its eastern end ends with Mount Ilhi-Dag (1073 f.), NW of Baku. The distance in a straight line between these points is about 1100 in., But, due to convolutions and bends, the Main. The ridge stretches, in the form of a continuous high watershed, almost 1420 in. The width of the Caucasus Range in the western (somewhat west of Elbrus) and eastern (Dagestan) parts is about 200 century BC. in the central - approx. 90th century; both extremities are strongly narrowed and represent (especially the western) an insignificant width. The highest is the middle part of the ridge, between Elbrus and Kazbek (cf. height 11600 ft.), where its highest peaks are concentrated, of which Elbrus reaches 18470 ft. above ur. seas; east of Kazbek and west of Elbrus, the ridge drops, and more significantly in the second direction than in the first. In general, in height, the K. ridge significantly exceeds the Alps; it has no less than 15 peaks exceeding 12,000 ft., and more than 20 peaks above Mont Blanc, the highest peak in all of Europe. The advanced heights accompanying the Main Range, in most cases, do not have the character of continuous chains, but are short ridges or mountain groups connected with the watershed ridge by spurs and cut through in many places by deep gorges of rivers, which, starting in the Main Range and breaking through the advanced heights, descend to the foothills and out onto the plains. Thus, almost along its entire length (to the west from the south, to the east from the north) a number of high basins adjoin the watershed ridge, in most cases of lacustrine origin, closed on the one hand by the heights of the watershed, as well as its spurs, and on the other individual groups and the short ridges of the advanced uplands, which in some places surpass the main chain in height. On the north side of the watershed, transverse basins predominate, and on the south, except for its western extremity, longitudinal ones. It is also characteristic of the K. ridge that many of the primary peaks do not lie on the watershed ridge, but on the extremities of its short spurs heading to the north (this is the position of the peaks: Elbrus, Koshtan-tau, Adai-khokh, etc.). The northern, more developed slope of the K. ridge, formed by many spurs, adjoining in general almost perpendicular to the Main ridge and separated by transverse deep valleys, reaches a very significant development in the vicinity of Elbrus (Elbrus ledge). The most significant uplift is directed from this peak directly to the north, serves as a watershed between the waters of the Kuban and the Terek, and, descending further in ledges, spreads into the vast Stavropol Upland (see the Caucasian Territory). Even more developed sowing. slope to the east parts of the K. ridge, where numerous, and very significant in height and length, its spurs form an extensive mountain country Dagestan (Dagestan ledge). Gradually lowering to the north, the northern slope is formed by many advanced hills, which in places are in the form of ridges; these include the so-called Black Mountains, running north of the Main Range at a distance of 17-60 century. To the north, the Black Mountains form gentle and long slopes, in most areas covered with dense forests (hence the name), and to the south they fall in steep cliffs. The rivers flowing from the Main Range break through the Black Mountains along deep and narrow, very picturesque gorges; the height of this advanced chain is, in general, insignificant, although in the upper reaches of the Ardon and Urukh some of their peaks reach more than 11 tons. high (Kion-hoh 11230 ft., Kargu-hoh 11164 ft.). Southern the slope is especially poorly developed in the western and eastern parts of the ridge, reaching a rather significant orographic development in the middle, where parallel hills adjoin it, forming longitudinal valleys of the upper reaches of the Rion, Ingur and Tskhenis-tskhali, and long spurs extend to the south, separating the Alazani basins, Yora and Kura. This slope is distinguished by remarkable steepness and small development where it falls to the Alazani valley; Zagatala, located at an altitude of 1783 ft. at the southern the soles of the K. ridge, separated in a straight line by only the 18th century. from its crest, reaching here more than 11,000 ft. heights n. ur. m. K. the ridge is not distinguished by cross-country ability; only for app. and east. its extremities have convenient and low passes, quite accessible all year round for communication. Throughout the rest of the length, with the exception of the Mamison and Krestovoi (see Military-Gruz. Road), the paths through the ridge in most cases represent pack or even pedestrian paths, partly completely inaccessible for use in the winter season. Of all the passes, the Cross (7977 ft.) is of the greatest importance, through which along the Military Cargo. dor. the most significant movement is made along the entire length of the ridge. For a more convenient view, the K. ridge can be divided along the length from W to E into seven parts: 1) the Black Sea Caucasus (from the meridian of Anapa to the Oshten mountain group - about 250 century), 2) the Kuban Caucasus (from Oshten to the source of the Kuban - 150 c.), 3) Elbrus Caucasus (from the source of the Kuban to the top of Adai-khokh - 160 c.), 4) Terek Caucasus (from Adai-khokh to the city of Barbalo - 120 c.), 5) Dagestan Caucasus (from Barbalo to the top of Sari-Dag - 140 c.), 6) the Samur Caucasus (from Sari-Dag to the city of Baba-Dag - c. 120 c.) and 7) the Caspian Caucasus (from Baba-Dag to the top of Ilkhi-Dag - about 160 c.).

1) The Black Sea Caucasus along its entire length runs almost parallel to the Black Sea coast, and the distance of the watershed ridge from the sea does not exceed 40 in. (at Oshten); not reaching the snow line anywhere, the Black Sea Caucasus rises here and there to 6 t. ft. only in the southern part; between the passes are remarkable Novorossiysk - 1225 ft. and Goythsky - 1343 ft. (between Tuapse and Maykop), designed for wheeled traffic. Cool south. the slope falling to the Black Sea is divided by short buttresses of the ridge into a series of transverse valleys and gorges, along which rivers flow into the sea; north, a much more developed slope is formed by spurs gradually lowering towards the Kuban plane, between which the valleys of the lion are located. tributaries of the Kuban (Psekups, Pshish) and Belaya (Pshekha) rivers.

2) The Kuban Caucasus begins with the Oshten mountain group (the top of Fishta - 9360 ft. a.s.l.), on the top of which eternal snow appears for the first time, differs, compared with the Black Sea, greater height and width, snow covering its most prominent peaks, significant height and difficulty of passes, and, finally, the appearance of glaciers, first encountered in the upper reaches of the Laba; at the same time, the height of the watershed ridge gradually increases from NE to SW. Of the peaks, except for Fishta, the following are remarkable: Shugus (10642) and Psysh (1 2 427). from the passes that rise very significantly in this part of the ridge and represent pack trails, Pseashkho is remarkable - 6870 ft. (from the Mzymta basin to the upper reaches of the Laba), Marukhsky - 11000 ft., Klukhorsky - 9075 ft. and Naharsky - 9617 ft. (the last two from the Kodor basin to the upper reaches of the Kuban). The penultimate of the passes is the most convenient way of communication between Sukhum and Batalpashinsk. The southern slope of the Kuban Caucasus is more developed than in the previous part of the range; between its numerous spurs, descending to the Black Sea, lies a series of deep basins containing small river basins, the upper part of which is sometimes located almost parallel to the watershed ridge; such are the basins of the Mzymta, Bzyb and Kodor. The northern slope is highly developed and has up to 100 e. in length; between its huge buttresses, of which the largest departs to the northwest from the top of Psysh, there are deep, wild and picturesque, forested transverse valleys and gorges of the upper reaches of the Kuban system (pp. Belaya, Laba, Urup, Zelenchuk, Teberda and Kuban); of these valleys, the valley of the upper Laba - Zagdan is the most famous (see).

3) Elbrus Caucasus, stretching from the origins of the Kuban to the top of Adai-hokh or to the upper reaches of the river. Ardona, represents the highest part of the K. ridge, rich in snow and glaciers. The average height of the Elbrus Caucasus reaches 11-12 t. ft.; passes that are difficult to access go down a little lower, but many times. its high peaks, bearing masses of snow and ice, rise above 16 t. ft. From the Main Range to the NE, short and powerful spurs extend, in which the highest peaks of the Caucasus are located; in the most significant of these spurs, in the 20th century. north of the watershed ridge, rises Elbrus, or Mingi-tau (18470 ft.), the highest peak in the system of the K. ridge and within the K. region. To the south of the Main Range, at a short distance, almost along the entire length of the Elbrus Caucasus, runs parallel to the Main Range, the Svanet Range (top. Shoda 11128 ft.), Which, being approximately 3000 ft. on average, lower than the Main one, yet it goes far beyond the bounds of eternal snow. Between the Svaneti and watershed ridges there are high, parallel to the axis of uplift of the latter, the valleys of the Ingur and Tskhenis-tskhali, and the same valley of the upper reaches of the Rion adjoins the eastern tip of the Elbrus Caucasus from the south; these valleys, as well as the Ingura valley from the Kodor valley, are separated by high spurs of the Main Range. Between the peaks of the Elbrus Caucasus, in addition to Elbrus, there are remarkable: Dykh-tau (17054 ft.), Koshtan-tau (16881 ft.), Shkhara (17049 ft.), Dzhangi-tau (16564 ft.), Tetnuld (15914 ft.) , Ushba (15445 ft.), Adish (16291 ft.), Adai-hoh (15244 ft.), etc. Through passes rising up to 12 t. ft. heights, partly over snow and glaciers, lead dangerous footpaths, along which the inhabitants of the upper reaches of the Rion, Ingur and Tskhenis-tskhali communicate with the northern slope. This latter, significantly developed in the western part, where the spurs of the Elbrus buttress slightly do not reach the line of the Vladikavkaz railway. the road, is greatly shortened to the SE, as it approaches the top of Adai-hokh, where it is three times shorter than to the west. All spurs and buttresses of the northern slope are directed to the NE and between us, in deep gorges and valleys, flow in the same direction of the river Terek systems (Baksan, Chegem, Cherek, Urukh), originating in the vast glaciers of the K. Range.

4) The Terek Caucasus, embracing part of the ridge from Adai-khokh to Mount Barbalo (10,807 ft.), is characterized by many features. The entire K. ridge narrows strongly here, its slopes, and especially the northern one, become short and, in addition, the watershed ridge, which slopes here in the upper reaches of the Terek and Ardon to the south, is significantly inferior in height to the front ridge located somewhat north of it, with its peaks almost reaching the heights of the Elbrus Caucasus and, in essence, being, as it were, a direct continuation of the latter. The main peaks of the watershed ridge, except for Barbalo: Zilga-hokh (12645 ft.), Zikari (12563 ft.), Choukhi (12107 ft.), while in the advanced: Tepli (14510 ft.), Dzhimarai-hokh (15673 ft. .), Tsmiakom-khokh (13567 ft.) and, finally, Kazbek (16546 ft.). Between the passes in this part of the K. ridge, which drops significantly towards E, are remarkable: Mapisonsky (9390 ft.), Through which the Ossetian Military Road passes, connecting Kutais with Vladikavkaz; Roki (9870 ft.) - Leading from the Ardon basin to the Liakhva basin, and especially the Cross (7977 ft.), Through which the Georgian Military Highway was laid. The amount of glaciers and snow in the Terek Caucasus, although less than in Elbrus, is still very significant. Four high, separated from one another by high spurs, transverse basins adjoin the watershed ridge in the Terek Caucasus: Ardonskaya, Terskaya, Assinskaya and Argunskaya, in which, partly from glaciers, the rivers of the Terek system originate: From the rivers that arise in them, Ardon and Terek break through to the N through the front ridge along grandiose gorges, of which the Darial gorge is especially remarkable, through which the Terek flows. To the east of the Georgian Military Highway, the northern slope of the K. ridge again becomes more extensive, reaching a very significant development on the Barbalo meridian. The southern slope of the Terek Caucasus is more developed than in other parts of the Caucasus Range; it is formed by many long low spurs and buttresses gradually descending to the south, some of which go to join the Lesser Caucasus (the Suram Range from the top of Zikari), while others go far to the southeast, separating the valleys of Iora and Alazani and merging with the steppes of the east. Transcaucasia to the SE from Tiflis. From the southern slope of the Terek Caucasus flow: And opa, Liakhva, Aragva and other left tributaries of the Kura, forming deep transverse valleys in their upper reaches.

5) Dagestan Caucasus, stretching from the city of Barbalo to the top. Sari-Dag (12008 f.), is characterized by an unusually complexly developed northern slope, which is composed of many high and long spurs extending from the Main Range to the NE and forming a mountainous country - Dagestan, and a remarkably short, steep and undeveloped southern slope, which, however, retains , the same character and further to the SE in the Samur and Caspian Caucasus. The height of the watershed crest of the K. ridge in the Dagestan Caucasus is lower than in the Terek, and it represents few peaks protruding above the crest; glaciers and eternal snows are present on it only in a small amount. Powerful sowing is much higher and more abundant with glaciers and snow. spurs and advanced chains of the K. ridge that fill Dagestan. The most app. the spur is the Sulako-Tersky (Perikitelsky) ridge, which serves as a watershed between the Terek and Sulak, Bogossky, between the Andi and Avar Koisu and Naukat, separating the last river from the Kara-Koisu. Narrow and deep transverse valleys closed by the indicated spurs adjoin the watershed crest of the K. ridge in the north: Tushinskaya, Didoyskaya, and Ankratlskaya. In the first two, the Andean Koisu originates, and in the last, the Avar, breaking through the advanced heights of the K. ridge and carrying their waters to the north - to Sulak. The same character has pp. Kazikumukhskoye and Kara-Koysu, flowing down from the north. the slope of the spur separating the basins of the Samur and Sulak and heading to the E from the top. Sari-dag. A collection of high ridges, with innumerable spurs and buttresses, forming in some places vast plateaus, mostly rocky and devoid of forests, the predominance of broken lines and grayish-yellow colors in the landscape, deep gorges with fast-moving koisu (river), and poor communication lines - are features of Dagestan. More remarkable peaks, except for Barbado and Sari-dag: Ninikos-tsikhe (10251 ft.), Antsal (11742 ft.), Shavi-klde (11314 ft.) and others in the watershed ridge, Tebulos-mta (14781 ft.) , Donos-mta (13736 ft.), Big Kachu (14 0 27 ft.) in Sulako-Tersky and Balakuri (12323 ft.) in the Bogossky ridge. Between the passes the most common are: Kodorsky (9300 ft.) and Satskhenissky, leading from Kakheti to Dagestan. The southern short slope of K. Mt. falls steeply towards the Alazani valley.

6) The Samur Caucasus, stretching from Sari-Dag to Baba-Dag (11,934 ft.), resembles Dagestan in the development of its slopes, but the height of the watershed ridge in it is greater than in the latter, and the amount of snow on the ridge again increases. Of the spurs, the one that goes from Sari-Dag to B and serves as a watershed between Sulak and Samur is remarkable, and from the advanced heights of Shah-Dag (13951 ft.), On which there are the last, towards B, eternal snows and glaciers K. ridge. Of the peaks of the watershed ridge, the following are remarkable: Gudur-dag (11075 ft.), Salavat-dag (11943 ft.), Tkhfan-dag (13764 ft.) and Bazar-duz, or Kichen-dag (14722 ft.). Passes: Gudursky (10118 ft.), leading from Zakatal to the upper reaches of the Samur, and Salavatsky (9283 ft.), along which the Military Akhta road runs. Sev. the slope of the Samur Caucasus, which by nature has much in common with Dagestan, of which it forms a part, belongs to the Samur basin, the upper part of which forms a vast longitudinal valley adjacent to the N to the watershed ridge. The southern slope falls to the Alazani valley and is partly irrigated by small steppe rivers flowing along the Nukhinsky district. Elisavetpol province.

7) The Caspian Caucasus - the last link of the K. ridge - embraces its east. extremity from Baba-dag to Ilkhi-dag. Its highest points do not exceed 9000 feet. and completely devoid of snow cover. The Alty-Agach pass, on the road from Shamakhi to Quba, has no more than 4354 feet. height. The southern slope of the Caspian Caucasus is somewhat more developed than in the Samur and Dagestan, but even here it is inferior in this respect to the north; however, barely noticeable elevations are visible even at 40 ° N. sh., much south of Baku.

The height of the snow line on the K. ridge is not the same everywhere; depending on the climatic conditions, different for app. And eastern parts, as well as on the sowing. and southern slope of this mountain system, the position of the border of snows n. ur. m. varies greatly. The first snowy peak to the west is Oshten (Fishta), on which the line of perpetual snow is not higher than 9000 feet, and to the south. on a slope it drops even to 8900 ft.; further to B, under the influence of a decrease in precipitation and air humidity, the snow line gradually rises; on Elbrus, it is at an altitude of about 10,700 feet. (west and east slope) - 11700 ft. (northern slope). To the east of the meridian of Kazbek, due to a significant rise in the snow line and a decrease in the height of the ridge, only a few mountain peaks remain covered with eternal snow. Its limit at Shahdag is on average 12,200 feet. n. ur. m. (northern slope 11900 ft., southern - 12500 ft.). Thus, the difference in snow height on the west. and east. extremities of the snowy region of the K. Ridge reaches approximately 3200 ft. (on the south slope up to 3600 ft.). Snow on the north slope K. ridge, with a few exceptions, rise to 1000-1500 ft. higher than to the south, which can be explained by the fact that sowing. the slope faces the dry open steppe spaces of Ciscaucasia. It is believed that out of the entire length of the watershed ridge, no more than 300 century BC are covered with eternal snow. In addition to the watershed ridge, there are significant masses of snow on the frontal ridges and ridges closest to it and the spurs extending from it (the front ridge in the Terek Caucasus, the Svanetsky ridge, the Sulako-Tersky, Bogossky, etc.).

The study of the glaciers of the K. Ridge, which has greatly advanced beyond Lately, far from finished; for many of them there is only scarce information, and the number of all glaciers, their distribution, area and other data are almost unknown. Nevertheless, it turned out that the previous opinion about the extremely insignificant glaciation of the Caucasus is incorrect and that in terms of the number of glaciers, their area and size, the K. ridge is almost as good as the Alps. The largest number of significant glaciers is located in the Elbrus and Terek parts of the ridge, and the number of glaciers of the 1st category in the basins of the Kuban, Terek, Liakhva, Rion and Ingur is determined, according to some data, at 183, and the 2nd category - at 679. The number of all glaciers in the K system ., in all likelihood, at least 900-1000. The size of the Caucasian glaciers is very diverse and some of them (Bizingi) are not inferior in size to the Alech glacier (Alps). The Caucasian glaciers nowhere descend as low as, for example, the Alpine glaciers, and in this respect they represent a great variety; so the Karagom glacier releases with its lower end up to 5702 ft., and the Shah-Daga glacier up to 10374 ft. The most famous glaciers of the K. ridge are:

1 - The mountain from which it descends, 2 - The height of the lower end of the glacier, in m, 3 - The length of the glacier, in km

Name of the glacier 1 2 3
Total Without firn
Bizingi (bass. Cherek) Shkhara, Dykh-tau 1993 19,6 16,1
Dykh-su Same 2027 14,3 10,1
Karagom (bass. Uruha) Adai-hoh 1764 15,5 9,6
Zanner (bass. Ingura) Tetnuld 2084 13,1 10,0
Devdoraksky (bass Terek) Kazbek 2296 5,7 3,4

During the Ice Age, the glaciers of the K. Ridge were incomparably more numerous and extensive than they are today; from the numerous traces of their existence, found far from modern glaciers, it can be concluded that the ancient glaciers extended in length 50, 60 and even up to a hundred and more miles, descending into valleys up to 800-900 feet. above ur. seas. At present, most of the glaciers on the K. Ridge are in a period of retreat, which has been going on for several decades.

Geologically, the K. ridge (according to Suess) represents two different parts: west. and east; in the first of them, the crystalline base, on which the Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Paleozoic deposits were located, is a fold overturned to the south, while in the second part, the crystalline base has sunk and is hidden under the Kura lowland. To the south slope east. part of the K. ridge, a number of parallel faults are observed, while on the north. Mesozoic and Miocene strata show folding, which decreases towards the north. Crystalline schists and granites, of which the crest of the ridge is composed to the west, serve as the basis for the volcanic massifs of Elbrus and Kazbek, around which basalts, trachytes, and other igneous rocks are developed over a vast extent. The Black Sea Caucasus is composed mainly of rocks of the Cretaceous and part of the Jurassic systems; in the Kuban Caucasus, its crest already consists of crystalline rocks: gneisses, granites, crystalline schists, etc.; Jurassic deposits are developed on the southern slope, and on the southern slope, apart from the latter and diorites and diabases that break through in places, Paleozoic formations. The Elbrus and part of the Terek Caucasus have approximately the same character, with the only difference that the crystalline ridge near the Georgian Military Highway disappears, the Paleozoic deposits capture a large space, and the ancient volcanoes - Elbrus and Kazbek - are dominated by basalts, trachytes, etc. The Dagestan and Samur parts of the K. ridge show the same character: the crystalline base of the ridge disappears; the slope of which is occupied by the Jurassic and further to the north. Dagestan with chalk layers. The Caspian Caucasus is composed mainly of deposits of the Tertiary system; only for the sowing on its slope, chalk formations are found in some places, and to the northwest of Shamakhi, island outcrops of basalts and trachytes are found. Literature, see Caucasian region.

Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron. - S.-Pb. Brockhaus-Efron.
In clear weather, the top of the mountain Kezgen(4011 m) gives a unique opportunity to observe from the outside a rich and cheerful picture of the Central Caucasus. You can see almost all the main and secondary mountain ranges of the Main Caucasian Range, regions Tyutyus, Adyrsu, Chegema, Bezengi, Adylsu, Yusengi and upper Baksan Gorge, and over the passes and less high peaks of the GKH, distant prospects of mountains open Svaneti. On the opposite side of the horizon, the Caucasian monarch Elbrus shows a strictly end-to-end symmetrical view of its Eastern peak.

The source material of the publication is photographs taken from the top of the mountain Kezgen in July 2007 and July 2009. They formed the basis two basic panoramas.

PANORAMA-1:– evening panorama (July 2007). It covers the GKH sector from the Bezengi wall to Chatyn, as well as the areas of the spurs of the Main ridge descending to the Russian side - Chegem, Adyrsu and Adylsu.

PANORAMA-2:– morning panorama (July 2009). Partially overlapping Panorama-1, it represents the GKH sector from the Bezengi wall to Azau, the Russian spurs of the GKH - Adyrsu, Adylsu, Yusengi, Kogutai and Cheget, the Azau-Elbrus jumper, as well as South-Eastern (with Terskolak peak) and Vostochny (with Irikchat peak ) spurs of Elbrus.

Attached to the two main panoramas additional PANORAMA-3(July 2007). It gives a view of the spurs of the Eastern Elbrus in the Subashi-Kyrtyk-Mukal sector from the pass of Russian officers (which is near the top of Kezgen, 150 m below it).

Together, these three panoramas cover the entire viewing circle.

Camera- Nikon 8800.

More about Kezgen peak.
Kezgen is located in the highest of the eastern spurs of Elbrus - that stretches from the peak hanging over its ice fields Chatkara(3898 m) to the villages of Elbrus and Neutrino in the Baksan valley. The spur has a number of left branches towards the Subashi, Kyrtyk and Syltransu rivers, while it borders the Irikchat river valley and, after its confluence with the Irik, the Irik valley with its left side. The main peak in this spur is Irikchat(4054 m), slightly inferior to her Subashi(3968 m) in the northwest and the equally high duo Kezgen - Soviet warrior(4011 m) in the southeast.

The ascent to Kezgen is beautiful, pleasant and uncomplicated. The beginning of the movement towards Kezgen, the Soviet warrior and Irikchat is common - from the floodplain of the Irikchat river on a grassy slope, along a path that is clearly visible from afar. Then the paths diverge, the Kezgen path takes to the right. Upon reaching the scree slopes, it is lost on the upper traverses, but with sufficient visibility past the take-off opening on the left to the pass of Russian officers (tourist 1B) you can’t miss. The exit from the pass saddle to the summit (along the north-eastern ridge) is also simple - 1B climbing. (Kezgen was sometimes visited by climbers as part of the traverse Kezgen - a Soviet warrior, who was known in the Adylsu camps as a kind of exile.)

Kezgen is the nearest four-thousander north of Baksan, the peaks closer to the river are much lower. This advantageous feature of its location and the unpretentiousness of the route make Kezgen an excellent observation point.

PANORAMAS, SIGNS, INTERPRETATION.

PANORAMA-1 (more than 800 Kb, 8682 x 850 pixels) in its original form:

PANORAMA-1 with peaks, passes, glaciers and gorges marked on it:

PANORAMA-2 (more than 1.2 Mb, 10364 x 1200 pixels) in its original form:

PANORAMA-2 with peaks, passes, glaciers and gorges marked on it:

Additional PANORAMA-3 - view to the northeast in the valley of the Mukal glacier:

Accepted designations and general principles.

On the panorama are marked:

Mountain peaks- colored circles
passes- crosses,
glaciers- rectangles,
gorges (river valleys)- double wave.

At passes, glaciers and gorges, the numbering is through, from right to left.

All signs glaciers And gorges blue. Signs passes And peaks painted in different colors, depending on their belonging to a particular mountainous region.

The color differentiation of the icons helps to more clearly represent and trace the location of the various mountain regions visible in the panorama, especially where they overlap.

Used colors:

- dense green: for objects outside the State border of the Russian Federation,
- Red: for the peaks and passes of the GKH,
- purple light: for the peaks of the Bezengi region outside the GKH,
- Orange: for peaks and passes in the Adyrsu ridge,
– clear yellow: for peaks and passes in the Adylsu ridge,
- dirty yellow: for peaks and passes in the Yusengi ridge,
– purple dark: for peaks and passes in the Kogutai spur of Donguzorun,
- pale green: for peaks and passes of the South-Eastern spur of Elbrus,
- pale plum: for the peaks and passes of the Elbrus-Azau lintel,
– light brown: for the peaks and passes of the ridge in the upper reaches of the Irik and Irikchat,
- White: for peaks and passes of the Eastern spur of Elbrus,
– blue: for peaks and passes in short spurs of the GKH (apex circles in this case in a red rim), as well as in the spurs of the Adyrsu ridges (apex circles in an orange rim) and Adylsu (apex circles in a yellow rim).

1. MOUNTAINS

Note. The heights of the peaks indicated below in some cases differ from those given by the "Classification of routes to mountain peaks" (hereinafter "Classifier"). These heights are given mainly according to the maps of the General Staff (hereinafter "General Staff") built on the basis of the results of methodically homogeneous measurements within the framework of a unified topographic program of the Soviet era. Altitude data are given by the General Staff with an accuracy of up to 0.1 meters, but it should, of course, be borne in mind that such an enviable accuracy could only claim to cover random measurement errors, and not the systematic errors of the measurement technique itself.

1.1. TOPS IN GEORGIA

1 - Tetnuld, 4853 m
2 - Svetgar, 4117 m
3 - Asmashi, 4082 m
4 - Marianna (Maryanna), 3584 m
5 - Lekzyr (Dzhantugansky), 3890 m
6 - Chatyn Glavny, 4412 m
7 - Ushba North, 4694 m
8 - Ushba South, 4710 m
9 - Cherinda, 3579 m
10 - Dolra, 3832 m
11 - Shtavleri, 3994 m

1.2. TOPS OF THE MAIN CAUCASIAN RIDGE (GKH)

1 - Bezengi wall (details on enlarged panorama fragment)
2 - Gestola, 4860 m
3 - Lyalver, 4366 m
4 - Tichtengen, 4618 m
5 - Bodorku, 4233 m
6 - Bashiltau, 4257 m
7 - Sarykol, 4058 m
8 - Ullutau massif, 4277 m
9 - Latsga, 3976 m
10 - Chegettau, 4049 m
11 - Aristov rocks (3619 m - Kaluga peak)
12 - Dzhantugan, 4012 m
13 - Bashkara, 4162 m
14 - Ullukara, 4302 m
15 - Free Spain, 4200 m
16 - Bzhedukh, 4280 m
17 - Eastern Caucasus, 4163 m
18 - Shchurovsky, 4277 m
19 - Chatyn West, 4347
20 - Ushba Malaya, 4254 m
21 - Eastern Shkhelda, 4368 m
22 - Shkhelda Central, 4238 m
23 - Aristov (Shkhelda 3rd Western), 4229
24 - Shkhelda 2nd Western, 4233 m
25 - Western Shkhelda, 3976 m
26 - Trade unions, 3957 m
27 - Athlete, 3961 m
28 - Shkhelda Malaya, 4012 m
29 - Akhsu, 3916 m
30 - Yusengi Uzlovaya, 3846 m
31 - Gogutai, 3801 m
32 - Donguzorun East, 4442 m
33 - Donguzorun Main, 4454 m
34 - Donguzorun West, 4429 m
35 - Nakratau, 4269 m
36 - Chiper, 3785 m
37 - Chiperazau, 3512 m

Peaks in short spurs of the GKH

1 - Germogenov, 3993 m
2 - Chegetkara, 3667 m
3 - Main Caucasus, 4109 m
4 - Western Caucasus, 4034 m
5 - Donguzorun Small, 3769 m
6 - Cheget, 3461 m

1.3. TOPS OF THE BEZENGI DISTRICT

1 - Dykhtau, 5205 m (5204.7 according to the map of the General Staff, 5204 according to the Classifier and Lyapin's scheme)
2 - Koshtantau, 5152 m (5152.4 according to the map of the General Staff, 5150 according to the Classifier, 5152 according to the Lyapin scheme)
3 - Ulluauz, 4682 m (4681.6 according to the map of the General Staff, 4675 according to the Classifier, 4676 according to the Lyapin scheme)
4 - Thought, 4677 m (4676.6 according to the map of the General Staff, 4557 according to the Classifier, 4681 according to the Lyapin scheme)

1.4. TOPS OF ADYRSU DISTRICT

1 - Adyrsubashi, 4370 m (4346)
2 - Orubashi, 4369 m (4259)
3 - Yunomkara, 4226 m
4 - Kichkidar, 4360 m (4269)
5 - Jailyk, 4533 m (4424)

From the Dzhailik massif, the Adyrsu ridge is divided into two branches:
(a) the northwest branch,
(b) northeast branch.

Peaks of the northwestern branch of the Adyrsu ridge:

6a - Tyutyubashi, 4460 m (4404)
7a - Sullukol, 4259 m (4251)
8а - Steel, 3985 m

Peaks of the northeastern branch of the Adyrsu ridge:

6b - Kenchat, 4142 m
7b - Aurel, 4056 m (4064)
8b - Kayarta, 4082 m (4121)
9b - Kilar, 4000 m (4087)
10b - Sakashil, 4054 m (4149)

Peaks in the spurs of the Adyrsu ridge:

from Adyrsubashi
a - Khimik, 4087 m
b - Moskovsky Komsomolets, 3925 m
s - Triangle, 3830 m

From Jailyk
d - Chegem, 4351 m

From the city of Tyutubashi
e - Cullumkol, 4055 m (4141)
f - Theremin, 3950 m (3921)

From Kilar
g - Adzhikol (Adzhikolbashi, Adzhikolchatbashi), 3848 m (4126).

1.5. TOPS OF ADYLSU DISTRICT

(in parentheses - heights according to the Lyapin scheme, if there is a difference)

1 - Kurmychi, 4045 m
2 - Andyrchi Uzlovaya, 3872 m
3 - Andyrtau (Andyrchi), 3937 m
4 - Mongolian People's Republic (peaks of the Mongolian People's Republic): Northeast 3830 m (3838), Central 3830 m (3849), Southwest 3810 m (3870).

Peaks in the spurs of the Adylsu ridge towards the Adyrsu valley:

1.6. TOPS OF THE YUSENGI RIDGE

1 - Yusengi, 3870 m
2 - Yusengi Severnaya, 3421 m. According to the tradition, apparently dating back to the map of the General Staff, the names of these two peaks are confused with each other

1.7. Peaks of the Kogutai Spur of Donguzorun

1 - Interkosmos, 3731 m
2 - Small Kogutai, 3732 m
3 - Big Kogutai, 3819 m
4 - Baksan, 3545 m
5 - Kahiani (Donguzorungitchechatbashi), 3367 m
6 - Canteen, 3206 m.

1.8 TOPS IN THE LINK BETWEEN GKH AND ELBRUS

1 - Azaubashi, 3695 m
2 - Ullukambashi, 3762 m

1.9 TOPS OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN SPINK OF ELBRUS

1 - Terskol, 3721 m
2 - Terskolak, 3790 m
3 - Sarykolbashi, 3776 m
4 - Artykkaya, 3584 m
5 - Tegeneklibashi, 3502 m

1.10 THE TOP OF THE RIDGE IN THE UPPER REACH OF THE IRIK AND IRIKCHAT GORGONS

1 - Achkeryakolbashi (Askerkolbashi), 3928 m
2 - Red hillock, 3730 m

1.11 TOPS OF THE EASTERN SPINK OF ELBRUS

1 - Irikchat West, 4046 m
2 - Irikchat Central, 4030 m
3 - Irikchat East, 4020 m
4 - Soviet warrior, 4012 m

1.12 TOPS IN THE NORTH-EAST (ON THE SIDE OF THE MUKAL GLACIER)
Shown separately on PANORAMA-3

Islamchat (3680 m)
Shukambashi (3631 m)
Jaurgen (3777 m)
Suaryk (3712 m)
Kyrtyk (3571 m)
Mukal (3899 m)

2. PASSES

1 - Hunaly Yuzh, 2B - connects the valleys of Hunalychat (tributary of Sakashilsu) and Kayarty (l. Kayart)
2 - Kayarta Zap, 2A - between the peaks of Kilar and Adzhikol
3 - Kayarta, 1B - between the peaks of Kayarta and Kilar
4 - Sternberga, 2A - between the peaks of Orel and Kayart
5 - Kilar, 1B - between the peaks of Kenchat and Orelyu
6 - Vodopadny, 1B - in the northern spur of Stal peak
7 - Sullukol, 1B - in the western spur of the peak Stal
8 - Spartakiad, 2A* - between the Tyutubashi massif and the top of the Spartakiad
9 - Kullumkol, 1B - between the Tyutubashi massif and the peak of Kullumkol
10 - Tyutyu-Dzhailik, 3A - between the top of Dzhailik and the Tyutubashi massif
11 - Chegemsky, 2B - in the shoulder of the city of Kichkidar
12 - Kichkidar, 2B - between the peaks of Yunomkara and Kichkidar
13 - Freshfield, 2B - between the peaks of Orubashi and Yunomkara
14 - Golubeva, 2A - between the peaks of Adyrsubashi and Orubashi
15 - Garnet, 1A - in the northern spur of the peak of the Navy
16 - Kurmy, 1A - in the northern spur of the peak of the Navy
17 - Dzhalovchat, 1B - between the peaks of Fizkulturnik and the Navy
18 - Mestiisky, 2A - between the peaks of Ullutau and Sarykol
19 - Churlenisa Vost, 3A * - between Yesenin peak and Gestola shoulder
20 - Svetgar, 3A - between the peaks of Svetgar and Tot
21 - Dzhantugan, 2B - between the top of Dzhantugan and the rocks of Aristov
22 - Marianna, 3A - between the peaks of Marianna and Svetgar
23 - Bashkara, 2B * - between the peaks of Bashkara and Dzhantugan
24 - Pobeda, 3B - between the peaks of Ullukar and Bashkara
25 - Kashkatash, 3A * - between the peak of Free Spain and the top of Ullukar
26 - Double, 3A - between the peak of the Caucasus Vost and the peak of Bzhedukh
27 - Saddle of the Caucasus, 3A - between the peaks of the Caucasus Gl and East
28 - Krenkelya, 3A - between the peaks of the Caucasus Gl and Zap
29 - Chalaat, 3B - between the peaks of Chatyn Zap and M. Ushba
30 - Ushbinsky, 3A - between the arrays of Ushba and Shkhelda
31 - Bivachny, 2B * - between the peaks of Athlete and Trade Unions
32 - Yusengi, 2B - between the peaks of Yusengi and Yusengi North
33 - Medium, 2B - between Malaya Shkhelda peak and Fizkulturnika peak
34 - Rodina, 2A (when moving along the buttress from the side of the Yusengi valley) - between the peaks of Yusengi and Yusengi Uzlovaya
35 - Akhsu, 2A - between the peaks of Yusengi Uzlovaya and Akhsu
36 - Becho, 1B - in the ridge of the GKH between peaks 3506 and 3728, it is also the lowest pass in the GKH section between Donguzorun and the Yusengi ridge and the closest to the top of Yusengi Uzlovaya.
37 - Becho False, 1B - in the ridge of the GKH west of peak 3506 and east of the lane. Olympian
38 - Yusengi Peremetny, 1B - glacial crossing through the short eastern spur of the Gogutai peak
39 - High Dolra, 2A - at the gathering of the GKH from the top of Vost. Donguzorun under Gogutai peak.
40 - Shepherd (Okhotsky), 1A - connects the Yusengi gorge with the upper Kogutayka
41 - Vladimir Korshunov, 1B - between the top of Big Kogutai and Baksan peak
42 - Pearl of Primorye, 1B * - between the peaks of Big and Small Kogutai
43 - Kogutai, 1B - between Interkosmos peak and Maly Kogutai peak
44 - Seven, 3B * - between the peaks of Nakra and Donguzorun West
45 - Donguzorun False, 1B - the pass closest to the top of Nakra (from the west) through the GKH
46 - Donguzorun, 1A - the easiest and lowest pass through the GKH to the west of the peak of Nakra, located west of the Donguzorun False pass.
47 - Suakkalar, 1B * - between the peaks of Artykkaya and Sarykolbashi
48 - Sarykol (conditional name), 1B * - between the peaks of Sarykolbashi and Terskolak
49 - Chiper, 1B * - the pass closest to the top of Chiper through the GKH between the peaks of Chiper and Chiperazau
50 - Chiperazau, 1A - the pass closest to the peak of Chiperazau through the GKH between the peaks of Chiper and Chiperazau
51 - Azau, 1A - between the peaks of Chiperazau and Azaubashi
52 - Khasankoysuryulgen, 1B - between the peaks of Azaubashi and Ullukambashi
53 - Terskolak, 1B - in the ridge under the top of Terskolak to the north of it
54 - Terskol, 1B * - between the top of Terskol and the ice slopes of Elbrus
55 - Assol, 1B - the more southern of the neighboring passes connecting the Irik glacier and a small "internal" glacial cirque between the upper reaches of the Irik and Irikchat gorges
56 - Frezi Grant, 1B - pass in the same summit circus as per. Assol (No. 55), north of it
57 - Irik-Irikchat, 2A - in the ridge between the glaciers Irik and Irikchat south of the top of Achkeryakolbashi
58 - Chat Elbrussky, 1B * - in the ridge between the glaciers Irik and Irikchat ridge to the west of the top of Achkeryakolbashi
59 - Irikchat, 1B * - between the Irikchat glacier and the peak of Chatkara

PASSES IN THE NORTH-EAST, IN THE SIDE OF THE MUKAL GLACIER (without numbering, shown separately on PANORAMA-3):

Mukal-Mkyara, 1B
Mukal-Mkyara false, 3A
Voruta, 1A
Ritenok, 1B
Baumanets, 2A
Khibiny, 1B
Zemprohodtsev, 1B

3. GLACIERS

1 - Kayarta Western (No. 485-b)
2 - Aurel (No. 485-a)
3 - Sullukol (No. 491)
4 - Yunom Severny (No. 487-d)
5 - Yun (No. 487-b)
6 - Nitrogen (No. 492-b)
7 - East Kurmy (No. 498)
8 - Adyrsu East (No. 493rd)
9 - Bashkara (No. 505)
10 - Kashkatash (No. 508)
11 - Bzhedukh (No. 509)
12 – Ushba icefall
13 - Shkheldinsky (No. 511)
14 - Akhsu (No. 511-b)
15 - No. 511-a
16 - Yusengi (No. 514)
17 - No. 515-b
18 - Ozengi (No. 515-a)
19 - No. 517-b
20 - Kogutai East (No. 517-a)
21 - Kogutai Western
22 – № 518
23 – № 519
24 – № 520
25 – № 538
26 - No. 537-b
27 - No. 537-a
28 – № 536
29 - Big Azau (No. 529)
30 – Garabashi
31 – Terskol
32 - Irik (No. 533)
33 – Irikchat
Mukal Glacier - see Additional PANORAMA-3

4. RIVER BASINS (GORKS)

1 - Cullumkol
2 - Sullukol
3 - Vodopadnaya (these three rivers: 1, 2, 3 are the right tributaries of the Adyrsu river)
4 - Shkhelda (Adylsu tributary)
5 - Yusengi
6 - Kogutaika (these two rivers: 5 and 6 are the right tributaries of the Baksan)
7 - Irik
8 - Irikchat (the last two rivers - 7 and 8 - left tributaries of the Baksan)

ENLARGED FRAGMENTS OF THE MAIN PANORAMAS.

a) Tyutyu-Bashi and Dzhailik.

array Tyutyu-Bashi(4460 m) on this fragment of the panorama is turned to us by the western end, so that all five of its peaks are lined up: Western(4350 m), Second Western(4420 m), Central(4430 m), home(4460 m) and Eastern(4400 m). The massif breaks off in the Tyutyu-Su gorge (left in the picture) with the Northern Wall with routes up to category 6A.

To the right of Tyutyu is located Jailyk(4533 m), the highest peak of the Adyrsu ridge and, note, the third highest in the Baksan valley and the Elbrus region, after Elbrus (5642 m) and Ushba (4710 m). On the right, from behind Dzhailik, peeks out Chegem(4351 m), famous for complex rock walls up to category 6A. Near Chegem, they usually drive through the Chegem Gorge, located between the Baksan and Bezengi Gorges parallel to the first.

In the foreground in the center is the Sullukol glacier. On the picture you can also see the Tyutyu-Dzhailik (3A) passes, it is between the peaks of Dzhailik and Tyutyu-Bashi, and Kullumkol (1B), between the peaks of Tyutyu-Bashi and Cullumcol(4055 m), the latter is visible under Dzhailik against its background. All of them are marked on the general panorama.

b) Koshtantau and Dykhtau.

Pictured on the left before us Koshtantau(5152 m), or simply Koshtan. This is the peak of the "technical Caucasus" - the highest mountain in the Caucasus with a route of the sixth category of difficulty, 6A on the left side of the central buttress of the Northern Wall. The route was first climbed in 1961 by a team from Bauman (MVTU, Moscow, leader Arnold Simonik), who dedicated it to the flight of German Titov, "cosmonaut number two". On a slightly higher peak Dykhtau "sixes" are not classified. Traverse Dykhtau-Koshtan was a "six", but at times he was undressed. The Koshtan-Dykh traverse with the ascent to Koshtan along 6A is completely illogical, and there are no "sixes" to the roof of the Caucasus - Elbrus, if not to talk about climbing to the top after passing the Kyukyurtlyu wall - which, you see, is also an illogical option.

From the left to Koshtan along the Northern ridge leads the “British” ridge 4B (G. Vulei, 1889), this is the easiest way to the top. (A peak in the GKH to the north of Shchurovsky Peak is named after Vulei. It is curious that German Vulei - Hermann Wooley, in some sources Woolley - came to mountaineering, already being a football player and boxer). In the lower part of the ridge, a characteristic hump is visible - an ice gendarme. The lower, most difficult part of the route - the ascent from the Mizhirgi glacier to the Northern ridge of Koshtan - is hidden behind the peak Panoramic(4176 m), which is in the spur Ulluauza(4682 m). Approaches to Koshtan from this side are extremely dreary, you have to go through all the steps of the Mizhirga icefall, of which there are three only up to overnight stays "3900", and there is also a zone of cracks located above. The first two steps pass along the moraine and then along the ice, adhering to the left (along the way) side of the glacier, and the third is bypassed along the scree on the left and go to the overnight stays "3900", the highest in the area.

In the foreground of the image is an array Adyrsubashi(4370 m). To the left, to the Golubev pass (2A, 3764 m), the North-Eastern ridge stretches from it with many gendarmes. Climbing Adyrsubashi along this ridge is a very long "five A". The Golubeva pass itself remained to the left of the frame, it is located in a depression between the peaks of Adyrsubashi and Orubashi and connects the upper reaches of the Adyrsu and Chegem, serving faithfully as one of the popular tourist routes.

Adyrsubashi is the nodal peak of the Adyr ridge. Its western spur asserts itself as peaks Chemist(4087 m), Ozernaya(4080 m), Moscow's comsomolets(3925 m) and Triangle(3830 m), behind this peak there is a descent towards the Ullutau alpine camp. Khimik and Ozernaya peaks are two snow humps with rock outcrops, in the picture they are to the left and below Adyrsubashi. From Ozernaya (to the right of Khimik and closer to us) a small Azot glacier flows into the Kullumkol valley (to the left). He received this “chemical” name by the name of the alpine camp, which operated (since 1936) from the eponymous DSO of workers in the chemical industry. In 1939, eight (!) alpine camps operated in the Adyrsu gorge. The fate of "Azot" was the most successful, now it is the alpine camp "Ullutau".

To the north-west of the Ozernaya peak in our direction, bordering the Azot glacier, a spur departs, in which the peak can be traced Panoramic, he is the peak Winter(3466 m), which received such a name in the everyday life of the Ullutau alpine camp as an object of low ascents during the winter shifts of the camp. Another spinal branch of the Ozernaya peak (to the right in the picture) leads to Moskovsky Komsomolets peak, the top of which falls exactly on the right cut of this fragment. Array in the background Mizhirgi with distinguishable Eastern summit (4927 m). Western Mizhirgi(5025 m) and the Second Western Mizhirgi, better known as the peak Borovikov(4888 m), almost indistinguishable in the ridge going from Eastern Mizhirga to Dykhtau.

On the right picture we have an array Dykhtau(5205 m), or simply Dykh. In the foreground near the left section of the fragment is Moskovsky Komsomolets peak, from which the crest of the ridge stretches to the low Triangle peak at the bottom in the center of the frame (both peaks were mentioned above in the comments on Koshtantau). In the distance are two peaks, more often attributed to the Chegem region: a huge Tichtengen(4618 m), standing in the GKH between the peaks of Ortokara and Kitlod, and - a little closer, against its background - the peak facing us with a snowy slope Bodorka(4233 m), also located in the GKH.

c) Bezengi wall.


On this fragment, approximately in profile, the entire Bezengi wall is visible, stretching in an arc from Shkhara to Lyalver. This unconventional angle can puzzle even seasoned experts in the area, it painfully "successfully" merges with the Bezengi wall of Gestol.

On the left of the image you can see the long NE-ridge of the "classical" ascent to Shkhara(5069 m) along 5A - the route of D. Kokkin (J.G. Cockin, 1888). It was first climbed by the British-Swiss troika U. Almer, J. Cockin, C. Roth as part of an expedition of the British Royal Geographical Society led by Douglas Freshfield. The photographer for this and subsequent expeditions in the 1890s was Vitorio Sella, who received the cross of St. Anna from Nicholas II for his photographs of the Caucasus mountains. The glacier and the peak of Sella (4329 m) are named after him, which is on the way to the peak of Mizhirgi in the upper reaches of the eastern branch of the Bezengi glacier. In terms of technical complexity, Kokkin’s route to Shkhara is unlikely to pull even 2B, but it is dangerous because it relaxes, although there is practically nowhere to reliably insure on a long snowy ridge with cornices in one direction or the other, and there were cases of disruption of entire ligaments. In some sources (for example, A.F. Naumov, "Chegem-Adyrsu") the route is categorized as 4B. The category can be raised to the fifth, wishing to reduce the flow of climbers by cutting off those whom KSS Bezengi officially releases for "fours", but not yet for "five". Kokkin's route - in everyday life "Crab": rock outcrops resemble a crab with claws lowered down. This crab (it is not visible in the panorama) is clearly visible from the Jangi-kosh side in the lower part of the ridge, above the "cushion".

On the ridge you can clearly see the ice gendarme and the Eastern peak of Shkhara. There are no classified routes to it, it is passed almost on foot on the way to the Main Peak of Shkhara. From Eastern Shkhara, the GKH leaves us to the southeast, even closer to the south, and passes through the peak Ushguli(4632 m), also known as the South-Eastern Shkhara. The peak is named after the ancient village of Ushguli. Located in the Svan valley at an altitude of 2200 m, it is considered the highest European village permanent residence(i.e. excluding ski resorts and weather stations). There are several "fives" on the top of Ushguli from the Georgian side, as well as an extra-long 2A, the technical simplicity of which is compensated by the length of the approaches: two days from the Bezengi alpine camp in our country or from the Ailama alpine camp in Svaneti.

The most beautiful and logical route to Shkhara is perhaps the "Austrian" 5B Tomaszek-Muller (1930) - head-on climb from the Bezengi glacier along the Northern Ridge (in the picture it is on the border of light and shadow). In the days of the Stalinist USSR, there should have been no foreign expeditions in our mountains, however, a small diaspora of Austrian communists found refuge with us in the early 1930s and, judging by the records of its route achievements, did not waste time in vain (look at the Caucasian routes at your leisure of that period with German surnames).

inconspicuous peak Western Shkhara(5057 m) is worthy of mention in that only two routes go to it from the north (Anatoly Blankovsky, 1980 and Yuri Razumov, 1981), and both are very strong and objectively dangerous, rarely visited "sixes". They appeared in the early 1980s, thanks to progress in ice equipment - first of all, the appearance in the USSR of cat-platforms for ice and ice screws (previously they were insured with ice carrot hooks, which had to be hammered into the ice for a long time).

To the right of Western Shkhara, the ridge of the Bezengi wall gradually lowers in the direction of a small rocky peak of Shota Rustaveli peak (4860 m), hidden behind a peak closer to us Gestola(4860 m). Rustaveli Peak was first climbed by Georgians in 1937, from the south along route 4A. Recently, it has been often visited from the north, because the comparatively safe "Laletin's board" - a monotonous ice route, climbed in 1983 by A. Laletin's team from St. In the intramural class of the 1995 Russian Alpinism Championship, the deuces leaving at night managed to jump this route to the very top by 10 o'clock in the morning!

Even more to the left in the panorama, the Dzhangi-Tau massif is visible half-turned: Dzhangi East(5038 m), home(5058 m) and Western(5054 m). The route to the East Dzhangi along the NE ridge is the easiest on the Bezengi Wall, only the routes to the extreme mountains of the Wall, Shkhara (technically easy 5A) and Gestola (4A with a climb through peak 4310) are easier. In addition, the NE ridge (buttress) of Eastern Dzhangi is objectively the least dangerous option for climbing the Wall from the north, and it is often used as a descent route after ascending the Dzhangi massif (including the Main Dzhangi), Western Shkhara or Rustaveli Peak. Eastern Dzhangi, like Shkhara, was printed in 1888 by Kokkin's group.

To get the "Star of Bezengi" badge, it is not necessary to climb the Main Dzhangi (the only route to it from the north is dangerous with ice collapses 5A), any Dzhanga peak is enough - first of all, the simpler and safer East. There are no classified routes to Western Dzhangi from the north yet (except perhaps within the traverse of the Wall), and they are unlikely to appear soon: a beautiful and logical line to this peak is not visible from this side, but objectively dangerous ice faults are visible. But from the Georgian side to the Western Dzhangi, two 5Bs are classified. I wonder when was the last time they went? ..

Approximately the same ice "gardens" looks from the north and Katyn(4974 m), from which the huge and flat Katyn plateau extends to Gestola. Katyn was also climbed for the first time in 1888 by members of a British expedition, but the simplest route to it from the north - 4B hp (G.Holder, 1888) - is objectively more dangerous and less beautiful than the northeast ridge of the Dzhangi of the same category of difficulty.

The GKH line runs along the edge of the Bezengi wall through the massifs of Shkhara and Dzhangi, Katyn, Gestola and Lyalver, and a long ridge, leaving Gestola to the southwest (in the picture to the right) and partially hiding the Katyn plateau, leads to the peak located in Georgia Tetnuld(4853 m). It is not visible on this fragment of the panorama (it is to the right), but it is on the general panorama. In the 1990s, Georgians brought a metal cross with a characteristic shape, like on the Georgian flag, to the top of Tetnuld. The easiest way to Gestola(4860 m) from the north - this is 3B through the peak Lalver(4350 m), with an ascent to Lyalver along a technically simple 2B and then a simple traverse through peak 4310 and the shoulder of Gestola. This route (completed for the first time already in 1903) is categorized as 3B, perhaps solely for its height and length. There is an option to shorten this Chinese campaign - to cut off the path to peak 4310 by climbing it not through Lyalver, but head-on from the western branch of the Bezengi glacier. This variant of the route to Gestola is categorized as 4A (A. Germogenov, 1932), although there are no technical difficulties on it even on 3A (carefully in the upper part - destroyed rocks).

The story with the name pichka in the crest of the Bezengi wall to the west of the shoulder of Gestola is quite confusing. This slight ridge rise previously “passed” as peak 4310 or Peak Nameless. last name haunted the name change activists, and in the 1990s, two signs were erected on this peak in the neighborhood, one affirming Yesenin peak, the other - peak of the 50th anniversary of the CBD. The "anniversary" version of the name, it seems, sounded more weighty than the poetic impulse of Yesenin's admirers, because the sign "50 years of the KBR" was the result of a mass ascent along 2B through Lyalver with the support of the authorities from Nalchik. But in technical descriptions, this tip, as a rule, is still passed as "4310". It is clearer: whatever you call it, the height will not change :)

Peak 4310 separates two passes in the Bezengi wall, Chiurlionis East and West. On the enlarged fragment of the panorama, Čiurlionis Vostochny is indicated, it is between peak 4310 and the shoulder of Gestola. Vertex Bashille(4257 m) - in the picture against the background of Lyalver - is located to the west of the Bezengi region and already belongs to the Chegem Gorge region.

A few words about the height of the peaks of the Bezengi wall and her highest point.

All sources agree that Shkhara is the highest point of the Wall. But they determine the heights of the Bezengi peaks in different ways. So, for Shkhara Glavnaya one can meet not only the traditional value of 5068 m, but also the more "prestigious" 5203 m, and for Dzhanga Glavnaya - values ​​of 5085, 5074 and 5058 m (Lyapin's map). We rely on the data of the General Staff as more homogeneous (at least within a single area) and for the highest points Shkhara And Dzhangi take the values, respectively, 5069 m(5068.8 according to the General Staff) and 5058 m. Direct visual assessments also favor Shkhara. When looking at the Bezengi wall from the Northern massif, as well as when looking at Shkhara from Dzhangi (and vice versa), Shkhara always gives the impression of the dominant peak of the Wall.

Finally, oh curvature of the "arc" of the Bezegi Wall visible in the picture. The visual impression of its large curvature in the Shkhara - Gestola section is illusory, it is a pure effect of a large increase in the image, in which the image of a cluster of distant objects is stretched in azimuth, but does not move apart in depth. So it seems that the slender comb visible from the end wags its sides. In relation to this image: if we convert the VISIBLE angular distance between Shkhara Glavnaya and Katyn (or Dzhangi Zapadnaya) into kilometers, then it will turn out to be six times (!) LESS than the real distance from Shkhara Glavnaya to Gestola, but it seems that they are approximately the same.

d) the mountains of Svaneti and the Dzhantugan pass.

The main characters of this fragment are the dominant Svetgar(4117 m) and, to the right, a modest Marianne(3584 m), a bunch-two completing the Svetgar ridge stretching from the east (on the left). In the soft evening light of the sun, their rocky slopes amaze with a variety of color shades. Peaks lined up behind Marianne Asmashi Ridge, which are identified very uncertainly at this end angle. This entire mountain complex would be of great interest to mountain tourists and climbers, if it were open for visiting from the Russian side. Suffice it to say that most of the passes in the region - Asmashi, Marianna, Svetgar, Tot - are category 3A.

A few words about the Dzhantugan plateau and the Dzhantugan pass (3483 m, tourist 2B), which dominate the middle plan of the fragment. The Dzhantugan Plateau is one of the western branches of the huge Lekzyr (Lekziri) glacial complex, the largest on the southern side of the GKH. It is formed by a system of glaciers framing the GKH in the area from the Kashkatash pass in the west to the Bashiltau peak area in the upper reaches of the Chegem Gorge in the east. These glaciers adjoin the passes connecting the regions of Adylsu, Adyrsu and Chegem with Svaneti. The Dzhantugan plateau resembles an apple rotten from the inside: its entire inside is broken by wide bottomless cracks, and only the narrow outer rim is edible. Any reasonable movements on the line Lekzyr - Bashkara - Dzhantugan - Aristov rocks - Gumachi - Chegettau - Latsga are possible only near the slopes of these peaks.

The glacier on the rise to the Dzhantugan pass is severely torn, but in last years there is a way to simply bypass the bergs and cracks, leading to the pass close to the end slope of the Aristov rocks (red spots in the picture). The pass itself is somewhat puzzling: you do not see a clear inflection in any direction, everything is flat, and only after passing 50-70 meters to the south and burying yourself in faults, you understand that a general decline has begun towards Georgia. (At the same time, the red-white border stick sticks out only twenty meters above the cliff to our northern side.) Near the top of Gumachi there is another pass leading to the plateau - East Dzhantugan, aka False Gumachi (3580 m, tourist 2B) . Climbing it from the side of the Adyl-su gorge is no more difficult than 1B, but to descend from it to Svaneti (along the tricky icefall, which determines the category of both passes), you have to bypass the plateau on the right and, therefore, follow the Dzhantugan pass. So for routes from Adyl-su to Svaneti, that one is clearly preferable. There is another option of climbing to the Dzhantugan plateau in the middle between these two passes, through the central depression in the chain of Aristov rocks.

Aristov rocks named in memory of Oleg Dmitrievich Aristov, who stood at the origins of Soviet mountaineering. In 1935, his group was one of the first to "hill" the peaks above the Dzhantugan plateau along the simplest paths and made several first ascents - Dzhantugan along 2A, Gadyl along 3A, Gadyl-Bashkar traverse (4A). That summer, the 1st All-Union Alpiniad of Trade Unions worked in the Adyl-Su Gorge, and 24-year-old Aristov led the School of Instructors there. Oleg died at the peak of Communism on September 13, 1937. He was appointed head of the assault group, which had the order to bring the bust of Stalin to Communism Peak (then - Stalin Peak). Oleg was walking with frostbitten feet and slipped, falling off at the very top.

The ascent to the Dzhantugan plateau from the side of Adyl-Su passes along the Dzhankuat glacier, which was chosen by glaciologists to study the processes occurring in valley glaciers. The thickness of this typical valley glacier is 40-50 meters in icefalls and 70-100 meters in flattened areas. Like other glaciers in the Caucasus, Dzhankuat has been rapidly retreating in recent decades. At its tip, in a clearing with a seductive name with a seductive name "Green Hotel" - the houses of the Glaciological Station of Moscow State University. In early June, a backcountry camp is sometimes arranged here, aimed at beginners and advanced riders. In the summer there are students at the station. In winter, it is convenient to use the houses for lodging for the night, they save from the winds from the side of the pass, which build up agility when descending into the wide flat part of the gorge below the Dzhankuat glacier.

From the Dzhantugan plateau it is convenient to make radial ascents to the surrounding peaks. In the east direction they are simple - to the peaks Gumachi(3826 m) along 1B (on foot) and Chegettau(4049 m) along 2B. This deuce-B is the oldest route of the region and the entire Elbrus region (excluding Elbrus itself) - Douglas Freshfield, 1888. In the western direction from the Dzhantugan plateau, it is convenient to climb Dzhantugan along 2A and 3A, as well as Bashkara along 3B, Gadyl along 3A and Lekzyr Dzhantugansky (1B).

Peak Jantugan(4012 m) at the right edge of the panorama fragment, a beautiful and simple route 2A leads to it from the pass. Dzhan is facing us here with its northern side, on which three triples-B are classified, one of them (along the NE edge) is clearly visible - this is the edge that casts a shadow. Bypassing the peak from the side of the plateau, you can climb the jumper between it and its western neighbor, the peak of Bashkar. Route 3A to Dzhan begins near this jumper (along the SW ridge), and a beautiful ridge route 3B leads to Bashkara.

The Bashkara-Gadyl massif borders the Dzhantugan plateau from the west. From the plateau it is clearly seen that the peaks Bashkara(4162 m) and Gadyl(4120 m) - the ends of one massif. It is simply turned to Svanetia with the “Gadyl” side, and to Balkaria with the “Bashkar”, which is why it received different names from the corresponding observers. The Bashkara-Gadyl traverse (4A) is one of the oldest routes in the region (K. Egger, 1914). In the panoramic image from Kezgen, the peak of Gadyl is not visible, it is covered by Bashkara, which in all its severity is presented on an enlarged fragment (photo on the left). Bashkara breaks off towards the glacier of the same name with its northern wall, along which two routes 6A pass, technically the most difficult in Adyl-Su. The snow "cushion" to the right of Bashkara is the Pobeda pass, one of the most difficult in the region (3B according to the tourist classification). The Bashkara Pass, which is between Bashkara and Dzhantugan, is much easier. From the northern slopes of Bashkara, the Bashkara glacier descends, from the melting of which Bashkara Lake was formed, threatening to break through and mudflow down the Adylsu gorge.

e) from the Kashkatash pass to Ushba.

The same section with designations of peaks, passes and glaciers.

(Recall that the peaks of the GKH are marked with solid red circles, the passes of the GKH are marked with red crosses).

From left to right:

Pinnacle 14 - Ullukara(4302 m), located in the GKH, breaks off with a wall of complexity 5B to the upper reaches of the Kashkatash glacier.
Peak 1 against the backdrop of Ullukara - peak Germogenova(3993 m) in the spur of Ullukara. From the side of the middle course of the Kashkatash glacier, a ridge stretches to the top, along which route 2B passes - one of the longest "twos B" in the region (along with the "two B" to East Donguzorun along the GKH ridge). Groups of beginners usually go this route with an overnight stay.
Pass 25 - Kashkatash, 3A * - located in the GKH between the peaks of Ullukara and Free Spain.
Glacier 10 - Kashkatash glacier, belonging to the Adylsu basin, the tributary flows opposite the lower houses of the Dzhantugan alpine camp.
Pinnacle 15 - peak Free Spain(4200 m), located in the GKH. The route to the summit along the eastern ridge from the pass is category 4A. Ice route 4B along the wall to the left of the rock tower (Aleksey Osipov et al., 1995) is recommended as a winter option; warm time of the year. Several "five Bs" have been laid along the rock tower. The rocky gendarme in the eastern ridge is sometimes called Gogol Peak, and the gendarme in the western ridge is called Lermontov Peak (I remember Yesenin Peak, mentioned in the description of Bezengi near Lyalver Peak). In climbing terms, these are still gendarmes, they do not lead independent routes, but topologically, “Lermontov’s gendarme” - whatever one may say, this is the nodal peak of the GKH. The Dollakora ridge branches off from it, which leads south to Svaneti and separates the Lekzyr and Chalaat glaciers there.
Pinnacle 16 - Bzhedukh(4270 m), located in the GKH. The snowy slopes of the bridge between the peaks of Free Spain and Bzheduha represent the simplest, but dangerous landslide route of descent from Free Spain, commonly referred to as the "Trough".
Glacier 11 - Bzhedukh, belongs to the Shkhelda basin.
Pass 26 - Double, 3A - is located in the GKH between the peak of the Caucasus East and the peak of Bzhedukh.
Pinnacle 17 - peak Caucasus East(4163 m), the key peak of the GKH. Here the Main Range turns away from us, to the peaks of Vuleya and Shchurovsky, and the rest of the peaks of the Caucasus are already in its spur, which descends into the Shkhelda valley.
Pass 27 - Saddle of the Caucasus, 3A - is located in the spur of the GKH between the peaks of the Caucasus Main and East.
Pinnacle 3 - peak Caucasian Western, located in a spur of the GKH.
Pass 28 - Krenkelya, 3A - is located in the spur of the GKH between the peaks of the Caucasus Western and Main.
Pinnacle 4 - peak Caucasian Chief(4037 m), located in the spur of the GKH.

The ridge of the GKH peaks closes the upper reaches of the Chalaat glaciers from us, which fall into Svaneti with steep icefalls. The peaks surrounding them are Free Spain (4200 m), Bzhedukh (4280 m), Eastern Caucasus (4163 m), a peak hidden behind it Vuleya(4055 m, we have already talked about Herman Vulei in connection with his routes in Bezengi), peak Shchurovsky(4277 m, V.A. Shchurovsky - a famous Moscow doctor who treated Chekhov and Tolstoy, and “part-time” mountain traveler, who presented a number of tourist routes in the Western Caucasus to the general public), Chatyn Western(4347 m), Chatyn Chief(4412 m) and Malaya Ushba(4320 m).

From Western Chatyn to Svaneti, a short but powerful spur with the top of Chatyn Glavny protrudes. It separates two branches of the Chalaat glacier, breaking off on the Chatyn plateau - the southern circus of the main, eastern branch of the glacier - with its famous Northern wall with solid "sixes". Approach from Russia to the Chatyn Plateau under the routes to the Northern Face of Chatyn - up the Shkhelda Gorge through the Chatyn South Pass, aka Chatyn False (2B). (For more on this pass, see Catalog passes and peaks of Oleg Fomichev, a link to him at the end of the article, among others useful links.) From the Georgian side, it is difficult to enter the Chatyn plateau without a very strong desire, for this you need to either cross the additional Dalla-Kora pass in the southern spurs of the GKH, or go up through the difficult icefalls of the Chalaat glacier, which is extremely problematic even with equipment.

Near Malaya Ushba, an even more impressive short spur with the pearl of the Caucasus - the Ushba massif and its peaks extends from the GKH to Svaneti Northern Ushba(4694 m) and South Ushba(4710 m).

The main passes of the GKH in this junction are:
Pass 29 - Chalaat, 3B - between the peaks of Chatyn Zapadny and Malaya Ushba, the pass of Academician Aleksandrov is projected onto the same pass, 3B - between Chatyn and Shchurovsky peak
Pass 30 - Ushbinsky, 3A - between the massifs of Ushba and Shkheldy.

f) Shkhelda array.

Peak Heights Shkhelda massif(from left to right):

Eastern- 4368 m
Central- 4238 m
peak Aristova- 4229 m
peak The science- 4159 m
2nd Western- 4231 m
Western- 3976 m

By the way, in 1974 the titanic traverse of Shkhelda (all peaks) - Ushba - Mazeri (G. Agranovsky, A. Vezner, V. Gritsenko and Yu. Ustinov, 14.07-5.08 1974) was passed. The obligatory set of traverses of all peaks of Shkhelda includes five of the six named above: Shkhelda Western falls out, located on the far periphery, in the isthmus already on the outskirts of the Trade Unions peak.
The remaining peaks of the Shkhelda massif are considered gendarmes. Particularly stands out the gendarme Rooster - a tall rocky phallus next to the Eastern Tower of Shkhelda.

g) area of ​​Malaya Shkhelda.

Not particularly noticeable, but interesting in its topology and rich in surrounding views of the mountain knot around Malaya Shkhelda(4012 m). GKH enters the frame on the left from the side of the peak adjacent to Shkhelda trade unions(3957 m) and, moving with a slight southern roll to the west through the lowering of the Bivachny pass (3820 m, 2B *), climbs the peak Athlete(3961 m, not to be confused with the peak Athlete's Day, which is in the Adyl-Su ridge), turns 90 degrees from it and by the northwestern course, bypassing the Sredny pass (3910 m), rises to the top of M. Shkhelda, the highest point of the region. Further, almost without changing course, the GKH passes along the double rocky ridge Akhsu (3916 m), which is visible from the edge from Kezgen and appears to be a front snow slope with an easily recognizable berg at the base. Going down this slope (route 2A), the GKH turns due west and, slipping through the lane. Akhsu (2A, 3764 m), climbs a low and quite easy peak when approaching from any direction Yusengi Nodal(3846 m). Here the GKH says goodbye to us and goes beyond the right cut of the frame towards the Becho pass, and in the northeast direction (to the left and towards us) the Yusengi ridge departs from Uzlovaya. For more than a kilometer, it leads along a wide and flawlessly even snow ridge (the summit exit of the Akhsu glacier), while imperceptibly slips through the area of ​​​​the Rodina pass (2A, 3805 m) and reaches its highest point at the top Yusengi(3870). Then it descends in a long course into the Baksan valley (in the picture along the ridge in our direction).

Both peaks of Yusengi and the Rodina pass give gorgeous views towards Elbrus and Donguz, no other observation point will give you a larger view of the Elbrus-Donguz expanse. The top of the Malaya Shkhelda is an excellent viewpoint of the entire adjacent Georgian sector, and the Fizkulturnik peak gives an amazing close view of the Shkhelda-Ushba-Mazeri link and the Ushba glacier in the pit between them.

Ascent on foot to the peak Athlete from the lane. Medium - a matter of 6-8 minutes. Climbing from there to the top of Malaya Shkhelda - opposite 2A along the old fragile rocks. The rocky traverse M. Shkhelda - Akhsu is already classified as 2B, and the longer traverse in the other direction - M. Shkhelda - Fizkulturnik peak - Profsoyuzov peak - as 3A.

The peaks indicated in the picture form a chain above the cirque of the Akhsu glacier, open (not covered by moraine sediments) along its entire course from the source to the place where it flows into the Shkhelda glacier. There is no more extended section of the open glacier in the gorges from Adyrsu to Azau.

h) Donguzorun and Nakra array.


When you look at the Donguzorun massif with cover(4269 m) from Terskol, you wonder: well, why was this Nakra called Nakra and even called it, if it is nothing more than an appendage of a really serious and sign-defining mountain Donguzorun? When you stand in the upper reaches of the Yusengi gorge and look from the bottom up at the monumental eastern wall of Donguz under the age-old ice shell, you are even more surprised: what does Nakra have to do with it and where is she, this dependent baby? But when you look at the Donguz massif from Kezgen, the global picture becomes clear. The western peak of Donguz is the center of a regular three-pointed star. From it to the southeast (to the left in the picture) stretches the Donguz ridge, it is he who makes up the main part of the complex - the Donguzorun massif itself with its three adjacent peaks: Donguzorun East(4442 m), Main(4454 m) and West(4429 m). From the western summit, the northeastern spur of the Donguz descends directly on us, which, at the intermediate peak Interkosmos(3731 m, in the photo from Kezgen it is a gentle snow-covered pyramid) is divided into two branches, a very short northern one, which gracefully descends to the Donguzorun River above the Chegetskaya glade, and the one that is more authentic - the eastern, Kogutai (we see a shallow flat snow bowl of the western circus of Kogutai). In this branch, above the glacial cirque, two similar triangular tops are clearly visible - Big Kogutai(3819 m), it is to the left, and Small Kogutai(3732 m). The Main Range itself from the western peak of Donguz goes west (to the right), immediately jumps onto the Nakra tower and then gracefully descends to the hospitable Donguzorun pass (1A, 2302).

Nevertheless, it would be a great injustice - and a factual mistake - to consider Nakru not an independent peak, but just a side appendage of Donguz. The fact is that it is to her, and not to the dominant neighbor, from the south that adjoins ridge Tsalgmyl, which is very long in itself and to which, like a rod, numerous side spurs are attached, filling the vast space surrounded by the Inguri River (from the south) and its primary tributaries Nakra (from the west) and Dolroy (from the east). Only a small inner region was subjugated by Donguzorun - the one that occupies a modest and short Dolra Range, sheltered three kilometers to the GKH and adjacent to the Main peak of Donguz.

The topology of the Donguzorun-Nakra array is interesting. There is a general long and monotonous gentle ascent from the southern, Georgian side, where the multi-branched Kvish glacier freely spreads (and from where G. Merzbacher, 1891 and R. Gelbling, 1903 routes were laid to the peaks of Donguz at the turn of the 19-20 centuries - both 2A ), and then, upon reaching the border ridge line, everything abruptly breaks down, into Russia, by the eastern and northern walls of the massif, glorious for their difficult climbing routes (categories from 4B to 5B). And right behind the dumping of the eastern and northern walls of Donguz - greenery and the Cheget-Terskol charms of civilization.

In connection with such an extraordinary topology in the winter of 1989, the following story happened on Donguz. As part of the mountaineering championship on the Northern Face of Donguzorun (strong route 5B Khergiani), a deuce climbed from Kiev, but soon after reaching the top they did not get in touch and disappeared. They didn’t have any food (they dropped it on the rise). Winter, February, frost, bad weather. We found them only on the 8th day ... at the Minvod airport (!). .

i) Elbrus.


To the observer on the top of Kezgen Elbrus converted to his Eastern summit(5621 m), and it is as symmetrical as possible in terms of the central center line and side exits. The western peak of the mountain (5642 m) is completely closed by the Eastern one.
On the Eastern peak in its right part, rocks are distinguishable against the sky; they border the summit crater with a 20-meter wall. The highest point of the dome is located on the southern (left in the picture) edge of the crater. This summit crater is open to the east, in the direction of us, and on the slope half a kilometer below it gapes a side crater, and under it the Achkeryakol lava flow (ALF) stretches further down - a chain of scree rocks of volcanic origin. This stream descends to the ice fields of East Elbrus, giving rise to the rivers Irik and Irikchat.

On the northern (right to the viewer) slope of Elbrus, two spots of rock outcrops are visible against the sky - approximately at 4600 and 5100 m. The upper ones are Lenz rocks, so named in honor of the expedition member General Emmanuel who reached them: "..One of the academicians - Mr. Lenz - climbed to a height of 15200 feet. The full height of Elbrus above the level Atlantic Ocean defined as 16,800 feet"(quoted). Each of these altitude values ​​was obtained with more than a 10% error, but their ratio suffers from errors much less and, with reference to the currently accepted height of Elbrus (5642 m), allows us to estimate the height of the rocks reached by Lenz as 5100 m. So, we are talking about the upper rock outcrops.

A few words about the historical route of Douglas Freshfield to the Eastern peak of Elbrus (1868). The mountaintop route classifier leads Freshfield through Priyut-11, but he took a different route (described in detail in his bestselling book Exploration of the Central Caucasus). The group left the village of Urusbievs (Upper Baksan) and the first day on horseback moved along the Baksan valley, and the second day they climbed up the Terskol gorge, from where the dome of Elbrus first appeared, and reached the bivouac area near the Ice Base. The group reached the top at 3 o'clock in the morning. Stepping on the glacier, she went in bundles in a straight line to the cone and first reached a height from which the spurs opened towards the distant steppe, and then, already at the beginning of the ascent along the cone, she met the sun. By half past seven, at an altitude of 4800 m, the group reached the rocks of the upper part of the cone and at 10h40m reached the summit in the area of ​​the current obelisk.

“This peak was at the end of a horseshoe-shaped ridge crowned with three elevations and framing a snowy plateau on three sides, open to the east. We walked—or rather, ran—up the ridge to the very end, passing two significant drops and visiting all three peaks. … [At the same time] we naturally looked out to see if there was a second peak somewhere, but it was nowhere to be found. It seemed to us that the western slope abruptly breaks down to Karachay and that there were no dense clouds that could hide a peak approximately the same height as ours. But we were wrong: the western, slightly higher peak was completely hidden by haze ... It must be remembered that before this ascent we had never seen Elbrus and, therefore, had only a vague idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe structure of the mountain.


Having built a “stone man” on top, the group at the beginning of the twelfth began to descend along the ascent path, descended into the valley in the evening and the next day returned to the Urusbievs, where they were greeted with greetings and treats.
“We were caught in the crossfire of questions about how it is up there, and we were sad to report that we did not see a giant rooster there, which lives in the sky and welcomes the sunrise with a cry and flapping wings, and greets intruders with a beak and claws, wanting to protect the treasure from people.

Routes are routes, but in the case of Elbrus one cannot keep silent about his own biography. Why is it that the Main Caucasian Range seems to be the main one, and its iconic peaks - Elbrus and Kazbek - are somewhere on the side? Because they are volcanoes. In the Greater Caucasus, volcanism is associated with the fragmentation of the earth's crust at a late stage of mountain building. The Elbrus volcano was formed in the Bokovoy ridge on the watershed of the Malka, Baksan and Kuban rivers, and it is confined to the intersection of the longitudinal Tyrnyauz fault zone and the transverse Elbrus fault. In the southwestern part of the mountain, the remains of an ancient crater have been preserved in the form of rocks of Khotutau-Azau. Now the two-headed volcano is planted on the upper part of the ancient crater - a highly raised pedestal (base) made of ancient rocks of granites and crystalline schists.

Elbrus as a volcano was born about 2 million years ago. All the mountains of this region then rose as low hills, and powerful eruptions of magma rich in gases formed first volcanic cone(its remnants in the area of ​​the Irikchat pass). After many hundreds of thousands of years the volcano is working again- almost a kilometer-long cliff speaks of its power Kyukurtlu. On the section of this wall, one can clearly see how layers of volcanic bombs, slag, tuffs and ash alternate with frozen lava flows. Explosive eruptions and outpourings of thick and viscous lavas alternated many times, and when the volcano began to subside, hot gases and solutions still penetrated through the thickness of volcanic rocks for a long time. Due to this, layers of sulfur were formed, which are now turning yellow against the dark red background of the Kyukurtlu cliffs.
Now the wall routes to Kyukyurtly are considered one of the most difficult in the Caucasus.

Third phase of activity volcano, about 200 thousand years ago, was restrained. Outpourings of lava descended into the Baksan valley over and over again. The slowly cooling lava shrank in volume and cracked, and wonderful columnar structures formed in it, which we see on the walls rising above the road from the village. Terskol to the observatory, as well as forming the left side of the gloomy Azau gorge.

Fourth phase of activity volcano - 60-70 thousand years ago - was extremely stormy. Explosions knocked out a cork of frozen ancient rocks from the vent of the volcano, and the volcanic material spread for tens of kilometers (discovered near Tyrnyauz, in the Chegem Valley). At this time formed western peak Elbrus. The eruptions formed a loose stratum of volcanic bombs, tuffs, and other products, mainly on the western and northern slopes. When the energy of the volcano decreased, outpourings of lavas began - now to the upper reaches of the ancient Malka valley, and not to Baksan.

Elbrus area from space - on Google maps.Maps:

Topology of the Western and Eastern peaks of Elbrus close-up.
The highest point of the Eastern Peak is visible, located in the southern part of the summit dome. Being on the East Peak, it is not always obvious where the highest point is...

The Kezgen campaign of 2007, in which photographic materials for PANORAMA-1 were obtained, is described in the 2nd part of Igor Pasha's article .. The photographic materials themselves are also presented there, in a much larger volume ..

We also give a number of basic links on the topic of the publication:

http://caucatalog.narod.ru- Base of passes, peaks, valleys, glaciers and other objects of the Caucasus with photographs (more than 2200 objects and 7400 photographs as of January 2010), reports on mountain trips. The author of the site caucatalog is Mikhail Golubev (Moscow).

The authors will be grateful for constructive comments, indication of factual inaccuracies and additional information provided. All this will be taken into account with gratitude when updating the article!