Caucasus << KAW kuh suhs >> Mountains are a great mountain range in Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. They rise between the Black and Caspian seas and extend from northwest to southeast for about 750 miles (1,210 kilometers). The chief peak is Mount Elbrus (18,510 feet, or 5,642 meters, above sea level), which is also the highest spot in Europe. Many geographers consider the Caucasus to be a boundary line between Europe and Asia.
The mountains have a number of passes over 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) high. Roads cross a few passes, but railroads skirt around the mountains. The glaciers of the Caucasus rival those of the Alps in size, but there are almost no lakes. Among the Caucasus’s rich mineral resources are the oil fields of Baku, Groznyy (also spelled Grozny), and Maykop; the rich manganese deposits of Georgia; and valuable tungsten and molybdenum reserves. Historically, the mountains have been a barrier to migration, but numerous invasions swept over them in ancient times and in the Middle Ages.
