The highest peak of the Caucasus mountain. How the Caucasus Mountains were formed

The Caucasus is a mountain system located in Eurasia between the Black and Caspian seas. The mountain range extends 1,100 km from the Taman Peninsula and Anapa to the Absheron Peninsula near the city of Baku.

This territory is usually divided according to several criteria: into the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, as well as into the Western (from the Black Sea to Elbrus), Central (from Elbrus to Kazbek) and Eastern (from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea). The mountain system reaches its greatest width in the central part (180 km). The mountain peaks of the Central Caucasus are the highest on the Main Caucasus (Watershed) Range.

The most famous mountain peaks of the Caucasus are Mount Elbrus (5642 m) and Mount Kazbek (5033 m). Both peaks are stratovolcanoes. Moreover, Kazbek is considered extinct, which cannot be said about Elbrus. Experts' opinions on this matter vary. The slopes of the two highest mountains of the Caucasus are covered with snow and glaciers. The Central Caucasus accounts for up to 70% of modern glaciation. Over more than a century of observations of the glaciers of the Caucasus, their area has decreased significantly.

To the north from the foot of the Greater Caucasus stretches an sloping plain, which ends in the Kuma-Manych depression. Its territory is dissected by side ridges and river valleys. The largest rivers in this territory can be considered the river. Kuban and Terek. To the south of the Greater Caucasus are the Colchis and Kura-Araks lowlands.

The Caucasus Mountains can be considered young. They were formed during the Alpine folding era approximately 28-23 million years ago. Their formation is due to the northward movement of the Arabian lithospheric plate onto the Eurasian plate. The latter, pressed by the African plate, moves several centimeters per year.

Tectonic processes in the depths of the Caucasus continue to this day. The geological structure of Elbrus indicates great activity of the volcano in the recent past. Several powerful earthquakes occurred in the Caucasus in the 20th century. The most destructive earthquake was in Armenia in 1988.

Seismic stations operating throughout the Caucasus annually record several hundred tremors. Experts say that some parts of the Caucasus ridge are “growing” by several centimeters per year.

Caucasus in Europe or Asia?

This issue should be considered more in political and historical aspects. The Caucasus Mountains are located in the center of the Eurasian plate, so the division can only be conditional. The border between Europe and Asia was proposed by the Swedish officer and geographer F. Stralenberg in 1730. The border that ran along the Ural Mountains and the Kuma-Manych depression was accepted by many scientists.

Despite this, at different times several alternative proposals were proposed that justified the division of Europe and Asia along the Caucasus Mountains. Despite the ongoing controversy, Elbrus is still considered the highest point in Europe. The history of the region suggests the special position of the Caucasus at the crossroads between European and East Asian cultures.

The highest mountains of the Caucasus

Elbrus (5642 m). KBR, KCR. Highest point in Russia
Dykhtau (5204 m). CBD
Koshtantau (5122 m). CBD
Pushkin Peak (5100 m). CBD
Dzhangitau (5058 m). CBD
Shkhara (5201 m). CBD. Highest point of Georgia
Kazbek (5034 m). Highest point of North Ossetia
Mizhirgi Western (5022 m). CBD
Tetnuld (4974 m). Georgia
Katyntau (4970 m). CBD
Shota Rustaveli Peak (4960 m). CBD
Gestola (4860 m). CBD
Jimara (4780 m). Georgia, North Ossetia
Ushba (4690 m). Georgia, North Ossetia
Gulchitau (4447 m). CBD
Tebulosmta (4493 m). The highest point of Chechnya
Bazarduzu (4466 m). The highest point of Dagestan and Azerbaijan
Shan (4451 m). The highest point of Ingushetia
Adai-Khokh (4408 m). North Ossetia
Diklosmta (4285 m). Chechnya
Shahdag (4243 m). Azerbaijan
Tufandag (4191 m). Azerbaijan
Shalbuzdag (4142 m). Dagestan
Aragats (4094). Highest point of Armenia
Dombay-Ulgen (4046 m). KCR

How many five-thousanders are there in the Caucasus?

Mountains whose height exceeds five kilometers are usually called Caucasian five-thousanders. From the list presented above, it is clear that The Caucasus has eight mountains of five thousand meters«:

Elbrus(5642 m) is a dormant volcano and the highest mountain in Russia. The mountain consists of two peaks, Western (5642 m) and Eastern (5621 m), connected by a saddle (5416 m).
Dykhtau(5204 m) - mountain peak of the Side Range of the Greater Caucasus. The mountain consists of two peaks (both over 5000 m high), connected by a steep, narrow saddle. The first ascent of the mountain took place in 1888. Today, about ten routes with difficulty from 4A (according to the Russian classification) have been laid to the top of Dykhtau.
Koshtantau(5122 m) is a mountain peak on the border of Bezengi and the mountainous region of Balkaria.
Pushkin Peak(5100 m) - being part of the Dykhtau mountain range, it is a separate peak. Named in honor of A.S. Pushkin on the 100th anniversary of his death.
Dzhangitau(5058 m) is a mountain peak in the central part of the Greater Caucasus. There are three peaks in the Dzhangitau massif, all of which are more than five kilometers high.
Shkhara(5201 m) is a mountain peak of the Central Caucasus that is part of the Bezengi Wall.
Kazbek(5034 m) - an extinct stratovolcano, the easternmost five-thousander of the Caucasus. The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1868.
Mizhirgi Western(5022 m) - a mountain peak as part of the Bezengi wall. The name of the mountain is translated from Karachay-Balkar as “connecting”.

State budgetary educational institution secondary general education school No. 509, Moskovsky district

city of St. Petersburg

ABSTRACT

in the discipline "Geography"

on the topic of: « Caucasus Mountains».

Completed by: students of grade 8 “A”

Gaisyonok Yulia

Akhmedova Rukiyat

Head: geography teacher

Kovaleva Natalya Nikolaevna

St. Petersburg 2012

1. Introduction. ………………………………… ………………………...........3

2. Main part

2.1 Legend about the origin of the Caucasus Mountains………………………...4

2.2Physico-geographical location……………………………..5

2.3Climate…………………………………………………………………………………7

2.4 Rivers and lakes………………………………………………………...8

2.5 Fauna ………………………………………………………..9

2.6Flora…………………………………………………......11

3.Conclusion………………………………………………………..12

4. References…………..…………………………………….…..13

5..Appendix 1………………………………………………………14

6.Appendix 2……………………………………………………….16

1. Introduction

Since ancient times our Russian Parnassus

Drawn to unfamiliar countries
And most of all, only you, Caucasus,
It rang like a mysterious fog.

S.A. Yesenin

This is an amazing land, one of the most interesting regions of the globe. Combining unique landscapes and becoming home to hundreds of nationalities, it is truly a unique region of the world. The North Caucasus is my homeland , which I love.

The pride of the Caucasus is its mountains! Without mountains, the Caucasus is not the Caucasus. The mountains are unique, majestic and inaccessible. The Caucasus is amazingly beautiful. He's so different. You can look at the mountains for hours.

The Caucasus Mountains are the great divide between Europe and Asia. The Caucasus is a narrow strip of land between the Black and Caspian seas. It amazes with the incredible diversity of climate, flora and fauna.

Green hills and alpine meadows of the Caucasus, salt deserts, miniature sand dunes give way to high mountains. Caucasian landscapes are not inferior in beauty to any region on the planet.

The clouds that form over the Black Sea rain, hitting the mountain peaks of the Caucasus. On one side of the ridge there is a harsh landscape, and on the other there is lush vegetation. Here you can find more than 6 and a half thousand plant species, a quarter of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
The purpose of our essay is to study the natural features of the Caucasus Mountains.

The material can be used in geography lessons when studying the topic “North Caucasus”.

2. Base part

2.1 Legend about the origin of the Caucasus Mountains

A long time ago, when the earth was still very young, a huge plain stretched on the site of the modern territory of the Caucasus. The huge Nart heroes lived here in peace and love. They were kind and prudent, they greeted day and night with joy, they knew neither evil, nor envy, nor deceit. The ruler of this people was the gray-haired giant Elbrus, and he had a beautiful son Beshtau, and his son had a charming bride, the beautiful Mashuki. But they had an evil envious person - Korshun. And he decided to harm the sledges. He prepared a terrible potion in which he mixed the teeth of a wolf, the tongue of a boar and the eyes of a snake. At a big celebration, he added a potion to all the Narts' drinks. And having drunk it, they acquired the greed of a boar, the anger of a wolf and the cunning of a snake. And from that time on the happy and carefree life of the Narts ended. The father decided to take his young bride away from his son and, sending him on a hunt, wanted to forcefully marry Mashuki. But Mashuki resisted Elbrus. And in a fierce battle she lost her wedding ring. He saw Beshtau’s ring and hurried to help the bride. And a terrible life-and-death battle ensued, and half of the Narts fought on the side of Elbrus, and the other half on the side of Beshtau. And the battle lasted for several days and nights, and all the sledges died. Elbrus chopped his son into five parts, and the son, delivering the final blow, dismembered his father’s gray head into two halves. Mashuki came out onto the battlefield after the battle and did not see a single living soul. She approached her lover and plunged a dagger into her heart. Thus the life of a great and old people stopped.

And in this place the Caucasian mountains now rise: the helmet from the head of Beshtau - Mount Zheleznaya, the ring of Mashuki - Mount Koltso, five peaks - Mount Beshtau, nearby - Mount Mashuk and far, far from the others - the gray-haired or simply snow-covered handsome Elbrus. [2]

2.2Physico-geographical location

The Caucasus Mountains form a natural border between Europe and Asia, located on the isthmus between the Caspian and Black Seas. The Caucasus is separated from the East European Plain by the Kuma-Manych depression. The territory of the Caucasus can be divided into several parts: Ciscaucasia, Greater Caucasus and Transcaucasia. On the territory of the Russian Federation there are only Ciscaucasia and the northern part of the Greater Caucasus. The last two parts together are called the North Caucasus. However, for Russia this part of the territory is the southernmost. Here, along the crest of the Main Ridge, lies the state border of the Russian Federation, beyond which lie Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The North Caucasus Mountains are relatively young. Their relief was created by different tectonic structures. These mountains were formed when deep trough zones were filled with sedimentary and volcanic rocks, which later underwent folding. Tectonic processes here were accompanied by significant bends, stretches, ruptures and fractures of the earth's layers. As a result, large amounts of magma poured onto the surface (this led to the formation of significant ore deposits).

The Greater Caucasus is often presented as a single ridge. In fact, this is a whole system of various ridges, which can be divided into several parts. The Western Caucasus is located from the Black Sea coast to Mount Elbrus, then (from Elbrus to Kazbek) the Central Caucasus follows, and to the east from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea - the Eastern Caucasus. In addition, in the longitudinal direction two ridges can be distinguished: Vodorazdelny (sometimes called the main one) and Bokovaya. On the northern slope of the Caucasus there are the Skalisty and Pastbishchny ridges, as well as the Black Mountains. They were formed as a result of interlayering layers composed of sedimentary rocks of different hardness. One slope of the ridge here is gentle, while the other ends quite abruptly. As you move away from the axial zone, the height of the mountain ranges decreases.

The chain of the Western Caucasus begins at the Taman Peninsula. At the very beginning, it’s more likely not even mountains, but hills. They begin to rise to the east. The highest parts of the North Caucasus are covered with snow caps and glaciers. The highest peaks of the western Caucasus are Mount Fisht (2870 meters) and Oshten (2810 meters). The highest part of the Greater Caucasus is the Central Caucasus. Even some passes at this point reach an altitude of 3000 meters, and the lowest of them (Krestovy) lies at an altitude of 2380 meters. The highest peaks of the Caucasus are also located here. For example, the height of Mount Kazbek is 5033 meters, and the double-headed extinct volcano Elbrus is the highest peak in Russia. The relief here is highly dissected: sharp ridges, steep slopes and rocky peaks predominate.

The eastern part of the Greater Caucasus consists mainly of the numerous ridges of Dagestan (the name of this region means “mountainous country”). There are complex branching ridges with steep slopes and deep canyon-like river valleys. However, the height of the peaks here is less than in the central part of the mountain system, but they still exceed a height of 4 thousand. meters. The rise of the Caucasus Mountains continues in our time. Quite frequent earthquakes in this region of Russia are associated with this. To the north of the Central Caucasus, where the magma rising through cracks did not spill out to the surface, low, so-called island mountains formed. The largest of them are Beshtau (1400 meters) and Mashuk (993 meters). At their base there are numerous springs of mineral waters.

The so-called Ciscaucasia is occupied by the Kuban and Terek-Kuma lowlands. They are separated from each other by the Stavropol Upland, whose height is 700-800 meters.

Fig.1 Dagestan. Red Mountain.

2.3Climate

The climate in this area is quite favorable. Quite high mountains serve as a good barrier to cold air penetrating here. The proximity of the long cooling sea also has an effect. The Greater Caucasus is the border between two climatic poles - subtropical and temperate. On Russian territory the climate is still moderate, but the above factors contribute to high temperatures.

As a result, winters in the Ciscaucasia are quite warm (the average temperature in January is about -5 ° C) This is facilitated by warm air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean. On the Black Sea coast, the temperature rarely drops below zero (the average temperature in January is 3 ° C). In mountainous areas the temperature is naturally lower. So, the average temperature on the plain in summer is about 25 ° C, and in the upper reaches of the mountains - 0 ° C.

Precipitation in this area mainly falls due to cyclones arriving from the west, as a result of which its amount gradually decreases to the east. Most precipitation falls on the southwestern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Their number on the Kuban Plain is approximately 7 times lower.

Glaciation has developed in the mountains of the North Caucasus, the area of which ranks first among all regions of Russia. The rivers flowing here are fed by water formed by the melting of glaciers. The largest Caucasian rivers are the Kuban and Terek, as well as their numerous tributaries. Mountain rivers, as usual, are fast-flowing, and in their lower reaches there are wetlands overgrown with reeds and reeds.

The most dangerous natural phenomena that occur in these places are landslides, mountain falls and earthquakes.

2.4 Rivers and lakes

The rivers of the Caucasus belong to the basin of the Caspian (Kura with Araks, Sulak, Terek, Kuma), Black (Rioni, Inguri, etc.) and Azov (Kuban) seas. The distribution of flow and river regime depend mainly on climatic conditions and topography. The Greater Caucasus is characterized by rivers with long (about 6 months) flood in the warm part of the year; They are fed by eternal snow and ice and seasonal snow that melts late in the highlands. The regime of rivers starting in the highest ridges and massifs of the Transcaucasian Highlands (Aragats, Zangezur ridge, Murovdag) and in those areas of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus where there are no glaciers is close to this type. The remaining rivers of the Transcaucasian Highlands are characterized by spring floods. On the rivers of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, along with spring floods, summer floods are typical. The rivers of Ciscaucasia, with the exception of those flowing from the Greater Caucasus, have spring floods and winter freeze-up, become very shallow in the summer, and sometimes dry up. The Stavropol region is artificially watered from the river. Kuban. The rivers of the Caucasus, starting in areas without stable snow cover, are characterized by floods from heavy rains and rapid melting of snow. An additional source of their nutrition is groundwater. Floods occur throughout the year (the Black Sea coast south of Sochi, the Colchis lowland, etc.), during the warm season (in the leading ridges of the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus, in the Terek basin) and in the cold half of the year (the western tip of the Greater Caucasus and the northern part of the Black Sea coast) . Many rivers in the Eastern and parts of the Central Caucasus are characterized by mudflows. The advanced limestone ranges of the Greater Caucasus have karst rivers, which in some places disappear underground and reappear on the surface. Their regime, like the rivers of the volcanic region of the Armenian Highlands, is regulated due to the large participation of groundwater in the nutrition. Large rivers receiving tributaries from different regions have a combined regime. Most of the large rivers of the Caucasus in the upper reaches are mountainous in nature and flow in trough valleys and gorges, while in the lower reaches they flow more calmly in wide valleys.

The lower reaches of the Kura, Kuban and Rioni are navigable. The waters of many rivers are used to irrigate the arid regions of the Ciscaucasia, the Kura Depression and the Middle Araks Basin. Many hydroelectric power stations have been built on the rivers of the Caucasus (Mingachevirskaya and Zemo-Avchalskaya on the Kura, Khramskaya, Rionskaya, a number of hydroelectric power stations on the rivers of the Greater Caucasus).

Of the lakes in the Caucasus, the largest is Sevan. There are many tar lakes in the highland region of the Greater Caucasus; There are also dammed, karst and other lakes. On the coasts of the seas there are estuary lakes. Most lakes are fresh, but in the arid regions of the eastern Caucasus they are salty.

2.5Fauna

Animal world The Caucasus is very diverse, which is due to significant spatial variability within its ecological conditions and the history of the formation of the faunal complex. There is a significant group of endemics here: Caucasian and Dagestan aurochs (stone goats), Caucasian hamster, Promethean mouse, Caucasian black grouse, Caucasian snowcock, etc. The degree of endemism is especially high in the upper parts of the mountains. The forests are home to ancient representatives of broad-leaved forests: bison, red deer, wild boar, and pine marten. The fauna of Ciscaucasia developed mainly in pre-Quaternary times.

The steppes of Western and Middle Ciscaucasia are inhabited by the same animals as the steppes of the Russian Plain. Common here are the small gopher, the large jerboa, the hamster, the mole vole, the brown hare, the steppe ferret, in some places the banded ferret is preserved, and the number of foxes and wolves is high. The Terek-Kuma Lowland is inhabited by animals of the semi-deserts and deserts of Central Asia and Kazakhstan: the corsac fox, the ground hare, the hairy jerboa, the long-eared hedgehog, the combed and midday gerbils, etc. There is a steppe antelope - the saiga. There are also endemics here: the Nogai jerboa, the Cis-Caucasian gerbil, and the small vole.

Reptiles are abundant in the Ciscaucasia (steppe viper, boa constrictor, snakes, green and steppe lizards, etc.). The most common birds are the steppe lark, quail, eagles, harrier, kite, kestrel; bustards, demoiselle cranes, little bustards are also found.

The reed thickets of the Terek and Sulak deltas are inhabited by the jungle cat (Fig. 2), jackals, and wild boars. In the deltas of these rivers and the Kuban there are many waterfowl and marsh birds.

Fig.2 Jungle cat

The Greater Caucasus is inhabited mainly by forest and alpine animals. In the broad-leaved forests there are deer, Siberian roe deer, wild boars, badgers, Caucasian squirrels, dormouse, and many wood mice. Stone marten and wildcat live in many areas.

The species composition of birds is very rich. The most numerous are jays, finches, nuthatches, owls, etc. In winter, squirrels migrate to dark coniferous forests. The pine marten is associated with coniferous forests. Birds, rodents and shrews feed on fir and spruce seeds. In the Colchis forests of the southwestern slope there are Persian squirrel, European roe deer, small badger, and jackal.

Dark coniferous forests and high mountain meadows are characterized by seasonal migrations of many animals. Deer and wild boars live in subalpine meadows in summer, but in winter, when the snow depth in the forest is half that in the meadows, they migrate to coniferous forests. Turs and chamois graze in the high-mountain meadows in the summer, and spend the winter on the rocky slopes of the forest belt. The leopard lives in mountain forests (Fig. 3), making a den in rock crevices, but it hunts chamois and aurochs in high-mountain meadows. The Caucasian grouse spends a significant part of its time in rhododendron thickets.

Fig.3 Leopard

Alpine meadows are habitats of the Caucasian snowcock, Promethean mouse, common, gray and bush voles. Among the birds that live here are: chough, horned lark, snow finch (Fig. 3).

Fig.3 Reel

2.6
Vegetable world

Vegetation cover The Caucasus is also very diverse. Floristic elements of European forests and vegetation of the Eurasian highlands, Eastern European steppes and Western Asian deserts, as well as complex plant communities of the Mediterranean, took part in its formation. The Greater Caucasus is associated with significant regional endemism and the distinctive nature of plant groups. There are about 550 endemic species within its borders. The highest percentage of endemics is among plants in high mountains and rocky habitats. Among the plant groups, the most distinctive are the vegetation of the mountain xerophytes of Dagestan and the relict Colchis broad-leaved forests that extend into Russia on their northwestern edge.

Western and Central Ciscaucasia in the recent past was covered with steppe vegetation. Now it has survived only in fragments, mainly on slopes inconvenient for plowing.

The steppes of the plains and foothills are a direct continuation of the steppes of the south of the Russian Plain. Forb-fescue-feather grass steppes predominated. On the eastern slope of the Stavropol Upland they were replaced by tussock-grass (fescue-feather grass and fescue) steppes. Closer to the foothills, on the Kuban, Kabardian, Ossetian and other sloping plains, in the elevated southwestern part of the Stavropol Upland and in the Mineralovodchesky region, mixed-grass meadow steppes with areas of forests of oak, ash, and hornbeam (forest-steppe) were widespread. The dry slopes of the mountains are associated with upland steppes, which are more diverse in species composition than the steppes of the plains. Grass-wormwood semi-deserts are widespread in the Eastern Ciscaucasia. Solyanka vegetation is common on saline soils. The western and southern outskirts of the Terek-Kuma Plain are occupied by dry wormwood-cereal steppes. In the dry mountainous regions of the Greater Caucasus, upland xerophytic vegetation is widespread, represented by groups such as frigana and shiblyak.

In the Greater Caucasus Mountains, the largest areas are occupied by forests. The lower part of the forest belt is represented by forests with a predominance of oak or beech. Dark coniferous forests are common in the upper part. In the southern regions of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, there are depleted relict Colchis broad-leaved forests. Above the forests in the mountains, subalpine and alpine meadows are common.

3. Conclusion.

So leave unnecessary disputes -
I have already proven everything to myself:
The only things better than mountains are mountains,
Which no one has ever been to!

The nature of the Caucasus is rich and varied, and the beauty of its landscapes is unique. Bare rocks, eternal snow and glaciers. Highlands, dense coniferous and lush deciduous forests covering the mountains, open steppe and semi-desert plains with dry, cracked soil from the sun's heat, abundantly saturated with moisture, subtropical forests and plantations - all this is located next to each other, creating striking contrasts.

The Caucasus Mountains are one of the parts of the southern borders of our country. There is a wide variety of natural zones here due to the altitudinal zones, special microclimates are formed, which is why interesting species of flora and fauna are found in nature.

Historically, this territory was home to a large number of peoples and their national color arouses the interest of many tourists.

List of used literature:

1.Caucasus. http://sir35.narod.ru/Caucas/1_080817.htm

2.Legend about the origin of the Caucasus Mountains www. http://sasw.chat.ru/rasskazi2.htm

3.Regional reviews of nature in Russia http://www.ecosystema.ru/08nature/world/geoussr/3-5-4.htm#68jiv

4.North Caucasus http://geography.kz/slovar/severnyj-kavkaz/

Annex 1

Rivers of the Caucasus

Rice. 1 Kuma River

Rice. 2 Rioni River

Rice. 3 Terek River

Fig.4 Kura River

Appendix 2

Geographical position. On the huge isthmus between the Black and Caspian seas, from the Taman to the Absheron peninsula, there are the majestic mountains of the Greater Caucasus.

North Caucasus- This is the southernmost part of Russian territory. The border of the Russian Federation with the countries of Transcaucasia runs along the ridges of the Main, or Watershed, Caucasian Range.

The Caucasus is separated from the Russian Plain by the Kuma-Manych depression, on the site of which a sea strait existed in the Middle Quaternary.

The North Caucasus is an area located on the border of the temperate and subtropical zones.

The epithet “the best” is often applied to the nature of this territory. Latitudinal zonality is replaced here by vertical zonality. For a resident of the plains, the Caucasus Mountains are a vivid example of the “multi-storey™” of nature.

Remember where the southernmost point of Russia is located and what it is called.

Features of the nature of the North Caucasus. The Caucasus is a young mountain structure formed during the period of Alpine folding. The Caucasus includes: Ciscaucasia, Greater Caucasus and Transcaucasia. Only the Ciscaucasia and the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus belong to Russia.

Rice. 92. Orographic scheme of the Caucasus

The Greater Caucasus is often presented as a single ridge. In fact, it is a system of mountain ranges. From the Black Sea coast to Mount Elbrus is the Western Caucasus, from Elbrus to Kazbek is the Central Caucasus, east of Kazbek to the Caspian Sea is the Eastern Caucasus. In the longitudinal direction, an axial zone is distinguished, occupied by the Vodorazdelny (Main) and Bokovy ridges.

The northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus form the Skalisty and Pastbishchny ridges. They have a cuesta structure - these are ridges in which one slope is gentle and the other is steep. The reason for the formation of a quest is the interlayering of layers composed of rocks of different hardness.

The chains of the Western Caucasus begin near the Taman Peninsula. At first, these are not even mountains, but hills with soft outlines. They increase when moving to the east. Mountains Fisht (2867 m) and Oshten (2808 m) - the highest parts of the Western Caucasus - are covered with snowfields and glaciers.

The highest and grandest part of the entire mountain system is the Central Caucasus. Here even the passes reach an altitude of 3000 m; only one pass - the Cross Pass on the Georgian Military Road - lies at an altitude of 2379 m.

The highest peaks in the Central Caucasus are the double-headed Elbrus, an extinct volcano, the highest peak in Russia (5642 m), and Kazbek (5033 m).

The eastern part of the Greater Caucasus is mainly the numerous ridges of mountainous Dagestan (translated as the Country of Mountains).

Rice. 93. Mount Elbrus

Various tectonic structures took part in the structure of the North Caucasus. In the south there are folded block mountains and foothills of the Greater Caucasus. It is part of the alpine geosynclinal zone.

Oscillations of the earth's crust were accompanied by bending of the earth's layers, their stretching, faults, and ruptures. Through the cracks that formed, magma poured out to the surface from great depths, which led to the formation of numerous ore deposits.

Uplifts in recent geological periods - Neogene and Quaternary - turned the Greater Caucasus into a high-mountainous country. The rise in the axial part of the Greater Caucasus was accompanied by an intense subsidence of earth layers along the edges of the emerging mountain range. This led to the formation of foothill troughs: in the west of the Indolo-Kuban and in the east of the Terek-Caspian.

The complex history of the geological development of the region is the reason for the richness of the subsoil of the Caucasus in various minerals. The main wealth of the Ciscaucasia is oil and gas deposits. In the central part of the Greater Caucasus, polymetallic ores, tungsten, copper, mercury, and molybdenum are mined.

In the mountains and foothills of the North Caucasus, many mineral springs were discovered, near which resorts were created that have long gained worldwide fame - Kislovodsk, Mineralnye Vody, Pyatigorsk, Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk, Matsesta. The sources are varied in chemical composition, temperature and are extremely useful.

Rice. 94. Geological structure of the North Caucasus

The geographical location of the North Caucasus in the south of the temperate zone determines its mild, warm climate, transitional from temperate to subtropical. The parallel of 45° N runs here. sh., that is, this territory is equidistant from both the equator and the pole. This situation determines the amount of solar heat received: in summer 17-18 kcal per square centimeter, which is 1.5 times more than the average European part of Russia receives. With the exception of the highlands, the climate in the North Caucasus is mild and warm; on the plains, the average July temperature everywhere exceeds 20°C, and summer lasts from 4.5 to 5.5 months. Average January temperatures range from -10 to +6°C, and winter lasts only two to three months. In the North Caucasus there is the city of Sochi, which has the warmest winter in Russia with a January temperature of +6.1°C.

Using the map, determine whether in the foothills of the North Caucasus there are any obstacles to the path of arctic or tropical air masses. What atmospheric fronts pass near this area? Analyze on maps how precipitation is distributed in the North Caucasus, explain the reasons for this distribution.

The abundance of heat and light allows the vegetation of the North Caucasus to develop in the north of the region for seven months, in the Ciscaucasia - eight, and on the Black Sea coast, south of Gelendzhik - up to 11 months. This means that with the appropriate selection of crops, you can get two harvests a year.

The North Caucasus is distinguished by a very complex circulation of various air masses. Various air masses can penetrate this area.

The main source of moisture for the North Caucasus is the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, the western regions of the North Caucasus are characterized by high rainfall. The annual precipitation in the foothill areas in the west is 380-520 mm, and in the east, in the Caspian region, it is 220-250 mm. Therefore, in the east of the region there are often droughts and hot winds. At the same time, they are often accompanied by dusty, or black, storms. Storms occur in the spring, when the top layers of parched soil, still loosely held together by newly emerged plants, are blown away by strong winds. Dust rises in clouds into the air, obscuring the sky and the sun.

Measures to combat black storms include properly planned forest shelterbelts and advanced agricultural technology. However, until now, due to black storms, several tens of thousands of hectares have to be reseeded (re-seeded), from which the most fertile layer of soil is blown away during dust storms.

Highland climate very different from the plains and foothills. The first main difference is that much more precipitation falls in the mountains: at an altitude of 2000 m - 2500-2600 mm per year. This is due to the fact that mountains trap air masses and force them to rise. At the same time, the air cools and gives up its moisture.

The second difference in the climate of the highlands is the decrease in the duration of the warm season due to the decrease in air temperature with height. Already at an altitude of 2700 m on the northern slopes and at an altitude of 3800 m in the Central Caucasus there is a snow line, or the border of “eternal ice”. At altitudes above 4000 m, even in July, positive temperatures are very rare.

Remember by what amount the air temperature decreases when rising for every 100 m. Calculate how much the air cools when rising to a height of 4000 m, if its temperature at the surface of the earth is +20 ° C. What happens to the moisture in the air?

In the mountains of the Western Caucasus, due to the abundance of precipitation during the winter, a four to five meter layer of snow accumulates, and in the mountain valleys, where it is blown away by the wind, up to 10-12 m. The abundance of snow in winter leads to the formation of snow avalanches. Sometimes one awkward movement, even a sharp sound, is enough for a thousand-ton mass of snow to fly down a steep ledge, destroying everything in its path.

Explain why there are practically no avalanches in the mountains of the Eastern Caucasus.

Think about what differences will be observed in the change in altitudinal zones on the western and eastern slopes.

The third difference in the high-mountain climate is its amazing diversity from place to place due to the height of the mountains, slope exposure, proximity or distance from the sea.

The fourth difference is the uniqueness of atmospheric circulation. Cooled air from the highlands rushes down through relatively narrow intermountain valleys. When descending for every 100 m, the air warms up by about 1°C. Descending from a height of 2500 m, it heats up by 25°C and becomes warm, even hot. This is how a local wind is formed - the foehn. Hairdryers are especially frequent in the spring, when the intensity of the general circulation of air masses sharply increases. Unlike a foehn, when masses of dense cold air invade, bora is formed (from the Greek boreas - north, north wind), a strong cold downward wind. Flowing through low ridges into an area with warmer rarefied air, it heats up relatively little and “falls” at a high speed along the leeward slope. Bora is observed mainly in winter, where the mountain range borders the sea or a large body of water. The Novorossiysk forest is widely known (Fig. 95). And yet, the leading factor in climate formation in the mountains, which greatly influences all other components of nature, is altitude, leading to vertical zonation of both climate and natural zones.

Rice. 95. Scheme of formation of the Novorossiysk forest

The rivers of the North Caucasus are numerous and, like the relief and climate, are clearly divided into lowland and mountainous. There are especially numerous turbulent mountain rivers, the main source of food for which is snow and glaciers during the melting period. The largest rivers are the Kuban and Terek with their numerous tributaries, as well as the Bolshoy Yegorlyk and Kalaus, which originate in the Stavropol Upland. In the lower reaches of the Kuban and Terek there are floodplains - vast wetlands covered with reeds and reeds.

Rice. 96. Altitudinal zone of the Greater Caucasus

The wealth of the Caucasus is its fertile soils. In the western part of Ciscaucasia, chernozems predominate, and in the eastern, drier part, chestnut soils predominate. The soils of the Black Sea coast are intensively used for gardens, berry fields, and vineyards. The world's northernmost tea plantations are located in the Sochi region.

In the Greater Caucasus Mountains, altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed. The lower zone is occupied by broad-leaved forests with a predominance of oak. Above are beech forests, which with height transform first into mixed and then into spruce-fir forests. The upper border of the forest is at an altitude of 2000-2200 m. Behind it, on mountain meadow soils, there are lush subalpine meadows with thickets of Caucasian rhododendron. They pass into short-grass alpine meadows, followed by the highest mountain belt of snowfields and glaciers.

Questions and tasks

Using the example of the North Caucasus, show the influence of the geographical location of the territory on the features of its nature.
Tell us about the formation of the modern relief of the Greater Caucasus.
On the contour map, indicate the main geographical objects of the area and mineral deposits.
Describe the climate of the Greater Caucasus, explain how the climate of the foothills differs from the high-mountain regions.

Caucasus Mountains– the great divide between Europe and Asia. The Caucasus is a narrow strip of land between the Black and Caspian seas. It amazes with the incredible diversity of climate, flora and fauna.

The Greater Caucasus mountain range is home to many pastures, forests, and amazing natural wonders. More than 2 thousand glaciers descend through narrow gorges. A chain of large mountains stretches from northwest to southeast for almost one and a half thousand kilometers. The main peaks exceed 5 thousand meters and significantly influence the weather in the regions. The clouds that form over the Black Sea rain, hitting the mountain peaks of the Caucasus. On one side of the ridge there is a harsh landscape, and on the other there is lush vegetation. Here you can find more than 6 and a half thousand plant species, a quarter of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

There are many legends about the origin of the Caucasus Mountains:

The Caucasus Mountains are the result of the convergence of two plates

Let's look at one of the narrowest places of this grandiose mountain belt. At its northern outskirts, in the Ciscaucasia, there are flat areas that belong to a strong plate called the Scythian. Further to the south are the sublatitudinal (that is, stretching approximately from west to east) mountains of the Greater Caucasus up to 5 km high, the narrow depressions of Transcaucasia - the Rioni and Kura lowlands - and also the sublatitudinal, but convex to the north, mountain ranges of the Lesser Caucasus in Georgia and Armenia , Eastern Turkey and Western Iran (up to 5 km high).

To the south are the plains of Northern Arabia, which, like the plains of the Ciscaucasia, belong to the very strong, monolithic Arabian lithospheric plate.

Therefore, the Scythian and Arabian plates- these are like two parts of a giant vice that are slowly approaching, crushing everything that is between them. It is curious that directly opposite the northern, relatively narrow end of the Arabian Plate, in Eastern Turkey and Western Iran, there are the highest mountains compared to the mountains located to the west and east. They rise precisely in the place where the Arabian Plate, like a kind of hard wedge, most strongly compressed the pliable sediments.

The Caucasus Mountains are located on the isthmus between the Caspian and Black Seas. The Caucasus is separated from the East European Plain by the Kuma-Manych depression. The territory of the Caucasus can be divided into several parts: Ciscaucasia, Greater Caucasus and Transcaucasia. Only the Ciscaucasia and the northern part of the Greater Caucasus are located on the territory of the Russian Federation. The last two parts together are called the North Caucasus. However, for Russia this part of the territory is the southernmost. Here, along the crest of the Main Ridge, lies the state border of the Russian Federation, beyond which lie Georgia and Azerbaijan. The entire system of the Caucasus ridge occupies an area of approximately 2600 m2, with its northern slope occupying about 1450 m2, while the southern slope is only about 1150 m2.

The North Caucasus Mountains are relatively young. Their relief was created by different tectonic structures. In the southern part there are folded block mountains and foothills of the Greater Caucasus. They were formed when deep trough zones were filled with sedimentary and volcanic rocks, which later underwent folding. Tectonic processes here were accompanied by significant bends, stretches, ruptures and fractures of the earth's layers. As a result, large amounts of magma poured onto the surface (this led to the formation of significant ore deposits). The uplifts that occurred here in the Neogene and Quaternary periods led to the elevation of the surface and the type of relief that exists today. The rise of the central part of the Greater Caucasus was accompanied by the subsidence of strata along the edges of the resulting ridge. Thus, the Terek-Caspian trough was formed in the east, and the Indal-Kuban trough in the west.

The Greater Caucasus is often presented as a single ridge. In fact, this is a whole system of various ridges, which can be divided into several parts. The Western Caucasus is located from the Black Sea coast to Mount Elbrus, then (from Elbrus to Kazbek) the Central Caucasus follows, and to the east from Kazbek to the Caspian Sea - the Eastern Caucasus. In addition, in the longitudinal direction two ridges can be distinguished: Vodorazdelny (sometimes called the main one) and Bokovaya. On the northern slope of the Caucasus there are the Skalisty and Pastbishchny ridges, as well as the Black Mountains. They were formed as a result of interlayering of layers composed of sedimentary rocks of different hardness. One slope of the ridge here is gentle, while the other ends quite abruptly. As you move away from the axial zone, the height of the mountain ranges decreases.

The chain of the Western Caucasus begins at the Taman Peninsula. At the very beginning, it’s more likely not even mountains, but hills. They begin to rise to the east. The highest parts of the North Caucasus are covered with snow caps and glaciers. The highest peaks of the Western Caucasus are Mount Fisht (2870 meters) and Oshten (2810 meters). The highest part of the Greater Caucasus mountain system is the Central Caucasus. Even some passes at this point reach a height of 3 thousand meters, and the lowest of them (Krestovy) lies at an altitude of 2380 meters. The highest peaks of the Caucasus are also located here. For example, the height of Mount Kazbek is 5033 meters, and the double-headed extinct volcano Elbrus is the highest peak in Russia.

The relief here is highly dissected: sharp ridges, steep slopes and rocky peaks predominate. The eastern part of the Greater Caucasus consists mainly of the numerous ridges of Dagestan (translated, the name of this region means “mountainous country”). There are complex branching ridges with steep slopes and deep canyon-like river valleys. However, the height of the peaks here is less than in the central part of the mountain system, but they still exceed a height of 4 thousand meters. The rise of the Caucasus Mountains continues in our time. Quite frequent earthquakes in this region of Russia are associated with this. To the north of the Central Caucasus, where the magma rising through cracks did not spill out to the surface, low, so-called island mountains formed. The largest of them are Beshtau (1400 meters) and Mashuk (993 meters). At their base there are numerous springs of mineral waters.

The so-called Ciscaucasia is occupied by the Kuban and Terek-Kuma lowlands. They are separated from each other by the Stavropol Upland, whose height is 700-800 meters. The Stavropol Upland is dissected by wide and deeply incised valleys, gullies and ravines. At the base of this area lies a young slab. Its structure consists of Neogene formations, covered with limestone deposits - loess and loess-like loams, and in the eastern part also marine sediments of the Quaternary period. The climate in this area is quite favorable. Quite high mountains serve as a good barrier to cold air penetrating here. The proximity of the long cooling sea also has an effect. The Greater Caucasus is the border between two climatic zones - subtropical and temperate. On Russian territory the climate is still moderate, but the above factors contribute to rather high temperatures.

Caucasus Mountains As a result, winters in the Ciscaucasia are quite warm (the average temperature in January is about -5°C). This is facilitated by warm air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean. On the Black Sea coast, temperatures rarely drop below zero (the average January temperature is 3°C). In mountainous areas the temperature is naturally lower. Thus, the average temperature on the plain in summer is about 25°C, and in the upper reaches of the mountains - 0°C. Precipitation falls into this area mainly due to cyclones arriving from the west, as a result of which its amount gradually decreases to the east.

Most precipitation falls on the southwestern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Their number on the Kuban Plain is approximately 7 times lower. Glaciation has developed in the mountains of the North Caucasus, the area of which ranks first among all regions of Russia. The rivers flowing here are fed by water formed by the melting of glaciers. The largest Caucasian rivers are the Kuban and Terek, as well as their numerous tributaries. Mountain rivers, as usual, are fast-flowing, and in their lower reaches there are wetlands overgrown with reeds and reeds.