The Caucasus is a beautiful geographical area, located mainly in the majestic mountains of Eurasia. This region is located closer to the southern edge of the East European Plain, at the border of Europe and Asia, and it is washed by the Black Sea from the western side and the Caspian from the eastern.
The northern boundary of the mighty Caucasus lies along the ancient Kumo-Manych depression, the shelf reservoir of the Sea of Azov and the long Kerch Strait. The southern edge of this geographical area runs along the long border of the former Soviet Union. The territories of the five countries of Transcaucasia, together with the North Caucasus district, amount to more than 350 thousand square meters. km
Geography
The geography of the Caucasus clearly shows the division into the southern and northern regions. The structure of the North Caucasus includes:
- Ciscaucasia.
- The steep slope of the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, located along the watershed ridge to the Samur River on the east side.
- The southwestern large recession of the Main Caucasian mountain range with its boundary 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 lies in the region of the Alpine-Himalayan wide seismic belt, which is famous for its active tectonic movements and is characterized by a large variety of mountainous terrain.
History
The first mention of the word "Caucasus" was found in writers of ancient Greece. For example, at Aeschylus in Chained Prometheus (approximately V century BC).
The Caucasus is a land that for many centuries has been the scene of military skirmishes of large empire states. They tried to seize control of this strategic territory. This large area, 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. The active struggle of Russia in the Caucasus began immediately after the collapse of the powerful Golden Horde.
The year 1944 was marked by the fact that all Chechens and Ingush were forcibly resettled in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan (republics of the USSR). The official reason announced is the constant and massive cases of aiding the local population of Chechen-Ingushetia to the German invaders and occupiers. A map of the Caucasus had already been formed by then.
In the 1940s, other ethnic groups of the Caucasus were subjected to mass repression and expulsion. In 1991, an armed coup takes place on the territory of Chechnya , due to which Chechen-Ingushetia is divided without marking the borders into the Chechen and Ingush Republic. After that, the counter-terrorist operation was officially canceled in Chechnya, although the situation in Ingushetia remains tense: killing people, theft, clan clashes and political differences remain a familiar part of life.
Nowadays
In 2008, Russia officially recognized 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.
Areas
The Caucasus is an association, according to geomorphology, of 4 main zones:
- The Ciscaucasia plain stretching from the Sea of Azov to the Caspian Sea with a strip about 800 km long.
- Mountains of the Greater Caucasus (including the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and the directly mountainous North Caucasus).
- Transcaucasian depression (including the Colchis and Kura-Araksin lowlands).
- Transcaucasian Highlands (this is the northern edge of the Armenian Highlands), including the mountain range of the Lesser Caucasus and the South Caucasus Highlands.
Population
The peoples of the Caucasus are divided into 3 typical language groups: Caucasian, Altai and Indo-European families. Up to 50 different nationalities live and exist on the lands of this geographical region, speaking their own languages and having a distinctive culture. In the territory of the modern Caucasus, you can now meet other peoples: Russians, Ukrainians, Jews and many others. There are also people of the Caucasian race (Caucasian, Pontic, Caspian, Armenoid).
The Caucasus is a region where the dominant religion is Christianity (Russian, Armenian and Georgian Orthodox churches) and Islam. There are representatives of Judaism. Islam in 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 health, there are many attractions. Companies always organize interesting trips to the mountains. Such events are inexpensive, although the price level sometimes varies. However, exciting excursions fully justify these costs. No wonder the Caucasus is considered the mountain capital of Europe. Near it are the seas, which also invariably attract tourists. The Caucasus includes part of Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Often here you can see visitors: 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.