Caucasus is a beautiful geographical area, located mainly on the territory of the majestic mountains of Eurasia. This region is located closer to the southern edge of the East European Plain, at the turn of Europe and Asia, and it is washed by the waters of the Black Sea on the western side and the Caspian Sea on the eastern side.
The northern border of the mighty Caucasus lies along the Kuma-Manychskaya ancient depression, the shelf reservoir of the Sea of Azov and the long Kerch Strait. The southern edge of this geographical area follows the old border of the former Soviet Union. The territories of the five countries of the Transcaucasus, together with the North Caucasian district, make up more than 350 thousand square meters. km.
Geography
The geography of the Caucasus clearly shows the division into the Southern and Northern regions. The North Caucasus includes:
- Ciscaucasia.
- The steep slope of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, located along the watershed ridge to the Samur River from the east side.
- Southwestern large recession of the Main Caucasian mountain range with its bordering northwestern territory.
- Black Sea coast.
Based on the current geography, the lands of the ancient Caucasus belong to Russia (the North Caucasus and part of the Transcaucasian lands on the right bank of the Samur River) and Azerbaijan, to hospitable Armenia and hospitable Georgia. Turkey also owns part of the eastern lands of this mountainous region.
The Caucasus is located in the region of the Alpine-Himalayan wide seismic belt, which is famous for active tectonic movements and is characterized by a wide variety of mountainous terrain.
History
The first mention of the word "Caucasus" was found among the writers of ancient Greece. For example, in Aeschylus in "Prometheus chained" (approximately V century BC).
The Caucasus is the lands that for many centuries were the scene of military skirmishes of large states-empires. They tried to seize control of this strategic territory. This large region, dividing two parts of the world - Europe and Asia - was once a bloody arena in which the enmity of Persia and the great Ottoman Empire spread. Russia's active struggle in the Caucasus began immediately after the collapse of the powerful Golden Horde.
1944 was marked by the fact that all Chechens and Ingush were forcibly resettled in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan (the republics of the USSR). The declared official reason is the constant and massive cases of complicity of the local population of Checheno-Ingushetia to the German invaders and occupiers. The map of the Caucasus had already been formed by that time.
In the 1940s, other peoples of the Caucasus were subjected to mass repressions and deportations. In 1991, an armed coup took place on the territory of Chechnya, due towhich Checheno-Ingushetia is divided without marking the borders into the Chechen and Ingush Republics. After that, the counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya was officially canceled, although the situation in Ingushetia remains tense: killings of people, theft, inter-clan clashes and political disagreements remain a familiar part of life.
Our time
In 2008, Russia officially recognizes the independence of the republics of South Ossetia and neighboring Abkhazia, establishing friendly relations between them. Several other regions remain in its autonomy. These are Dagestan, Chechnya and others.
Regions
The Caucasus is a union, according to geomorphology, of 4 main zones:
- The Ciscaucasian plain, stretching from the Azov to the Caspian Seas in a strip about 800 km long.
- Mountains of the Greater Caucasus (including the Greater Caucasus mountain range and directly the mountainous North Caucasus).
- Transcaucasian depression (including the Colchis and Kura-Araks lowlands).
- The Transcaucasian Highlands (this is the northern edge of the Armenian Highlands), which includes the mountain range of the Lesser Caucasus and the South Caucasian Highlands itself.
Population
The peoples of the Caucasus are divided into 3 typical language groups: Caucasian, Altaic and Indo-European families. On the lands of this geographical region, up to 50 different nationalities live and exist, speaking their own languages and having an original culture. On the territory of the modern Caucasus, you can now meet other peoples:Russians, Ukrainians, Jews and many others. People of Caucasian race also live here (Caucasian, Pontic, Caspian, Armenoid).
The Caucasus is an area where the dominant religion is Christianity (Russian, Armenian and Georgian Orthodox Churches) and Islam. There are representatives of Judaism. Islam in terms of the number of believers is in first place among the peoples of the Caucasus.
Tourism
Travel agencies often arrange trips to the Caucasus. This area has a beneficial effect on he alth, there are many attractions. Companies always organize interesting trips to the mountains. Such events are inexpensive, although the price level sometimes differs. However, exciting excursions fully justify these costs. No wonder the Caucasus is considered the mountain capital of Europe. Next to it are the seas, which also invariably attract tourists. The Caucasus includes part of Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. You can often see visitors here: Americans, Canadians or Australians. They visit this region with great pleasure, buying souvenirs and enjoying the natural beauties. The peoples of the Caucasus are happy to receive guests.
