Greater Caucasus facts for kids
The Greater Caucasus is a very important mountain range in the Caucasus Mountains. It's also known as "Caucasus Major" or "Big Caucasus." This huge mountain chain stretches for about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles).
It goes from the Taman Peninsula by the Black Sea all the way to the Absheron Peninsula near the Caspian Sea. Imagine it starting near Sochi on the Black Sea coast and reaching almost to Baku on the Caspian Sea.
Contents
Parts of the Greater Caucasus
The Greater Caucasus is usually divided into three main sections:
- Western Caucasus: This part goes from the Black Sea up to Mount Elbrus.
- Central Caucasus: This section is found between Mount Elbrus and Mount Kazbek.
- Eastern Caucasus: This area stretches from Mount Kazbek all the way to the Caspian Sea.
Nature and Environment
The mountains in the Greater Caucasus have different types of nature depending on where you are.
Western Caucasus Environment
The Western Caucasus gets a lot of rain. Because of this, the mountains here are covered in thick forests. You'll find deciduous forests (trees that lose their leaves in autumn) up to about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) high. Higher up, around 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), there are coniferous forests (like pine and fir trees). Above the tree line, where trees can't grow, you'll see beautiful alpine meadows.
Eastern Caucasus Environment
The Eastern Caucasus is much drier. This means the mountains in this part are mostly treeless. The landscape looks quite different from the lush western side.
Images for kids
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14th-century Georgian Orthodox Gergeti Trinity Church building, with the Mount Kazbek in the background
See also
In Spanish: Gran Cáucaso para niños
