Highlands annually attract a large number of tourists from different parts of Russia and from abroad. Currently, in our country there are eight peaks with a height of more than five thousand meters. Most of them are located in Kabardino-Balkaria. All of them are included in the mountain system of the Greater Caucasus. This article will discuss the features of such places, as well as the highest points of our country.
Into the mountains
Highlands in Russia are located in various regions of the country. If the Greater Caucasus is the highest system, the rest are noticeably lower, but they deserve mention. These are the Ural Mountains, Verkhoyansk Range, Altai, East and West Sayans, Sikhote-Alin, Chersky Range. Tourists come here not only to conquer the peaks, but to admire the majestic mountains that rise above the surrounding cities and towns.
The highest point in Russia at present is Elbrus, which is located immediately in two regions - Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Its height is 5642 meters. In total, Russia has 73 peaks, whose height is above four thousand meters above sea level. Of these, 67 are part of the Greater Caucasus mountain system, three are in Altai and Kamchatka.
The definition of the highlands is known to everyone who goes to conquer the peaks. This is a terrain with rough terrain and relative elevations. In this case, the absolute relief height must exceed a thousand meters.
Terms
Mountain conditions are always difficult. They are fraught with difficulties that only a physically healthy and strong person can handle.
Perhaps the main feature of the highlands is their special climatic conditions. The higher, the stronger is the low atmospheric pressure, excessively clean air, increased intensity of solar radiation, high humidity at low temperature, increased rainfall, as well as strong winds characteristic of these areas.
In mountainous conditions, only a trained person can climb. Therefore, groups of climbers are always accompanied by experienced guides who, at the first sign of deterioration in the physical condition of travelers, can interrupt the hike and demand a return to the base camp. Before climbing, you need to understand the dangers inherent in the features of the mountainous terrain. Failure to comply with the requirements of experienced climbers can be fraught with the most sad consequences, even death.
At an altitude of two to three thousand meters above sea level, a special alpine climate is formed, the signs of which are listed in this article. There they become especially noticeable.
Kinds
The terrain on the earth is divided into several types: plain, hilly and mountainous. The mountainous areas in question are divided into several subspecies: low-mountain, mid-mountain and high-mountain areas.
We will analyze each of them. Low mountain - the safest type of mountainous area for an unprepared person. Its main distinguishing feature is the height above sea level from fifty to one thousand meters. The slopes here are only relatively steep - from 5 to 10 degrees. As a rule, there are many settlements, a fairly developed road network. It is in low mountains that are ideal conditions for protection against the effects of conventional and nuclear weapons.
The relief of the highlands in the midlands is markedly different. The heights here vary from one to two thousand meters above sea level, and the steepness of the slopes rises to 25 degrees. Here it is already possible to single out individual mountain ranges, peaks, chains and ridges, ridges, which have a predominantly smoothed shape. To ensure patency, significant engineering work is required, fraught with high costs.
Highlands begin with a mark of two thousand meters above sea level, and the steepness of the slopes here most often is at least 25 degrees. People rarely live in such areas, few roads and mountain passes. Roads, if any, are laid along narrow and small mountain ravines, cross passes at considerable heights, and there are a large number of steep climbs on the way.
Elbrus
The highest mountainous terrain in Russia is Mount Elbrus. Its peak is at 5642 meters above sea level. She is on the list of seven highest peaks on the planet.
The name of the Elbrus mountain area, according to the most common version, comes from the Iranian expression of Al-Borjah, which literally means "heaving." According to another version, the roots of this word in the Zend language, Elbrus means "high mountain".
This mountainous area in Russia is located in the Lateral Range of the Greater Caucasus. The climate here is not simple, in winter, at an altitude of more than three thousand meters, the thickness of the snow cover is about 70-80 centimeters, gradually increasing even more. In spring, snow often melts as a result of avalanches that occur before the end of May. At maximum altitudes, snow can remain year-round, increasing the mass of the glacier.
The first person to appreciate this beautiful mountainous area from the top was one of the guides of the expedition organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kilar Khashirov. This happened in 1829. From the top, he brought a piece of basalt, which was sent to St. Petersburg. Interestingly, the rest of the expedition stopped at an altitude of 5300 meters.
The mountainous city in the Elbrus region is considered the highest mountain in the entire North Caucasus. This settlement is called Tyrnyauz. It is located at an altitude of 1307 meters above sea level, about 20500 people live here. The settlement in this place was founded in 1934. Over time, the construction of molybdenum and tungsten mining plants began here.
In 2000, the so-called Tyrnyauz tragedy took place here. As a result of the powerful mudflow, many residential buildings were flooded. Eight people died, almost forty were on the lists of missing persons.
Dykhtau
There are various rocks in the area of Dykhtau. This is the peak in Kabardino-Balkaria, whose height is 5204 meters. She is in second place in Russia after Elbrus.
The mountain itself is a powerful pyramid-shaped massif composed of crystalline rocks. It distinguishes the main and eastern peaks.
Here laid about ten popular and popular routes for climbers. The first climb in 1888 was made by the English climber Albert Mummery, climbing the southwestern ridge.
Koshtanau
You can find photos of the Koshtanau highlands in this article. This peak occupies an honorable third place on Russian territory, reaching 5152 meters.
Its name from local dialects translates as "a mountain resembling a remote home." She received such an unusual name because the top from afar strongly resembles a hut or tent.
This is one of the most inaccessible peaks in the entire Caucasus. From its northern slopes down to five glaciers of the first category.
They tried to conquer her more than once, more than once it ended tragically. So, in 1888, while climbing Koshtanau, English climbers Fox and Donkin, as well as two guides from Switzerland, who accompanied them, died. Most likely, Herman Wulley became the first conqueror of this mountain. Now it is very popular among tourists for climbing.
Pushkin peak
One of the highest mountain peaks in the Caucasus is Pushkin Peak. It is located in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range at an altitude of 5100 meters above sea level.
It is noteworthy that this is part of the Dykhtau massif, about which we already talked about in this article. Located on the territory of the reserve between the peak of Borovikov and Eastern Dykhtau.
The peak got its name in 1938 as part of the 100th anniversary of the death of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin.
On the territory of Russia and Georgia
Dzhangitau is located in the central part of the Main Caucasian Range. The peak is located on the territory of two states at once - Russia and Georgia. The main peak reaches a height of 5085 meters. This is the central part of a unique mountain range 13 kilometers long, which is known as the Bezengi Wall.
This is another popular place for mountaineering, at the top there are several routes that differ in difficulty categories.
Also on the territory of Russia and Georgia is another high peak called Shkhara. Its official height is 5068 meters. By the way, in Georgia it is considered the highest peak.
According to recent reports, the mountain was even higher. In 2010, climbers Boris Avdeev and Peter Shon climbed it, who installed using special devices that in reality the highest point is 5203 meters above sea level. However, most directories still have the old meaning.
Mount Shkhara is located 90 kilometers from the city of Kutaisi, located on Georgian territory. She, like Jangitau, is included in the 13-kilometer massif Bezengi wall. The peak itself is composed of crystalline schists and granite. Its slopes are mostly covered with glaciers, one is called Bezengi, and the second is Shkhara. By the way, the Inguri River originates from the latter, flowing through Western Georgia.
It is known that Soviet climbers first climbed this peak in 1933. At the foot of Shkhara is the famous village of Ushguli, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for being the highest mountain settlement in Europe, located at an altitude of 2200 meters. Currently, about 200 people live there, which is about 70 families. The village even has its own school.
The architectural ensemble, located in the village, is considered an important architectural and historical monument. It is thanks to him that the Georgian region of Upper Svaneti was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The village even preserved the ancient Svan tower-houses traditional for these areas. On a hill near the village is the Church of Our Lady, built in the XI century.
Details about these places became known in 1930, when Mikhail Kalatozov made a documentary called "Salt of Svaneti". It showed local customs and traditions, the harsh laws of the community, which still strictly monitors the observance of rituals and even performs sacrifices.
Kazbek
One of the most famous mountains of the Caucasus is called Kazbek. Its height is 5034 meters above sea level. This is an extinct stratovolcano, which is located in the eastern part of the Khokh ridge. The last eruption in this place occurred in 650 BC. The famous Georgian Military Road passes by Kazbek.
It is believed that the mountain was formed about 805 million years ago. According to an authoritative researcher Nikonov, her name came from the name of Prince Kazbek, who owned a parish at the foot of the village at the beginning of the 19th century. In Georgian, the mountain is called Mkinvartsveri, which literally means "ice peak".
The first ascent to the summit was made in 1868 by the English climbers Tucker, Freshfield and Moore. They rose from the southeast slope.
And the first who described the mountain in detail was the Russian surveyor Andrei Petukhov, who conducted detailed meteorological and geological studies in these places in 1889. Together with him, the sixty-year-old conductor Tsarakhov Tepsariko, who was Ossetian, climbed to the top. They raised a red banner at the top, which in clear weather was visible even from Vladikavkaz. In 1891, the German climber and geographer Gottfried Merzbacher traveled the same route.
The first expedition in the USSR climbed to the top of Kazbek in 1923. It consisted of 18 people, most of whom were students and employees of Tbilisi University.
The notorious Karmadon gorge belongs to Kazbek mountain. In 2002, the Kolka Glacier descended here. The huge mass of ice, snow and stones moved at a speed of 180 km / h. As a result, a village called Upper Karmadon was completely destroyed, killing more than a hundred people. Among them was the crew of the mystical action movie "The Messenger", directed by Sergei Bodrov Jr. The talented actor and director himself died.
Powerful glaciers are still descending from different sides of Kazbek: Chach, Gergeti, Abano, Devdoraki, Miley, located in the Genaldon gorge.
A large number of sights and ancient legends are associated with Mount Kazbek. Here at an altitude of about 3800 meters is the Georgian monastery of Betlemi. According to legends, church treasures and shrines have long been kept in it; in the Middle Ages, monks climbed into it along an iron chain hung from the outside.
In the vicinity there is the Trinity Church, which is a key decoration of the mountain gorge Heavy. The temple is spread right on the background of Kazbek.
Moreover, at an altitude of about 4100 meters there is another ancient Betlemi monastery complex located in caves. A little lower is the old building of the weather station, which now does not work, but is used as a shelter for climbers. Above the weather station is a small functioning modern chapel.
In 2004, volcanic ash was discovered in the Mezmai cave here, which, according to researchers, belonged to the time of one of the ancient eruptions of Kazbek. It is believed that it happened about 40, 000 years ago, which, apparently, caused the so-called "volcanic winter", which caused the death of Neanderthals.
It is interesting that in 2013, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili climbed Mount Kazbek, becoming the second mountaineering president in the territory of the former Soviet Union. The first before him was the leader of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who climbed the peak of Abai, with a height of 4100 meters, in 1995.
