About Elbrus

The Elbrus Region (Prielbrusie) is the name often given to a section of the Caucasus extending from the western foothills of Mount Elbrus to the Chegem valley in the east. It includes the highest massif of the Caucasus Range - Elbrus (5642m) - and those parts of the Main (Glavnyi) Caucasus watershed and side ridges that form the upper Baksan river catchment area. The watershed marks the border between Europe and Asia; also the national border between the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (part of the Russian Federation) to the north, and Georgia to the south.

Facts & Figures

Height: Elbrus has two summits, the west summit is the highest: 5642m, the east summit is just a bit lower: 5621m

Name: The local (Balkar) name: 'Mingi-Tau' means: 'Resembling a thousand mountains', because Elbrus is so big... 

1st ascent: First ascent of east summit (5621m): 1868 First ascent of west summit (5642m): 1874 In 1967 the Soviet party organized a mass climbing and about 2500 people participated; although most of them had never seen a mountain up close before... 

Infrastructure: There is a cable car running: it starts at 2200m in Azau, the first stop is Stary Krugozor, 2900m; the second stop is Mir station, 3500m. From Mir a chairlift can take you to 3750m. At the end of this chairlift are 'the Barrels' and that's just what they are: old huge barrels, in each of which 4 people can sleep.

Prielbrusye
The area named Prielbrusye is located in upper reaches of the Baksan river (173 km) and its inflows. The maximum point of Caucasus - Elbrus is located there. Elbrus is a two-peak cone of an extinct volcano. The altitude of the Western top is 5642 m, the East one - 5621 m. The general area of Elbrus glaciers is 134,5 км2; the most known are: Big and Small Azau, Terskol. Adylsu, Shkhelda, Adyrsu Gorges, massif of Donguzorun and Ushba are very popular among climbers and mountain tourists. Prielbrusye is a magnificent mounting skiing resort in Russia.