The Caucasus Mountains are an impregnable border between Europe and Asia. Main Caucasian ridge Caucasus Mountains on the map
Amazingly beautiful mountain landscapes can be seen in these wonderful and uniquely beautiful places. The most impressive peaks are the Greater Caucasus Range. This is the territory of the highest and largest mountains in the Caucasus region.
The Lesser Caucasus and the valleys (Riono-Kura Depression) form the Transcaucasus complex.
Caucasus: general description
The Caucasus is located between the Caspian and Black Seas in southwest Asia.
This region includes the mountains of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, as well as the depression between them called the Riono-Kura depression, the coasts of the Black Sea and Caspian seas, the Stavropol upland, a small part of the Caspian lowland (Dagestan) and the Kubano-Priazovsky lowland to the left bank of the Don River area of its mouth.
The Greater Caucasus Mountains are 1,500 kilometers long, and Elbrus is the highest peak. The length of the Lesser Caucasus mountains is 750 km.
Below we will take a closer look at the Caucasus Range.
Geographical position
In the western part, the Caucasus borders on the Black and Seas of Azov, in the east - with the Caspian. In the north lies the East European Plain, and the border between it and the Caucasian foothills repeats the latter, which runs along the river. Kuma, the bottom of the Kuma-Manych depression, along the Manych and Vostochny Manych rivers, and then along the left bank of the Don.
The southern border of the Caucasus is the Araks River, beyond which are the Armenian and Iranian Plateaus, and the river. Chorokh. And already across the river the peninsulas of Asia Minor begin.
Caucasus Range: description
The most daring people and climbers have long chosen the Caucasus mountain range, which attracts extreme sports enthusiasts from all over the world.
The most important Caucasian ridge divides the entire Caucasus into 2 parts: Transcaucasia and North Caucasus. This mountain range stretches from the Black Sea to the shores of the Caspian.
The length of the Caucasus Range is more than 1200 kilometers.
The site, located on the territory of the reserve, represents the highest mountain ranges of the Western Caucasus. Moreover, the heights here are very diverse. Their elevations vary from 260 to more than 3360 meters above sea level.
The wonderful combination of a light, mild climate and amazing landscapes make this place ideal for active tourist recreation in any season.
The Main Caucasus Range on Sochi territory has the largest peaks: Fisht, Khuko, Lysaya, Venets, Grachev, Pseashkho, Chugush, Malaya Chura and Assara.
Composition of the rocks of the ridge: limestones and marls. There used to be an ocean floor here. Throughout the huge massif one can observe strongly pronounced folding with numerous glaciers, turbulent rivers and mountain lakes.
About the height of the Caucasus ridge
The peaks of the Caucasus Range are numerous and quite varied in height.
Elbrus is the highest point in the Caucasus, which represents the highest peak not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The location of the mountain is such that a variety of nationalities live around it, giving it their own unique names: Oshkhomakho, Alberis, Yalbuz and Mingitau.
The most main mountain in the Caucasus ranks fifth on Earth among mountains formed in a similar way (as a result of a volcanic eruption).
The height of the most gigantic peak in Russia is five kilometers, six hundred and forty-two meters.
More details about the highest peak of the Caucasus
The highest altitude of the Caucasus range is Russia. It looks like two cones, between which (a distance of 3 km from each other) at an altitude of 5200 meters there is a saddle. The highest of them, as already noted, has a height of 5642 meters, the smaller one - 5621 m.
Like all peaks of volcanic origin, Elbrus consists of 2 parts: a 700-meter pedestal made of rocks and a bulk cone (1942 meters) - the result of a volcanic eruption.
The peak is covered with snow starting at an altitude of approximately 3500 meters. In addition, there are glaciers, the most famous of which are Small and Big Azau and Terskop.
The temperature at the highest point of Elbrus is -14 °C. Precipitation here almost always falls in the form of snow and therefore the glaciers do not melt. Due to the good visibility of the peaks of Elbrus from various distant places and in different times years, this mountain still has interesting name- Little Antarctica.
It should be noted that for the first time eastern peak was conquered by climbers in 1829, and the western one in 1874.
Glaciers located on the top of Elbrus feed the Kuban, Malka and Baksan rivers.
Central Caucasus: ridges, parameters
Geographically, the Central Caucasus is part of the Greater Caucasus, located between the Elbrus and Kazbek mountains (in the west and in the east). In this section, the length of the Main Caucasian Ridge is 190 kilometers, and if we take into account the meanders, about 260 km.
The border of the Russian state passes through the territory of the Central Caucasus. Behind it are South Ossetia and Georgia.
22 kilometers west of Kazbek (eastern part of the Central Caucasus) Russian border shifts slightly to the north and runs to Kazbek, skirting the Georgian valley of the Terek River (upper part).
On the territory of the Central Caucasus there are 5 parallel ridges (oriented along latitudes):
- Main Caucasus Range (height up to 5203 m, Mount Shkhara).
- Bokovoy Ridge (height up to 5642 meters, Mount Elbrus).
- Rocky Ridge (up to 3646 meters high, Mount Karakaya).
- Pastbishchny Ridge (up to 1541 meters).
- Lesisty Ridge (height 900 meters).
Tourists and climbers mainly visit and climb the first three ridges.
Northern and Southern Caucasus
The Greater Caucasus, as a geographical object, originates from the Taman Peninsula, and it ends in the region All subjects Russian Federation and the countries located in this area belong to the Caucasus. However, in terms of the location of the territories of the constituent entities of Russia, there is a certain division into two parts:
- The North Caucasus includes Krasnodar region and Stavropol region, North Ossetia, Rostov region, Chechnya, the Republic of Adygea, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan and Karachay-Cherkessia.
- South Caucasus (or Transcaucasia) - Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan.
Elbrus region
Geographically, the Elbrus region is the westernmost section of the Central Caucasus. Its territory covers the upper reaches of the Baksan River with its tributaries, the area north of Elbrus and the western spurs of Mount Elbrus to the right bank of the Kuban. The largest peak in this area is the famous Elbrus, located to the north and located in the Side Range. The second highest peak is (4700 meters).
The Elbrus region is famous for its large number of peaks with steep ridges and rocky walls.
The largest glaciers are concentrated in the huge Elbrus glacier complex, numbering 23 glaciers ( total area- 122.6 sq. km).
Location of states in the Caucasus
- The Russian Federation occupies part of the territory of the Greater Caucasus and its foothills from the Watershed and Main Caucasus ranges to the north. 10% of the country's total population lives in the North Caucasus.
- Abkhazia also has territories that are parts of the Greater Caucasus: the region from the Kodori to Gagra ranges, the Black Sea coast between the river. Psou and Enguri, and north of Enguri a small part of the Colchis lowland.
- South Ossetia is located in central region Greater Caucasus. The beginning of the territory is the Main Caucasian Ridge. The territory extends to south direction from it, between the Rachinsky, Suramsky and Lomissky ridges, to the very valley of the Kura River.
- Georgia has the most fertile and populated parts of the country in the valleys and lowlands between the Lesser and Greater Caucasus ranges west of the Kakheti range. The most mountainous areas of the country are Svaneti, a section of the Greater Caucasus between the Kodori and Suram ridges. The Georgian territory of the Lesser Caucasus is represented by the Meskheti, Samsara and Trialeti ranges. It turns out that all of Georgia is within the Caucasus.
- Azerbaijan is located between the Watershed Range in the north and the Araks and Kura rivers in the south, and between the Lesser Caucasus and the Kakheti Range and the Caspian Sea. And almost all of Azerbaijan (the Mugan Plain and the Talysh Mountains belong to the Iranian Plateau) is located in the Caucasus.
- Armenia has part of the territory of the Lesser Caucasus (just east of the Akhuryan River, which is a tributary of the Araks).
- Turkey occupies the southwestern section of the Lesser Caucasus, representing the 4 eastern provinces of this country: Ardahan, Kars, partially Erzurum and Artvin.
The Caucasus Mountains are both beautiful and dangerous. According to some scientists, there is a possibility that in the next hundred years the volcano (Mount Elbrus) may awaken. And this is fraught with catastrophic consequences for nearby regions (Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria).
But, whatever it is, the conclusion follows that there is nothing more beautiful than the mountains. It is impossible to describe all the magnificent nature of this fabulous mountainous country. To experience all this, you should visit these heavenly places of amazing beauty. They are viewed especially impressively from the heights of the Caucasus Mountains.
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The Achishkho mountain range is the closest ridge to Red Polyana and the most picturesque. The highest mountain, Achishkho, has a height of 2391 meters above sea level. Interesting fact o the name of the ridge: “Achishkho” translated from Abkhaz means “horse”. This is confirmed by the view from below, from Polyana to the mountain range. If you look closely, you can see the outline of a horse. The most popular walking route passes through a special place located on the side of a mountain, approximately 1800 meters above sea level, where there was a weather station from the 30s to the 90s.
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The Aibga mountain range is located on the territory of Sochi national park, on the eastern side of Krasnaya Polyana. The ridge extends over 20 kilometers and consists of four highest points called peaks. The most popular peak mountain among tourists is the Black Pyramid, 2375 meters above sea level. It has an unusual shape, which makes it especially popular among climbers. In addition, from the top of the mountain there is a wonderful, breathtaking landscape. Having conquered this mountain, you will see the valley of the Mzymta River, the peaks of Chugush and Pseashkho.
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One of the most beautiful resort places of our country is Dombay. The main attractions of this city are its picturesque places. The Mussa-Achitara ridge is considered the most picturesque ridge in this part of the Caucasus. In order to appreciate all the beauty surrounding the guests of the resort, you need to climb the mountainside along cable car. From this place there is a wonderful picturesque view of the peaks and glaciers of the Main Range, the Teberda and Gonachkhiri valleys.
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Ine Peak is located near the place where the northern Dzhugurlutchat glacier originates. The name of the mountain is translated as “Needle”; the mountain got its name because of its pointed top; this unusual view for mountains attracts many tourists from all over the world. The top of Ine Peak is covered with snow all year round, and although its sheer cliffs are relatively difficult to conquer, the top of Ine Peak is quite a popular place among climbers. The height of the “needle” reaches 3455 meters, which is about 600 meters lower than the highest mountain of the Caucasus watershed ridge. It is best to view the mountain from the site of Mount Mussa-Achi-Tara; it is 400 meters lower than Ine Peak, but in exchange it can be reached by cable car.
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In the North Caucasus, among the Dombay glade, somewhat east of the Back (Small) Belalakai mountain, there is a peak called Sufrudzhu. The height of the mountain is 3871 m. A wide depression divides the massif into two even parts - Southern and Northern. Both peaks are clearly visible from the Musat-Cheri ski resort. Southern part They called the Tooth Sufrudja, which translated means “Tiger Fang”. The massif stretches for 3600 m and acts as the main attraction of the mountainous Dombay.
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Belalakai is a mountain located next to the village in Dombay, since the village is a resort. The mountain has become a symbol of this village and attracts a lot of tourists. Its height is 3861 meters. Although the height of this mountain is 200 meters lower than the highest in Abkhazia, it is no less a landmark. Belalakai owes its fame to quartz. Most of the mountain consists of dark soil rocks and dark granite, however, due to centuries-old geological processes, there are deposits of quartz on the mountain. It is this quartz that created the white stripes that adorn the top of this mountain; the white stripes of Belalakai are especially visible in late summer. Due to the beauty of the local landscapes, the mountain has been mentioned more than once in songs and poems.
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Dzhuguturluchat is a relatively small massif in the Greater Caucasus Range. The mountain range rose to a height of 3921 meters, which is only 120 meters less than the highest high point on the Caucasus ridge. In the highest areas of the mountain range there are herds of aurochs; it was they who gave these mountains the name “Dzhugurluchat” - which translates as: “herd of aurochs”. mountain range originates from the Dombay plateau, however, the most Beautiful places open from a place called “Mussa-Achi-Tara”; this is where most tourists gather.
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Cheget is one of the highest mountains in the Caucasus. Its height reaches about 3770 meters. It is a popular tourism destination among travelers. From the mountain you can enjoy the view of the highest peak in Europe - Elbrus. Another feature of Mount Cheget is the second line of the cable car, which passes through an area where there is snow that does not melt throughout the year.There are three lines of the cable car in total. The height of the first reaches about 1600 meters. It is one of the most popular for tourists who come to Cheget to enjoy the view of Elbrus.
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This mountain, after Elbrus, is the second most popular among climbers. This is because it is also quite high - 4454 meters above sea level.
There are several ways to get to the mountain: by cable car or on foot. Tourists who choose the first method can use the Cheget cable car at the final point, where small cafes are located. The second and more difficult path, which takes several hours, is from the Cheget meadow along a path already crowded with tourists. However, it is better to hit the road with an experienced guide, otherwise there is a chance of getting lost in the mountains.
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The North Caucasus will captivate many tourists with its beauty and landscapes. Mount Semenov-Bashi, located in the east of the Caucasus Range, is no exception. In reality, it is just a protrusion 3602 m high above the ground. The mountain was named in honor of the Russian explorer P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky. This man was a traveler and was the chairman of the Russian Geographical Society.
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Mount Chotcha is part of the Caucasus range, which is famous for its picturesque mountains and rocks. Chotcha, unlike other mountains, is divided into two parts, as if someone cut the mountain in the middle into two halves. Unlike mountains that have just a smaller mountain next to them, at first glance you can see that the mountain has one base on which there are two rocks. The rock in the foreground is lower than the back one; it is 3637 meters high, which is 400 meters lower than the highest mountain of the Caucasus range. The second rock is only three meters higher than the first, it is 3640 meters above sea level.
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Mount Ertsog is on the list of one of the most visited places in the Caucasus range. The Alibek River flows at the foot of the mountain; in addition to the mountain itself, this place has a very beautiful lowland. In the gorge where the river flows, a massive slope descends; it becomes especially beautiful in the spring, when the sun illuminates the slope full of bright green vegetation. Mount Erzog is part of the Teberdinsky ridge; the ridge itself encircles a lowland with a river and makes a very strong impression on tourists who visit it.
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Mount Sulokhat is located in the Dombay region and is one of the largest points of the Caucasian watershed ridge. The height of the mountain is 3439 meters, which is about 600 meters lower than the largest mountain on the Caucasus ridge. Mount Sulohat is surrounded by many legends, the most popular about the origin of the name of the mountain. In ancient times, the foot of the mountain was inhabited by the Alan tribe. In this tribe there lived a girl named Sulohat, she was of extraordinary beauty and courage and was the daughter of the leader of the tribe.
The Caucasus Mountains, 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. Humanity has not yet decided whether to classify them as Europe or Asia.
Height of the Caucasus Mountains: 5642 m (Greater Caucasus) and 3724 m (Lesser Caucasus).
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.
The Caucasian ranges, not crossed by rivers, are called watersheds. The Caucasus mountain system, the same age as the Alps, with a thirty-million-year history, 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, at the 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 extends 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 top of the Caucasus Mountains), 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 Black Sea coasts and at the same time on the territory of several countries. These are Russia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The climate of the Caucasus is varied: 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 particularly remote and inaccessible places you can find a leopard or bear.
Alpine meadow grasses, coniferous forests climbing up from the foothills, stormy rivers, lakes, waterfalls, springs with mineral water, cleanest air.
It is thanks to this successful combination of values for human health that there are a huge number of sanatorium and resort establishments in the region.
Rock climbing lovers 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, rafting enthusiasts, as well as all those who value their health. Terraincourt, Norwegian walking, rock climbing, river rafting, alpine skiing and many other activities active rest Caucasus offers.
Once you have visited the mountains sung by the “genius of Lermontov”, you will remember them for the rest of your life.
Video: wild nature Russia 4 of 6 Caucasus Mountains.
Video: Hiking in the Caucasus Mountains.
The Caucasus is geographically a region between Europe and Asia, and at the same time between the Caspian, Black and Azov seas. It includes the Caucasus Mountains, and the adjacent regions of the North Caucasus and South Caucasus. The Russian Federation currently includes almost the entire North Caucasus, excluding small gorges located on the territory of Georgia. Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia divided the South Caucasus among themselves; part of the South Caucasus de facto belongs to Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
- The Caucasus is historically the transport artery of the Old World, as well as the source of many natural resources, including oil and gas.
- The Caucasus is located right on the border of the subtropical and temperate climate zones. The mountain ranges of the Caucasus, being a natural barrier to air masses, prevent the penetration of warm air masses into the Ciscaucasia (to the north), and cold air masses to the south, into Transcaucasia. The influence of the mountains is strongly noticeable in winter periods, when in Transcaucasia and Ciscaucasia, located several hundred kilometers from each other, the difference in temperatures reaches several tens of degrees.
- In the mountainous regions of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, mountain-forest landscapes predominate. In Transcaucasia, above subtropical landscapes, these are oak and hornbeam forests; in the middle mountains of the Talysh Mountains, these are beech and hornbeam forests. In the west of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus there are coniferous forests - spruce and fir, and in the north of the Central Caucasus and the Eastern Caucasus there are pine forests. The soils in the Caucasus Mountains are mountain-forest brown.
- The mountainous regions of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus are home to a diverse forest and alpine fauna, including endemic species, such as, for example, the Caucasian black grouse, the Western Caucasian and Dagestan aurochs, the Caucasian snowcock, and the Promethean mouse. Bear, fox, lynx, as well as other Central European animal species are very widespread here. The highlands of Armenia are inhabited by the Asia Minor mountain jerboa, the Asia Minor ground squirrel, and others.
- The Caucasus is home to a huge variety of flora and fauna, which is common only here. The total number of endemic representatives is slightly less than 1,600 species of flora, 32 species of mammals and 3 species of birds.
- The area of the Caucasus is 145 thousand square kilometers.
- More than 50 peoples live in the Caucasus. and nationalities.
- The highest point in Europe and the Russian Federation is Mount Elbrus. The western peak of Elbrus has a height of 5642 meters above sea level, the eastern peak is 5621 meters.
- Man first climbed to the top of Elbrus on July 22, 1829, by Kabardian Kilar Khashirov, in an expedition led by General Georgy Emanuel. In Pyatigorsk, even now in the Tsvetnik park there are two commemorative cast-iron slabs in honor of that event.
- At any time of the year, the Elbrus region is of great interest to travelers.
- Snow Cave in the Western Caucasus is the third deepest cave in the world, 1,753 meters below sea level. This is the most complex cave of the former USSR and the most complex non-siphon cave in the world. The total length of the galleries and passages is more than 25 kilometers.
- New Athos Cave (originally the Anakopia Abyss) is the largest cave in Abkhazia. Near the cave there is the New Athos Monastery and the Temple of Simon the Canaanite.
- Krubera-Voronya is the deepest cave in the world today, (-2191 m), and is located in the Arabica mountain range in Abkhazia.
- There is a general idea about the conflicts in the Caucasus, but today this is a very big misconception.
Nature of the Caucasus - a fascinating video about the flora and fauna of the Caucasus.
The Caucasus Mountains stretch along the southern border of the Russian Plain. This is the largest of the mountain structures bordering the Russian Plain in the south. Only the Ciscaucasia and part of the Greater Caucasus (northern slopes) are located within Russia. Russia's borders with Azerbaijan and Georgia run mainly along the crest of the Main Caucasus Range.
The Ciscaucasia covers a vast area south of the Russian Plain between the Black and Azov Seas in the west and the Caspian Sea in the east. The border of the Russian Plain and the Ciscaucasia is the Kuma-Manych depression. At the base of the Ciscaucasia relief there is a platform of Paleozoic age, which is covered with younger sedimentary rocks. The relief of Ciscaucasia is generally flat. The largest relief forms here are the Stavropol Upland, the Caspian Lowland, and the Kuban-Azov Plain. The Ciscaucasia region is rich in oil and flammable gas deposits.
In winter and autumn, the entire Ciscaucasia region is characterized by increased atmospheric pressure, so northeastern and eastern winds predominate here. In winter, the Ciscaucasia region is dry and windy. In winter, warm air masses from the Atlantic enter the western part of the region. This causes severe thaws, which can give way to snowfalls and blizzards. Summer in the Ciscaucasia is hot. This area is characterized by different humidity levels in the western and eastern parts. The Stavropol Upland serves as a barrier to westerly winds from the Atlantic.
If to the west of the elevation the average annual precipitation is 500 mm, at the elevation itself - 600 mm, then to the east the annual amount decreases to 300-400 mm and below. The largest amount of precipitation falls in June. Such differences lead to the fact that it is in the west of the Ciscaucasia that the main river systems are concentrated, the largest of which is the Kuban. The Ciscaucasia region is located almost entirely in the steppe region with chernozem and chestnut soils. They are almost completely open. Sunflowers, winter wheat and corn, and rice are grown here; Gardening and viticulture are widely developed. This is one of the main breadbaskets of the country (80% of the entire territory of the Ciscaucasia is agricultural land).
The Greater Caucasus Range is a grandiose mountain rise consisting of numerous ridges and spurs. It stretches from northwest to southeast from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. highest peak Caucasus (in Russia) - Mount Elbrus (5642 m). Once upon a time, in its place there was the Tethys Ocean, connecting the Black Sea with the Caspian Sea. At its bottom there was intense magmatic activity, part of the magma penetrated into earth's crust. There was an intensive process of accumulation of rocks of sedimentary origin. All these rocks were folded and complicated by faults, faults and thrusts. Numerous volcanoes (for example, Elbrus) were active during the Alpine orogeny and experienced vertical uplift, which also involved other areas. As a result, modern mountains arose.
The part of the Greater Caucasus that lies within Russia is entirely in a temperate climate. Winter and summer temperatures here vary depending on the location of the territory. The territory of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus warms up best. Here in summer the temperature averages +24°C, and in winter - from +1°C to 5°C. In high mountain areas, summers are cooler (+12°C) and winters are colder (-12°C). Maximum precipitation also falls on Black Sea coast Caucasus - 1500 mm per year; near the Caspian coast, they fall almost 4 times less. Such a large amount of precipitation in the west of the Greater Caucasus is explained by the influence of westerly winds, which deposit precipitation on the windward slopes of the mountains. In the Greater Caucasus it is developed modern glaciation.
Many rivers (for example, Terek) begin in the mountains. Many of them are fed by rain and glaciers. Mountainous terrain The Greater Caucasus determines the development of altitudinal zones. The forest-steppe rises to a height of 100 m. Above it, up to a height of 600 m, beech-oak forests grow on mountain brown soils. With height, the oak begins to disappear. Above 1200-1500 m, coniferous forests, consisting of Caucasian fir and spruce, begin to predominate. Dry-loving pine forests grow in the valleys of the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus Range. From 2000 m subalpine and alpine meadows begin. Subalpine meadows are distinguished by high and dense grass with thickets of rhododendron bushes. Alpine meadows- low-grass meadows with an admixture of sedge and cereals. These meadows are excellent pastures. Above the alpine meadows there are belts of snow and ice.
The altitudinal zone of the eastern part of the Greater Caucasus Range differs from the western one. In the west, in conditions of good humidity and warmth, forests grow that have the features of humid subtropics. These forests consist of broad-leaved species: chestnut, oak, beech, hornbeam with evergreen undergrowth and vines. The undergrowth consists of cherry laurel, boxwood, and yew. In the east, at the foot of the northern slopes, there are semi-deserts and dry steppes (they form in conditions of low moisture). These semi-deserts and steppes rise high into the mountains. The forest belt is not clearly defined here. Only in the mountain valleys do pine forests and beech groves grow; dark coniferous forests do not grow here.
With variety natural conditions The Caucasus is bound by the wealth and diversity of its resources. The dry steppes and semi-deserts of the eastern Caucasus are pastures for fine-wool sheep. The subsoil contains ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Beech, spruce, fir, oak and pine are harvested in mountain forests. With the Black Sea coast (Sochi) and mineral springs (Kislovodsk, Mineral water) are connected by large resorts of national importance. On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, subtropical agriculture is developed: tea, citrus fruits, walnuts, peaches, grapes. Rivers coming down from the mountains carry a large supply of energy. The waters of these rivers also flow into irrigation canals.
There are several reserves in the Caucasus mountains: in Dagestan, in North Ossetia and in others.