The special geographical position of the North Caucasus has become one of the main reasons for its extremely rich political history. For many centuries, this historical and geographical region has been an arena of struggle between various peoples and major empires, and its natural beauties have attracted travelers and artists.
Geographical location of the North Caucasus. Characteristic
The North Caucasus region includes vast areas bounded by the Black Sea and the Psou River in the west and the Caspian Sea in the east. In the north, the region extends to the lower Don, and in the south reaches the peaks of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range.
Due to the fact that the North Caucasus region lies at the intersection of transport routes connecting Russia, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, it has great potential for economic development and occupies an important place in international politics. In general, the economic and geographical position of the North Caucasus makes it one of the key regions of the country for international trade and transit.
Territorial division
Administratively, the region consists of seven national republics, including Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Chechnya, North Ossetia, Ingushetia and Dagestan. Also included in this region are the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories and the Rostov Region.
On the Black Sea coast there are large ports and oil terminals. The geographical location of the North Caucasus, whose natural resources are in great demand on the international market, creates excellent prerequisites for rapid economic development. One of the main economic sectors of the region is tourism. The existence of a large number of resorts of various specializations makes possible the special geographical location of the North Caucasus. The reactionary resources of the Caucasus are in great demand among holidaymakers.
Tourist paradise
A wide variety of climatic conditions in the North Caucasus creates favorable conditions for the development of a recreational cluster of the economy. Climatic zones change in this region not only from west to east and from north to south, but also from bottom to top, that is, as altitude rises relative to sea level.
Most of the sea climate resorts are concentrated in the western part of the region - on the shores of the Azov and Black Seas. In this part, landscapes vary from steppe in the north to subtropical in the south.
The largest resorts are concentrated on a narrow coastal strip: Anapa, Gelendzhik, Sochi and numerous smaller towns, allowing you to restore health in sanatoriums and dispensaries, built during the Soviet Union. However, in the last decade, a large number of spa hotels and recreation complexes along the coast have been built. Sochi was most lucky in this regard, the rapid development of which was made possible thanks to the Winter Olympics-20014 held there. In preparation for the territory, not only numerous stadiums were built, but also dozens of large hotels both on the coast and in the mountains at an altitude of 2000 meters.
Mineral waters of the North Caucasus
However, not only sea resorts, but also balneological ones are popular with vacationers. Since the middle of the XlX century, the direction of treatment with mineral waters has been actively developing in Pyatigorsk and in its neighboring towns, founded in close proximity to sources. This region is called Mineral Water. The geographical location of the North Caucasus, whose natural conditions favor the development of a tourist cluster, attracts annually millions of tourists from different regions of the country.
The ski resorts deserving special popularity, both among Russian and foreign tourists deserve special mention. Despite the fact that skiing has not existed in the Caucasus for more than a decade, the peak of their popularity came in the post-Olympic time. The features of the geographical location of the North Caucasus are such that they create completely unique conditions for recreation. So, in the Sochi region, a traveler can swim in the warm sea and ski in Krasnaya Polyana in one day.
Agriculture as a basis for economic development
The North Caucasus region is one of the most densely populated and economically developed in the whole country. The traditional basis of its economic well-being is agriculture, which in such a favorable climate is extremely productive. The geographical location of the North Caucasus determines the variety of crops that can be grown on the expanses of the Black Sea steppes and flood meadows of Stavropol. Krasnodar Territory is considered the leader in the production of agricultural products, which include wheat, soybeans, tomatoes and potatoes. Livestock breeding is also developed: in the Krasnodar Territory they are mainly engaged in pig breeding, while Islamic republics practice livestock breeding with the participation of sheep and goats.
The peculiarities of the geographical location of the North Caucasus also determine a significant seasonality in some of its parts, which, in turn, affects cattle driving to more fertile pastures in the summer.
Fossil natural resources
First of all, it is worth saying that the geographical location of the North Caucasus is such that it accounts for only 5% of the water resources available to Russia. This allows us to attribute the region to territories with low water availability and a large number of water consumers.
And without that, a small amount of water is actively polluted by a large number of industrial enterprises and water flows from agricultural lands. At the same time, the Caucasus is distinguished by a significant number of sources of thermal waters with high salinity.
Despite the fact that the geological structure of the territory cannot be characterized as well studied, it can already be said that deposits of polymetallic ores in North Ossetia are especially prominent. Zinc, copper, sulfur, and lead were found in the republic. Some rocks contain significant amounts of impurities of other valuable metals.
Oil: black gold of Dagestan
In some republics there are rich oil fields. This primarily refers to Dagestan, where mining has been conducted since the beginning of the last century. However, the entire Kuban-Priazovskoye oil and gas industry covers vast territories of Chechnya, Ingushetia, the Stavropol Territory and North Ossetia.
The by-product of the oil field is significant volumes of natural gas produced in the Prikuban lowland and the Azov Upland. In addition, geological exploration is actively conducted in the territories adjacent to the Caspian and Azov Seas, as well as on the shelf.
In addition to oil, important sources of energy include energy coals lying in the eastern wing of the Donetsk coal basin, which is partly located in the Rostov region. The geographical location of the North Caucasus, whose natural resources are of great interest to industry, also allows organizing efficient logistics and delivery of the extracted resources to neighboring regions and to the international market.
Ethnic diversity
The geographical position of the North Caucasus - a region that occupies a special place on the map of Russia, is also shaded by an extremely variegated ethnic composition. In turn, the national composition entails linguistic diversity, enriching the culture of not only neighboring regions, but the whole country.
For example, in Dagestan alone, there are several hundred languages. Unfortunately, the complex political history of the region also influenced this factor. The long war for the Caucasus between the Russian Empire and neighboring states led to significant losses among the civilian population.
During the war, several hundred thousand people were forced to leave their native lands and go to Turkey, whose government provided land for refugees to establish settlements.