Mountains / Karachay-Cherkess Republic

The ridge separates the basins of the Kuban, Terek, Sulak and Samur rivers from the basins of the Inguri, Rioni and Kura. The watershed ridge, unlike other components of the Caucasus Range, is called the Main Range, but 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 Caucasus region with its highlands and chains. The entire system of the Main Caucasian Range occupies approximately 2,600 km². The northern slope covers about 1,450 km², and the southern one, about 1,150 km². The main Caucasian ridge in the west ends at the Black Sea coast (near Anapa), and in the east with Mount Ilkhi-Dag (327 m) (to the north-west of Baku). Directly, the distance between these points is about 1,175 km, along the ridge, about 1,500 km. The width of the Caucasus Range in the western (slightly west of Elbrus) and eastern (Dagestan) parts is about 160 ... 180 km, in the central - about 100 km; 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 (average heights are about 3,400 m above sea level), where its highest peaks are concentrated, the highest of which, Elbrus, reaches a height of 5,642 m above sea level; 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 Caucasian Range significantly exceeds the Alps; it has at least 15 peaks exceeding 5,000 m, and more than 20 peaks higher than Mont Blanc, the highest peak in all 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. Thus, almost along its entire length (in the west - from the south, in the east - from the north), a series of high basins adjoins 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 Caucasus Range that many of the primary peaks do not lie on the watershed ridge, but on the extremities of its short spurs heading north (this is the position of the peaks: Elbrus, Koshtan-tau, Adai-khokh, etc.). The northern, more developed slope of the Caucasus Range, formed by many spurs, adjoining in general almost perpendicular to the Main Range and separated by deep transverse 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, lowering further in ledges, spreads into the vast Stavropol Upland (see the Caucasian Territory). The northern slope is even more developed in the eastern part of the Caucasus Range, where numerous, and very significant in height and length, its spurs form the vast mountainous country of 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 18-65 km to the north. The Black Mountains form gentle and long slopes, in most areas covered with dense forests (hence the name), and fall in steep cliffs to the south. The rivers flowing from the Main Range break through the Black Mountains along deep and narrow, very picturesque gorges; the height of this forward chain is, in general, insignificant, although in upstream Ardona and Uruha, some of their peaks reach a height of more than 3,300 m above sea level (Kion-hoh - 3,423 m, Kargu-hoh - 3,350 m). The southern slope is especially poorly developed in the western and eastern parts of the ridge, reaching a rather significant orographic development in the middle, where it is adjoined by parallel elevations that form longitudinal valleys of the upper reaches of the Rioni, Inguri 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 low development where it falls to the Alazani valley; The city of Zagatala, located at an altitude of 355 m at the southern foot of the Caucasus Range, is only 20 km away in a straight line from its crest, which here reaches a height of more than 3,300 m above sea level. The Caucasian ridge is not distinguished by cross-country ability; only on its western and eastern extremities are there convenient and low passes, quite accessible all year round for communication. Throughout the rest of its length, with the exception of the Mamison and Krestovaya (see Georgian Military Road), the paths through the ridge in most cases represent pack or even hiking paths, partly completely inaccessible for use in the winter season. From all the passes highest value has a Cross (2,379 m), through which the most significant movement is carried out along the Georgian Military Highway along the entire length of the ridge.

The Main Caucasian (Dividing) Range is a continuous mountain range stretching for more than 1,100 km from the northwest to the southeast from the Black Sea (Anapa region) to the Caspian Sea (Mount Ilkhydag northwest of Baku). The Caucasian Range divides the Caucasus into two parts: Ciscaucasia (Northern Caucasus) and Transcaucasia (South Caucasus).

The Main Caucasian Range separates the basins of the Kuban, Terek, Sulak and Samur rivers in the north and the Inguri, Rioni and Kura rivers in the south.

The mountain system, which includes the Main Caucasian Range, is called the Greater Caucasus (or the Greater Caucasian Range), in contrast to the Lesser Caucasus, a vast highland located south of the Rioni and Kura valleys and directly connected with the uplands of Western Asia.

For a more convenient view, the Caucasus Range can be divided along the length from west to east into seven parts:

Black Sea Caucasus (from the meridian of Anapa to the Fisht-Oshten mountain group - approx. 265 km),

Kuban Caucasus (from Oshten to the source of the Kuban) - 160 km,

Elbrus Caucasus, or western (Karachai-Circassian) Elbrus region (from the source of the Kuban to the top of Adai-Khokh) - 170 km,

Tersky (Kazbek) Caucasus (from Adai-Khokh to the city of Barbalo) - 125 km,

Dagestan Caucasus (from Barbalo to the top of Sari-Dag) - 130 km,

Samur Caucasus (from Sari-Dag to the city of Baba-Dag) - approx. 130 km,

Caspian Caucasus (from Baba-Dag to the top of Ilkhydag) - approx. 170 km.


A more enlarged division is also adopted:

Western Caucasus (limited from the east by Elbrus);

Central Caucasus;

Eastern Caucasus (limited from the west by Kazbek).


The entire system of the Main Caucasian Range occupies approximately 2,600 km². The northern slope covers about 1450 km², and the southern one - about 1150 km².

The width of the Caucasus Range in the western (somewhat west of Elbrus, and including the Elbrus mountain range) and eastern (Dagestan) parts is about 160 ... 180 km, in the central - about 100 km; 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 (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.

In general, in height, the Caucasian Range significantly exceeds 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.

Mount Elbrus from the air - the roof of Europe

Thus, almost along its entire length (in the west - from the south, in the east - from the north), a series of high basins adjoins 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 - separate groups and short ridges of advanced hills, 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 Caucasus Range that many of the primary peaks do not lie on the Dividing Ridge, but on the extremities of its short spurs heading north (this is the position of the peaks of Elbrus, Koshtan, Adai-khokh, etc.). This is the so-called Lateral Caucasian Range, which stretches in the vast majority of cases (in many places) even below the Rocky.

Northern slope of the Caucasus Range

The northern, more developed slope of the Caucasus Range, formed by many spurs, adjoining in general almost perpendicular to the Main Range and separated by deep transverse valleys, reaches a very significant development in the vicinity of Elbrus (Elbrus ledge). The most significant uplift [the Elbrus-Mineralnye Vody fault zone] goes straight north from this peak, serves as a watershed between the waters of the Kuban (Azov) and the Terek (Caspian Sea) and, descending further in ledges, spreads into the island mountains of Pyatigorye and the vast Stavropol Upland (the main uplift frontal ledges reaches the Pasture Range, bordering the horseshoe Kislovodsk basin turns south (Kislovodsk) to the east, along with gorges and river valleys stretches to the Terek-Sunzhensky interfluve - forming the Terek-Sunzhenskaya upland, and further - up to the Andisky ridge).

The northern slope is even more developed in the eastern part of the Caucasus Range, where numerous, and very significant in height and length, its spurs form the vast mountainous country of Dagestan (Dagestan ledge) - a large mountainous region enclosed by the high Andean, Sala-Tau and Gimrynsky (2334 m ) ridges. Gradually lowering to the north, the northern slope is formed by many advanced hills, which in places are in the form of ridges and mountain spurs; such mountain ranges include the so-called Black Mountains (see) (Pasture Range), located to the north of the Main Range, at a distance of 65 km from it. The Black Mountains form gentle and long slopes, in most areas covered with dense forests (hence the name), and fall in steep cliffs to the south. The rivers flowing from the Main Range break through the Black Mountains along deep and narrow, very picturesque gorges (Sulak Canyon up to 1800 m deep); the height of this forward chain, in general, is insignificant, although (in the west of the Dagestan ledge) in the upper reaches of the Ardon and Urukh, some of their peaks reach a height of more than 3,300 m above sea level (Kion-hokh - 3,423 m, Kargu-Khokh - 3 350 m, Vaza-Khokh - 3,529 m (Skalisty and Side Ridge)).

view of the Caucasus Range from the Rosa Khutor base

The southern slope is especially poorly developed in the western and eastern parts of the ridge, reaching a rather significant orographic development in the middle, where it is adjoined by parallel elevations that form longitudinal valleys of the upper reaches of the Rioni, Inguri and Tskhenis-tskhali, and long spurs extend to the south, separating the Alazani basins. , Iori and Kura.

The steepest and least developed section of the southern slope is where it falls to the Alazani valley; The city of Zagatala, located at an altitude of 355 m at the southern foot of the Caucasus Range, is only 20 km away in a straight line from its crest, which here reaches a height of more than 3,300 m above sea level. The Caucasian ridge is not distinguished by cross-country ability; only on its western and eastern extremities are there convenient and low passes, quite accessible all year round for communication.

Throughout the rest of the length, with the exception of the Mamison and Cross Passes (see Georgian Military Road), the paths through the ridge in most cases represent pack or even hiking paths, partly completely inaccessible for use in the winter season. Of all the passes, the most important is Krestovy (2,379 m), through which the Georgian Military Highway passes.

Central Caucasus

Glaciers of the Caucasus

In terms of the number of glaciers, their area and size, the Caucasus Range is almost as good as the Alps. The largest number of significant glaciers is located in the Elbrus and Terek parts of the ridge, and there are about 183 glaciers of the first category in the basins of the Kuban, Terek, Liakhva, Rioni and Inguri, and 679 of the second category. In total, in the Greater Caucasus, according to the Catalog of Glaciers of the USSR (1967 —1978), 2,050 glaciers with a total area of ​​1,424 km². The size of the Caucasian glaciers is very diverse, and some of them (for example, Bezengi) are almost as large as the Aletsch glacier in the Alps. The Caucasian glaciers nowhere descend as low as, for example, the glaciers of the Alps, and in this respect are of great variety; so the Karaugom glacier ends down to a height of 1,830 m above sea level, and the Shah-Daga glacier (ShahDag city (4243 m), in the BazarDyuzu region) - to a height of 3,320 m above sea level. The most famous glaciers of the Caucasus Range are:

Mount Fisht, Caucasus

Name of the glacier (Mountain from which it descends)

Bezengi (bass. Cherek Bezengi) Shota Rustaveli Peak, Shkhara

Dykh-Su [Dykh-Kotyu-BugoySu]

Karaugom (Uruh, bass. Terek) Adai-hoh

Tsaneri [Tsanner] (bass. Inguri) Tetnuld

Devdoraki (bass. Amali) Kazbek

Big Azau (Baksan, Terek basin) Elbrus, southern shoulder

Snow Valley Jikiugankez

Malka and Baksan Elbrus, eastern shoulder

Tsei (Ardon, bass Terek)

Lekhzyr [Lekzyr, Lekziri] (bass. Inguri)

Ezengi (Yusengi)

Donguzorun-Cheget-Karabashi (west), Yusengi ridge (east)

Shkheldy glacier (Adylsu, bass. Baksan)

Shkhelda (4368 m),

Chatyntau (4411 m)

panorama of the Caucasian ridge

During the Ice Age, the glaciers of the Caucasus Range were much 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 ancient glaciers extended in length for 53, 64 and even up to 106.7 or more kilometers, descending into valleys to heights of 244 ... 274 meters above sea level. Currently, most of the glaciers of the Caucasus Range are in a period of retreat, which has been lasting for several decades.

Main Caucasian Range - Abkhazia

MAJOR PEAKS AND GLACIERS OF THE CAUCASIAN RIDGE

Bezengi is a mountainous region of Kabardino-Balkaria, the central, highest part Caucasus mountains, including the Bezengi wall of the main Caucasian ridge and the lateral ridges adjacent from the north, forming the basin of the Cherek Bezengi river.

Bezengi wall

The Bezengi wall is a 42-kilometer mountain range, the highest section of the main Caucasian ridge. Usually, the peaks of Lyalver (in the west) and Shkhara (in the east) are considered the boundaries of the wall.

To the north, the wall abruptly breaks up to 3000 m to the Bezengi glacier (Ullu-Chiran). To the south, towards Georgia, the relief is complex, there are both wall sections and high-altitude glacial plateaus.

Peaks of the area

Bezengi wall

Lalver (4350)

Yesenin Peak (4310)

Gestola (4860)

Katyntau (4974)

Dzhangitau (5085)

Sh. Rustaveli Peak (4960)

Shkhara (5068)

Mount Dykhtau, Side Ridge

side ridge

Koshtantau (5152)

Krumkol (4676)

Tikhonov Peak (4670)

Mijirgi (5025)

Pushkin Peak (5033)

Dykhtau (5204)

warm corner

Gidan (4167)

Archimedes Peak (4100)

Georgia, Trinity Monastery near Mount Kazbek

Salynan-bashi (4348)

Ortokara (4250)

Peak Ryazan

Peak Brno (4100)

Misses tau (4427)

Peak Cadets (3850)

Mount Shkhara

THE HIGHEST PEAK OF GEORGIA

Shkhara (Georgian შხარა) is a mountain peak in the central part of the Main Caucasian (Dividing) Range, the highest point in Georgia. Height 5,068 m above sea level, some sources give an estimate of 5,201 m. Located in Svaneti from the south and Bezengi in Kabardino-Balkaria from the north, on the border with Russia, about 90 km north of the city of Kutaisi. It is part of a unique 12-kilometer mountain range known as the Bezengi wall.

Composed of granites and crystalline schists. The slopes are covered with glaciers, on the northern slope - the Bezengi glacier, on the southern slope - the Shkhara glacier, from which the Inguri River partially originates. Popular climbing site. Soviet climbers first climbed Shkhara in 1933.

At the foot of the southern slopes of Shkhara, at an altitude of 2,200 m above sea level, there is the village of Ushguli in the Mestia region of Svaneti, which is included in the list world heritage UNESCO.

MOUNT TETNULD Main Caucasian Range

Tetnuld (Georgian თეთნულდი " white mountain"") - a peak in the spur of the Bezengi Wall, the Main Caucasian Range in the region of Upper Svaneti, Georgia, 2 km south of the peak of Gestola and the border Russian Federation(Kabardino-Balkaria).

Height - 4 869 m.

The peak is two-headed, composed of ancient crystalline rocks. The glaciers Oish, Nageb, (sources of the Inguri), Adish and others flow down from Tetnuld. The total area of ​​glaciers is 46 km².

22 km west of the summit is the regional center of Mestia.

Mount Gestola

Tsey Glacier

Tsey glacier (Ossetian Ts'yy ts'iti) is a valley glacier on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus, one of the largest and lowest descending glaciers of the Caucasus.

The Tsey glacier is located in North Ossetia and is fed mainly by the snows of Mount Adai-Khokh (4,408 m). The Tseisky glacier descends to a height of 2,200 m above sea level, that is, below the vast majority of the glaciers of the Caucasus. Its length, together with the firn fields, is about 9 km, the area is 9.7 km². At the very bottom, it is rather narrow, and above it expands greatly, reaching 1 km in width. Cramped by rocks at an altitude of 2,500 m above sea level, it forms innumerable cracks and has several icefalls, but higher its surface becomes more even again.

The Tseisky glacier is formed from 2 large and 2 smaller branches. From the ice arch of the Tsey glacier flows the beautiful river Tsey (Tseydon), which flows from west to east along a deep picturesque gorge covered with pine forests. It flows into Ardon from the left side.

Near the Tseisky glacier there are climbing camps and the Ossetia tourist center, as well as the Goryanka hotel, the SKGMI scientific station and the weather station. Two cable cars are laid to the glacier. Mountain-climatic resort area - Tsey.

Many poems are devoted to the Tsey glacier and the gorge, both by eminent authors (for example, “Tseyskaya” by Yuri Vizbor) and folk:

What a beautiful camp Tsey, /

I have many friends here. /

And the mountains are nearby - I won't hide it. /

As soon as you go beyond the threshold, /

Before the eyes of Adai-Khokh, /

And a gray lump of "Monk" over his head ...

Mount Adai-Khokh

Friend, thank you for the cup,

I hold the sky in my hand

Mountain air of the state

I drink on the Tsey glacier.

Nature itself is here

A clear trace of bygone times -

nineteenth year

Purifying ozone.

And down from Sadon's pipes

Gray smoke stretches

To me during it

This cold did not carry away.

There, under the roofs, like a grid,

The rain breathes and trembles

And on a string a trolley

Runs like a black bead.

I am present at the meeting

Two times and two heights

And prickly snow on the shoulders

Old Tsey puts me.

Moscow, 1983. Arseny Tarkovsky

Mount Monk

MOUNTAIN Donguzorun-Cheget

Donguzorun-Cheget-Karabashi or Donguz-Orun is the peak of the Main (or Dividing Range) of the Greater Caucasus, in the Elbrus region. It is located in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria of the Russian Federation. Height - 4454 m.

Nearby, at an altitude of 3203 m, there is the Donguzorun mountain pass through the Main Range between the valleys of the Baksan (Russia) and Inguri (Georgia) rivers. At the foot of the Donguzorun-Cheget-Karabashi flows one of the tributaries of the Baksan - the Donguz-Orun River.

MOUNT ACHISHO

Achishkho (Adyghe goat mountain: Achi - "goat", shkho - "height", "top".) (Nedezhui-Kushkh) - a mountain range in the Western Caucasus, located on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. Altitude up to 2391 m (Mount Achishkho, 10 km north-west of Krasnaya Polyana).

The ridge is composed of shales and volcanic (tuffaceous) rocks. The landscapes of the Achishkho Ridge are characterized by ancient glacial landforms and ridge lakes (including karst ones), and there are waterfalls.

The ridge is in the zone humid climate — annual amount precipitation is up to 3000 mm (the largest value in Russia), the thickness of the snow cover reaches 10 m. sunny days does not exceed 60-70 days a year.

The slopes of Achishkho are covered with broad-leaved, mostly beech, fir forests in the north, and mountain meadows on the peaks.

The ridge is popular with hikers. There are dolmens.

Caucasian State Natural

biosphere reserve

The reserve is the successor of the Caucasian bison reserve, established on May 12, 1924, located in the Western Caucasus, on the border of temperate and subtropical climatic zones. The total area of ​​the reserve is more than 280 thousand hectares, of which 177.3 thousand hectares are in the Krasnodar Territory.

February 19, 1979 by decision of UNESCO Caucasian Reserve it was given the status of a biosphere, and in January 2008 it was named after Kh. G. Shaposhnikov. In 1999, the territory of the Caucasian State Natural biosphere reserve included in the World Heritage List

Kuban hunting

In 1888, on behalf of the Grand Dukes Peter Nikolayevich and Georgy Mikhailovich, about 80 thousand acres of land in the Greater Caucasus Range were leased from the forest dachas of the Ministry of State Property and the Kuban Regional Military Administration. An agreement was concluded with the Kuban Rada on the exclusive right to hunt in these territories for the Grand Dukes. Later, the territories became known as the Great Kuban Hunting.

A few years later, the princes stopped traveling to the Kuban for health reasons, and then in 1892 they transferred the right to hunt to Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich, who took up active development of the territory.

bison reserve

In 1906, the ending lease on the territory of the Kuban hunting was extended for another three years, after which these lands were planned to be divided between the villages of the Kuban Cossacks. In 1909, Kh. G. Shaposhnikov, who worked as a forester of the Belorechensk forestry of the Kuban Army, sent a letter to Russian Academy sciences with the rationale for the need to reserve the territory leased from the Kuban Army. The main reason for the creation of the reserve was the protection of the endangered Caucasian bison. The letter also outlined the boundaries of the reserve. Based on this letter, Academician H. Nasonov made a report, and the Academy of Sciences created a commission. As a military forester, Shaposhnikov participated in her work on the organization of the reserve. However, for a number of reasons related to the division of land by the Kuban Cossacks, things did not progress significantly.

Repeated attempts to create a reserve were made in 1913 and 1916. Finally, in 1919, a positive decision was made.

With the establishment of Soviet power in the region, the issue of the reserve had to be decided anew. Only in May 1924, the state Caucasian bison reserve was established.

Cross Pass - the highest point of the Georgian military road

DEFENSE OF THE CAUCASIAN RIDGE

Fighting on the passes.

In mid-August 1942, the 1st and 4th divisions of the 49th German Mountain Rifle Corps, concentrated in the area of ​​​​Nevinnomyssk and Cherkessk, began to move freely towards the passes of the Main Caucasian Range, since there were no our troops in this direction, and 46 The 1st army, which was instructed to organize the defense, did not even have time to approach the southern slopes of the passes. There were no engineering structures on the passes.

By August 14, the 1st German mountain rifle division reached the Verkhnyaya Teberda, Zelenchukskaya, Storozhevaya area, and the 4th German mountain rifle division went to the Akhmetovskaya area. Strong groups specially trained enemy climbers, who had experienced guides, preempted our units and, from August 17 to October 9, occupied all the passes in the area from Mount Elbrus to the Umpyrsky pass. On the Klukhor and Sanchar directions, the Nazis, having overcome the Main Caucasian Range, reached its southern slopes, advancing 10-25 km. There was a threat of the capture of Sukhumi and disruption of supply along the communications that ran along the Black Sea coast.

Bid Supreme High Command On August 20, she demanded from the commander of the Transcaucasian Front, along with the creation of a strong defense in the main operational areas, the immediate strengthening of the defense of the Main Caucasian Range, especially the Georgian Military, Military Ossetian and Military Sukhumi roads. The Headquarters ordered to blow up and fill up all the passes and paths, mountain passes, on which no defensive structures were created, and to prepare the areas defended by the troops for an explosion in case of withdrawal. It was proposed to appoint commandants on all roads and directions, placing on them full responsibility for the defense and condition of the roads.

Fulfilling the instructions of the Headquarters, the command of the Transcaucasian Front began to deploy forces in order to stop the offensive of the Nazi troops on the passes of the Main Caucasian Range.

On the Elbrus direction, units of the 1st German mountain rifle division, taking advantage of the absence of our troops, on August 18 occupied the Hotyu-Tau and Chiper-Azau passes, the Krugozor and Shelter Eleven tourist bases on the southern slopes of Mount Elbrus. Units of the 8th Motorized Regiment of the NKVD and the 63rd Cavalry Division that approached here pushed the enemy back from these passes to the Shelter of Eleven, where he was held until January 1943.

The Klukhorsky pass was covered by a company of the 815th regiment. On August 15, the enemy sent a regiment here. Unable to stand hard hit, the defenders of the pass began to withdraw to the southern slopes, where there were two more companies. The fighting was fierce. Having learned about them on August 17, the command of the 46th Army sent two battalions and an NKVD detachment to help the units of the 816th regiment, which, approaching the battle area on August 22, stopped the further advance of the Nazis. On September 8, enemy units were driven back to the Klukhor Pass, where they remained until January 1943.

On September 5, the enemy regiment, after a concentrated bombing strike by aviation and a fire raid by artillery and mortars, launched an attack on the Marukh Pass, which was defended by two battalions. After stubborn fighting, the defenders were forced to leave the pass on September 7th. The further advance of the Germans here was stopped by the approaching reinforcements, but it was not possible to throw them off the pass until January 1943. The Sanchar Pass was defended by one company and a combined detachment of the NKVD. On August 25, the fascist German command moved a regiment against them. The Nazis managed to knock out our units from the pass and almost unhindered to reach the area, which is 25 km from Gudauta and Sukhumi. The urgently created Sancharskaya group of troops was sent to meet the enemy, consisting of one rifle regiment, two rifle battalions, two regiments of the NKVD and a detachment of cadets of the 1st Tbilisi Infantry School. On August 29, the group came into contact with German units, stopped them and on August 6, with the support of aviation, went on the offensive.

Two days later, she captured the village of Pskhu, which served as the enemy's main base on the southern slopes of the Main Caucasian Range. Now the Nazis did not have a single locality. By October 20, our troops in the Sanchar direction, with the support of the aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, threw them back to the northern slopes of the Main Caucasian Range.

The role of the aviation of the Black Sea Fleet in defeating the enemy grouping in the Sanchar direction is enormous. Aircraft DB-3, SB, Pe-2 and R-10, based at the airfields of Gudauta and Babusheri at a distance of 25-35 km from the front line, daily made 6-10 sorties to deliver bombing strikes against enemy troops, and on days of intense fighting - up to 40 sorties. In total, in September 1942, the aviation of the Black Sea Fleet dropped about a thousand FAB-100s on the Sancharsky and Marukhsky passes.

Thus, our troops, having almost no artillery and mortars, received the greatest and only support from naval aviation.

The fascist German command also tried to seize the Umpyrsky and Belorechensky passes. On the Umpyrsky Pass, which was defended by two companies, the Nazis on August 28 threw two reinforced battalions. However, thanks to a well-organized defense, the courageous actions of the Soviet soldiers, numerous enemy attacks were repulsed. The Belorechensky Pass was stormed by an infantry regiment and several squadrons of enemy cavalry supported by artillery. By the energetic actions of our forces and the approaching reserves, the enemy was stopped, and then thrown back far to the north.

So, by the actions of units of the 46th Army and aviation of the Black Sea Fleet, the offensive of the 49th German Mountain Rifle Corps, specially prepared for combat operations in the mountains, was thwarted. By the end of October 1942, a stable defense of the Main Caucasian Range was created.

Antiamphibious defense of the Poti naval base. In July - December, the defense of the Black Sea coast from the Soviet-Turkish border to Lazarevskaya was carried out by the forces of the Poti naval base together with the 46th Army of the Transcaucasian Front. In the second half of August, when the Nazi troops approached the passes of the Main Caucasian Range, the 46th Army was redirected to repel this main danger, the defense of the coast became the sole task of the Poti naval base.

The composition of the base forces changed with the situation. The enemy stepped up reconnaissance of the main base of the fleet and began to bombard the base and ships. By the end of December, the base area air defense replenished with a regiment and thus had three anti-aircraft regiments and a separate anti-aircraft artillery battalion. The rifle units of the base also increased by one battalion and two platoons. marines. But these forces were clearly not enough to organize a reliable defense of the coast, so it was built on the principle of creating separate centers of resistance that covered the main directions. Between the nodes of resistance, blockages and notches were built, separate machine-gun points were installed, and anti-personnel minefields were set up.

The strongest defense from land was created in the area of ​​Poti and Batumi, where it was decided to equip four lines: forward, main, rear and internal. The forward line of defense was supposed to pass from the base at a distance of 35 - 45 km, the main line - at a distance of 25 - 30 km, the rear - at a distance of 10 - 20 km from Poti and Batumi, the internal one - directly on the outskirts and deep in the gardens. For street fighting, it was planned to build barricades and anti-tank obstacles.

However, the planned engineering defenses were not built. Due to the lack of manpower, the forward and main lines of defense were not equipped at all, and on the rear line, by October 25, work was only 75% completed.

The entire defense area of ​​Poti from the land was divided into three sectors. The first sector was defended by a marine battalion with the support of eleven coastal artillery guns, the second sector - by the coastal defense school and the border detachment (343 people and seven guns), the third sector - by the personnel of the 1st brigade of torpedo boats and the border detachment (105 people and eight guns ). There were about 500 people in the reserve of the commander of the Poti naval base. In addition, all sectors were supported by naval artillery.

In order to better use forces in the defense of the coast, a manual was developed on the antiamphibious defense of the Poti naval base.

However, there were significant shortcomings in the organization of coastal defense. The engineering structures created at the beginning of 1942, due to the long time frame for their construction, fell into disrepair by 30-40% and required a solid repair. Coastal artillery was poorly prepared to repulse the enemy from land. Batteries No. 716 and 881 had no shrapnel shells at all. Over 50% of the personnel of the 164th separate artillery battalion did not have rifles.

There were major shortcomings in the organization of the air defense of the base, which were revealed during an enemy air raid on Poti on July 16. First of all, the monitoring and warning system was poorly developed. So, due to the location of patrol boats near the base, the command of the air defense base area was not able to detect the enemy in time and raise fighter aircraft, and some anti-aircraft batteries were not even notified of the approach of enemy aircraft.

However, despite all these shortcomings, the formations and units of the Poti naval base ensured a reliable basing of the fleet and created favorable conditions for the operations of units of the 46th Army on the passes of the Main Caucasian Range.

Conclusions on the actions of the Black Sea Fleet in the defense of bases and coasts

As a result of a five-month offensive in the second half of 1942, the Nazi troops achieved significant success. They captured the North Caucasus and the Taman Peninsula, reached the foothills of the Main Caucasian Range and the Terek River, and captured the passes. The enemy managed to occupy economically important areas and create a difficult situation for our troops in the Caucasus, but he was unable to overcome the defenses of our troops and achieve strategic success.

In the course of fierce defensive battles, Soviet troops and the Black Sea Fleet bled the enemy, stopped his advance in the foothills and at the turn of the Terek River, and thereby thwarted Hitler's plans to capture the entire Caucasus and the Soviet Black Sea Fleet.

The Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Flotilla, operationally subordinate to the command of the North Caucasian Front, and then the Transcaucasian Front, closely interacting with these fronts, provided them with great assistance in the defense and defeat of the Nazi troops in the Caucasus. The Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Flotilla reliably covered the coastal flank of our ground forces, organizing the antiamphibious defense of the Azov and Black Sea coasts, allocating for this purpose about 40 thousand people from the marine corps units, parts of the coastal and anti-aircraft artillery, 200 anti-aircraft guns, 150 coastal artillery guns, 250 warships, vessels and watercraft, and up to 250 aircraft.

Parts of the Marine Corps, Coastal Artillery and Aviation, operating on land, showed stamina, high moral and political spirit, mass heroism and an unbending will to defeat the enemy.

Although the antiamphibious defense of the coast by the Black Sea Fleet was organized in accordance with the situation and fully justified itself, it should be recognized that it was poorly saturated with rifle units, which gave the enemy the opportunity to land troops on the Taman Peninsula on September 2, 1942 and make an attempt to land on the night of October 30 landing on the eastern shore of the Tsemess Bay.

The experience of the defense of Novorossiysk and Tuapse showed that the delay in organizing forces for defense, the shallow depth of defense and the dispersal of forces led to significant losses in manpower and equipment and the loss of Novorossiysk, and the timely creation of the Tuapse defensive region made it possible to organize a deep, strong defense of the base from land and not allow the enemy to enter the defended area. The experience of base defense also showed that one of the main reasons for their rapid fall was the lack of reserves at the base command, which did not allow timely reflection of enemy attacks.

The experience of base defense confirmed the need to organize interaction and unite all forces under a single command. best form such an organization was a fully justified defensive area, divided into sectors and combat areas.

The heroic defense of the Caucasus was a good military school for units Soviet army and the Black Sea Fleet. In the course of it, they accumulated vast combat experience and mastered the tactics of operations in the mountains. The Soviet troops were re-equipped with light weapons, the infantry units were reinforced with engineering formations, the commanders mastered the art of command and control in difficult conditions, the rear organized the supply of troops in the mountains, using aviation and all types of transport, including pack.

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTO:

Team Nomads.

B.A. Garf. Bezengi Gorge. - Moscow: State publishing house of geographical literature, 1952.
A.F. Naumov. Central Caucasus. - Moscow: "PHYSICAL CULTURE AND SPORT", 1967.

http://www.sk-greta.ru/

Bush I. A. Glaciers of the Western Caucasus. Notes of the Russian Geographical Society on General Geography. T. XXXIII. No. 4, 1905,

Dictionary of modern geographical names/ Under general edition acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria, 2006.

around Elbrus. Tourist route map (M. 1:100,000). Pyatigorsk: North-Kav. AGP. 1992. Roskartografiya 1992, 1999 (with a more detailed description)

http://www.anapacity.com/bitva-za-kavkaz/glavnyj-kavkazskiy-hrebet.html

Topographic map K-38-13. - GUGK USSR, 1984.

Wikipedia site.

Opryshko O. L. Cloudy front of the Elbrus region. - M .: Military Publishing House, 1976. - 152 p. - (The heroic past of our Motherland). — 65,000 copies.

Beroev B. M. Elbrus region: Essay on nature. Chronicle of the conquest of Elbrus. Tourist routes. — M.: Profizdat, 1984. — 208 p. - (One hundred ways - one hundred roads). - 97,500 copies.

http://ii1.photocentra.ru/

http://photosight.ru/

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

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

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

Cm. geographical position Caucasus Mountains or where they are located and how they are located on the map. To enlarge the map of the Caucasus Mountains, just click on it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video: wild nature Russia 4 of 6 Caucasus mountains.

Video: Hiking in the Caucasus mountains.

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 heights, 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 by separate groups and short ridges of advanced hills, 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 ends of its short spurs heading to the north (this is the position of the peaks: Elbrus, Koshtan-tau, Adai-khokh, etc.). P.). The northern, more developed slope of the K. ridge, formed by many spurs, adjoining in general almost perpendicular to the Main Range 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, lowering 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 the vast mountainous country of 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 low 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 for 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 sec. (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, in comparison with the Black Sea, in greater height and width, with snow covering its most prominent peaks , the significant height and difficulty of the 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. South of the Main Range, in short distance, along almost the entire length of the Elbrus Caucasus, parallel to the Main, the Svaneti 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. of 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. K V from Georgian military road 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, gradually lowering to the south low spurs and buttresses, some of which go to the connection with 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 ; 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 greyish-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 Kakhetia 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 snow boundary 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 area 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 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.

Surprisingly beautiful mountain landscapes can be seen in these wonderful and unique places. The most impressive peaks are the Greater Caucasus Range. This is the territory of the highest and largest mountains in the Caucasus region.

The Lesser Caucasus and the valleys (Riono-Kura depression) represent Transcaucasia in the complex.

Caucasus: general description

The Caucasus is located between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea in southwestern Asia.

This region includes the mountains of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, as well as the depression between them called the Riono-Kura depression, the coasts of the Black Sea and the Caspian Seas, the Stavropol Upland, a small part of the Caspian lowland (Dagestan) and the Kuban-Azov lowland to the left bank of the Don River on part of its mouth.

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

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

Geographical position

In the western part, the Caucasus borders on the Black and Seas of Azov, in the east - with the Caspian. In the north, the East European Plain extends, and the border between it and the Caucasian foothills repeats the latter passes along the river. Kuma, the bottom of the Kumo-Manychskaya depression, along the Manych and Vostochny Manych rivers, and then along the left bank of the Don.

The southern border of the Caucasus is the Araks River, behind which are the Armenian and Iranian Highlands, and the river. Chorokh. And already beyond the river, the peninsulas of Asia Minor begin.

Caucasian Range: description

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

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

The length of the Caucasus Range is more than 1200 kilometers.

The site, located on the territory of the reserve, represents the highest mountain ranges of the Western Caucasus. Moreover, the heights here are the most diverse. Their marks vary from 260 to more than 3360 meters above sea level.

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

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

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

About the height of the Caucasus Range

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

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

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

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

More details about the highest peak of the Caucasus

The most high altitude The Caucasian ridge is Russia. It looks like two cones, between which (a distance of 3 km from each other) at an altitude of 5200 meters there is a saddle. The highest of them has, as already noted, a height of 5642 meters, a smaller one - 5621m.

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

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

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

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

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

Central Caucasus: ridges, parameters

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

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

22 kilometers west of Kazbek ( East End Central Caucasus) Russian border shifts slightly to the north and passes to Kazbek, skirting the valley of the Terek River belonging to Georgia (upper part).

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

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

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

North and South Caucasus

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

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

Elbrus region

The Elbrus region is geographically the westernmost section of the Central Caucasus. Its territory covers the upper reaches of the Baksan River with its tributaries, the area north of Elbrus and the western spurs of Mount Elbrus to the right bank of the Kuban. The largest peak of this region is the famous Elbrus, located to the north and located in the Side Range. The second highest peak is (4700 meters).

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

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

Location of states in the Caucasus

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

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

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