• Caucasus
  • Elbrus Region
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Georgia
• Central Asia
  • Uzbekistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Fann Mountains
  • Tien-Shan Mountains
  • All Central Asia
  • High Peaks
• Siberia and Pacific
  • Siberia
  • Kamchatka
  • Lake Baikal
  • Tuva and Sayan
  • Altai
• European Russia
  • Russian Capitals
  • Russian North
  • Ladoga Lake
• Crimean Peninsula
  • Crimea

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The Caucasus main ridge is a magnificent Alpine-type mountain chain with rocky peaks and glaciated slopes. The ridge rises almost 1000m above the permanent snow line. Most passes lie a' 2400-3000m above sea level and are crossed only by mountaineering routes. The Main Ridge is made of hard crystalline rocks - shales, gneisses and granites. Heavy glaciation has resulted in characteristic glacial sculpture, including glacial cirques and elegant pyramidal summits. From the cirques glacial tongues extend a long way down into many of the major valleys Elbrus itself is a huge volcanic cone that lies several km. off the main ridge.