Description of the attraction
One of the main attractions of the Elbrus region is Mount Elbrus - the highest peak in Russia and Europe, located north of the Greater Caucasus Range on the border of two republics: Karachay-Cherkess and Kabardino-Balkaria.
Elbrus is a two-peaked extinct volcano. The height of the western summit is 5642 m above sea level, the eastern one - 5621 m. They are separated by a saddle - 5300 m. The summits are located at a distance of about 3 thousand m. The main composition of the rocks is granite, gneisses, diabases and tuffs of volcanic origin.
Elbrus with two peaks-craters was formed a million years ago during the creation of the Caucasus Range. Huge streams of ash mud rushed along the slopes of Elbrus, sweeping away all the stones and vegetation in front of them. Layers of lava, ash, stones, layered on top of each other, thereby expanding the slopes of the volcano and increasing its height.
The scientific study of Mount Elbrus began in the 19th century. Russian researchers. The first person to determine the exact location and height of the mountain in 1913 was Academician V. Vishnevsky. In 1829, Mount Elbrus was visited by the first Russian scientific expedition, which included the famous Russian academician E. Lenz, Pyatigorsk architect Bernardazzi, botanist E. Meyer and others. The expedition was accompanied by General G. Emmanuel, the head of the Caucasian line. The first successful ascent to the western peak was made by a group of English climbers in 1874 under the leadership of F. Grove, A. Sottaev was its participant.
In 2008 Elbrus was recognized as one of the “7 wonders of Russia”. Today Elbrus is the largest ski mountain in the world, as well as the most promising place for all-Russian and international competitions. Basically, the infrastructure is well developed on the southern slopes of Mount Elbrus, where there are chairlifts and pendulum cable cars leading to a parking lot called "Bochka" (at an altitude of 3750 m), which consists of 12 insulated six-seater residential trailers with a kitchen.
