Caucasus Mountains, Mountain range between Black Sea and Caspian Sea, Georgia.
The Caucasus is a mountain system stretching roughly 1100 km between the Black Sea in the west and the Caspian Sea in the east, spanning multiple countries. The range consists of the Greater Caucasus to the north with the highest peaks and the Lesser Caucasus to the south, separated by broad valleys and high plateaus.
The mountain range formed millions of years ago when the Arabian plate pushed against the Eurasian plate, folding the land upward. This movement continues today and shapes the landscape further as the plates slowly move toward each other.
Communities in valleys and villages at the foot of the range maintain traditions such as polyphonic singing, handwoven textiles, and baking flatbread in clay ovens that date back centuries. Travelers meet shepherds who move their flocks to high pastures in summer and witness festivals where dances and old recipes reflect the deep connection people hold with these mountains.
At elevations above 5600 m (about 18400 ft), climbers encounter permanent snow and glaciers, while lower slopes in summer offer hiking trails with meadows, forests, and alpine lakes. Weather changes quickly, and in many areas local guides help with orientation and safety.
Over 6400 plant species grow here in elevation zones that range from subtropical lowlands to snow-covered peaks. This diversity reveals itself to hikers who climb from valley greenery to bare rock faces within days, experiencing shifts from trees to flowers to grasses.
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