In the south of the European part of Russia, north of the majestic mountains of the Caucasus, the Stavropol Upland is located. On the ground, it stands out for its diverse relief and rather picturesque landscapes. Our article will tell you in detail about the geographical position of the Stavropol Upland, its geological structure and the most interesting sights.
Where is the high ground?
This clearly defined landform is part of the vast Ciscaucasian Plain. Administratively, most of it is located within the Stavropol Territory of the same name. Partially, the hill also extends into Kalmykia and the Krasnodar Territory (see map below).
In the north, the Stavropol upland borders on the Kuma-Manych depression, and in the east it smoothly passes into the Caspian lowland. In the south and southwest, it abruptly breaks off to the Kuban valley. Further beyond the river, the foothills of the Caucasus already begin. Approximate dimensions of the hill:
- 260 kilometers (length from west to east).
- 130 kilometers (length from north to south).
The highest point of the hill is Mount Strizhament. Stavropol is the largest city within its borders. The territory of the hill as a whole is populated and developed quite densely. A number of other large settlements are located within its boundaries: Nevinnomyssk, Mikhailovsk, Svetlograd, Izobilny, Blagodarny, Ipatovo, Arzgir and others.
Stavropol Upland: minerals and geology
At the basis of the hill lies an ancient foundation of the Hercynian age, crumpled into numerous folds. From above, it is covered by a rather thick (1.5-2 km) stratum of Mesozoic, Paleogene and Neogene deposits. Once upon a time, a vast shelf sea splashed on the site of the present hill. According to geologist Boris Godzevich, the upper part of Mount Strizhament near Stavropol is nothing more than a relic of the bottom of this very sea. The main mass of the upland is composed of clays, loams, limestone and sandstone.
Geologists explored about a hundred deposits of various minerals within the Stavropol Upland. Almost half of them are building materials. The local subsoil is also rich in fuel resources - oil and gas. There are also polymetallic ores and titanium-zirconium placers. But the main and most sought-after we alth of the region, nevertheless, is sand andrubble. Every year, about 6.5 million cubic meters of this raw material is extracted from the local subsoil.
Relief features
The relief of the Stavropol Upland is quite diverse. Low mountains and plateau-like areas dominate in the center and southwest, heavily dissected by terraces and cliffs. The landscapes of the eastern part are represented by rather faded and uniformly flat watersheds interspersed with small valleys. Almost the entire hill is densely cut by gullies and ravines into separate massifs of rocky remnants.
On average, absolute heights from 300 to 550 meters prevail. Four orographic zones are distinguished in the elevation relief:
- Central Ridge.
- Southern ridge (with the highest point Mount Strizhament).
- Beshpagir heights.
- Kalausky heights.
In the western part of the upland is the Sengileevskaya depression, which is currently filled with the reservoir of the same name.
Hydrography and vegetation
The climate over the Stavropol hill is quite arid. The average annual precipitation varies from 600 mm in the western to 250 mm in the eastern part of the upland. That is why the river network of this area can hardly be called well developed.
The line of the Azov-Caspian watershed runs along the western part of the hill. The largest rivers in the region are Kalaus, Egorlyk, Kuma, Tomuzlovka, Eya. Most of the watercourses flowing from this hill belong to the basins of two rivers - the Don or the Kuban. The channels of many of them dry up in summer.
The soil cover of the area is represented mainly by chernozems, aluminas, and dark chestnut soils. They grow mainly steppe flora. In more elevated areas, there is a classic forest-steppe with broad-leaved tree species. Most of the territory is now plowed up.
Mount Strizhament and Wolf Gates
Mount Strizhament is the highest point of the Stavropol Upland. Its absolute height is 831 meters. The mountain is located just 20 kilometers south of the city of Stavropol.
The top of Strizhamenta is well expressed in relief, it is wedge-shaped in plan. It is composed of clays, sands and shell rock. There are low limestone cliffs with niches formed under them and small caves. The mountain got its name from a stone fortress founded here at the end of the 18th century. Today Strizhament is a popular natural landmark of the Stavropol Territory. Most of the mountain is covered with virgin steppe. Rare species of birds, butterflies and beetles live here.
Another interesting object of the Stavropol Territory is the so-called Wolf Gate. This is a short and narrow canyon (passage), located on the banks of the Sengileevsky reservoir. Incredibly picturesque place with magnificent panoramic views.
