Mountains of Caucasian Mineral Waters

As far as the Caucasian Mineral Waters (CMW) mountains region's relief is concerned, it can be divided into two parts: the North-West part with lakkolithos-mountains rising up in the plain and South-West one with typical mountainous landscape. The South-West part includes the Rocky Ridge with its monotonous landscape and the Bermamyt plateau (with its table-plateau of mountain peaks - "Bolshoy Bermamyt" (2643m) and "Maly Bermamyt" (2592m)) that slipping down to Kislovodsk.

The great view of the Main Caucasus Ridge and highest mountain in the Europe - the Elbrus Mountain (5642m) - opens from these peaks. There was an active volcano on Elbrus Mountain about 40 thousand years ago. It is very quiet since that time but some scientists proved that there is a very huge volcano strength deep in the bowels of the mountain, which can be used by the people.

The Shatzhatmaz mountain (2140m) is located on the Bermamyt plateau and there are the Mountainous astronomic station, meteorology station, scientific base of the Atmosphere Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences here also. The Pasture Ridge is located in the northeast of Bermamyt plateau and it is divided into two parts by Podkumok River. The first part is named "Jinal ridge" and another - "Darien heights". They are located at the altitude of 1300-1500m.

There are 17 lakkolithos-mountains just in the middle of CMW steppe zone. They are: Beshtau, Jutsa, Zmeyka, Mashuk, Utsa, Razvalka, Zolotoy Kurgan, Verblyud, Ostraya, Zheleznaya, Sheludivaya, Lysaya, Medovaya, Kinjal, Kokurtly, Byk, Kabanka (Toopaya) (772m).

All of them were made by the ancient volcano processes. The strength of underground magma was not enough to be out of the Earth and all magma, magmata gas and steams had only made cupola-shaped peaks. Magma got hardened at all places, where it found the way out, and these places look like uncovered rocks now. All these places become very attractive and useful for the close tourism arrangement due to low heights, gently sloping floats and richness of plants.

Beshtau (five mountains)

Beshtau is the highest mountain among the lakkolithos-mountains situated in the middle of northeastern part of CMW. From its peak You can see all the lakkolithos-mountains, the resort region outlook and mountainous chain of the Caucasian ridge. Beshtau mountainous complex includes five peaks and among them are: Beshtau, Little Beshtau, Two brothers and Goat rocks. The Beshtau slopes are covered mostly with the deciduous forest. It's better for you to rise the mountain up from Zheleznovodsk or Lermontov town side.

Mashuk Mountain

Mashuk Mountain is the most interesting one in the Caucasian Mineral Waters region and it is the best viewpoint in the vicinity of Pyatigorsk. The legend about Mashuk spreads like a brilliant thread through the ancient times up to our days. That is what one of them tells us about. Once upon a time Golden Horde Khan Kaplan-Girey with his great army invaded suddenly Kabarda region. The unbidden guests had taken away everything value and cattle they encountered on their way. The inhabitants were humiliated and desecrated in different ways. There was only one man among the aborigines who revenged the invaders for his bride's desecrated honour and death. His name was Mashuk. Khan was greatly disturbed by heroic deeds of that man and sent the best of his fighting men to catch him The aggressors surrounded Mashuk and his friends on the slopes of one of the mountains. There was a cruel battle in which all of his friends had been killed. Very tired and wounded Mashuk didn't want to be captivated and jumped down the rock on the grey stones. The news about his death filled the people's hearts with anger. And they have raised against the invaders. The unbidden invaders were killed in the night and the rest of them defeated. Kabarda had got rid of them and become independent for a while. In memory of the brave hero people named the mountain with its cold and warm sources where he fought and died by his name. The tour around CMW will not be full without the excursion up to Mashuk Mountain. It takes you 3-4 hours to come up and down the mountain. As far as the rope is concerned, you can rich the peak and go back in 3-5 minutes. From its peak, if the weather is fine, You'll get a beautiful view of the area covering the vicinity of the Main Caucasus Ridge and Stavropol steppes. The way to the Mashuk Mountain will bring you to the high obelisk-grave of the famous military topographer A.V. Pastukhov. There is the Perkal arboretum nursery located on the north slope of the mountain.

Zheleznaya mountain

There are comfortable terrainkur paths leading to the peak of Zheleznaya mountain. The way to its peak is coming through the picturesque Zheleznovodsk Park. There is a magnificent view of the lakkolithos-mountains and Zheleznovodsk resort that opens for you from the very top of this mountain It was named "Zheleznaya" because of its mineral waters' sources, which have iron ingredients. Right at its foot You can see a shapeless boulder, which is the fragment of Zheleznaya mountain. Its weight is about of 8400 pounds and it had fallen down on 10 or 11 of April 1892 in the night. There is a great number of resort routes laying in the slopes of the mountain.

Honey Mountain

There is a route that leads from "Dubovaya Roscha" sanatorium of Zheleznovodsk to this mountain. It would be much better for you to climb up the mountain by using its southern slope pass. All the way up to the peak is about 3-4 kilometers long.

Tupaya Mountain

The way to it goes from "Dubovaya Roscha" sanatorium of Zheleznoovdsk through "Honey Mountain" and forest up to the second ravine at the "Tupaya Mountain" foot. The ascent to the valley leads between Tupaya and Ostraya Mountains. You can start climbing to "Tupaya Mountain" peak covered with a small forest from that ravine. The way up there and back is not longer than 7 kilometers with the angle of slope just about 5-10° and somewhere - up to 18°.

Razvalka Mountain ("Sleeping Lion")

There are three ways to approach the mountain: one way leads through Zheleznovodsk park from the Nezlobinsk source and along the water-main up to the water tower; the second one goes along the road by "Zheleznaya Mountain" and then through the terrainkur path and the third one comes through the west part of the town. It's one of the lakkolithos-mountains in the Pyatigorie. The mountain consists of the thicken magma which raised three times from the bowels. The mountain has got two sights that you can see. First of all it is the cracking mountain high rocks or the stone chaos and the second sight is the cold breath of the earth. If you try to turn the moss there will be the thin ice with silver shade glittering. That corner is called as "ever permafrost" or even "summer permafrost" because it usually appears to be during summer time frame. The "Saltpetre Cave", founded due to the mountain magma nucleus fall, is situated in the Razvalka mountain core. The archeologists have found that this cave was the Alan's dwelling place.

Big Saddle and Small Saddle mountains

Way to Big and Small Saddle mountains lies through the Kislovodsk park, the "Air Church", the "Red Sunshine", and "Blue Mountains". You can see the Elbrus Mountain and Kabardinian plateau while moving that way. The Big Saddle is 3 kilometers far from the Small one. You can see the beautiful Caucasian Ridge and the whole region of the Caucasian Mineral Waters from the Big Saddle very well. The name of the mountains is connected with their similarity to the saddle.

Rome Mountain

Rome Mountain (1094 м) is situated 18 kilometers east of Kislovodsk in the Podkumok river valley. There are traces of life and people's activities here. You can see the fell down steps and basins for saving the water cut in the rocks and a great number of catacomb burials. You can climb the Rome Mountain only by the fell down steps in the rocks. Why did they call it Rome Mountain? The legend tells: the group of Roman fighting men, surrounded by the Alan's-nomads, dug in this mountain. Romans were waiting for the caravan with foodstuff. But the nomads captured it, dressed in the Romans legionaries' uniform and hid some of them in the packs instead of foodstuff. The Romans' security let the enemy inside the stronghold and the hard struggle and slaughter had begun. The Romans' leader was killed in the fight. The command and control was taken over by his wife who demonstrated the miracles of bravery. But the strength was not equal and the Romans' fate was decided. The fortress fell. The new Romans' leader didn't want to be taken captive and blindfolded her horse and fell down dead with her horse from one of the highest rocks.

Gud-mountain

Gud-mountain (2483 м) is situated 20 kilometers west of Kislovodsk. The magnificent view of the picturesque mountainous ridges and canyons opens from this mountain. You can move down to the Kanta-Tukele settlement from the Gud-mountain. You can move by bus or car just a part of the way but the greater part of it you are to walk.