| Main Caucasian Range | |
| Other Name: | Главный Кавказский хребет კავკასიონის მთავარი წყალგამყოფი ქედი Baş Qafqaz silsiləsi |
| Region Type: | Federal subjects |
| Parent: | Greater Caucasus |
| Period: | Paleozoic |
| Range Coordinates: | 42.6°N 93°W |
| Length Km: | 1200 |
| Length Orientation: | ESE/WNW |
| Width Km: | 180 |
| Width Orientation: | NNE/SSW |
| Highest: | Shkhara |
| Elevation M: | 5193 |
| Coordinates: | 43.0006°N 43.1122°W |
| Map: | Caucasus mountains#European Russia |
| Label Position: | none |
The Main Caucasian Range is a mountain range in the Russian Federation, Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is the dividing range of the Greater Caucasus.
The protected areas of the range are the Teberda Nature Reserve, Kabardino-Balkaria Nature Reserve and the North Ossetia Nature Reserve.[1] [2] [3]
The Main Caucasian Range marks the divide between the North Caucasus to the north and the South Caucasus to the south. It stretches from Mount Chugush near the Black Sea, to the Khizi District of Azerbaijan near the Caspian Sea. The main range runs parallel to the southern side of the Lateral Range, along Abkhazia, Adygea, the Krasnodar Territory, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan federal subjects of Russia, as well as the countries of Georgia and Azerbaijan. The range is characterized by numerous alpine landforms and, unlike its parallel ranges to the north, it forms a continuous, uninterrupted, system of mountain ranges. [4]
The Main Caucasian Range forms a watershed, separating the basins of rivers flowing on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, such as the Samur, Kuban, Terek and Sulak, from those flowing on the southern slopes of the mountain system, such as the Kodori, Enguri, Rioni and Kura.
The highest and rockiest section of the range is located in its central part. Although not as high as the topmost summits of the Lateral Range to the north, the highest elevations of the Main Caucasian Range include the 5193m (17,037feet) high Shkhara, the 4466m (14,652feet) high Mount Bazardüzü —highest point of Dagestan— and the 4451m (14,603feet) high Mount Shani —highest point of Ingushetia.[4]
There are several glaciated areas in the range system, including Bezengi the largest glacier in the Caucasus. Parts of the lower and middle slopes of the mountains are covered by forests up to heights of about 2000m (7,000feet).[5]