Mountain systems occupy about 30% of the entire area of ​​the Russian Federation, most of them are located in the central part of Russia - the Urals, which divides the country into European and Asian territories, in the south of the Russian Plain, between the Black and Caspian Seas - the Caucasus Mountains, in the southern part of Siberia - Altai and Sayan Mountains, in the Far East and on the Kamchatka Peninsula - mountain ranges with a large number of active and dormant volcanoes, the Kuril Islands lie in the Pacific volcanic ring of fire, here is a zone of high seismic activity.

In total, according to various sources, on the territory of Russia there are from one to two thousand mountain peaks in 20 mountain systems.

(The highest mountains in the world, among them the 5-thousanders Elbrus and Dekhtau)

The highest mountains of Russia, with the highest peaks of both Russia and all of Europe located there, are considered to be the young Caucasus Mountains (they are approximately 15 million years old). It is here that the majestic sleeping volcano Elbrus (5642 m) is located, conquering which is an honor for every self-respecting professional climber, the terrain is very difficult and therefore very dangerous for climbers, Jagged Mountain or in other words Dekhtau (5204 m), Mount Koshtantau (5152 m), known for its unique marble glaciers and many others related to the so-called “five thousand meters” (i.e. having an altitude of about 5000 meters above sea level), they constitute the pride of our country and every year attract a large number of people who dream of getting there to their top or simply to feel their greatness and real power.

The highest mountains of Russia

(over 5000m altitude)

Elbrus (5642m)

The sleeping stratovolcano Elbrus (5642 m, the highest peak of Russia and Europe, the last eruption was 50 AD) is located on the border of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, part of the Side Range of the Greater Caucasus, lying north of the Main Caucasus Range. This is a volcanic mountain range with a base 15 km in diameter and two peaks: Eastern (5621 m) and Western (5642 m), which are separated by a gentle saddle of one and a half kilometers with a height of 5416 meters. The peaks are mostly covered with glaciers (23 in total), they are the main sources of rivers in this region, the slopes of the peaks in the south and east are gentle with a slope of 35 degrees, in the north and west they are more steep, which attracts climbers and lovers of extreme views sports

Dykhtau (5204m)

Dykhtau or Jagged Mountain (5204m) is the second largest mountain peak in the Caucasus, its location is the border of Georgia and Russia, the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria. It has a complex structure and therefore is a very dangerous and difficult object for mountain climbers; steep slopes, located at a large slope, are subject to frequent rockfalls and avalanches.

Koshtantau (5152m)

The third largest peak in Russia - Koshtantau (5152 m, translated as “connected mountain”) lies on the territory of the city of Bezengi (Kabardino-Balkaria), and is distinguished by its picturesqueness and unique views of mountain nature. On its northern slopes there are unique marble glaciers, which makes it especially popular among professional climbers, although deaths are common.

Pushkin Peak (5100m)

Pushkin Peak (5100 m) is the fourth largest peak, named after the great Russian poet in 1937 on the centenary of his death. It is located in the center of the Main Caucasus Range in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. This picturesque and colorful part of the Dekhtau mountain range with snow-capped peaks sparkling in the sun is located between Borovikov Peak and Eastern Dekhtau.

Dzhangitau (5085m)

Dzhangitau (5085 m) is the fifth largest peak, located in the center of the Main Caucasus Range, on the border of Russia with Georgia. It consists of two peaks: Western and Eastern, they are part of the Benguez Wall - a unique mountain range 13 km long. This is the highest point in Georgia and a very attractive object for mountaineering. A large number of turbulent rivers flow from the peaks, fed by glaciers; there are many gorges and caves filled with water.

Shkhara (5068m)

Shkhara (5068 m) is the sixth largest Russian peak, distinguished by great picturesqueness and mountain beauty, located in Kabardino-Balkaria. It is based on granite rocks and crystalline schists, which sparkle in the sun with a unique and mysterious brilliance, forming an unforgettable, enchanting picture of a mountain landscape. The peak is full of mountain cliffs, fast, icy streams descend from the heights, forming mountain rivers; this place is very popular among climbers and extreme sportsmen.

Kazbek (5034m)

Kazbek (5034 m) is the seventh largest peak of the Caucasus Mountains, it is an ancient extinct stratovolcano lying in their eastern part, the Georgian Military Road runs around them. It was here, according to the myths and legends of Ancient Greece, that Zeus chained Prometheus, punishing him for stealing the divine fire in the forge of Hephaestus and giving it to people. Kazbek is located on the border of Russia and Georgia in the region of North Ossetia, on all sides its snow-capped peaks are covered with glaciers (Gergetsky, Chach, Devdoraksky, Abano, Maili). In the mountain gorges and caves, researchers discovered extensive ancient settlements and ancient Christian monasteries (the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, the monastery complex of Betlemi (Bethlehem)), now this place is visited by a large number of tourists and history buffs from all over the world.

Mizhirgi (5025m)

Kundyum-Mizhirgi or Mizhirgi-Tau (5025 m) is the eighth largest five-thousander peak, this is part of the Bezengi wall. It is located on the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria, in the northern spurs of the Main Caucasus Range, in the interfluve of the Cherek Balkarsky and Cherek Bezengisky. It consists of a pair of peaks: Western (5025 m) and Eastern (4927 m).

Mountains occupy about 24% of all land. The most mountains are in Asia - 64%, the least in Africa - 3%. 10% of the world's population lives in the mountains. And it is in the mountains that most rivers on our planet originate.

Characteristics of mountains

According to their geographical location, mountains are united into various communities that should be distinguished.

. Mountain belts- the largest formations, often stretching across several continents. For example, the Alpine-Himalayan belt passes through Europe and Asia or the Andean-Cordilleran belt, stretching through North and South America.
. Mountain system- groups of mountains and ranges similar in structure and age. For example, the Ural Mountains.

. Mountain ranges- a group of mountains stretched in a line (Sangre de Cristo in the USA).

. Mountain groups- also a group of mountains, but not stretched out in a line, but simply located nearby. For example, the Bear Pau Mountains in Montana.

. Single mountains- unrelated to others, often of volcanic origin (Table Mountain in South Africa).

Natural mountain areas

Natural zones in the mountains are arranged in layers and change depending on the height. At the foothills there is most often a zone of meadows (in the highlands) and forests (in the middle and low mountains). The higher you go, the harsher the climate becomes.

The change of zones is influenced by climate, altitude, mountain topography and their geographical location. For example, the continental mountains do not have a belt of forests. From the base to the summit, the natural areas vary from deserts to grasslands.

Types of mountains

There are several classifications of mountains according to various criteria: structure, shape, origin, age, geographical location. Let's look at the most basic types:

1. By age old and young mountains are distinguished.

Old are called mountain systems whose age is estimated at hundreds of millions of years. Internal processes in them have calmed down, but external processes (wind, water) continue to destroy, gradually comparing them with the plains. The old mountains include the Ural, Scandinavian, and Khibiny mountains (on the Kola Peninsula).

2. Height There are low mountains, middle mountains and high mountains.

Low mountains (up to 800 m) - with rounded or flat tops and gentle slopes. There are many rivers in such mountains. Examples: Northern Urals, Khibiny Mountains, spurs of the Tien Shan.

Average mountains (800-3000 m). They are characterized by a change in landscape depending on the height. These are the Polar Urals, the Appalachians, the mountains of the Far East.

High mountains (over 3000 m). These are mostly young mountains with steep slopes and sharp peaks. Natural areas change from forests to icy deserts. Examples: Pamirs, Caucasus, Andes, Himalayas, Alps, Rocky Mountains.

3. By origin There are volcanic (Fujiyama), tectonic (Altai mountains) and denudation, or erosion (Vilyuisky, Ilimsky).

4. According to the shape of the top mountains can be peak-shaped (Communism Peak, Kazbek), plateau-shaped and table-shaped (Amba in Ethiopia or Monument Valley in the USA), domed (Ayu-Dag, Mashuk).

Climate in the mountains

The mountain climate has a number of characteristic features that appear with altitude.

Decrease in temperature - the higher it is, the colder it is. It is no coincidence that the peaks of the highest mountains are covered with glaciers.

Atmospheric pressure decreases. For example, at the top of Everest the pressure is two times lower than at sea level. This is why water boils faster in the mountains - at 86-90ºC.

The intensity of solar radiation increases. In the mountains, sunlight contains more ultraviolet radiation.

The amount of precipitation is increasing.

High mountain ranges trap precipitation and influence the movement of cyclones. Therefore, the climate on different slopes of the same mountain may differ. On the windward side there is a lot of moisture and sun, on the leeward side it is always dry and cool. A striking example is the Alps, where on one side of the slopes there are subtropics, and on the other, a temperate climate prevails.

The highest mountains in the world

(Click on the picture to enlarge the diagram in full size)

There are seven highest peaks in the world that all climbers dream of conquering. Those who succeed become honorary members of the Seven Peaks Club. These are mountains such as:

. Chomolungma, or Everest (8848 m). Located on the border of Nepal and Tibet. Belongs to the Himalaya mountain system. It has the shape of a triangular pyramid. The first conquest of the mountain took place in 1953.

. Aconcagua(6962 m). It is the highest mountain in the southern hemisphere, located in Argentina. Belongs to the Andes mountain system. The first ascent took place in 1897.

. McKinley- the highest peak in North America (6168 m). Located in Alaska. First conquered in 1913. It was considered the highest point in Russia until Alaska was sold to America.

. Kilimanjaro- the highest point in Africa (5891.8 m). Located in Tanzania. First conquered in 1889. This is the only mountain where all types of Earth's belts are represented.

. Elbrus- the highest peak in Europe and Russia (5642 m). Located in the Caucasus. The first ascent took place in 1829.

. Vinson Massif- the highest mountain in Antarctica (4897 m). Part of the Ellsworth Mountains system. First conquered in 1966.

. Mont Blanc- the highest point in Europe (many attribute Elbrus to Asia). Height - 4810 m. Located on the border of France and Italy, it belongs to the Alps mountain system. The first ascent in 1786, and a century later, in 1886, Theodore Roosevelt conquered the top of Mont Blanc.

. Pyramid of Carstens- the highest mountain in Australia and Oceania (4884 m). Located on the island of New Guinea. The first conquest was in 1962.

As long as humanity can remember its history, there have been daredevils who were attracted by majestic mountain peaks. The romance of mountaineering has existed for a long time, and to this day many devote their entire lives to conquering new heights. Russia is a country of harsh climate and unimaginable variety of terrain, the most attractive and dangerous of which are the mountains. Eight peaks are classified as “five thousand meters”, and all of them pose a real danger even for the most experienced climbers. Based on data from a special geographical register, we will present to your attention the 15 highest mountains in Russia, all of them, except Klyuchevskaya Sopka, are located in the Greater Caucasus mountain system.


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1st place - Elbrus (5642 m)

At the same time it is the highest point in Russia and all of Europe. The peak is located between Kabardino-Balkaria and Circassia, in the northern part of the Greater Caucasus Range. The name "Elbrus" is translated from Georgian as "ice", from Kabardian as "mountain of happiness", from Iranian - "high mountain", from Karachay-Cherkess - "eternal mountain". One way or another, the peak amazes with its icy grandeur and is remembered for a long time. During the Great Patriotic War, the Nazis climbed Elbrus, after which they installed banners with a swastika at its highest point. The idea of ​​Nazi scientists was to rename the mountain "Hitler's Peak", but the enemy was destroyed by Soviet mountaineering soldiers in 1943. Conquering Elbrus is one of the newfangled trends; for this purpose, several routes of varying degrees of difficulty were laid along the mountainside. A ski resort has been operating at the foot of the peak for many years.

2nd place - Dykhtau (5204 m)

The conquest of Dykhtau took place in 1888, just at the time when Britain was searching for Jack the Ripper, and Brazil issued a decree abolishing slavery. The pyramidal peak is located in Kabardino-Balkaria, in the region of the northern ridge of the Caucasus Mountains. From a technical point of view, climbing the “Steep Mountain” is not easy, so only professional climbers can complete this path to the end. Most of Dykhtau is covered with a thick layer of ice, and includes three peaks - Main, Eastern and a separate one, named after A.S. Pushkin.

3rd place - Koshtantau (5152 m)

The name translates as “mountain that looks like a remote dwelling.” Koshtantau is considered one of the least accessible among all the peaks of the Caucasus. On the northern part of the mountain there are marble glaciers that have claimed more than a dozen human lives. Few have managed to conquer the inaccessible peak; tragedies and deaths are not uncommon here. For example, 11 years before the first ascent of it, in 1888, two English climbers and two Swiss ones died here.

4th place - Pushkin Peak (5100 m)

The mountain received its name in 1938, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the death of the great Russian poet. Pushkin Peak is located in the very heart of the Main Caucasus Range, on the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria and is part of the Dykhtau glacier. Mountain climbers jokingly compare the peak to a tall gendarme standing on the ridge due to the fact that Pushkin Peak dominates the other heights located nearby.

5th place - Dzhangitau (5085 m)

Translated from Karachay-Balkar, the name of the peak means “new mountain.” Dzhangitau is part of a 12-kilometer mountain range belonging to the Bezengi wall. It is considered one of the most popular peaks among climbers, and for its conquest the professional badge of honor “Snow Leopard of Russia” is awarded. The ascent to the very top was made in 1888 by John Kokin, and the first to receive a well-deserved award for passing the mountaineering standard was the Russian climber Bukinich.


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6th place - Shkhara (5193 meters)

Shkhara (or “striped”) has won recognition as one of the most beautiful peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. Its slopes shine with sparkling glaciers, and the geological component of the mountain is granite and crystalline schists, along which dazzling ice rivers flow. The entire area of ​​Shkhara is cut by faults, grottoes and caves, and the exits from them are often covered with sparkling waterfalls. The mountain simultaneously beckons, fascinates and inspires fear, and at its foot is located the small village of Ushguli, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The peak was first conquered by climbers from the Soviet Union in 1933.

7th place - Kazbek (5032 m)

Kazbek (or "ice peak") is a stratovolcano that went extinct in 650 BC. The first ascent was made by two Englishmen in 1868. The mountain is located on the Georgian-Russian border and, more than all other peaks, is shrouded in tales, myths and legends. To this day, local residents perform a ritual of sacrifice on its slopes, and according to legend, once upon a time a young man was chained on Kazbek, punished by the gods for his desire to bring fire to humanity. Today, a military road passes by the peak, and on one of the slopes there is a non-functioning weather station.

8th place - Mizhirgi (5025 m)

At first glance it may seem that the name of the peak has Asian roots, but this is not so. The name of the mountain was assigned by Tver researchers and is translated from one of the local dialects as “connecting.” The ridge is essentially a huge glacier, which once connected with its neighbors and became even larger. Geological processes still take place today, and, according to scientists, Mizhirgi may become even larger in the near future. It is believed that the first person to climb to the top of the mountain was the Balkar shepherd Attaev, and this was in the mid-19th century.


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9th place - Kukurtli-Kolbashi (4978 m)

The peak belongs to the western spur of the Elbrus massif, located in Karachay-Cherkessia. In different sources, the height of the mountain varies from 4624 to 4978 m.

Translated from Circassian, the name Kyukyurtlyu is translated as “sulfur mountain”.

10th place - Katyn-Tau (4970 m)

The name is translated from the Balkar language as “mountain woman”. The peak is located in the Bezengi region and is part of the Bezengi wall. Geographically, Katyn-Tau belongs to Kabardino-Balkaria, and the entire territory of the mountain is located in a protected area, which also includes the Cherek River.

11th place - Shota Rustaveli Peak (4860 m)

It is located in the central part of the Main Range of the Caucasus Mountains and is a border region between Georgia (Svaneti) and Russia (Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria). The peak received its name in honor of the great Georgian poet and statesman who lived in the 12th century. The mountain is considered very treacherous due to the likelihood of unexpected avalanches and glaciers falling into the neighboring canyon. The date of the first ascent is 1937, since then more than a dozen climbers have climbed to the top. The most suitable time to conquer the peak is summer and early autumn.

12th place - Gestola (4860 m)

It is one of the peaks belonging to the Benzeguy wall of the main ridge of the Caucasus Mountains. On the northern side, Gestola has the shape of a triangle, which clearly stands out against the background of the Benzegian Wall. From a bird's eye view, the peak looks like an almost perfect pyramid, at the base of which is a square, which is oriented to the cardinal points at an angle of 45 degrees. Today, there are many routes of varying degrees of difficulty along the slopes of Gestola, and you can climb to the top point from several parts, including through Lyalver and Yesenin Peak.


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13th place - Jimara (4780 m)

It is one of the many peaks of the Greater Caucasus. Located in North Ossetia, east of Bezengi, on the Khokh Ridge, the distance to Kazbek is about 9 km. Jimara is a cluster of glaciers, each of which has its own name - Midagrabin in the west and Suatisi in the south.

14th place - Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4750 m)

The second name is Klyuchevskoy volcano, located in the eastern part of Kamchatka. It is considered the highest among all volcanoes that operate on the continent of Eurasia. The approximate age of the giant is about 7 thousand years, the height of the hill periodically changes due to geological activity, and, according to the latest data, is 4835 meters.

15th place - Wilpata (4646 m)

The name of the peak was given by the Ossetian people. Wilpata is located in the Caucasus, in the south-west direction from the Tseysky ridge and is the most dominant among all the peaks of the Karaugom plateau. There are many climbing routes with difficulty from 2B to 5B along the slopes of Wilpata.

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2.12.2019 at 23:01 · VeraSchegoleva · 17 750

Top 10 highest mountains in Russia

Although Russia is often seen through the prism of cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, it has much more to offer. Natural landscapes turn Russia into a paradise for travelers, which to this day is not so widely open to the eyes of the average person. For all the passionate hikers out there, we can officially say this is where the most breathtaking mountains are!

Even if you are not an avid climber or just a mountain climber, visiting these stunning peaks will add adventure to your Russian holiday.

« Is there anything better than mountains? Mountains you haven't visited yet" Ask any Russian and they will probably recognize this famous song by Vladimir Vysotsky. And who can really disagree with that?

The Caucasus, Altai, Ural, Siberia, Kamchatka - there are many places in the country where climbers and tourists can experience the magic of mighty peaks for themselves.

We present to you a list of the 10 highest mountains in Russia - extensive geography, as well as the highest points on the map with names and heights of peaks - information for grade 4.

10. Belukha, 4905 m

Rising in the Republic, Belukha is a three-peaked mountain range that rises along the Russia-Kazakhstan border, just a few dozen miles north of the point where that border meets that of China. There are several small glaciers on the mountain, including the Belukha Glacier.

Belukha was first raised in 1914 by the Tronov brothers. Most ascents to the east summit follow the same southern route as the first ascent. Although Altai is lower in altitude than other Asian mountain groups, it is very remote and requires a lot of time and planning to approach.

9. Klyuchevskaya Sopka, 4850 m


Klyuchevskaya Sopka appeared 6000 years ago. Its first recorded eruption occurred in 1697, and since then it has been almost continuously active, like many of its neighbors.

The peak was first climbed in 1788 by Daniel Gauss and two other members of the Billings expedition. No other ascents were recorded until 1931, when several climbers were killed by flying lava on the descent. Because such dangers still exist today, few ascents have been made to the summit.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka is considered sacred by some indigenous peoples, and is considered by them as the place where the world was created. Other volcanoes in the region have similar spiritual significance, but Klyuchevskaya Sopka is the most sacred of them all.

8. Shota Rustaveli Peak, 4859 m


The mountain better known as Shota Rustaveli Peak located in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range on the border of Svaneti (Georgia) and Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia).

Shota Rustaveli is generally the ninth highest point in the Caucasus. The slopes of the mountain are glacial, and some of the glaciers descend well into the neighboring valleys. Its name takes its roots from the famous Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli.

7. Mizhirgi, 5025 m


At the beginning of January 2009, Sasha Gukov, Sergey Kondrashkin, Alik Izotov and Viktor Koval made the first winter ascent along the northern ridge of the Eastern Peak Mizhirgi.

Mizhirgi is the eastern auxiliary peak of Dykhtau, on the ridge in the direction of Koshtuntau; its northern side rises almost 2000 m above the basin of the Mizhirgi glacier.

The route was first climbed in August 1952 by Vasily Pelevin's five-man team on hard 5B, but is rarely repeated due to poor rock and rockfall at the bottom. In 2009, the team experienced a lot of bad weather, making five bivouacs before reaching the summit.

6. Kazbek, 5032 m


Known locally as Mkinvartsveri or glacier top, mountain Kazbek rises 5032 meters above sea level, making it the highest mountain in eastern Georgia and one of the highest in Russia. The peak is located right on the border with Russia, but it is easiest to climb from the Georgian side.

Because of the relative ease with which this dormant stratovolcano rises and the spectacular views from the summit, Mount Kazbek is one of the most popular destinations for climbers in the Caucasus Range. Most tourists flock to climb it during June and July, but local guides also offer winter skiing trips.

Mount Kazbek was first conquered in 1868 by an expedition of English and French climbers in the Alpine Club, but has long had cultural and historical significance for the local population.

According to legend, the Georgian version of Prometheus was chained to this mountain as punishment for stealing fire from the gods and then giving it to mortals.

5. Pushkin Peak, 5100 m


Pushkin Peak located in the Dykh-Tau Bezengi mountain range (Central Caucasus, Russia) between Eastern Dykh-Tau and Borovikov Peak. From the top of Borovikov Peak a thin ridge runs north.

Conquered in 1961 by the Spartak team led by Kletsko (3rd place in the USSR Championship). Kletsko’s route ran to the left from Borovikov Peak to the west of Mizhirga.

There is another route on Pushkinskaya 5B, laid by Kudinov in 1972 (4th place in the USSR Championship), passing more to the right. It is on an avalanche-prone hanging glacier and is dangerous due to ice collapse from the upper hanging glacier.

4. Koshtan Tau, 5152 m


Koshtan– the fourth highest mountain in Europe. This is one of the two "Bezengi Brothers", marking the eastern end of the Northern Massif. The Great Pyramid of Koshtan is impressive, and its northwestern face gives you a good idea of ​​how difficult climbing in the Caucasus can be.

The north ridge route is fairly straight forward but long. Moreover, the journey to this peak is challenging and difficult as you need to climb three steps of the Mizhirgi Glacier.

Most of the other routes to the summit are difficult and dangerous. Several years ago, an entire team of Ukrainian climbers was killed on the summit during a rock climbing competition. Peak is also known as Koshtan Tau.

3. Shkhara, 5193 m


Shkhara is the highest point and eastern anchor of the massif known as the Bezinga (or Bezengi) Wall, a 12-kilometer ridge. It is a large, steep peak in a heavily icy region, presenting serious challenges for climbers. Its northern side (on the Russian side) has an altitude of 1500 meters and contains several classic difficult routes.

The significant peak of Shkhara to the west, 5193 m high, is a climbing target in itself, and crossing the entire Bezingi face is considered " the longest, most difficult expedition in Europe".

The peak was first climbed in 1888 along the North-East Ridge route by the British-Swiss team of W. Almer, J. Cockin and C. Roth. This route is still one of the easiest and most popular routes on the mountain. The first full move of the Bezinji Wall was in 1931 by the Austrians K. Poppinger, K. Moldan and S. Schintlmeister.

2. Dykh-tau, 5204 m


Dykh-Tau is the second largest in the Caucasus Mountains after Elbrus and the second highest in Europe.

It is one of the great Caucasus peaks, facing the magnificent Bezingi Face across the Bezingi Glacier. The first ascent of Mummery and Zarflukh in 1888 was a major achievement at the time. Their route up the southwest ridge is no longer used as a regular route.

1. Elbrus, 5642 m


Elbrus is an extinct volcano with two cones reaching 5642 meters and 5595 meters in height. The volcano was formed more than 2.5 million years ago. Sulfur gases are still emitted on its eastern slopes, and there are many mineral springs along the downdrafts.

Elbrus' total area of ​​138 sq. km is covered by 22 glaciers, which feed the Kuban River and some of the upper reaches of the Terek. Elbrus is a major center of mountaineering and tourism in the Caucasus region. In 1964, an extensive tourist and mountaineering base with large sports facilities was opened.

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Mountains vary in height, shape, age, origin, geographical location, etc. The article provides a description of the listed types of mountains.

Mountains by height

Lowlands

Low mountains or low mountains - mountain heights up to 800 meters above sea level.

Peculiarities:

  • The tops of the mountains are round, flat,
  • The slopes are gentle, not steep, covered with forest,
  • Characteristically, there are river valleys between the mountains.

Examples: Northern Urals, spurs of the Tien Shan, some ridges of Transcaucasia, Khibiny Mountains on the Kola Peninsula, individual mountains of Central Europe.

Srednegorye

Middle mountains (medium or mid-altitude mountains) - the height of these mountains is from 800 to 3000 meters above sea level.

Medium-altitude mountains are characterized by altitudinal zonation, i.e. change of landscape with change in altitude.

Examples of medium mountains: Mountains of the Middle Urals, Polar Urals, mountains of the island of Novaya Zemlya, mountains of Siberia and the Far East, mountains of the Apennine and Iberian Peninsulas, Scandinavian mountains in northern Europe, Appalachians in North America, etc.

Highlands

Highlands (high mountains) - the height of these mountains is more than 3000 meters above sea level. These are young mountains, the relief of which is intensively formed under the influence of external and internal processes.

Peculiarities:

  • The mountain slopes are steep, high,
  • The peaks of the mountains are sharp, peak-shaped, and have a specific name - “Carlings”,
  • The mountain ridges are narrow, jagged,
  • It is characterized by altitudinal zones from forests at the foot of the mountains to icy deserts at the tops.

Examples: Pamir, Tien Shan, Caucasus, Himalayas, Cordillera, Andes, Alps, Karakoram, Rocky Mountains, etc.

Mountains by shape

According to the nature of the summit endings, mountains are: peak-shaped, dome-shaped, plateau-shaped, etc.

Peaked mountain peaks

Peaked mountains are pointed mountain peaks that are shaped like peaks, hence the name of this type of mountain peak. They are characteristic mainly of young mountains with steep rocky slopes, sharp ridges and deep crevices in river valleys.

Examples of mountains with peaked peaks:

  • Peak Communism (mountain system - Pamir, height 7495 meters)
  • Pobeda Peak (Tian Shan mountain system, height 7439 meters)
  • Mount Kazbek (mountain system - Pamir, height 7134 meters)
  • Pushkin Peak (mountain system - Caucasus, height 5100 meters)

Domed mountain peaks

The dome-shaped, that is, rounded, shape of the top can be taken by:

  • Laccoliths are unformed volcanoes in the form of a hill with a magma core inside,
  • Extinct ancient heavily destroyed volcanoes,
  • Small areas of land that have undergone a dome-shaped tectonic uplift and, under the influence of erosion processes, have taken on a mountainous appearance.

Examples of mountains with a dome-shaped peak:

  • Black Hills (USA). The area was subject to dome uplift and much of the sedimentary cover was removed by further denudation and erosion. As a result, the central core was exposed. It consists of metamorphic and igneous rocks.
  • Ai-Nikola (Ukrainian Ai-Nikola, Crimean tat. Ay Nikola, Ai Nikola) is a domed outlier mountain, the southeastern spur of Mount Mogabi near the western outskirts of the village of Oreanda. It is composed of Upper Jurassic limestones. Height - 389 meters above sea level.
  • Kastel (Ukrainian Kastel, Crimean Catholicate. Qastel, Kaastel) is a mountain 439 m high on the southern outskirts of Alushta, behind the Professor’s Corner. The dome of the mountain is covered with a forest cap, and chaos has formed on the eastern slope - boulders of stone, sometimes reaching 3-5 m in diameter.
  • Ayu-Dag or Bear Mountain (Ukrainian Ayu-Dag, Crimean Catholicate. Ayuv Dağ, Ayuv Dag) is a mountain on the southern coast of Crimea, located on the border of Big Alushta and Big Yalta. The height of the mountain is 577 meters above sea level. This is a classic example of a laccolith.
  • Kara-Dag (Ukrainian Kara-Dag, Crimean Catholicate. Qara dağ, Kаara dag) is a mountain-volcanic massif, Crimea. Maximum height - 577 m (Mount Holy). It is a heavily destroyed volcanic form with a dome-shaped top.
  • Mashuk is a remnant magmatic mountain (laccolith mountain) in the central part of Pyatigorye on the Caucasian Mineral Waters, in the northeastern part of the city of Pyatigorsk. The height is 993.7 m. The peak has a regular dome shape.

Plateau-shaped mountain peaks

Mountain peaks that are flat in shape are called plateau-shaped.

  • Front Range Front Range) is a mountain range in the southern part of the Rocky Mountains in the United States, adjacent to the Great Plains on the west. The ridge stretches from south to north for 274 km. The highest point is Mount Grays Peak (4349 m). The ridge is composed mainly of granites. The peaks are plateau-shaped, the eastern slopes are gentle, the western slopes are steep.
  • Khibiny (Kild. Umptek) is the largest mountain range on the Kola Peninsula. Geological age is about 350 million years. The peaks are plateau-shaped, the slopes are steep with isolated snowfields. However, not a single glacier was discovered in the Khibiny Mountains. The highest point is Mount Yudychvumchorr (1200.6 m above sea level).
  • Amba (translated from Amharic as Mountain Fortress) is the name of the flat-topped hills and mesas in Ethiopia. They consist mainly of horizontal sandstones and layers of basalt. This determines the flat-topped shape of the mountains. Ambas are located at an altitude of up to 4,500 m.

Mountains by age

By age, mountains are divided into:

  • Young mountains,
  • Old (ancient) mountains.

Young mountains formed over the last 50 million years. In these mountain systems, internal processes are very actively developing, accompanied by the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and sometimes even volcanic activity. The youngest mountains on Earth are those belonging to the continental and island rings of the Pacific Ocean. The Caucasus Mountains are recognized as the youngest mountains in Russia. Here is the highest mountain in Russia - Elbrus (5642 m). (In the picture on the left: The Himalayas are young mountains, geological age about 38 million years)

Features of the young mountains:

  • the process of growth of young mountains is still ongoing,
  • the relief is sharp, highly dissected,
  • the peaks of the ridges are sharp,
  • the mountain slopes are steep and high,
  • high absolute altitudes,
  • significant height amplitude,
  • the valleys of numerous rivers are presented in the form of gorges, gorges,
  • Young mountains are characterized by the development of glaciers.

Examples of young mountains are:

  • Alps,
  • Caucasus Mountains,
  • Carpathians,
  • Kopet-Dag,
  • Pamir,
  • Mountains of Kamchatka.

Old (ancient) mountains are several hundred million years old. They differ in that the internal processes in them have long since died down, while the external processes that influence the destruction of the mountains are still active. This will continue until the relief is completely leveled. On many modern plains there are areas where, by all indications, there were once ancient mountains. From these mountains, only roots remained in the depths, covered with a thick layer of sedimentary rocks.

Features of old (ancient) mountains:

  • were heavily damaged,
  • have less contrasting relief,
  • the elevation differences are small,
  • gentle slopes,
  • The river valleys are well developed.

Examples of old (ancient) mountains are:

  • Ural mountains,
  • Timan,
  • Yenisei Ridge,
  • Khibiny (Kola Peninsula, geological age approximately 350 million years).

By origin

Tectonic mountains are formed as a result of the collision of moving sections of the earth's crust - lithospheric plates. This collision causes folds to form on the surface of the earth. This is how folded mountains arise. When interacting with air, water and under the influence of glaciers, the rock layers that form folded mountains lose their plasticity, which leads to the formation of cracks and faults. Currently, folded mountains have been preserved in their original form only in certain parts of the young mountains - the Himalayas, formed during the era of Alpine folding.

With repeated movements of the earth's crust, hardened folds of rock are broken into large blocks, which, under the influence of tectonic forces, rise or fall. This is how folded block mountains arise. This type of mountains is typical for old (ancient) mountains. An example is the Altai mountains. The emergence of these mountains occurred during the Baikal and Caledonian eras of mountain building; in the Hercynian and Mesozoic eras they were subject to repeated movements of the earth's crust. The type of folded-block mountains was finally adopted during the Alpine folding.

Volcanic mountains are formed during the process of volcanic eruptions. They are usually located along fault lines in the earth's crust or at the boundaries of lithospheric plates.

There are two types of volcanic mountains:

Volcanic cones. These mountains acquired their cone-shaped appearance as a result of the eruption of magma through long cylindrical vents. This type of mountain is widespread throughout the world. These are Fuji in Japan, Mount Mayon in the Philippines, Popocatepetl in Mexico, Misti in Peru, Shasta in California, etc.
Shield volcanoes. Formed by repeated outpouring of lava. They differ from volcanic cones in their asymmetrical shape and small size.

In areas of the globe where active volcanic activity occurs, entire chains of volcanoes can form. The most famous is the chain of Hawaiian Islands of volcanic origin, more than 1600 km long. These islands are the tops of underwater volcanoes, whose height from the surface of the ocean floor is more than 5500 meters.

Erosion (denudation) mountains

Erosion mountains arose as a result of the intensive dissection of stratified plains, plateaus and plateaus by flowing waters. Most mountains of this type are characterized by a table shape and the presence of box-shaped and sometimes canyon-type valleys between them. The last type of valley occurs most often when a lava plateau is dissected.

Examples of erosional (denudation) mountains are the mountains of the Central Siberian Plateau (Vilyuisky, Tungussky, Ilimsky, etc.). Most often, erosion mountains can be found not in the form of separate mountain systems, but within mountain ranges, where they are formed by the dissection of rock layers by mountain rivers.

By geographical location

On this basis, it is customary to group mountains into mountain systems, ridges, mountain ranges and single mountains.

Mountain belts are the largest formations. There are the Alpine-Himalayan mountain belt, stretching across Europe and Asia, and the Andean-Cordilleran mountain belt, passing through North and South America.

Mountainous country - many mountain systems.

Mountain system - mountain ranges and groups of mountains that are similar in origin and have the same age (for example, the Appalachians)

Mountain ranges are interconnected mountains stretched out in a line. For example, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (North America).

Mountain groups are also mountains connected to each other, but not elongated in a line, but forming a group of indefinite shape. For example, Mount Henry in Utah and Bear Paw in Montana.

Solitary mountains are mountains that are not connected to other mountains, often of volcanic origin. For example, Mount Hood in Oregon and Rainier in Washington.