Caucasus Mountains

Caucasus Mountains, mountain range, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and south-west Russia, considered a boundary between Europe and Asia. The range extends for about 1,200 km (750 mi) from the Abşeron Peninsula on the south-western shore of the Caspian Sea to the mouth of the Kuban River on the north-eastern shore of the Black Sea. The western region is drained by the Kuban River and the eastern portion by the Kura River. Of the two principal chains within the Caucasus, the most northerly range has a number of peaks higher than about 4,570 m (15,000 ft) above sea level. Mount Elbrus, which has an altitude of 5,642 m (18,510 ft), is the highest peak in Europe. Other notable peaks include Dykh-Tau, 5,198 m (17,054 ft); Koshtan-Tau, 5,145 m (16,880 ft); and Kazbek, 5,047 m (16,558 ft). The highest peaks of the western chain are about 3,660 m (12,000 ft) above sea level. Geologically, the Caucasus Mountains belong to a system that extends from south-eastern Europe into Asia. The mountains are composed of granite and crystalline rock. Some volcanic formations and many glaciers are found throughout the range.

The uplifting of the northern chain was begun during the Jurassic period. The western chain dates from the Tertiary period. Of the few practicable routes through the range, one of the most important is a Georgian military road from Vladikavkav, Russia, on the northern side, to Tbilisi, Georgia, on the southern side. The chief minerals of the Caucasus Mountains are coal, copper, lead, manganese, and oil. In 1999, the western Caucasus was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.