International Mountain Day

Caucasian rangeAbkhazia is a typical mountainous and seaside country located on the southern slope of the Western Caucasus, in the geographical center of the humid subtropics of the Black Sea coast.

Abkhazia occupies an area of 8,665 sq. km. 70% of its territory (5,564 sq. km.) is occupied by mountain ranges, 10% (860 sq. km.) by a hilly zone and 26% (2241 sq. km.) by a zone of low-lying areas with a height of 0 to 200 m above sea level.

The core of the mountain system of the Western Caucasus is the Main Caucasian Range. Within Abkhazia, large spurs depart from west to east - Gagra, Bzyb, Chkhalta, Kodori ridges.

The highest point in the territory of Abkhazia is reached in the eastern part of the republic - Mount Dombai-Ulgen (4046 m), just below the peak of Gwandra (3,983 m) and Belal-Kaya (3,851 m). Near them rise the mountains of Ertsakh and Marukh. Moreover, travelers to the Sukhumi Bay can see the greatest mountain in Europe – Elbrus (5,642 m).

Among speleologists, the most popular Gagra Range is located between the Psou and Bzyb rivers. The length of the Bzyb ridge is about 50 km. The average height of the mountains is 2,300 - 2,500 m. The Chkhalta Ridge stretches parallel to the Main Ridge of the Greater Caucasus between the Bzyb Ridge and the Kodor River. Height up to 3156 meters, length about 70 km. The Kodori Ridge extends southwest from the Main Caucasus Ridge – 50 km long and 3,309 m high.