Geographical location of the Caucasus, territory, natural conditions.

The geographical location of the Caucasus still causes controversy among scientists. After all, the border between Europe and Asia runs along it. But where exactly does this cordon lie? If we assume that along the southern foothills, then the highest point in Europe is Elbrus. But if the border runs along the Main Line, then Mont Blanc. This mountainous country is very extended. Different parts of the Caucasus have their own climate. These zones also differ in relief and nature. In this article we will talk in detail about the many-sided mountain system of the Caucasus.

Location on the geographical map of the world

This region is located in Eurasia, between Black and Seas of Azov in the west and the Caspian in the east. To the north of the Caucasus stretches the spacious East European Plain. This large mountainous country has its own clearly defined natural boundaries. Geographical position of the Caucasus between two seas Atlantic Ocean and the largest endorheic lake in the world, the Caspian Sea, determines that the western and eastern border mountain system clearly visible. But as for the north and, especially, the south, everything is not so simple. The Kuma-Manych depression runs in the territory from the Caspian Sea to the Azov and Kerch Strait. It is considered the northern border of the Caucasus. In the south, this system smoothly passes into the mountains of Turkey and Iran. The border can be conditionally drawn along the former state cordon of the USSR in this region. Now these are the borders of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The southern border runs along the Armenian volcanic plateau, the Araks River and approaches the Talysh Mountains.

On the geotectonics map

The geographical position of the Caucasus eloquently suggests that this mountain system is part of the Alpine-Himalayan belt. Tectonic activity still continues here, although there are no active active volcanoes. According to its geomorphological structure, the Caucasus is divided into four orographic regions. Let's look at them one by one.

In the very north is the Cis-Caucasian Plain, which stretches in a wide strip from the Azov Sea to the Caspian Sea. Further south, low hills give way to mountains. The main peaks of the system - Elbrus and Kazbek - are located on the Greater Caucasus Range. This vast region also has its own characteristics. To the south of it is the Transcaucasian Depression. It includes the Kura-Araks and Colchis lowlands. They also alternate with the Transcaucasian Plateau. It, in turn, is divided into two parts. This is the mountain system of the Lesser Caucasus and

On the political map of the world

To the south of the Main Caucasus Range are the independent and sovereign states of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The north of the mountain system is occupied by the Russian Federation. There are also the Caucasus: South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Their future, as well as their current political status, is very vague. The Russian Federation has several territorial entities in the region. In the north-west these are the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories. They are generally recognized resort regions of Russia. In the northeast there are such autonomous republics of the Caucasus within the Russian Federation as Adygea, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Chechnya, North Ossetia and Karachay-Cherkessia. The national composition of the population in these countries is quite diverse. This serves as a reason for various interethnic conflicts. The hot spots in the Caucasus were Chechnya, South Ossetia, Dagestan, and Ingushetia. Nagorno-Karabakh still remains a disputed territory between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Regions of the Caucasus mountain system

The enormous length of the ridges also determined that each part has its own geographical features. Thus, the mountainous country can be divided not only into northern, central and southern, but also into Eastern and Western Caucasus. If we consider the Main Ridge, then we can isolate a part that begins at and rises to Kazbek. This is the Eastern Caucasus. The central zone of this massif is highly compressed; the Watershed Range (Main) and Side Range separate the northern and southern parts of the country. And the Western Caucasus begins on the Taman Peninsula and gradually rises to Elbrus (5642 m above sea level). In a small central part, between the two highest peaks of the mountain system, all the other five-thousanders are concentrated: Dykhtau, Mizhirgi, Dzhangi-tau, Pushkin, Koshtantau, Shkhara. Each of them is higher than Mont Blanc in the Alps (4807 m).

Lesser Caucasus

To the south of the Main (Watershed) Ridge there is a significant depression of relief running from sea to sea. Here, such regions of the Caucasus stand out as the wet Colchis lowland in the west and the arid Alazani and Kura-Araks plains in the east. But to the south of these troughs the mountains rise again. Only the submeridional Likhsky ridge connects the Greater Caucasus with the Lesser Caucasus. The name of the latter should not mislead anyone. Of course, the peaks of the Lesser Caucasus are inferior to Kazbek and Elbrus. But Mount Ararat (5165 m) is located here. It is the highest point of Asia Minor. There are many peaks in this region higher than the Alpine Mont Blanc. The Lesser Caucasus curved in a 600-kilometer arc. Many of its ridges are 2-3 kilometers high. They are separated by deep intermountain basins. To the south of these ridges stretches the vast Javakheti-Armenian Highlands. It consists of volcanic ridges and plateaus, cut by deep canyons. The highest point of this region is Aragats (4090 m).

Where does the mountain system end in the south?

The geographical location of the Caucasus is such that it is quite difficult to determine its border. In the southeast, the ridges gradually transform into the Talysh Mountains, ending in the Lenkoran Lowland near the Caspian Sea (28 m below the level of the World Ocean). In the south and southwest, the Lesser Caucasus passes into the Elburz ridge. This range in northern Iran is part of the Pontic Mountains in Asia Minor. Thus, we can say that the southernmost border of the mountain system is the Lenkoran Lowland, the Talysh Mountains and the Elburz ridge.

Peoples of the Caucasus

This region is inhabited by about fifty ethnic groups. And each of them created its own unique culture. The North Caucasus (Russia) is especially heterogeneous in ethnic composition. This region is inhabited by Kabardins, Adygeans, Circassians, Shapsugs, Chechens, Ingush, Batsbis, Tsakhurs, Tabasarans, Rutulians, Lezgins, Laks, Dargins, Aguls, Avars. There are also peoples here who speak Altai dialects language family. These are Nogais, Trukhmens, Kumyks, Karachais, Balkars, Meskhetian Turks. Transcaucasia is inhabited by Georgians, Armenians, and Azerbaijanis. But the national composition of these republics is also heterogeneous. Among the representatives of the titular nations of the listed countries there are Abkhazians, Ossetians, Tats, Talyshs, Yezidis, Kurds, and Assyrians. And finally, the alien peoples who are for long history settled in this mountainous region. These are Russians, Ukrainians, Greeks, Jews, Tatars and others. The main religions are Islam (both Shia and Sunni branches) and Orthodox Christianity.

Seismic situation

The territory of the Caucasus lies entirely in the Alpine-Himalayan belt. This zone is very mobile. Therefore, earthquakes are frequent in the Caucasus. The increased seismicity of the region is also due to the fact that the mountains, due to the convergence of tectonic plates, grow by one and a half centimeters per year. At the same time, the lowlands are sinking even further. This process is not so fast - from two to six millimeters per year. The most frequent earthquakes are in the Transcaucasus, and more precisely in the north-west of the Armenian Highlands. The last such natural disaster, which claimed thousands of lives, occurred in 1988. Due to its increased seismicity, the mountainous Caucasus is susceptible to frequent avalanches, glaciers and mudflows. Small earthquakes cause rockfalls and landslides. Soft sediments are washed away by streams and other erosion processes. This is how karst caves are formed. There are especially many of them in the northern part of the Greater Caucasus. It is enough to recall at least the Vorontsov cave system, New Athos, Snezhnaya Chasm (its depth is 1370 m), and the Lago-Naki plateau.

Climate of the Caucasus

This mountainous country lies on the borders of subtropical and temperate natural areas. We can say this: the high wall that is the Caucasus itself serves as a climate-forming factor. Five-thousand-meter peaks reliably shelter the southern slopes from cold winds. At the same time, the northern foothills of the Caucasus bear the brunt low temperatures. A particularly striking difference in climatic characteristics observed in winter. When there is heavy snowfall in the Russian part of the mountainous country, clear, dry and dry conditions reign in the Transcaucasian republics. warm weather. Of course, in such huge mountains there is also altitudinal zone. There is snow on the peaks all year round. Below, the zone of lichens and mosses gives way to alpine meadows, coniferous and deciduous forests. And in the valleys lush evergreen subtropical vegetation pleases the eye.

The waterways of the region have a mountainous flow, and therefore play a large role in the energy sector. It should be said that to the north the slopes of the Caucasus are gentle and elongated, while the southern ones are steep and steep. This topography affects rivers. In the northern part of the mountainous country they acquire a flat character. Don is an example. Kuban is the largest river North Caucasus. But there are fast and turbulent water flows in this region of the mountainous country. These are primarily the Kura and Terek. The rivers of the Caucasus belong to the basins of three seas that wash the mountainous country. The Terek, Araks, Kura, Kuma and Sulak flow into the Caspian Sea. The Black Sea basin includes such water arteries, like Bzyb, Kodori, Inguri, Rioni. Azov is fed by the Don and Kuban. The largest lake in the region is Sevan.

Nature of the Caucasus

The mountainous country surprises with its variety of landscapes. There are lowland subtropical swamps, dense fir forests, boxwood groves, alpine meadows. At a significant altitude of more than three thousand meters, lichens and mosses predominate. Permafrost begins at 3500 meters above sea level. The northern foothills of the Caucasus are cooler. Vertical zonality on these slopes is characterized by a sharp change in zones. The snow line in the Northern Caucasus lies lower than in the southern Caucasus - at 2800 meters above sea level. The mountain fauna of the region needs protection. Lynx and Caucasian leopard are on the verge of extinction. And the local species of bison, elk and tigers have completely disappeared. But bears, wild boars, chamois and argali are still found in mountain gorges. As for the flora, the Caucasus is known as the birthplace of the giant hogweed. In 1890 it was exported to Europe as an ornamental plant. Since then, he has been considered an extremely dangerous and aggressive neophyte.

Recreational opportunities of the Caucasus

The region is located between three southern seas. A mild climate has been established here, transitional from temperate to subtropical. High mountains create a wide variety of landscapes. Fast rivers seem to invite you to go rafting. All this turns the Caucasus into a recreational region. But here you can not only have a pleasant rest, but also get some treatment. This is facilitated by large number mineral waters that form in rocks. The whole world knows the Borjomi brand, which Georgia exports. But the North Caucasus is not lacking. Kislovodsk, Mineralnye Vody, Georgievsk, Zheleznovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Essentuki, Lermontov - all these resort cities are located in Stavropol region. Zolsky district (Kabardino-Balkaria) is famous for the Narzan Valley and the healing mud of Lake Tambukan.

The North Caucasus is a historical and cultural region of the Russian Federation and is part of it under the name of the North Caucasus Federal District. It is located on the territory of the Ciscaucasia, as well as in the northern part of the slope of the Greater Caucasus Range (without the eastern part, which is under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan) and the western part to the Psou River (the border of the Russian Federation and Abkhazia passes through it). It is one of the most multinational regions of Russia, most of whose territory is occupied by agricultural land (more than 70%).

The North Caucasus includes the following subjects of the Russian Federation: 2 autonomous territories (Krasnodar and Stavropol), 7 republics (Adygea, Dagestan; Karachay-Cherkess, Kabardino-Balkarian, North Ossetian, Ingush and Chechen).

Population of the North Caucasus

The North Caucasus is one of the most densely populated regions of Russia; the population, according to the latest statistics, is 9.7 million people, which is 6.6% of the total population of the Russian Federation. Population density - 52 people per 1 km 2 (second highest density after the Central Federal District), urban population - 49.1%.

The North Caucasus Federal District is the only one in the country where it is not the Russian and Slavic population that predominates, but the titular nation, which includes a large number of nationalities, several ethno-linguistic families, which in turn are divided into groups. For example, in the Ingush Republic, the population is dominated by Ingush and Chechens, Russians are third in number, in the Dagestan Republic Russians are eighth. According to the latest census data in this region of Russia, Russian nationality made up 9.4% of the total population. In first place are the Chechens, then, in descending order, come the Avars, Dargins, Kabardins, Ossetians, Kumyks, Ingush, Lezgins, etc.

Industry of the North Caucasus

IN economically The economy of this region belongs to the North Caucasus economic region of the Russian Federation. The leading sectors of its market specialization are the mechanical engineering complex, food and light industry, coal and petrochemical production, the cement industry, developed agriculture, as well as unique recreational resources, which have become the main basis for the development of the resort industry.

The electric power complex is the basis of the economy of this region. Mainly thermal and hydraulic power plants operate here, the largest thermal power plants operate in Krasnodar region, in Nevinnomyssk, in Grozny, hydroelectric power stations - Tsimlyanskaya, Belorechenskaya, Baksanskaya, etc.

The oil refining complex is one of the oldest in the Russian Federation; traditional oil refining areas are concentrated in Grozny, Tuapse, Krasnodar, and new ones are in the Ciscaucasia. Gas production - Stavropol and Krasnodar territories, Chechnya and Dagestan - production of gas condensate, a very valuable raw material for chemical industry. Coal is mined on site Rostov region, wherever the spurs of the Donbass ridge, rich in fuel minerals, want.

Due to the presence of a raw material base for the development of the metallurgical complex in the region, there are such enterprises of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy as an electrozinc plant in Vladikavkaz, a mining and processing plant in the Urup region of Karachay-Cherkessia, a tungsten-molybdenum plant in Tyrnyauz, various metallurgical enterprises producing steel, pipes and steel casting.

The engineering complex is represented by the following industries: production of agricultural machinery (the largest enterprise is OJSC Rostselmash in Rostov-on-Don), technological and drilling equipment for oil and gas fields, production of electric locomotive transport (in Novocherkassk), shipbuilding engineering (river and sea directions) . Sectors of precision engineering that are completely new to this region are growing and developing, such as instrument making, electrical engineering, and nuclear engineering (JSC EMK-Atommash in Volgodonsk, boiler plant in Taganrog). Production of helicopters, airplanes and seaplanes - OJSC Rostvertol, OJSC TANTK im. G. M. Beriev", automotive engineering - OJSC "TagAz" in Taganrog.

Cement production is the leader in the construction industry; the North Caucasus is the leading producer and exporter of cement in the region.

Light industry includes such industries as footwear, leather (enterprises in Rostov-on-Don, Nalchik, Shakhty, Vladikavkaz) and textile production. The production of knitted products and the clothing industry, the production of washed wool and fabrics and carpets based on it are well developed (Makhachkala, Krasnodar Territory).

The unique natural resources of the region (a large number of mineral springs, deposits of therapeutic mud, the mild climate of the foothills and beautiful landscapes) provided the basis for the development of the resort industry, which is one of the leading industries. There are two resort groups: Mineral and Black Sea. Here are the most famous Russian resorts such as Anapa, Sochi, Gelendzhik, 150 boarding houses and holiday homes. In the Stavropol Territory there is a group of resorts with healing mineral water springs, these are Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk. A large number of skiers and climbers annually visit the Dombay and Teberda areas in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, as well as the Baksan Gorge in Kabardino-Balkaria.

Agriculture of the North Caucasus

Agricultural products account for about 50% of all products produced in the North Caucasus region. Its basis is sufficiently developed agriculture, which has favorable climatic conditions for this.

Grain farming is a leading industry agriculture, is mainly grown here winter wheat(Krasnodar region, Rostov region, west of Stavropol region). Large areas of agricultural land are occupied by crops of corn and rice (Kuban plavni, irrigated lands of Rostov land and Dagestan). A large number of industrial crops are grown in the region: sunflower, sugar beets and tobacco; horticulture and viticulture are also developed here. The Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Territory is the only region of the Russian Federation where subtropical crops such as tea, persimmon, figs, and citrus fruits are grown.

Livestock farming is dominated by cattle breeding, pig farming and poultry farming. Developed sheep breeding, especially its fine-fleece branch, is of great importance in the economy of the region. Half of all Russian fine wool is produced in the North Caucasus region.

AND . The Kuma-Manych depression separates it from the Caucasus. The territory of the Caucasus can be divided into several parts: Ciscaucasia, Greater Caucasus and Transcaucasia. Only the Ciscaucasia and the northern part of the Greater Caucasus are located on the territory of the Russian Federation. The last two parts together are called the North Caucasus. However, for Russia this part of the territory is the southernmost. Here, along the crest of the Main Range, lies the state border of the Russian Federation, beyond which lie and. The entire system of the Caucasus ridge occupies an area of approximately 2600 m2, with its northern slope occupying about 1450 m2, while the southern slope is only about 1150 m2.

North Caucasus Mountains relatively young. they were created by different tectonic structures. In the southern part there are folded block mountains and foothills of the Greater Caucasus. They were formed when deep depression zones were filled with sedimentary rocks that later underwent folding. Tectonic processes here were accompanied by significant bends, stretches, ruptures and fractures of the earth's layers. As a result, large amounts of magma poured onto the surface (this led to the formation of significant ore deposits).

The uplifts that occurred here in the Neogene and Quaternary periods led to the elevation of the surface and the type of relief that exists today. The rise of the central part of the Greater Caucasus was accompanied by the subsidence of strata along the edges of the resulting ridge. Thus, the Terek-Caspian trough was formed in the east, and the Indal-Kuban trough in the west.

The Greater Caucasus is often presented as a single ridge. In fact, this is a whole system of various ridges, which can be divided into several parts.

The Western Caucasus is located from the Black Sea coast to Mount Elbrus, then (from Elbrus to Kazbek) the Central Caucasus follows, and east of Kazbek to the Eastern Caucasus. In addition, in the longitudinal direction two ridges can be distinguished: Vodorazdelny (sometimes called the main one) and Bokovaya.

On the northern slope of the Caucasus there are the Skalisty and Pastbishchny ridges, as well as the Black Mountains. They were formed as a result of interlayering of layers composed of sedimentary rocks of different hardness. One slope of the ridge here is gentle, while the other ends quite abruptly. As you move away from the axial zone, the height of the mountain ranges decreases.

The chain of the Western Caucasus begins at the Taman Peninsula. At the very beginning, it’s more likely not even mountains, but hills. They begin to rise to the east. The highest parts of the North Caucasus are covered with snow caps and. The highest peaks of the Western Caucasus are Mount Fisht (2870 meters) and Oshten (2810 meters).

The highest part of the mountain system Greater Caucasus is the Central Caucasus. Even some passes at this point reach a height of 3 thousand meters, and the lowest of them (Krestovy) lies at an altitude of 2380 meters. The highest peaks of the Caucasus are also located here. For example, the height of Mount Kazbek is 5033 meters, and the double-headed extinct volcano Elbrus is the highest peak in Russia. The relief here is highly dissected: sharp ridges, steep slopes and rocky peaks predominate.

The eastern part of the Greater Caucasus consists mainly of the numerous ridges of Dagestan (translated, the name of this region means “mountainous country”). There are complex branching ridges with steep slopes and deep canyon-like valleys. However, the height of the peaks here is less than in the central part of the mountain system, but they still exceed a height of 4 thousand meters.

Lifting Caucasus Mountains continues in our time. This is quite common in this region of Russia. To the north of the Central Caucasus, where the magma rising through cracks did not spill out to the surface, low, so-called island mountains formed. The largest of them are Beshtau (1400 meters) and Mashuk (993 meters). At their base there are numerous water sources.

The so-called Ciscaucasia is occupied by the Kuban and Terek-Kuma lowlands. They are separated from each other by the Stavropol Upland, whose height is 700-800 meters. The Stavropol Upland is dissected by wide and deeply incised valleys, ravines and. At the base of this area lies a young slab. Its structure consists of Neogene formations, covered with limestone deposits - loess and loess-like loams, and in the eastern part also marine sediments of the Quaternary period.

The climate in this area is quite favorable. Quite high mountains serve as a good barrier to cold air penetrating here. The proximity of the long cooling sea also has an effect. The Greater Caucasus is the border between the two - and. On Russian territory the climate is still moderate, but the above factors contribute to rather high temperatures.

Caucasus Mountains

As a result, winters in the Ciscaucasia are quite warm ( average temperature in January it is about -5°C). This is facilitated by warm air coming from outside. On the Black Sea coast, the temperature rarely drops below zero (the average January temperature is 3°C). In mountainous areas the temperature is naturally lower. Thus, the average temperature on the plain in summer is about 25°C, and in the upper reaches of the mountains - 0°C.

They enter this territory mainly thanks to those coming from the west, as a result of which their number gradually decreases to the east. Most precipitation falls on the southwestern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Their number on Prikubanskaya is approximately 7 times lower.

Glaciation has developed in the mountains of the North Caucasus, the area of which ranks first among all regions of Russia. The rivers flowing here are fed by water formed by the melting of glaciers. The largest Caucasian rivers are the Kuban and Terek, as well as their numerous tributaries. Mountain rivers, as usual, are fleeting, and in their lower reaches there are wetlands overgrown with reeds and reeds.

The most dangerous natural phenomena landslides that occur in these places, rock falls and earthquakes.

Geographical and civilizational conditions of the North Caucasus

The North Caucasus region is located in the south of the Russian Federation and its natural geographical boundaries are:

in the north: Kuma-Manych depression
to the east: Caspian Sea
in the west: the Azov and Black Seas
in the south: the Greater Caucasus Range, separating the North Caucasus from Transcaucasia

In landscape terms, scientists divide the North Caucasus into two zones:

the steppe part, Ciscaucasia, and the steppes are both hilly and flat, in the east they turn into semi-deserts
Caucasian ridge and foothills

In the region there will be two lowlands: in the west – the Kuban-Azov lowland, in the east – the Terek-Kuma lowland. The main rivers are the Kuban in the west and the Terek, which forms its own basins.

The North Caucasus region has resource characteristics: in the steppe part the main wealth is black soil more than 1.5 meters thick. Even at the beginning of the development of the Caucasus by Russian settlers, the average grain yield was SAM-5, SAM-6. Natural steppe spaces were created favorable conditions not only for agriculture, but also for cattle breeding. Access to three seas stimulated exchange and trade. The Caucasus Mountains conceal a fairly wide range of mineral resources. Deposits of iron, zinc, lead, polymetals.

In the flat part of the North Caucasus (Adygea, Chechnya, Nagai steppe) in the 19th century, oil fields. In the mid-20th century, gas reserves were discovered on the Stavropol Upland. Compared to European Russia climate North Caucasus more than soft with short winters with little snow and hot summers.

At the moment, the entire North Caucasus is represented 8 subjects Russian Federation: Krasnodar Territory, Stavropol Territory, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Republic of Ingushetia, Chechen Republic, Republic of Dagestan. Because of its ethnic diversity, Dagestan in ancient times received the name “Country of Mountains” or “Country of Languages.”

Stages of research into the history of the region

Thanks to the proximity to the seas, natural resources, mild climate, the North Caucasus has long attracted the attention of neighbors and conquerors. Already in the 6th century BC. in the west of the Caucasus began to form, and therefore the region repeatedly began to appear in the news of various ancient Greek authors (Herodotus, Plutarch, Strabo). It is very characteristic that the ancient Greeks not only reflected the contacts of Greek colonists with the aborigines, but also recorded the emergence and activities of large tribal communities in the Caucasus that left their mark on world history (Cimmerians, Scythians, Sarmatians).

By the 1st century BC. The region reveals the influence of another powerful ancient civilization -. The Romans not only subjugate the Greek colonies of the Caucasus, the Caucasus becomes an arena of struggle between Rome and Parthian State (Iran).

Evidence about the Caucasus and its peoples is found in such authors as Seneca (younger), Pompey, Tacitus, Ammianus Marcelli. After new ones take shape in Transcaucasia state entities, The North Caucasus is becoming an object of interest from outside , Georgian and Armenian authors (Ananiy Shirokatsi, Movses Khorenatsi).

The heir to ancient civilization was the Byzantines, with the goal of spreading political influence and Christianity, they also appeared in the North Caucasus lands. Evidence about nature, various tribes of the Caucasus and their customs is found in famous Byzantine writers - Strokopius of Caesarea, Constantine Porphyrogenitus.

They left a certain mark on the study of the Caucasus Italians, representatives of the oldest trading city-state. In the 13-15 centuries, Genoese fortresses and trading posts existed in the Azov region and on the Black Sea coast, and their inhabitants were in contact with the local population. Famous Italian authors (Plano Carpini, Rubruk, Giorgi Interiano) contain various descriptions of the nature and tribes of the Caucasus.

By the 16th century, the North Caucasus became the object of increased military, political and religious expansion from outside and its vassal Crimean Khanate. The Turks are actively trying to subjugate the local rulers and impose their citizenship on them. Naturally, this is reflected in Turkish chronicles. Various characteristics of the North Caucasus are found in the famous 16th century traveler Evliya Celebi.

Most developed in culturally already in the 1st century BC. becomes Dagestan. Therefore, this part of the Caucasus appears in reports by Iranian, Albanian, Azerbaijani authors.

Domestic Caucasian Studies

The North Caucasus came to the attention of Russian authors back in the 10th century, in connection with an organization that existed for almost 2 centuries. In Russian chronicles of the 10th-12th centuries there are references to Tmutarakan, its princes, trade, wars, treaties concluded with the Kosogov and Yas (Alans) tribes.

Scattered episodic information about the North Caucasus is found in the papers of the embassy order of the 16th-17th centuries. It was during this period that some Caucasian tribes sought the patronage of Moscow, the arrival of various delegations to Ivan the Terrible, and the Moscow Rus' tried to gain a foothold in the lower reaches of the Terek.

Systematic and more scientific study of the region It was started in the 18th century. Academicians of the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy of Sciences P.S. Pallas, I.A. Gyldenstedt, P.G. Butkov, I.F. Blaramberg. With the beginning of the annexation of the North Caucasus to Russia, the number of authors writing about the North Caucasus has increased, represented by Russian officers F.F. Tornau, V.A. Potto, N.F. Dubrovin, R.A. Fadeev. Scientist academician A.P. Berger “Caspian region”, 1857, “Chechnya and Chechens”, 1859.

Representatives mountain nobility The North Caucasus of the 18th century also became, and the most talented of them created a number of works in Russian dedicated to the peoples of the North Caucasus (Shora Nogmov “The Tradition of the Circassian People”, “Elementary Rules of Kabardian Grammar”, Umalat Laudaev “The Chechen Tribe”).

In the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries everyone had their own educators Caucasian peoples. In Ossetia - K. Khetagurov (Ossetian), Sultan Kazy-Girey (Nogai). The Russian pre-revolutionary academic school had a number of authors who were Caucasian scholars: E.N. Kusheva, L.I. Lavrov, A.V. Fadeev, V.P. Nevskaya, V.N. Ratuniak and others. Over the years Soviet power own cadres of the mountain intelligentsia were published, researchers of the North Caucasus emerged from its midst: V.G. Gadzhiev, R.M. Magomedov, M.M. Bliev, V.V. Degoev.

The Caucasus is one of 200 ecoregions of the planet designated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) with the aim of drawing attention to the most unique ecosystems, developing and implementing projects for their conservation (Biodiversity of the Caucasus Ecoregion, 2001). In addition, the Caucasus ecoregion is included in the list of regions that are centers of biological diversity, compiled by the international environmental organization Conservation International. This list includes regions where at least 1,500 endemic plant species are protected, 70% of whose original range has been destroyed. This speaks quite eloquently in favor of the need for an immediate inventory of the Caucasian ecosystems (including aquatic ones) in order to develop plans for their conservation and sustainable use.

Approximately 65% of the area of the Caucasus ecoregion is mountainous. Active mountain building and a changing climate have formed a diverse topography, on the basis of which the Caucasus is divided into the Ciscaucasia, the Greater Caucasus, the Transcaucasian Plateau, the Colchis Lowland, the Kura Depression and the Talysh Mountains.

The Greater Caucasus, stretching for 1,500 km from northwest to southeast, is the most important watershed and climatic barrier between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, that is, between two continents. The Greater Caucasus consists of several parallel ridges; its highest peak, Elbrus, is located at an altitude of 5,642 m above sea level. m.

The part of the Caucasian ecoregion located on the territory of the Russian Federation is usually called the Northern Caucasus (Geographical Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1989). The landscapes of the North Caucasus are diverse. Most of the lowland areas are occupied by steppes, which in the eastern part of the region give way to semi-deserts and then deserts. In some places, flat and mountain meadows are developed. In many reservoirs of the flat part of the North Caucasus, reed swamps (floods) are developed. In the mountainous part of the region all variants of vertical dissection of the relief are presented.

The climate of the North Caucasus is temperate continental, average temperatures: January -3.5°C, July 21.8°C, annual precipitation 400-800 mm. According to natural conditions, the North Caucasus is divided into several zones: acute-arid, arid, zone of unstable moisture and humid zone. Annual precipitation in the acutely arid zone is below 300 mm, of which 60% falls in the summer as rain, which quickly evaporates at high temperatures. Poor chestnut soils predominate here.

The humid zone with precipitation over 550 mm occupies the forest-steppe, forest and mountain regions of the southern regions of the North Caucasus. Most of the lowland North Caucasus lies in the steppe zone. Only in the east do they give way to semi-deserts. The foothills of the Greater Caucasus are covered with broad-leaved and coniferous forests, dominated by oak, beech and hornbeam.

The Northern Caucasus is part of the Holarctic zoogeographical region and, according to the faunal zoning of the Caucasus, belongs to two large zoogeographical subregions: Circumboreal and Central Asian. In the Circumboreal subregion, the North Caucasus is represented by the forest district of the European Forest Province, its fauna includes widespread forest species, located here often on the border of their distribution or far from their main range. They often form separate subspecies. The Central Asian subregion is represented by the Caucasian mountain meadow district, which occupies the subalpine, alpine and subnival zones and is part of the Highland Asian province.

The North Caucasus is located on the border between Europe and Asia, the mutual influence of which affected both the development of nature and the human settlement of the region. The development of the North Caucasus began from Transcaucasia, approximately 500 thousand years ago. Archaeologists have recorded several hundred ancient human sites in this region. In particular, vivid manifestations of his economic and cultural activities were found on the territory of the Republic of Adygea.

The North Caucasus is distinguished by an extremely complex interweaving of natural and anthropogenic conditions. A significant part of its territory has undergone profound transformations. The flat areas of the region, where the largest settlements, industrial and oil-producing facilities are concentrated, connected by a dense network of transport highways, have undergone the greatest economic development and, as a result, transformation of the primary appearance of landscapes. About 80% of the area of the flat part of the North Caucasus, once covered with feather grass steppe, is currently occupied by agricultural land. The transformation of steppes into fields entailed the creation of a system of protective forest plantations, and intensive agriculture (especially rice growing) led to the regulation of river flows and the creation of reservoirs. As natural fish stocks became depleted, pond fish farming began to develop.

The North Caucasus economic region is one of the largest and most densely populated regions of the Russian Federation. It occupies an area of 355.1 thousand km2, where over 18.4 million people live. The average population density is about 64 people/km2. The population of the North Caucasus differs from other regions of the country in its multinationality. More than 30 nationalities live in Dagestan alone. On the plains of the Ciscaucasia and Lower Don, Russians and Ukrainians predominate. The most numerous indigenous nationalities of the North Caucasus form independent republics: Adygea, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkarian, Karachay-Cherkess, North Ossetia, Ingush and Chechen. In the North Caucasus it predominates urban population(54%). The cities are mostly medium and small. There are 8 thousand in the region. rural settlements. The villages are located in the steppe zone of the North Caucasus and are large in territory and population. Mountain regions are characterized by small and medium-sized settlements.

The North Caucasus region is distinguished by the richness and diversity of raw materials, fuel and energy resources. Significant reserves natural gas. The total geological reserves of coal are about 44 billion tons. They are concentrated mainly in the Rostov region, in the eastern part of Donbass. Anthracite predominates, occurring mainly at a depth of about 600 m. The hydropower resources of the North Caucasus exceed 50 billion kW/h. Water problem in certain regions of the North Caucasus it is becoming worse due to river pollution. The area is also rich in a variety of mineral waters - salt-alkaline, ferruginous, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane.

The North Caucasus is poorly endowed forest resources(it accounts for only 0.5% of Russia's forest areas). Their peculiarity is that 65% of the forests are high-mountainous and have no operational value. In this regard, the forests of the North Caucasus should be considered primarily from the point of view of their recreational, recreational and environmental significance.

The North Caucasus occupies an important place in the Russian economy. Its share in industry is 8%, in agriculture - 16%. The leading industries of market specialization are gas, oil, coal, non-ferrous metallurgy, various mechanical engineering, cement and food industries.

The region has a significant share in Russia in the production of grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables, fruits, grapes and livestock products. In the structure of the region's sown areas, the leading place belongs to grains - they occupy 58%; 30% is occupied by forage crops, 9% by industrial crops and 3% by potatoes and vegetables and melons. The Caucasus is the main producer of corn in the Russian Federation. Rice cultivation is also an area of specialization. Rice systems have been created in the Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region and Dagestan. Largest producer rice - Kuban. The region is of great importance in the production of important industrial crops: sunflower, sugar beets, tobacco. The North Caucasus is a large horticultural and viticulture region. Here there is about a third of all fruit and berry plantings and almost all the vineyards of the Russian Federation. The North Caucasus is the only region in Russia where subtropical crops are grown: tea, citrus fruits, persimmons, figs (Characteristics of the North Caucasus Economic Region, 2006).

An important branch of agriculture in the North Caucasus is animal husbandry. Dairy and meat farming is developed in the foothills and Kuban. Pig farming is developed in the Lower Don and Kuban, where it is advantageously combined with grain farming and beet growing. Sheep farming is widespread mainly in the Stavropol Territory, Rostov Region and Dagestan. Fine-fleece sheep breeding is of great importance here. The North Caucasus occupies a leading place in Russia in wool shearing. Poultry farming is also developed in the North Caucasus. The Adler Poultry Farm, Labinsk Poultry Farming Joint-Stock Company and other enterprises are well known in the country (Characteristics of the North Caucasus Economic Region, 2006). It should be noted that over the past 20 years, the number of livestock, as well as in the country as a whole, has decreased significantly.

The resort recreational complex is of national importance. The North Caucasus also has all the prerequisites for the development of tourism and mountaineering, and the organization of ski resorts of international importance.

The North Caucasus is characterized by a high level of transport development of the territory. Main transport hubs: Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Mineralnye Vody, Tuapse, Sochi (Adler), Vladikavkaz and Taganrog. The length of water transport routes is 1.5 thousand km. Over 12 large rivers flow in the area, of which the Don, Northern Donets, Western Manych, and Kuban are navigable. The navigation period ranges from 230 to 245 days a year. Specific gravity paved roads in the total length of roads public use is 96%. According to this indicator, the district ranks second in the Russian Federation. The most developed network of roads is in the Kuban region, on the Black Sea coast and in the foothills of the Caucasus. The main role in interregional transport links is played by railway transport. It accounts for up to 80% of cargo turnover. The length of the railway network is 6.3 thousand km, more than 50% of them are electrified. However, at present, the reserves of capacity and carrying capacity of the Center-Caucasus railway are completely exhausted, which complicates the development of inter-regional connections (North Caucasus Economic Region, 2006).

The North Caucasus region is one of the areas with high labor supply. Unlike other regions of the European part of Russia, natural population growth is high in the North Caucasus. Currently, due to the difficult financial and economic situation in the country, there is a release of labor force and turning the area into a labor surplus area. In these conditions, the problem of employment becomes particularly relevant. At the same time, due to national conflicts, there is a migration outflow of refugees, especially the Russian-speaking population, to other regions of Russia (Characteristics of the North Caucasus Economic Region, 2006).

Currently, the North Caucasus is in a difficult economic situation. According to many experts, the region is a zone of real social disaster. In conditions of poverty and misery, a significant part of the local population is forced to live on subsistence farming. Agricultural production is almost entirely focused on feed needs. More than half of public lands are leased, the size of private farms sometimes reaches impressive sizes, but the sale of farm products is problematic. Employment in the public sector is sporadic. The economic situation in North Ossetia, where a complete conversion of the military-industrial complex took place, and in Ingushetia, where registered enterprises are 80% exempt from federal taxes (Characteristics of the North Caucasus Economic Region, 2006).

The difficult economic and social situation is creating a number of problems for the region's wetlands. To the previously existing unfavorable factors (drainage of waterlogged lands, excessive water withdrawal for irrigation, industrial and agricultural pollution of water bodies), new ones have been added: spontaneous occupation and development of water protection zones, cutting down tree plantations along the banks, pollution from household waste, mass poaching. Significant areas of irrigation systems, rice fields and fish farms have ceased to be used. This has led to a deterioration in nesting and wintering conditions for a number of species of shorebirds and waterfowl. At the same time, due to the economic recession, pollution of water bodies from fertilizers, pesticides and industrial effluents has decreased.

There are different interpretations of the geographical and administrative boundaries of the North Caucasus (Geographical Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1989; Gvozdetsky, 1954; Isakov, 1982; Wetlands of Russia, 2000). Based on considerations of the integrity and logical sequence of the inventory of wetlands of the Russian Federation, we take as a basis the zoning proposed by N. A. Gvozdetsky and divide the North Caucasus into the following subregions: 1) Western and Middle Ciscaucasia; 2) Mountain Caucasus; 3) Terek-Kuma lowland.

There are 10 constituent entities of the Russian Federation located on the territory of the North Caucasus, which differ significantly from each other in their natural and economic characteristics.

The collection of information about the wetlands of the North Caucasus began in the 1980s. (Skokova, Vinogradov, 1986), due to their key importance in the functioning of the ecosystems of this region. Three wetlands of the North Caucasus region (“Veselovskoe Reservoir”, “Lake Manych-Gudilo” and “Kuban Delta”) were declared wetlands of international importance by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1050 of September 13, 1994, their descriptions were included in the first volume of the series “Wetlands of Russia” (1998). In the process of further inventory in the region, 10 sites were identified and described, included in the Prospective (“shadow”) list of the Ramsar Convention. It is quite obvious that 13 sites are completely insufficient for a region with such diverse aquatic ecosystems, the spectrum of which extends from sea bays to high-mountain lakes and glaciers.

In the course of the work done in the preparation of this (sixth) volume of the series “Wetlands of Russia” by a team of authors, 53 wetlands that meet the criteria of the Ramsar Convention were identified and included in the inventory list. The list is quite representative, as it reflects the entire main range of wetland ecosystems that are most significant for maintaining the biodiversity of the region, and includes sea bays, lagoons, estuaries and river deltas, floodplain complexes and swamps, various lowland and mountain lakes (fresh and salty) and reservoirs, as well as unique alpine swamps. Total area allocated lands - about 11,245 km2.

In the current situation, according to current legislation, most decisions in the field of environmental management and nature conservation are made at the level of constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It is the administrations (governments) of territories, regions and republics that establish environmental status natural area and water areas. We hope that the descriptions given below in a number of cases can serve as a justification for giving wetlands one or another status that would contribute to their actual protection. Therefore, we considered it appropriate to provide economic and geographical descriptions of eight subjects of the North Caucasus that are most important in terms of conserving valuable wetlands that meet the criteria of the Ramsar Convention.