Caucasus Mountains - wikipedia Caucasus Mountains For the lunar mountain range, see Montes Caucasus. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2012 ) Caucasus Mountains Aerial view of the Caucasus Mountains Highest point Peak Mount Elbrus Elevation 5,642 m ( 18,510 ft ) Coordinates 43 ° 21 ′ 18 '' N 42 ° 26 ′ 31 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 43.35500 ° N 42.44194 ° E ﻿ / 43.35500 ; 42.44194 Length 1,100 km ( 680 mi ) Width 160 km ( 99 mi ) Geography Topographic map Countries Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan Range coordinates 42 ° 30 ′ N 45 ° 00 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 42.5 ° N 45 ° E ﻿ / 42.5 ; 45 Coordinates : 42 ° 30 ′ N 45 ° 00 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 42.5 ° N 45 ° E ﻿ / 42.5 ; 45 Satellite image of the Caucasus Mountains The Caucasus Mountains are a mountain system in West Asia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region. 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. The Greater and Lesser Caucasus ranges are connected by the Likhi Range, and to the west and east of the Likhi Range lie the Colchis Plain and the Kur - Araz Lowland. The Meskheti Range is a part of the Lesser Caucasus system. In the southeast the Aras River separates the Lesser Caucasus from the Talysh Mountains which straddle the border of southeastern Azerbaijan and Iran. The Lesser Caucasus and the Armenian Highland constitute the Transcaucasian Highland, which at their western end converge with the highland plateau of Eastern Anatolia in the far north east of Turkey. The highest peak in the Caucasus range is Mount Elbrus in the Greater Caucasus, 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 1 Geology 2 Notable peaks 3 Climate 4 Landscape 5 History 6 Image gallery 7 Notes 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links Geology Geologically, the Caucasus Mountains belong to a system that extends from southeastern Europe into Asia. 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 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. While the Greater Caucasus Mountains have a mainly folded sedimentary structure, the Lesser Caucasus Mountains are largely of volcanic origin. 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. Elbrus is 832 m ( 2,730 ft ) higher than Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps at 4,810 m ( 15,780 ft ). The Caucasus Mountains are defined as 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. There are higher and more prominent, but nameless, peaks than some of the peaks included below. Peak name Elevation ( m ) Prominence ( m ) Country Elbrus 5,642 4,741 Russia Dykh - Tau 5,205 2,002 Russia Shkhara 5,201 1,365 Georgia / Russia Koshtan - Tau 5,152 822 Russia Janga ( Jangi - Tau ) 5,059 300 Georgia / Russia Ararat 5,137 3,611 Turkey Kazbek 5,047 2,353 Georgia / Russia Pushkin 5,033 110 Georgia / Russia Katyn - Tau 4,979 240 Georgia / Russia Gistola 4,860 Georgia Shota Rustaveli 4,860 c. 50 Georgia / Russia Tetnuldi 4,858 672 Georgia Dzhimara 4,780 Georgia / Russia Ushba 4,710 1,143 Georgia Ailama 4,547 1,067 Georgia Tebulos 4,499 2,145 Georgia / Russia Mount Bazardüzü 4,466 2,454 Azerbaijan Tepli 4,431 Russia Diklo 4,285 843 Georgia Mount Shahdagh 4,243 Azerbaijan Gora Addala Shukgelmezr 4,152 1,792 Russia Gora Dyultydag 4,127 1,834 Russia Aragats 4,090 2,143 Armenia Climate Aishkho Pass, Caucasus Nature Reserve 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. 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 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 Further information : History of the Caucasus 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 ( crossing the Great Wall of Gorgan ( also known as Alexander the Great 's Wall ) ), 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. See Russian conquest of the Caucasus. Image gallery Mount Elbrus viewed from the south in Russia Komito Mountain in Chechnya Caucasus Mountains in Svaneti, Georgia Chaukhi mountain in Khevi, Georgia A gorge in Dagestan, Russia Twin - peaked Ushba in Georgia Mount Shkhara in Georgia Mount Ararat in Turkey, viewed from Armenia Notes Jump up ^ Native names : Georgian : კავკასიონი, translit. : k'avk'asioni, pronounced ( kʼɑvkʼɑsiɔni ) Armenian : Կովկասյան լեռներ, Kovkasyan leṙner pronounced ( kɔvkɑsjɑn lɛrˈnɛɾ ) Azerbaijani : Qafqaz dağları, pronounced ( qɑfqɑz dɑʁlɑrɯ ) Russian : Кавка́зские го́ры, tr. Kavkázskiye góry, IPA : ( kɐfˈkasːkjɪje ˈɡorɨ ) Turkish : Kafkas Dağları, Turkish pronunciation : ( kɑfkɑs dɑːɫɑrɯ ) Persian : كوه هاى قفقاز ‎ References Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Caucasus. Parts of this article are from the NASA Earth Observatory ; ( 1 ) Jump up ^ Stokes, Chris R ( 2011 ). Singh, Vijay P. ; Haritashya, Umesh K., eds. Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers. Spring Science & Business Media. p. 127. ISBN 9789048126415. Retrieved 9 November 2014. Jump up ^ Reilinger ; McClusky ; Oral ; King ; Toksoz ; Barka ; Kinik ; Lenk ; Sanli ( Jan 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... 102.9983 R. doi : 10.1029 / 96JB03736. Jump up ^ Philip, H. ; Cisternas, A. ; Gvishiani, A. ; Gorshkov, A. ( 1 April 1989 ). `` The Caucasus ''. Tectnophysics. 161 ( 1 -- 2 ) : 1 -- 21. Bibcode : 1989Tectp. 161... 1P. doi : 10.1016 / 0040 - 1951 ( 89 ) 90297 - 7. Jump up ^ Mt. Elbrus : Image of the Day. Earthobservatory.nasa.gov. Retrieved on 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 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caucasus mountains. NASA Earth Observatory images of the Caucasus : ( 2 ) `` Highest Peaks of the Caucasus from peakbagger.com ''. Peakbagger.com. 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Question: the region that stretches between the black and caspian seas
Answer: The Caucasus Mountains; Caucasus Mountains; The Caucasus Mountains