CAUCASUS, a mountain range of great geographical and ethnographical importance, occupying the isthmus between the Black sea and the Caspian, its general direction being from w.n.w. to e.s.e.—from the peninsula of Taman on the Black sea, in lat. 45°10'n., long. 36° 45' e.. to the peninsula of Apsheron on the Caspian, in lat. 40° 20' n., long. 50° 20' e.—a length of about 750 miles. The breadth, including the secondary ranges and spurs, may be stated at about 150 in., but the breadth of the higher C. is much less, not much exceeding CO or 70 miles. This range, formerly belonging entirely to Asia, now forms part of the boundary-line between Europe and Asia. The higher and central part of the range is formed of parallel chains, not separated by deep and wide valleys, but remarkably connected by elevated plateaus, which are traversed by narrow fissures of extreme depth. The highest peaks are in the most central ridge or chain—Mt. Elburz attaining an elevation of 18,000 ft. above the sea, while Mt. Kasbeck reaches a height of more than 16,000 ft., and several others rise above the line of perpetual snow, here between 10,000 and 11,000 ft. high; but the whole amount of perpetual snow is not great, nor are the glaciers very large or numerous. This central chain is formed of tra chyte. The secondary parallel chains are, on the inner side, mostly formed of argilla ceous slate and plutonic rocks; ou the outer side of limestone. The spurs and outlying mountains or bills are of less extent and importance than those of almost any other mountain-range of similar magnitude. subsidikg as they do until they are only about 200 ft. high along the shores of the Black sea. Some parts are entirely destitute of wood, but other parts are very densely wooded, and the secondary ranges, near the Black sea, exhibit most magnificent forests of oak, beech, ash, maple, and walnut; grain is cultivated in some parts to a height of 8,000 ft., while, in the lower valleys, rice, tobacco, cotton, indigo, etc., are produced. As might be expected from the geograph ical situation of the C., the climate, though it is generally healthy, is very different on the northern and southern sides, the vine growing wild in great abundance on the s., which is not the case on the north. The s. declivity of the mountains, towards Georgia, presents much exceedingly beautiful and romantic scenery.
There arc no active volcanoes in Mt. C., but every evidence of volcanic action. There are mud-volcanoes at each end of the range, and there are also famous naphtha springs in the peninsula of Apsheron. See BAXU. Mineral springs also occur in many places. The bison, or aurochs, is found in the mountains; in the forests are many fur-bearing animals; and game abounds. Bears, wolves, and jackals are among the carnivorous ani mals. Lead, iron, sulphur, coal, and copper are found.
The waters of the C. flow into four principal rivers—the Kuban, and the Rion or Faz (the P/sasis of the ancients), which flow into the Black sea; and the Kur and the Terek, which flow into the Caspian. The Russians have carried a military road, with great labor and danger, through a valley somewhat wider than most of the Caucasian valleys, between the sources of the Kuban and the Terek. This road passes over a height of about 8,000 ft., and is protected by many forts, but is exposed to other dangers besides those which arise from the hostility of the mountain tribes. The only other road is by the pass of Derbend, near the Caspian sea.
The resistance which the Caucasian tribes, for more than half a century, offered to the arms of Russia, attracted to them the attention of the world. But with the capture (1859) of the prophet-chief of the Lesghians—Schamyl, the most active and determined of the foes of Russia, who for a quarter of a century withstood and harassed the armies sent against him—the power of the Caucasians was greatly shattered; and after his death in 1871 the Russians regarded the territory as virtually subjugated. A large number of the Circassians elected to migrate to Turkish territory, where they were welcomed. The general name Circassians (q.v.) is often, but not very correctly, applied to the tribes which inhabit the Caucasus, and whose whole number is not above 1,300,000 or 1,500, 000. From the situation of Mount C., there have gathered together in it tribes belong ing to a greater number of distinct races than can perhaps be found within the same space anywhere upon the earth. There are more than 100 different languages or dialects spoken; the Turkish-Tartar language, however, serving for a general medium of com munication. The different tribes inhabiting the C., long believed to be the purest type of the Indo-European family, are now considered not to belong to it at all, but to have more affinity with the Mongolian races. See CAUCASIAN VARIETY OF MANKIND. The principal tribes are the Tsherkesses or Circassians, Ossetes, Lesghians, Abchasians, Georgians, Suans, and Tchetches. The Georgians and Ossetes are at least nominally Christians; the Lesghians are fanatical Mohammedans. The Byzantine emperors and kings of Georgia planted Christian churches throughout this region, and many ruins of them remain, some of which are very beautiful. But the present Christianity of the nominally Christian tribes is more akin to heathenism than to true Christianity. In character. they are distinguished by their valor and love of freedom, but also by cruelty and treachery. They carry on a little agriculture, but live more by the care of their flocks, and by hunting.—The Russian lieutenancy of the C., lying on both sides of the mountain range, has an area of 172,170 sq.m., and a pop. (1871) of 4,893,332.