Coordinates: 42°30′N 45°00′E

Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains[a] are a mountain system at the
Caucasus Mountains
intersection of Europe and Asia. Stretching between the Black
Sea and the Caspian Sea, it is surrounded by the Caucasus
region and is home to Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in
Europe.

The Caucasus Mountains include the Greater Caucasus in the

north and Lesser Caucasus in the south. The Greater Caucasus
runs west-northwest to east-southeast, from the Caucasian
Natural Reserve in the vicinity of Sochi on the northeastern
shore of the Black Sea nearly to Baku on the Caspian Sea. The
Lesser Caucasus runs parallel to the Greater about 100 km
(62 mi) south.[1] The Greater and Lesser Caucasus ranges are
connected by the Likhi Range, and to the west and east of the Aerial view of the Caucasus Mountains
Likhi Range lie the Colchis Plain and the Kur-Araz Lowland. Highest point
The Meskheti Range is a part of the Lesser Caucasus system. In Peak Mount Elbrus
the southeast the Aras River separates the Lesser Caucasus from Elevation 5,642 m (18,510 ft)
the Talysh Mountains which straddle the border of southeastern Coordinates 43°21′18″N
Azerbaijan and Iran. The Lesser Caucasus and the Armenian 42°26′31″E
Highland constitute the Transcaucasian Highland, which at their Dimensions
western end converge with the highland plateau of Eastern Length 1,200 km (750 mi)
Anatolia in the far north east of Turkey. The highest peak in the
Width 160 km (99 mi)
Caucasus range is Mount Elbrus in the Greater Caucasus,
Geography
which rises to a height of 5,642 metres (18,510 ft) above sea
level. Mountains near Sochi hosted part of the 2014 Winter
Olympics.

Contents
Geology
Notable peaks
Climate
Landscape Topographic map
History Countries List
Image gallery Russia
See also Georgia
Armenia
Notes Azerbaijan
References Iran
Further reading Turkey
Continent Eurasia
External links
Range 42°30′N 45°00′E
coordinates
Geology
Geologically, the Caucasus Mountains belong to a system
that extends from southeastern Europe into Asia and is
considered a border between them. The Greater Caucasus
Mountains are mainly composed of Cretaceous and Jurassic
rocks with the Paleozoic and Precambrian rocks in the
higher regions. Some volcanic formations are found
throughout the range. On the other hand, the Lesser
Caucasus Mountains are formed predominantly of the
Paleogene rocks with a much smaller portion of the Jurassic
and Cretaceous rocks. The evolution of the Caucasus began
Satellite image of the Caucasus Mountains
from the Late Triassic to the Late Jurassic during the
Cimmerian orogeny at the active margin of the Tethys
Ocean while the uplift of the Greater Caucasus is dated to
the Miocene during the Alpine orogeny.

The Caucasus Mountains formed largely as the result of a tectonic plate collision between the Arabian plate
moving northwards with respect to the Eurasian plate. As the Tethys Sea was closed and the Arabian Plate
collided with the Iranian Plate and was pushed against it and with the clockwise movement of the Eurasian
Plate towards the Iranian Plate and their final collision, the Iranian Plate was pressed against the Eurasian
Plate. As this happened, the entire rocks that had been deposited in this basin from the Jurassic to the Miocene
were folded to form the Greater Caucasus Mountains. This collision also caused the uplift and the Cenozoic
volcanic activity in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains.

The entire region is regularly subjected to strong earthquakes from this activity.[2] While the Greater Caucasus
Mountains have a mainly folded sedimentary structure, the Lesser Caucasus Mountains are largely of volcanic
origin.[3]

The Javakheti Volcanic Plateau in Georgia and the surrounding volcanic ranges which extend well into central
Armenia are some of the youngest features of the region. Only recently was the Caucasus a scene for intense
volcanic activity: the Armenian highland was flooded by calc-alkaline basalts and andesites in the Pliocene
and the highest summits of the Caucasus, the Elbrus, and the Kazbek, formed as Pleistocene-Pliocene
volcanoes. The Kazbek is no longer active, but the Elbrus erupted in postglacial times and fumarole activity is
registered near its summit. Contemporary seismic activity is a prominent feature of the region, reflecting active
faulting and crustal shortening. Clusters of seismicity occur in Dagestan and in northern Armenia. Many
devastating earthquakes have been documented in historical times, including the Spitak earthquake in
December 1988 which destroyed the Gyumri-Vanadzor region of Armenia.

Notable peaks
Europe's highest mountain is Mount Elbrus 5,642 m (18,510 ft) in the Caucasus Mountains.[4] Elbrus is 832 m
(2,730 ft) higher than Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and western Europe at 4,810 m (15,780 ft).
The crest of the Caucasus Mountains usually is taken to define the continental divide between Asia and
Europe for the region between the Black and Caspian Seas.

The table below lists some of the highest peaks of the Caucasus. With the exception of Shkhara, the heights
are taken from Soviet 1:50,000 mapping. The list includes the ten ultras (mountains of more than 1,500 m
prominence) and all mountains over 4,500 m height with 300 m prominence. Mount Ararat (5,137 m) in
Turkey is just south of the lesser Caucasus.
 Peak name Elevation (m) Prominence (m) Country
Elbrus 5,642 4,741 Russia
Shkhara 5,208 1,365 Georgia/Russia
Dykh-Tau 5,205 2,002 Russia
Koshtan-Tau 5,152 822 Russia
Pushkin peak 5,100 110 Russia
Janga (Dzhangi-Tau) 5,085 300 Georgia/Russia
Kazbek 5,054 2,353 Georgia/Russia
Mizhirgi 5,047 10 Russia
Katyn-Tau 4,979 240 Georgia/Russia
Kukurtlu Dome 4,978 18 Russia
Gistola 4,860 320 Georgia/Russia
Shota Rustaveli 4,860 c.50 Georgia/Russia
Tetnuldi 4,858 672 Georgia
Dzhimara (Jimari) 4,780 840 Georgia/Russia
Ushba 4,710 1,143 Georgia
Dumala-Tau 4,682 332 Russia
Gora Uilpata 4,649 1300 Russia
Tikhtengen 4,618 768 Georgia/Russia
Ailama 4,547 1,067 Georgia
Tiutiun-Tau 4,540 380 Russia
Jailik 4,533 926 Russia
Salinan 4,508 621 Russia
Tebulosmta 4,499 2,145 Georgia/Russia
Mount Bazardüzü 4,466 2,454 Azerbaijan
Gora Shan 4,451 1,775 Georgia/Russia
Tepli 4,431 1,144 Russia
Diklo 4,285 843 Georgia
Mount Shahdagh 4,243 1,102 Azerbaijan
Gora Addala Shukgelmezr 4,152 1,792 Russia
Gora Dyultydag 4,127 1,834 Russia
Aragats 4,090 2,143 Armenia
Deavgay 4,016 1,251 Russia

Climate
The climate of the Caucasus varies both vertically (according to elevation) and horizontally (by latitude and
location). Temperature generally decreases as elevation rises. Average annual temperature in Sukhumi,
Abkhazia at sea level is 15 °C (59 °F) while on the slopes of Mt.Kazbek at an elevation of 3,700 metres
(12,100 ft), average annual temperature falls to −6.1 °C
(21.0 °F). The northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain
Range are 3 °C (5.4 °F) colder than the southern slopes. The
highlands of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and Georgia are marked by sharp temperature
contrasts between the summer and winter months due to a more
continental climate.
Aishkho Pass, Caucasus Nature Reserve
Precipitation increases from east to west in most areas. Elevation
plays an important role in the Caucasus and mountains generally
receive higher amounts of precipitation than low-lying areas. The northeastern regions (Dagestan) and the
southern portions of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains are the driest. The absolute minimum annual precipitation
is 250 mm (9.84 in) in the northeastern Caspian Depression. Western parts of the Caucasus Mountains are
marked by high amounts of precipitation. The southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range
receive higher amounts of precipitation than the northern slopes. Annual precipitation in the Western Caucasus
ranges from 1,000 to 4,000 mm (39.37–157.48 in) while in the Eastern and Northern Caucasus (Chechnya,
Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Ossetia, Kakheti, Kartli, etc.) precipitation ranges from 600 to 1,800 mm
(23.62–70.87 in). The absolute maximum annual precipitation is 4,100 mm (161.42 in) around the Mt. Mtirala
area which lies on the Meskheti Range in Ajaria. The precipitation of the Lesser Caucasus Mountain Range
(Southern Georgia, Armenia, western Azerbaijan), not including the Meskheti Range, varies from 300-
800 mm (31.50 in) annually.

The Caucasus Mountains are known for the high amount of snowfall, although many regions which are not
located along the windward slopes do not receive nearly as much snow. This is especially true for the Lesser
Caucasus Mountains which are somewhat isolated from the moist influences coming in from the Black Sea
and receive considerably less precipitation (in the form of snow) than the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The
average winter snow cover of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains ranges from 10 to 30 cm (3.94–11.81 in). The
Greater Caucasus Mountains (especially the southwestern slopes) are marked by heavy snowfall. Avalanches
are common from November to April.

Snow cover in several regions (Svaneti and northern Abkhazia) may reach 5 metres (16 ft). The Mt.
Achishkho region, which is the snowiest place in the Caucasus, often records snow depths of 7 m (23 ft).

Landscape
The Caucasus Mountains have a varied landscape which
mainly changes according to elevation and distance from
large bodies of water. The region contains biomes
ranging from subtropical lowland marshes and forests to
glaciers (Western and Central Caucasus), and highland
semideserts, steppes, and alpine meadows in the south
(mainly in Armenia and Azerbaijan).

The northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains

are covered by oak, hornbeam, maple, and ash forests at
lower elevations while birch and pine forests take over at
higher elevations. Some of the lowest areas of the region Khodz river headwaters, Western Caucasus
are covered by steppes and grasslands. The slopes of the
Northwestern Greater Caucasus (Kabardino-Balkaria,
Cherkessia, etc.) also contain spruce and fir forests. The alpine zone replaces the forest at around 2,000 metres
(6,600 ft) above sea level. The permafrost/glacier line generally starts around 2,800–3,000 metres (9,200–
9,800 ft). The southeastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains are covered by beech, oak, maple,
hornbeam, and ash forests. Beech forests tend to dominate in higher locations. The southwestern slopes of the
Greater Caucasus are covered by Colchian forests (oak, buxus, beech, chestnut, hornbeam, elm) at lower
elevations with coniferous and mixed forests (spruce, fir and beech) taking over at higher elevations. The
alpine zone on the southern slopes may extend up to 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) above sea level while the
glacier/snow line starts at 3,000–3,500 metres (9,800–11,500 ft).

The northern and western slopes of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains are characterized both by Colchian and
other deciduous forests at lower elevations while mixed and coniferous forests (mainly spruce and fir)
dominate at higher elevations. Beech forests are also common at higher elevations. The southern slopes of the
Lesser Caucasus Mountains are largely covered by grasslands and steppes up to an elevation of 2,500 metres
(8,200 ft). The highest areas of the region contain alpine grasslands as well. Volcanic and other rock
formations are common throughout the region. The volcanic zone extends over a large area from southern
Georgia into Armenia and southwestern Azerbaijan. Some of the prominent peaks of the region include Mt.
Aragats, Didi Abuli, Samsari, and others. The area is characterized by volcanic plateaus, lava flows, volcanic
lakes, volcanic cones and other features. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains lack the type of glaciers and glacial
features that are common on the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range.

History
Crossing the Caucasus Mountain range was an important section of the northern arm of the Silk Route. There
was one pass on the southeast end in Derbent (known as the Caspian Gates or Gates of Alexander), and
multiple passes throughout the range: Jvari Pass at 2379 m and above the Darial Gorge on the Georgian
Military Road, Mamison Pass on the Ossetian Military Road at 2911 m, and Roki Tunnel at 2310 m.

Image gallery

Mount Elbrus viewed from the Komito Mountain in Caucasus Mountains

south in Russia Chechnya in Svaneti, Georgia

Chaukhi mountain in A gorge in Twin- Mount Shkhara in

Khevi, Georgia Dagestan, Russia peaked Georgia
Ushba in
Georgia
 Mount Ararat in Turkey,
as viewed from Yerevan,
Armenia

See also
Zagros Mountains

Notes
a. Native names:
Georgian: კავკასიონი, romanized: k'avk'asioni,

pronounced [kʼɑvkʼɑsiɔni]

Armenian: Կովկասյան լեռներ, Kovkasyan leṙner

pronounced [kɔvkɑsjɑn lɛrˈnɛɾ]

Azerbaijani: Qafqaz dağları, pronounced [qɑfqɑz dɑʁlɑrɯ]

Russian: Кавка́ зские го́ ры, tr. Kavkázskiye góry, IPA: [kɐfˈkasːkʲɪje ˈɡorɨ]
Turkish: Kafkas Dağları, Turkish pronunciation: [kafkas daːɫaɾɯ]
Persian: ‫ﻛﻮه ﻫﺎى ﻗﻔﻘﺎز‬

References
Parts of this article are from the NASA Earth Observatory; [1] (https://web.archive.org/web/2005
1028180323/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=15
340)
1. Stokes, Chris R. (2011). Singh, Vijay P.; Haritashya, Umesh K. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Snow,
Ice and Glaciers (https://books.google.com/books?id=mKKtQR4T-1MC&pg=PA127). Spring
Science & Business Media. p. 127. ISBN 978-90-481-2641-5.
2. Reilinger, R. E.; McClusky, S. C.; Oral, M. B.; King, R. W.; Toksoz, M. N.; Barka, A. A.; Kinik, I.;
Lenk, O.; Sanli, I. (January 1997). "Global Positioning System measurements of present-day
crustal movements in the Arabia-Africa-Eurasia plate collision zone". Journal of Geophysical
Research. 102 (B5): 9983–9999. Bibcode:1997JGR...102.9983R (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.ed
u/abs/1997JGR...102.9983R). doi:10.1029/96JB03736
(https://doi.org/10.1029%2F96JB03736).
3. Philip, H.; Cisternas, A.; Gvishiani, A.; Gorshkov, A. (1 April 1989). "The Caucasus".
Tectonophysics. 161 (1–2): 1–21. Bibcode:1989Tectp.161....1P (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/a
 bs/1989Tectp.161....1P). doi:10.1016/0040-1951(89)90297-7 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0040-
1951%2889%2990297-7).
4. "Mt. Elbrus" (https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/3603/mt-elbrus). NASA Earth
Observatory. 7 July 2003. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20181215203743/https://earth
observatory.nasa.gov/images/3603/mt-elbrus) from the original on 15 December 2018.
Retrieved 16 February 2015.

Further reading
Small Nations and Great Powers: A Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict in the Caucasus, By
Svante E. Cornell, Routledge.

External links
Caucasus Mountains (https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=57190) – NASA Earth
Observatory
"Highest Peaks of the Caucasus from peakbagger.com" (http://www.peakbagger.com/range.asp
x?rid=38). Peakbagger.com.
List of the most prominent mountains in the Caucasus (http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/C
aucasusP1500m.html)
WHAT TO SEE IN CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS (https://caucasusmountains.info/)

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