Central Caucasus

Of the major peaks, Elbrus and Kazbek are the only two that are easily accessible, and both have easy snow routes to their summits. Elbrus marks the western limit of the Central Caucuses, while Kazbek marks the eastern limit. Both are extinct volcanic cones.

Sub-regions

Sub-regions having technically not complicated gorge paths including passes through Great Caucasus Range are Prielbrusie (Donguzorun - 1A), upper reaches of Chegem (Tviber - 1B) and Chereka-Balkarsky (Sharivtsek-1A and Gezevtsek-1B), Digoriya (Gebivtsek-1A and Gurdzivtsek-1B), Teply-Jimaray-Kazbek (more than 10 passes of the highest complication category and 1A) and Svanetsky ridge. The most technically compound sub-regions and mountainous points are a part of Glavny range between peaks of Yusenga-Uzlovaya and Ortokara, Glavny (Great) and Bokovoy (Side) ranges in the limits of Bezengiyskaya wall and massifs Dihtau-Koshtantau and Tsey-Karaug.

Elbrus area

Mount Elbrus (5642m) is the highest mountain of Europe and hence considered to be one of the seven summits. The main routes are basic glacier climbs (grade 2A). Mount Ushba (4710m), Shkhelda Towers (4320m) and Ullu-Tau (4207m) are popular destinations with several long and difficult routes (greades 4-6).

Kazbek - Dzhimarai-Tepli
Kazbek is a top in the central part of the Big Caucasus, in Georgia (5033 m). There are subalpine meadows on its slopes, and higher there are eternal snows. The general area of the glaciers is 135 км2. Dzhimara (Dzhimarai-Khokh, Gimarai-Khokh) is the top of the Big Caucasus to the West from Kazbek (4780 m).

Svanetiya
Svanetiya is a historical area in Georgia, on southwest slopes of the Main Caucasian ridge. It's shared on Top and Bottom.

Digoriya
Digoriya is located to the east from Bezengi region in the basin of the rivers Cherek-Hulamsky and Psygansu. Sugansky ridge.

Karaugom
Karaugom is the one of the largest glaciers in Caucasus. It is located in the Main ridge of the Big Caucasus, in Urukh river basin (Northern Ossetia), to the east from Digoriya. It has the length of 13,5 km. There is the source of the Karaugom river.

Tsey
Tsey is located to the east of Karaugom area. There are following settlements there: Verhny (Top) Zgid, Verhny Buron, Sadon.

The Caucasus can be quite naturally divided into three distinct sections, and this partition coincides roughly with the geological and ethnographic maps of the region. The first section is the West Caucasus: from the Black Sea to Mt. Elbrus, then the Central: from Mt. Elbrus to Mt. Kazbek, and the East: from Mt. Kazbek to the Caspian Sea. The 180km of the Main and Bokovoy ranges of the Central Caucasus are the highest in Europe. Two, out of seven Caucasian summits over 5.000m, Mt. Elbrus (5642m) and Mt. Kazbek (5.033m), mark the western and eastern edges of the section and the other five peaks over 5.000m are about 65km east of Mt. Elbrus, in the Bezengi area. The mountains here are austere, with long glaciers, gigantic north faces and long northern valleys, scantily wooded, with rough roads. For those loving dramatic scenery and the seclusion of ice and snow deserts of high mountains the Central Caucasus has much to offer. A fairly developed recreation and mountain sports center, the only one for the whole length of 180km, is at the head of the Baksan valley, at the foot of Mt. Elbrus.

Mountaineering

Central Caucasus is higher and more difficult part of Great Caucasus. The peaks of Shhara, Dihtau, Koshtantau, Jangitau, Kazbek are more than 5000 m altitude. Here  the highest peak of Caucasus – the Elbrus mountain (5642 m) is situated. This is the two-heads cone of unburned volcano. Standing as giant over snow-capped passes it is seen over 100 and more km. long.

There are the most giant glaciers on Bezengiyskaya wall, Elbrus and Kazbek in that area.

Among the original region peaks there are famous Ushba, Shhelda, Tihtengen, Tetnuld, Shara, Ailama.

Central Caucasus valleys are wider and harsher than of Western Caucasus. Rivers going out of glaciers are stormy and quite muddy. Central Caucasus in its axis, the highest part is formed by firm rocks- granites, crystals and loamy schists and  sandstone.

Periphery parts are composed by precipitation, younger and softer rocks- limestones, malms, etc. Arising on links of Bokovoy ridge volcanic cones of Elbrus and Kazbek are situated on highly swelling socles made of granites and schists. There are a plenty of non-active volcanoes on the Kelsky volcanic plateau to the West of Krestovy ridge.

Geographical overview

Central Caucasus consists of Vodorazdelny ridge of compound relief where some parts have a direction differ from the general on 90-120%, and a number of great ridges – Elbrussky, Adylsu, Adyrsu, Bodorku, Kargashilsky, Bokovoy, Sungansky, Tseysky, Saudorsky, Teply, Jimaraisky on the North and Shtavlersky, Nakrynsky (Tsilgmil), Ushbinsky, Svetgaro-Gvaldinsky, Kulak, Zagary, Chhunder, Svanetsky, Lechhumsky, Rachinsky – on the South. The parts of Vodorazdelny ridge situating to the south-west and south of Teply and Jimaray-Kazbek sub-regions of Bokovoy ridge are called Dvaletsky and Mtiuletsky ridges.

Central Caucasus middle mountains and low mountains have mountain- erosion relief, highlands has mountain-glacier presented by jagged ridges with steep slopes, karlings, trade valleys, etc. The regions climatic features are determed by high zone and by main water air streams coming from the West. The precipitation quantity fluctuates from 2000 mm on the western part to 1500 mm – in the eastern.

Climate

Central Caucasus has the considerable freezing: of all square – 70 %  on the northern slope and about 30 % - on the southern. It can be explained by stormy snowy transfer by western winds Vodorazdelny ridge forward and by higher insolation of  the southern slope. About 40 region glaciers have the square exseeding 5 sq. km.. and five of them (Dihsu, Bezengy, Karaugom, Lekzir and Tsanner) have the square of approximately 40 sq. km each. The glacier table of Elbrus is more than 140 sq. km.

The weather in this region is not stable: even in summer sunny days is often changed in highlands into harsher and long (3-5 days) foul weather. Central Caucasus has wide possibilities for organizing various kinds of treks, climbings, mountaineering, pass hoppings.     It includes treks for beginners, treks for relatives with children, local and out-going mass meetings and competitions, training measures (as for initial and for as high training), treks in inter-season and in winter period are held. The 1-6 complication category treks can be practised in the limits of the region.

The Central Caucasus contains the highest mountains in the Caucasus system. Great walled glacier basins are characteristic of the area, with huge peaks towering above. The peaks boast wide rock and ice faces, and the arНtes that connect them are long, high and serrated, offering few points of access. The scenery below is Alpine, with high meadows and pine forested valleys.