Greater Caucasus Mountains

The western Greater Caucasus rises between the Black Sea and the basin of the Kuban. Its high ridges divide the short rivers flowing south to the sea from northern streams that join the Kuban and ultimately reach the Sea of Azov. Mountain forests cover the lower slopes, giving way to meadows and exposed rock at higher elevations. Deep valleys cut through the range, while its snowy crests form a formidable barrier between the northern foothills and the coast.