Caucasus

Caucasus is an alpine country in the southernmost edge of the European part of Russia. The main mountain chain - the Greater Caucasus Range represents a natural border between Europe and Asia. Europe's highest summit - Mount Elbrus (5642 m) lies just north of the main range, several kilometers into Europe. Southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range come down to the Black Sea.

Caucasus is the land of breathtaking beauty and purity. Its snow peaks, pine forests, icy streams and glaciers attract thousands of climbers, mountain-skiers, adventurers and nature lovers from all over the world.

The Western Caucasus is included into the UNESCO World Heritage List for being one of the few large mountain areas of Europe that have not experienced significant human impact. Its sub-alpine and alpine pastures have only been grazed by wild animals, and its extensive tracts of undisturbed mountain forests, extending from the lowlands to the sub-alpine zone, are unique in Europe. The site has a great diversity of ecosystems, with important endemic plants and wildlife, and is the place of origin and reintroduction of the mountain subspecies of the European bison. The largest part of the Western Caucasus is occupied with the Caucasus State Biosphere Reserve. You can pick up more information about this protected area at http://www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas/data/wh/w_caucas.html.

Highlights

• Bolshoy Thach Natural Park – one of the most scenery areas of the Western Caucasus bordered with the Caucasus State Biosphere Reserve. Grand rocky bulwarks of the Thach massif, virgin beech and coniferous forests, alpine meadows, picturesque waterfalls, plenty of berries and mushrooms attract active travellers.
• Caucasus State Biosphere Reserve. This is the area where many threatened, rare, endemic and relic plant and animal species are concentrated. It is of special importance that this area contains the habitats of such vulnerable animals as the bison, Caucasian red deer, West Caucasus wild ox, Caucasian bear, wolf and others.
• Elbrus Mt. – the highest summit of Europe (5642 m), the great attraction for ascenders and mountain-skiers.
• Lago Naki Plateau - a huge territory of lush alpine meadows on the height of 2000 m, surrounded by mountains Fisht, Photo-Su, Oshten. The plateau is rich in beautiful lakes, 100 m waterfalls and caves.