Mountains are relief formations on the earth's surface that are of tectonic or volcanic origin. When magma from the core of the earth under pressure, pushing the sedimentary rocks, breaks through the crust and comes to the surface, volcanoes are formed, usually having a cone-shaped shape with a pronounced vent, slopes and foot.
However, sometimes it happens that in certain areas of pressure there is not enough pressure to break through the surface fossilized formations of the earth's crust, magma only lifts future rocks and freezes under them, forming "unworked" volcanoes - laccoliths.
Mountain system of the Caucasus
On the territory of Russia, the youngest and most active mountain system of the Caucasus is located in the North Caucasus region between the Azov and Caspian Seas. It is a chain of mountain ranges stretching from east to west and having several high peaks, lowlands, uplands and a group of laccoliths.
These mountains of the Greater Caucasus are the highest in Russia. The extinct two-headed volcano Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe (5642 m). To the east of Elbrus there is another dormant volcano Kazbek (5033 m).
The last eruptions of Elbrus and Kazbek ended more than 40 thousand years ago, and only numerous hot mineral springs, gushing from the very bowels of the earth in the saddle of Elbrus and throughout the Elbrus region, remind of them. This region is also called Caucasian Mineral Waters.
Laccoliths of the Caucasus
Besides its high volcanoes, the Caucasus is famous for the world's largest group of 17 laccoliths. They are located in the region of Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk between the Bermamyt plateau and the Borgustan plateau. These laccoliths are much older than the volcanoes of the Caucasus - they are several million years old. Sedimentary rocks at the crown of the mountains have been eroded, revealing rocky igneous formations.
The small height of these laccoliths is no more than a thousand meters, and their picturesque slopes covered with vegetation attract a huge number of tourists to the Caucasian Mineral Waters region who want to climb accessible peaks and taste the water from healing springs.
Features of Caucasian laccoliths
The highest Caucasian laccolith is Beshtau (1400 m), and at the foot of the laccolith mountain Mashuk (993 m) is the city of Pyatigorsk. Mashuk is famous for the historical duel of Mikhail Lermontov, in which, in 1841, the short but bright creative life of the poet ended. There is also a karst cave Big Failure with an underground tectonic lake that arose during the formation of the laccolith.
In fact, together with the laccoliths Byk (821 m), Razvalka (930 m) andZheleznaya (860 m), Beshtau is neither a full-fledged volcano nor a laccolith, since the lava in it broke through the surface layers and came out. However, it was too thick and cool enough and did not spill over the slopes, as happens with real volcanoes. Diverse rocks on the surface of the mountains quickly collapsed, forming the so-called "stone seas" and internal cracks at the foot of many Caucasian laccoliths.
Huge boulders polished the surfaces of the slopes, and Beshtau and Ostroy have characteristic "mirror" slopes. Exposed golden lava veins are clearly visible on the slopes of Medovaya.
Legends
The extraordinary beauty and mineral springs of the Caucasian mountain ranges not only attract the attention of tourists and guests of medical and recreational institutions today, but also from prehistoric times struck the imagination of the peoples living here. The ancient Alans have a beautiful legend about the imperious Elbrus and his son Beshtau, who could not share the beautiful Mashukha and fell around her in a bloody battle along with faithful horsemen and warlike animal spirits. Not wanting to betray her love, Mashukha threw off the hated ring, which froze in a wonderful grief in the vicinity of Kislovodsk. These stone statues will remind of brave and proud warriors, as majestic as the mountains of the Caucasus, for thousands of years.
