The climate of the Caucasus is very diverse. The northern part of the Caucasus is located within the temperate zone, the Transcaucasia - in the subtropical. Such geographical position significantly affects the formation of the climate different parts The Caucasus.
The Caucasus is a vivid example of the influence of orography and relief on climate-forming processes. Radiant energy is distributed unevenly due to different angles of its incidence and different heights of surface levels. The circulation of air masses reaching the Caucasus undergoes significant changes, meeting on its way mountain ranges of both the Greater Caucasus and Transcaucasia. Climatic contrasts appear at relatively short distances. An example is the western, abundantly humidified Transcaucasia and the eastern, with a dry subtropical climate of the Kuro-Araks lowland. The exposure of slopes is of great importance, which strongly affects the thermal regime and the distribution of precipitation. The climate is influenced by the seas washing the Caucasian Isthmus, especially the Black Sea.
Black and Caspian Sea they moderate the air temperature in summer, contribute to its more even daily course, moisten the adjacent parts of the Caucasus, increase the temperature of the cold season, and reduce the temperature amplitudes. The plain eastern Ciscaucasia and the Kuro-Araks lowland, jutting deep into the isthmus, do not contribute to the condensation of moisture coming from the water area of the Caspian Sea. Ciscaucasia experiences big influence continental air masses coming from the north, including arctic ones, often significantly reduce the temperature of the warm season. A spur of high East Siberian barometric pressure often lowers the temperature of the cold season. There are cases when cold air, flowing around the Greater Caucasus from the east and west, spreads to Transcaucasia, causing a sharp drop in temperature there.
Air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean provide high moisture content in the western parts of the Caucasus and the slopes of the western-facing ridges. Additional moisture is brought by air masses passing over the Black Sea. The influence of the Caspian Sea is less pronounced.
In general terms, the climate of the Caucasus changes significantly in three directions: from west to east in the direction of increasing dryness and continentality, from north to south in the direction of an increase in the total radiation and radiation balance, and in height on mountain structures, on which the altitudinal zonation is clearly manifested.
The total radiation within the Caucasus ranges from 460548 J / sq. cm in the north up to 586 152 J / sq. see in the extreme south. Annual radiation balance from 146538 to 188406 J / sq. see The magnitude of solar radiation depends not only on latitude, but also on cloudiness. For many peaks of the Caucasus, stable cloudiness is characteristic, therefore, direct solar radiation here is below average. To the east, it increases due to a decrease in humidity. The exceptions are Lankaran and Talysh, where the relief contributes to the condensation of water vapor and an increase in cloudiness.
The magnitude of the total radiation and radiation balance in different regions of the Caucasus is not the same due to the contrasts of orography, relief, different angles of incidence of sunlight and physical properties of the underlying surface. In summer, the radiation balance in some regions of the Caucasus approaches the balance of tropical latitudes; therefore, air temperatures are high here (Ciscaucasia and the Transcaucasian plains), and in abundantly humidified areas, high volatility and, accordingly, increased air humidity are observed.
Air masses participating in circulation over the territory of the Caucasus are different. Mainly continental air dominates over the Ciscaucasia temperate latitudes, in Transcaucasia - subtropical. The high-altitude belts are influenced by air masses coming from the west, and the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and the Arctic - from the north.
In the Ciscaucasia, located south of the high barometric pressure zone, cold air often enters. Low pressure remains over the Black Sea and in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. Pressure contrasts cause cold air to spread southward. In such a situation, the barrier role of the Greater Caucasus is especially great, which serves as an obstacle to the wide penetration of cold air into the Transcaucasus. Usually, its influence is limited to the Ciscaucasia and the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus to approximately 700 m. It causes a sharp drop in temperatures, an increase in pressure and an increase in wind speed.
Invasions of cold air masses from the northwest and northeast are observed, bypassing the ridges of the Greater Caucasus along the shores of the Caspian and Black Seas. The accumulated cold air passes over the low ridges. and spreads along the western and eastern coasts to Batumi and Lankaran, causing a decrease in temperatures on the western coast of the Transcaucasus to -12 °, on the Lankaran lowland to -15 ° C and below. A sharp drop in temperatures has a disastrous effect on subtropical crops and especially citrus fruits. Baric gradients in these situations between the Ciscaucasia and Transcaucasia are in sharp contrast, the spread of cold air from the Ciscaucasia to the Transcaucasia is very rapid. Cold winds of high, often catastrophic speeds are known under the name "bora" (in the region of Novorossiysk) and "nord" (in the region of Baku).
Air masses coming from the west and southwest from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean, greatest influence render on the western coast of the Caucasus. When moving further east, they, overcoming ridges located in their path, adiabatically heat up and dry up. Therefore, the Eastern Transcaucasia is distinguished by a relatively stable thermal regime and an insignificant amount of precipitation.
Mountain structures of the Lesser Caucasus and the Javakheti-Armenian Highlands contribute to the formation of a local anticyclone in winter, which causes a strong decrease in temperature. Low pressure is established over the highlands in summer.
In the second half of summer, the Caucasus is influenced by the spur of the Azores barometric maximum, located within the Russian Plain between 50 and 45 ° N. sh. It determines the decrease in cyclonic activity in summer. It is associated with a decrease in precipitation in the second half of summer (compared to the first). At this time, the value of local convective precipitation increases, due to the daily variation of air temperatures.
In the Caucasus, hair dryers, common for mountains with a dissected relief, are actively manifested. Hot weather in spring and summer is associated with them. Mountain-valley winds and breezes are also characteristic.
On the plains of Ciscaucasia and Transcaucasia average temperature July 24-25 ° С, its increase is observed to the east. The coldest month is January. In the Ciscaucasia, the average January temperature is -4, -5 ° С, in the western Transcaucasia 4-5 °, in the eastern 1-2 ° N. At an altitude of 2000 m, the temperature in July is 13 °, in January -7 ° С, in the highest zones - in July 1 °, in January from -18 to -25 ° С.
The annual amount of precipitation increases with rising and at all levels decreases markedly from west to east (most evenly in the high belts). In the Western Ciscaucasia, the amount of precipitation is 450-500 mm, in the foothills and on the Stavropol Upland at an altitude of 600-700 m - up to 900 mm. In the east of the Ciscaucasia - 250-200 mm.
In the humid subtropics of Western Transcaucasia on the coastal plains, the annual precipitation reaches 2500 mm (in the Batumi region). Maximum in September. In the Sochi region, 1400 mm, of which 600 mm falls in November - February. On the western slopes of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, the amount of precipitation increases to 2500 mm, on the slopes of the Meskhetian ridge up to 3000 mm, on the Kuro-Araksin lowland it decreases to 200 mm. The Lankaran lowland and the eastern slopes of the Talysh ridge are abundantly moistened, where 1500-1800 mm of precipitation falls.
The hydrographic network of the Caucasus is represented by numerous rivers and lakes, the distribution of which over the territory is associated not only with climatic conditions, but also with orography and relief.
Almost all the rivers of the Caucasus originate in the mountains, where a huge amount of moisture accumulates in the form of liquid and solid sediments and glaciers. With the upward movement due to an increase in precipitation, a decrease in evaporation losses, the annual surface runoff increases, and the density of the river network increases. Rivers originating in the mountains, within the plains of the Ciscaucasia and Transcaucasia, play a transit role.
The watershed ridge of the Greater Caucasus delimits the river basins of the Black, Azov and Caspian seas.
The lowland rivers of the Ciscaucasia are distinguished with a slow current and a small flood. Some of them originate on the slopes of the Stavropol Upland. Their spring floods are associated with melting snow. In summer they either dry up or form chains of lakes (Western and Eastern Manych).
In rivers of mixed feeding, the upper reaches are located in the mountains, and the lower parts are located within the plains. These include Kuban, Kuma, Rioni, Te rivers, Kuri and Araks.
Typically mountainous are Bzyb, Kodor, Inguri and the upper reaches of most rivers in the Caucasus. Their sources are located in the nival belt, rivers flow in deep, often canyon-like gorges (Sulak, Terek, etc.). They are characterized by high flow rates, rapids, waterfalls.
Depending on the relief, amount and mode of precipitation, the density of the Caucasian river network ranges from 0.05 km / sq. km in the east of the Ciscaucasia d6 1.62 km / sq. km in the mountains.
The rivers starting in the high-mountain belt are fed by snow, snow-glaciers (Kuban, Terek, Rioni, Kodor, etc.). For rivers with snow-glacial feeding, the maximum discharge is observed not only in spring due to snow melting, but also in summer as snow and glaciers melt in the upper altitudinal belts.
Rivers of humid subtropics are mainly fed by rain, they are characterized by sharp fluctuations in discharge. During heavy rainfall, they turn into violent powerful streams, carrying a mass of coarse material and unloading it in the lower reaches. In the absence of rain, such rivers turn almost into streams; they belong to the Mediterranean type (rivers between Tuapse and Sochi).
The sources of the rivers of the Lesser Caucasus are located in the zone 2000-3000 m.In their feeding, the role of groundwater is great. Melting snow in spring contributes to a sharp increase in levels and costs, minimal costs in June and July (Kura, Araks).
The turbidity of the waters depends on the nature of the eroded rocks and sediments. Many rivers of the Caucasus, especially Dagestan, are characterized by high turbidity - 5000-7000 g / m3. m (clays, shales, sandstones, limestones). The turbidity of the Kura and Terek rivers is high. Rivers flowing in crystalline rocks have the least turbidity.
Hardness and mineralization river waters fluctuates significantly. In the Kura basin, the hardness reaches 10--20 mg / l, and the mineralization is 2000 kg / l.
The transport value of the rivers of the Caucasus is not great. Only in the lower reaches are the Kura, Rioni and Kuban navigable. Many rivers are used for timber floating and especially widely for irrigation. Hydroelectric power plants have been built on many rivers of the Caucasus (Zangezur cascade, etc.).
There are relatively few lakes in the Caucasus - about 2000. Their area is usually small, with the exception of the mountain lake Sevan (1416 sq. Km). On the plains of the Caucasus along the coasts of the Azov and Caspian Seas, lagoon and estuary lakes are widespread. The Manych lakes are peculiar, forming a whole system. In summer, the mirror of the lakes of the Kumo-Manych depression. decreases sharply, and some dry up. There are no lakes on the lower slopes of the mountains and in the foothills, but higher in the mountains they are quite widespread.
The largest lake is Sevan. until recently, it occupied an area of 1416 sq. km, its maximum depth was 99 m with an absolute height of the water surface of 1916 m. The descent of the lake's water due to hydropower construction lowered its level by more than 18 m, due to which its depth and area decreased. This caused major changes in the hydrological regime of the lake and affected other sides. natural conditions the lake basin itself and the surrounding area. In particular, the masses of birds that nested and rested during flights on the group of Sevan's daughter lakes - Gilly - disappeared. In connection with the descent of the water of Sevan, this area turned into vast exposed peat bogs. Dozens of species of animals and birds have disappeared, fish resources have been catastrophically reduced, especially the resources of the most valuable Sevan trout - ishkhan.
The lake is located in a mountain basin, which is a complex synclinal trough, which has experienced fault dislocations in places. A well-known role in the formation of the basin was played by the damming of the tectonic valley by a lava flow. A project was developed for the utilization of this huge reservoir as a powerful source of hydropower and water for irrigation. To increase the flow of the river flowing from the lake. Hrazdan began to drain the upper layer of lake waters, which then passed through 6 hydroelectric stations of the Sevan-Hrazdan cascade. The surface runoff in the upper reaches of the Hrazdan stopped - the Sevan water went through the tunnel to the turbines of the Sevan HPP.
According to the new project of using the waters of Sevan, further lowering of their level has been suspended. It will remain at the 1898 m mark, and the picturesque reservoir will remain within the boundaries close to natural. Through a 48-kilometer tunnel in the Vardenis ridge, water is supplied to Sevan from the upper reaches of the river. Arps. A recreation area with a national park is being created on the shores of the lake, and a strip of land is being reforested. The main problem the lake and its basin is currently the preservation and restoration of largely unique natural conditions and endemic species of flora and fauna, in particular the named Sevan trout, which is also of great commercial value. In the future, measures should be taken to increase the level of the lake by 4-5 m.
The basins of mountain lakes are tectonic, karst, volcanic, and tarry. Some occupy depressions of the moraine relief. The lakes are volcanic, mainly dammed, and are widespread on the Karabakh plateau and the Armenian Highlands. There are many karst lakes in Western Georgia. Glacial lakes are well preserved in the Teberda basin - Baduksky, Murudzhinsky, Klukhorskoye (on the pass of the same name). There are lakes in the floodplains of the Caucasian plains. The dammed lake Ritsa is peculiar and very beautiful. The lakes of Colchis were formed during the formation of the lowland itself, the largest of them is Lake Paleostomi.
The Caucasus. They are significant in reserves and varied in chemical composition and the degree of mineralization. Their formation is associated with geotectonic structures and the infiltration of atmospheric precipitation. Fractured and reservoir-fissured waters are widespread in folded geostructures. The movement of waters occurs along the cracks of tectonic faults, faults and thrusts, along the strike of folds into river valleys.
The mineral composition of groundwater is determined by the composition of the rocks. Crystalline rocks are difficult to dissolve; therefore, the underground waters circulating in them are comparatively little mineralized. Groundwater in sedimentary deposits is often saturated with readily soluble compounds and highly mineralized. The underground waters of the Caucasus are predominantly cold - up to 20 ° С. There are subthermal - above 20 and hot - above 42 ° C (the latter are not uncommon within the Greater and Lesser Caucasus).
In terms of chemical composition, the underground waters of the Caucasus are very diverse. Especially characteristic are carbonic mineral springs, there are soda of the Borjomi type, salt-alkaline type of Essentuki, sulfate-hydrocarbonate type of the Kislovodsk narzan (in the basin of Ardon, Chkhalty, etc.). There are also chloride waters, hydrogen sulfide (Matsesta, Chkhalta), radon thermal waters up to 35 ° C (Tskhaltubo springs). The mineral waters of the Caucasus are used by numerous resorts.
The climate, orography and relief determine the modern glaciation of the Caucasus. The total area of its glaciers is about 1965 sq. km. (about 1.5% of the entire territory of the Caucasus). The Greater Caucasus is the only mountain areas The Caucasus with the widespread development of modern glaciation. The number of glaciers is 2047, the area of glaciation is 1424 sq. km. About 70% of the number of glaciers and the area of glaciation falls on the northern slope and about 30% on the southern. The difference is explained by orographic features, snow drift by westerly winds beyond the barrier of the Dividing Range, and increased insolation on the southern slope. The most glacial is the Central Caucasus, where 5 glaciers (Dykhsu, Bezengi, Karaugom on the northern slope, Lehzyr and Tsanner on the southern) have an area of approximately 40 sq. km. Their length is more than 12 km. The modern snow border of the Greater Caucasus in the southwest lies at an altitude of 2800-3200 m, in the east it rises to 3600 m. The area of the Transcaucasian glaciers is not large - a little more than 5 square meters. km (Zanzegur Ridge, Aragats peak). The glaciers of the Caucasus play an important role in feeding the rivers of the Caucasus, determining their high flow and the nature of the water regime of the alpine type.
Together they bring this product to the consumer. The most picturesque of all identified the product they sell by travel agents specializing in vacations - they sell dreams. If we proceed from world practice, as well as articles 128-134 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, a tourist product is not only a set of services and even less the right to it, but a more complex and not yet familiar product for us, consisting of a complex of "things, rights , works and services, information, intellectual property and intangible benefits ”. "A tourist product is a set of tangible (consumer goods), intangible (in the form of a service) use values necessary to meet the needs of a tourist arising during his journey."
The climate of the Caucasus is very diverse, which is primarily due to the influence of the relief.
The Caucasus is located on the border of the temperate and subtropical climatic zones. The differences existing between them are intensified by the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, making it difficult to transfer cold air masses from the north to the Transcaucasia and warm ones from the south to the Ciscaucasia. The North Caucasus belongs to the temperate zone, the Transcaucasia to the subtropical. The differences between them are especially noticeable in air temperature.In the North Caucasus, everywhere, with the exception of the high mountains, there is a lot of warmth. On the plains, the average July temperatures everywhere exceed 20 °, and the summer lasts from 4.5 to 5.5 months. Average January temperatures range from -10 ° to + 6 ° in different regions, and winter lasts only two to three months. The rest of the year is occupied by transitional seasons - spring and autumn.
In the Greater Caucasus, starting from an altitude of about 2000 m, and in the Transcaucasian Highlands, the role is played by the western air transport, in connection with which the influence of the Atlantic increases and Mediterranean Sea... Therefore, in the highlands, the climate is more humid.
The complex mountainous relief creates a wide variety of local climates in the Caucasus, and the previously outlined large geomorphiclogical units differ climatically.
The diversity of the Caucasus climate determines the differences in the agricultural use of its territory. Especially great is the economic importance of the Transcaucasian subtropical regions protected by the mountain barrier of the Greater Caucasus, where there is a whole gamut of varieties of subtropical climate, ranging from humid, which allows the cultivation of tea and citrus fruits, and ending with dry, suitable for growing cotton and other crops that require an abundance of sunlight.
The North Caucasus is a huge territory that starts from the Lower Don. It occupies part of the Russian platform and ends with the Greater Caucasus Range. Minerals, mineral water, developed agriculture - the beautiful and diverse North Caucasus. Nature, thanks to the seas and the expressive landscape, is unique. The abundance of light, warmth, alternation of dry and humid regions provides a variety of flora and fauna.
Landscape of the North Caucasus
Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, Rostov Region and Kabardino-Balkaria are located in the North Caucasus, North Ossetia and Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia. Majestic mountains, endless steppes, semi-deserts, forests make this region so interesting for tourism.
The whole system of mountain ranges is the North Caucasus. Its nature changes with the height above sea level. The landscape of the territory is divided into 3 zones:
- Mountain.
- Foothill.
- Steppe (plain).
The northern borders of the region stretch between the Kuban and Terek rivers. There is located to the South, the foothill area begins, which ends with multiple ridges.
The climate is influenced by the abundance of mountains and the proximity of the seas - Black, Azov, Caspian. which can be found in the North Caucasus contain bromine, radium, iodine, potassium.
Mountains of the North Caucasus
From the icy northern regions to the hot southern regions stretches the Caucasus - the highest mountains of the country. They formed during the period
The system is considered a young mountain structure, just like the Apennines, Carpathians, Alps, Pyrenees, Himalayas. Alpine folding is the last epoch of tectogenesis. It led to numerous mountain structures. Named after the Alps, where the process took its most typical manifestation.
The territory of the North Caucasus is represented by the Elbrus, Kazbek mountains, the Rocky and Pasture ridge, the Cross Pass. And this is only a small, most famous part of the slopes and hills.
The highest peaks of the North Caucasus are Kazbek, high point which is located at an elevation of 5033 m. And the extinct volcano Elbrus - 5642 m.
Due to the difficult geological development, the territory and nature of the Kavkazatak mountains are rich in gas and oil fields. There is mining of minerals - mercury, copper, tungsten, polymetallic ores.
An accumulation of mineral springs, different in their chemical composition and temperature, can be found in this area. The extraordinary usefulness of the waters led to the creation of resort areas. Zheleznovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk are widely known for their springs and sanatoriums.
The nature of the North Caucasus is divided into humid and arid areas. The main source of precipitation is the Atlantic Ocean. That is why the foothill areas of the western part are sufficiently humid. While eastern region subject to black (dusty) storms, dry winds, drought.
The peculiarities of the nature of the North Caucasus consist in the variety of air masses. In all seasons, a cold dry stream from the Arctic can penetrate into the territory, a wet stream from the Atlantic, and a tropical stream from the Mediterranean. Air masses, replacing each other, carry a variety of weather conditions.
On the territory of the North Caucasus, there is also a local wind - a foehn. Cold mountain air, falling down, gradually heats up. A hot stream is already reaching the ground. This is how a hair dryer is formed.
Often cold air masses penetrate through the bend from the east and west sides. Then a cyclone reigns in the territory, destructive for the thermophilic flora.
Climate
The North Caucasus is located on the very border of the temperate and subtropical zone. This makes the climate soft and warm. Short winter, which lasts about two months, long summer - up to 5.5 months. The abundance of sunlight in this area is due to the same distance from the equator and pole. Therefore, the nature of the Caucasus is distinguished by a riot and brightness of colors.
There is a lot of precipitation in the mountains. This is due to the fact that air masses, lingering on the slopes and rising up, cool, give off moisture. Therefore, the climate of the mountainous regions differs from the foothills and plains. During the winter, a layer of snow accumulates up to 5 cm. On the northern slopes, the boundary of eternal ice begins.
At an altitude of 4000 m, even in the hottest summer, there are practically no temperatures above zero. In winter, avalanches can come down from any sharp sound or unsuccessful movement.
Mountain rivers, rough and cold, originate during the melting of snows and glaciers. That is why floods are so intense in spring and practically dry up in autumn, when the temperature is low. The melting of snows in winter stops, and the turbulent mountain streams become shallow.
The two most large rivers North Caucasus - Terek and Kuban - give the territory numerous tributaries. Thanks to them, fertile chernozem soils are rich in harvest.
Gardens, vineyards, tea plantations, berry fields smoothly move into the arid zone. These are the features of the nature of the Caucasus. The coldness of the mountains is replaced by the warmth of the plains and foothills, the black soil turns into chestnut soils.
Mineral water
You should be aware that the peculiarities of the North Caucasus are a whole complex of factors. These include the distance from the seas, oceans. The nature of the relief, landscape. Distance from the equator and pole. The direction of the air masses, the abundance of precipitation.
It so happened that the nature of the Caucasus is diverse. There are fertile lands and arid regions. Mountain meadows and pine forests. Dry steppes and deep rivers. Wealth natural resources, the presence of mineral waters makes this area attractive for industry and tourism.
The description of the nature of the Caucasus is remarkable in that more than 70 healing springs can be found on its territory. These are cold, warm, hot mineral waters. They are different in composition, which helps in the prevention and treatment of diseases:
- gastrointestinal tract;
- skin;
- circulatory system;
- nervous system.
The most famous hydrogen sulfide waters are located in the city of Sochi. Ferruginous springs are in Zheleznovodsk. Hydrogen sulfide, radon - in Pyatigorsk. Carbon dioxide - in Kislovodsk, Yessentuki.
Flora
The vegetation cover of the territory is as diverse as wildlife Russia. The Caucasus is divided into mountain, foothill, and plain zones. Depending on this, the vegetation cover of the region also changes. It is caused by climatic conditions, soil, precipitation.
Mountain meadows are lush alpine grasslands. Rhododendron thickets add color to the herbs. There you can find juniper, a creeping shrub that is adapted to the snowy lifestyle. They are in a hurry to replace them broadleaf forests where oak, beech, chestnut, hornbeam grow.
Meadow-bog vegetation alternates with arid semi-desert areas. They are filled with artificial plantings - poppies, irises, tulips, acacia and oak groves.
Black-fruited lands are represented by vast berry and vineyards. The nature of the Caucasus is favorable for fruit trees, shrubs - pears, cherry-plum, hawthorn, blackthorn, dogwood.
Fauna
The steppes are inhabited by such animals as a gopher, a jerboa, a hare, a steppe ferret, a fox, and a wolf. The wild nature of Russia is also rich in them. The Caucasus, its semi-desert regions, are favorable for eared hedgehog, the gerbils of the comb and midday, the earthen hare and the corsac fox. There are saigas (steppe antelopes). Roe deer live in the woodlands, Brown bear, bison.
The nature of the Caucasus is distinguished by a large number of reptiles. A humid and warm climate is an excellent condition for their survival and reproduction. These are the steppe viper and boa constrictor, snake and lizards.
In you can find wild boar, jungle cat, jackals. There are waterfowl, as well as eagle, kite, kestrel, lark, bustard, harrier, crane.
Minerals
The nature of the Caucasus is rich in large deposits of oil and gas. The deposits of coal and brown coal, copper and manganese ores, asbestos, and rock salt are of industrial importance.
Soil studies have shown that all metals necessary for the national economy can be found in the North Caucasus. These are the deposits:
- zinc;
- copper;
- chromium;
- aluminum;
- arsenic;
- lead;
- gland.
Recently, the development of building stone has gained wide popularity. Strong tuff lava and roofing slate are especially appreciated. Local Neogene limestone is used for the construction of buildings. The North Caucasus is famous for its deposits of granite, marble, basalt. Deposits of gold and silver have been identified.
Conclusion
The main features of the nature of the North Caucasus are its diversity. A combination of glacial mountains with black-fruited lowlands, alpine meadows with semi-deserts. Abundant precipitation in the western territory passes into dry winds in the eastern regions.
Cyclones, warm and cold air fronts form a feature of the North Caucasus. Streams from the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea carry moisture. Hot wind blows dry air masses from Central Asia and Iran.
Clean, transparent air saturated with ultraviolet light gives longevity to its multinational inhabitants. Warm, short winters, high level the agricultural sector attracts travelers. Healing springs, deposits of natural resources make this area attractive for the health care system and industry.
Multilevel landscape, numerous rivers - natural beauty the edge is striking in its splendor. Historical and cultural attractions give an energetic boost to this fertile territory.
Summer is hot everywhere, with the exception of the highlands. So, the average temperature on the plain in summer is about 25 єС, and in the upper reaches of the mountains - 0єС.
The abundance of warmth and light ensures the development of vegetation in the steppe zone for seven months, in the foothills - eight, and on the Black Sea coast - up to eleven. (T is not lower than +10).
Winters in the Ciscaucasia are quite warm (the average temperature in January is -5єС). This is facilitated by warm air masses... On the Black Sea coast, the temperature rarely drops below zero (the average January temperature is + 3єС). In mountainous areas, the temperature is naturally below -4 - 8 ° C.
Precipitation.
The decisive influence on the distribution of precipitation is exerted by dry Central Asian winds penetrating through the Caspian Sea, and humid Black Sea ones.
Precipitation they enter this territory mainly due to the coming from the west cyclones, as a result of which their number gradually decreases to the east. Most of the precipitation falls on the southwestern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. (2600mm) (most of all in our country). To the east, precipitation drops to 600 mm per year
Their number on the Prikubanskaya plain is about 400 mm. The Stavropol plateau serves not only as a watershed, but also as a barrier limiting the influence of the Black Sea winds in the east of the region. Therefore, the southwestern regions of the North Caucasus are sufficiently humid (Sochi receives 1410 mm of precipitation per year), while the eastern regions are arid (Kizlyar - 340 mm).
The climatic features of the Greater Caucasus are determined by the altitudinal zonality and the rotation of the mountain barrier formed by it at a certain angle to the western moisture-bearing air currents - Atlantic cyclones and the Mediterranean western air currents of the middle troposphere. This turn has a decisive influence on the distribution of precipitation.
The wettest is the western part of the southern slope, where more than 2500 mm of precipitation falls in the highlands per year. The record amount of precipitation falls on the Achishkho ridge in the Krasnaya Polyana region - 3200 mm per year, this is the wet place Russia. Winter snow cover in the area of the Achishkho meteorological station reaches 5-7 meters in height!
In the east of the Central Caucasus, in the highlands, up to 1500 mm per year fall, and on the southern slope of the Eastern Caucasus, only 800-600 mm per year.
By the nature of the air masses, the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus belongs to subtropical belt whose boundary with moderate belt highlighted by the highland barrier. The west of the lower part of the southern slope has a humid subtropical climate, while the east is semi-dry. The northern slope of the Greater Caucasus is generally dry land of the southern.
In the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, in a relatively small area, there is a wide range of climatic zones with a pronounced zonation in height: humid subtropics of the Black Sea coast continental dry (in the east to semi-desert) climate with hot summers and short, but cold winter On the plains of the Ciscaucasia, the temperate continental climate of the foothills with significant precipitation (especially in the western part) and snowy winters (in the Krasnaya Polyana region, on the watershed of the Bzyb and Chkhalta rivers, the snow cover reaches 5 m and even 8 m). In the zone of alpine meadows, the climate is cold and humid, winter lasts up to 7 months, average temperatures in August, the warmest month, range from 0 to 10 ° C. Above is the so-called nival belt, where the average temperature of even the warmest month does not exceed 0 °. Precipitation falls here mainly in the form of snow or grains (hail).
Average January temperatures at the foot of the mountains -5 ° С in the north and from 3 ° to 6 ° С in the south at an altitude of 2000 m -7-8 ° С, at an altitude of 3000 m -12 ° С, at an altitude of 4000 m -17 ° С ... Average July temperatures at the foot of the mountains in the west are 24 ° С, in the east up to 29 ° С at an altitude of 2000 m 14 ° С, at an altitude of 3000 m 8 ° С, at an altitude of 4000 m 2 ° С.
In the Greater Caucasus, the height of the snow line, rising from west to east, fluctuates between 2700 m - 3900 m above sea level. Its northern mark is different for the northern and southern slopes. In the Western Caucasus it is 3010 and 2090 m, respectively, in the Central - 3360 and 3560 m, in the East - 3700 and 3800 m. The total area of the modern glaciation of the Greater Caucasus is 1780 km¤. The number of glaciers is 2047, their tongues descend to absolute marks: 2300-2700 m (Western Caucasus), 1950-2400 m (Central Caucasus), 2400-3200 m (Eastern Caucasus). Most of the glaciation falls on the northern side of the GKH. The distribution of the glacier area is as follows: Western Caucasus - 282 and 163 sq. km Central Caucasus - 835 and 385 sq. km East Caucasus - 114 and 1 sq. km respectively.
The Caucasian glaciers are distinguished by a variety of shapes. Here you can also see grandiose icefalls with seracs, ice grottoes, tables, mills, deep cracks. Glaciers carry out a large amount of debris that accumulates in the form of various moraines on the sides and at the tongue of the glaciers.