The Caucasus or Caucasia, is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have conventionally been considered as a natural barrier between Europe and Asia, bisecting the Eurasian landmass.
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain range at the intersection of Asia and Europe. Stretching between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, they are surrounded by the Caucasus region and are home to Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe at 5,642 metres (18,510 ft) above sea level.
The North Caucasus, or Ciscaucasia, is a region in Europe governed by Russia. It constitutes the northern part of the wider Caucasus region, which forms the natural border between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bordered by the Sea of Azov and Black Sea to the west, the Caspian Sea to the east, and the Caucasus Mountains to the south. The region shares land borders with the South Caucasus countries of Georgia and Azerbaijan. Located in the south of the region, Mount Elbrus is the tallest peak in Europe. Among its urban centres, Krasnodar is the most populous.
Shkhara is the highest point in the country of Georgia. It is located near the Russian-Georgian border, in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria region on the northern side, and the Svaneti region of Georgia in the south. Shkhara lies 88 kilometres (55 mi) north of the city of Kutaisi, Georgia's second-largest city, and closer to the townlet of Mestia in Svaneti. The summit lies in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, to the south-east of Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain. Shkhara is the third-highest peak in the Caucasus, just behind Dykh-Tau.
Janga or Jangi-Tau or Dzhangi-Tau is a summit in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. Mountain has three peaks - the main peak Jangi-Tau with elevation above sea level 5,085 m (16,683 ft), West Peak with elevation 5,059 m (16,598 ft) and East Peak with elevation 5,034 m (16,516 ft) Mountain lies on the border of Svaneti (Georgia) and Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia). The slopes of the mountain are heavily glaciated. They are most famous for the dormant volcanoes that are hidden under the ice caps.
The peoples of the Caucasus, or Caucasians, are a diverse group comprising more than 50 ethnic groups throughout the Caucasus.
Shota Rustaveli is a mountain in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, straddling the border of Svaneti (Georgia) and Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia). The elevation of the mountain is 4,960 meters. Shota Rustaveli is generally considered to be the 9th highest peak of the Caucasus. The slopes of the mountain are glaciated and some of the glaciers descend well into the adjacent valleys. Its name comes from famous Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli.
Dykh-Tau or Dykhtau, is the second-highest mountain in Russia and Europe, standing at 5,205 m above sea level. It is located in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia; its peak standing about 5 km (3 mi) north of the border with Georgia.
Ailama or Ahlama is a peak in the central part of the Svaneti section of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, located on the border between Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region of Georgia, and Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia at the source of the river Koruldashi. The lower slopes are covered with alpine and sub alpine meadows, while the upper slopes have glacial landscapes. There is a mountaineering camp named "Ailama" at the base of the mountain's southern slope.
Alaniya National Park, is a heavily glaciated, mountainous section of the northern slope of the Central Caucasus Mountains. It covers the southern third of the Irafsky District of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The park was created to have a dual purpose of serving as an ecological refuge - it has very high levels of biodiversity and vulnerable species, such as the near-endangered west Caucasian tur – and also an area of high cultural heritage and potential for recreational tourism. The park contains widespread archaeological ruins from several notable past civilizations, including the Bronze Age Koban people, and the Alan people. It is from the Alans that the name "Alaniya", and indirectly the term "Aryan", is ultimately derived. Because altitudes in the park can span almost 4,000 meters vertical in very short distances, the slopes and valleys display strong 'altitude zoning'. These climatic zones range from alpine glaciers and peaks in the high, southern sections, to steppe grasslands in the northern reaches.
Kabardino-Balkarski Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' on main ridge of the north Caucasus Mountains. It contains all of the mountains in Europe over 5,000 meters besides Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Kazbek, and contains the most glaciers. The ridge at the reserve forms the famous "Bezengi wall" consisting of the peaks Gestola, Katyn-Tau, Janga, Eastern Jangi-Tau and Shkhara. There are 256 glaciers in the reserve's boundaries. The reserve is situated in the Chereksky District of Kabardino-Balkar Republic; it was created in 1976, and covers an area of 82,507 ha (318.56 sq mi).
North Ossetia Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' in the high mountains on the northern slope of the Caucasus Mountains with the heights ranging from 650 meters - 4,249 meters. There are 76 glaciers in the reserve with a total area of 37 km2 (14 sq mi). The site is centered on the Ardon River valley, in the Alagirsky District of North Ossetia-Alania. It was formally created in 1967, and covers a total area of 29,000 ha (110 sq mi).
Erzi Nature Reserve is a Russian 'zapovednik' located on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus in the Dzheyrahsky Assinsky-basin, adjacent to the Skalisty Range. Rivers in the reserve include the Assa and Armkhi that feed into the Terek River. The northern third of the territory is forested, the ridge area is alpine meadows and mountain steppe. Over 160 historical and cultural sites are also protected by the reserve - martial towers, temples, necropolis tracts, sacred groves, and structures from ancient, medieval and later cultures, many of the Ingush people. The reserve is situated in the Dzheyrakhsky District of Ingushetia.
Katyn-Tau is a summit in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. It lies on the border of Svaneti and Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia). The elevation of the mountain is 4979 m (16,335 ft) above sea level. The mountain is made up of paleozoic granites. The slopes of summit are covered nival landscape.
Skalisty Range is a mountain range in the Greater Caucasus, Russian Federation.
Karakaya is the highest peak in the Skalisty Range, North Caucasus.
The Skalisty Range is a range of mountains in far North-eastern Russia, part of the East Siberian System. Administratively the mountain chain belongs to the Sakha Republic. The area of the range is remote and desolate. The R504 Kolyma Highway passes through the northern part of the range.
The Delyun-Uran Range is a mountain range in Irkutsk Oblast and Buryatia, Russia, part of the Stanovoy Highlands.
The Main Caucasian Range is a mountain range in the Russian Federation, Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is the dividing range of the Greater Caucasus.
Bezengi Wall, Pitsrula is a 11-to-12 km (6.8-to-7.5 mi) long mountain range of the Greater Caucasus, in the Svaneti region of Georgia and Kabardino-Balkaria region of Russia.
