In the south of the European part of Russia, north of the majestic mountains of the Caucasus, the Stavropol Upland is located. On the terrain, it stands out for its diverse relief and rather picturesque landscapes. In detail about the geographical position of the Stavropol Upland, its geological structure and the most interesting sights, our article will tell.
Where is the hill?
This pronounced landform is part of the vast Ciscaucasia plain. Administratively, a large part of it is located within the eponymous Stavropol Territory. Partially, the hill also enters the borders of Kalmykia and the Krasnodar Territory (see map below).
In the north, the Stavropol Upland borders on the Kumo-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 hill sizes:
- 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. Within its limits are a number of other large settlements: Nevinnomyssk, Mikhailovsk, Svetlograd, Izobilny, Blagodarny, Ipatovo, Arzgir and others.
Stavropol Upland: Minerals and Geology
At the heart of the hill lies the ancient foundation of the Hercynian age, crumpled into numerous folds. From above, it is overlain by a rather thick (1.5–2 km) stratum of Mesozoic, Paleogene, and Neogene deposits. Once upon a time on the site of the current hill, the vast shelf sea splashed. 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 massif of the hill is composed of clays, loams, limestone and sandstone.
Within the Stavropol Upland, geologists have explored about one hundred deposits of various minerals. Almost half of them are construction materials. The local subsoil is also rich in fuel resources - oil and gas. Polymetallic ores and titanic zirconium placers are also found. But the main and most demanded wealth of the region, nevertheless, is sand and gravel. About 6.5 million cubic meters of this raw material is extracted annually from the local bowels.
Relief features
The relief of the Stavropol Upland is quite diverse. In the center and in the southwest, low mountains and plateau-like areas prevail, strongly 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 beams and ravines into separate massifs of rocky outcrops.
On average, absolute heights from 300 to 550 meters prevail. In the relief of the hill, four orographic zones are distinguished:
- Central ridge.
- South ridge (with the highest point Mount Strizhament).
- Beshpagirsky heights.
- Prikalausky heights.
In the western part of the hill there is the Sengiley basin, which is currently filled with the reservoir of the same name.
Hydrography and vegetation
The climate over the Stavropol mountains is quite arid. The average annual rainfall changes from 600 mm in the western - to 250 mm in the eastern part of the hill. That is why the river network of this area can hardly be called well developed.
A line of the Azov-Caspian watershed runs along the western part of the hill. The largest rivers of the region are Kalaus, Yegorlyk, Kuma, Tomuzlovka, Eya. Most of the watercourses flowing from this hill belong to the basins of two rivers - the Don or the Kuban. The beds of many of them dry up in the summer.
The soil cover of the area is represented mainly by chernozems, alumina, as well as dark chestnut soils. They mainly grow 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's Gate
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 peak of Strizhament is well expressed in the relief, in the plan it is wedge-shaped. It is composed of clay, sand and shell rock. There are low limestone cliffs with niches formed under them and small caves. The mountain got its name from the stone fortress founded here at the end of the 18th century. Today Strizhament is a popular natural landmark of Stavropol. 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 Sengiley reservoir. An incredibly picturesque place with magnificent panoramic views.