Nice view titled Der Caucasus, from steel engraving with fine detail and clear impression, nice hand coloring, approx. page size is 26 x 18 cm, approx. image size is 14 x 9 cm. Print was published in Meyer's Universum by Bibliographic Institute Hildburghausen Germany.

Caucasus,

Russian KAVKAZ, region and mountain system lying between the Black and Azov seas (west) and the Caspian Sea (east) and occupied by Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. The Caucasus is part of the traditional dividing line between Europe and Asia.

The Great Caucasus Range extends for approximately 750 miles (1,200 km) southeastward along the breadth of the Caucasus region. The country north of the Great Caucasus is called Ciscaucasia; the region south of the range is called Transcaucasia.

The Great Caucasus is a series of ranges running generally northwest-southeast, including the principal peaks of Mount Elbrus (18,510 feet [5,642 m]), Mount Dykhtau (17,073 feet [5,204 m]), and Mount Shkhara (16,627 feet [5,068 m]). The Great Caucasus has more than 2,000 glaciers, which cover about 1 percent of its total area. The Caucasus Mountains are crossed by several passes, notably the Mamison and the Daryal, and by the Georgian Military Road and the Ossetian Military Road, which connect Ciscaucasia with Transcaucasia to the south. Ciscaucasia north of the Great Caucasus consists of vast plains, much of them under cultivation for cereals. Transcaucasia is dominated by similar plains and by the Little Caucasus Range.

Water power resources are considerable. The deepest and most powerful rivers are the Rioni, the Kura, and the Araks. Lake Sevan is the largest lake of the Caucasus. The mountain slopes of the Caucasus are covered with forests, which include oak, chestnut, beech and alder, Caucasian fir, ash, and linden. Animal life includes chamois, red deer, bear, lynx, fox, and two species of mountain goat. The clear rivers and lakes are full of trout. The Caucasus is rich in deposits of various minerals, including coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and manganese. Petroleum is exploited in Azerbaijan and in Krasnodar and Stavropol kraya (regions), and natural gas deposits have acquired great importance.

Mount Elbrus,

Russian GORA ELBRUS, highest peak of the Caucasus mountains, southwestern Russia. It is an extinct volcano with twin cones reaching 18,510 feet (5,642 m) and 18,356 feet (5,595 m). The volcano was formed during the Upper Tertiary Period, more than 2,500,000 years ago. Sulfurous gases are still emitted on its eastern slopes, and there are many mineral springs along its descending streams. A total area of 53 square miles (138 square km) of Elbrus is covered by 22 glaciers, which feed the Kuban River and some of the headwaters of the Terek. Elbrus is a major centre for mountaineering and tourism in the Caucasus region. In 1964 an extensive tourist and mountaineering base was opened, with large-scale sporting facilities.