Western Caucasus

The western part of the Great Caucasus has no analogy in its biodiversity level among the natural systems of the Caucasus or any other mountainous area in Europe or Western Asia. The Western Caucasus is a place where endangered, rare, endemic and relic plant and animal species are concentrated. It is even more important that this territory is a place with an undisturbed natural environment that provides habitat for the most vulnerable species of large mammals including the Caucasian bison, the Caucasian red deer, Western Caucasian wild ox, chamois, wolf and Caucasian bear.

The Western Caucasus is famous with its unique wildlife biodiversity. Only its high mountain zone accounts for 967 species of vascular plants. The floras of other high mountain systems are much poorer (Eastern Saiany - 540 species; Western Saiany - 601; Stanovoye Highland - 602; the Urals - 621; the Altai - 297).

Among the most important challenges that stand in front of the Caucasian Nature Preserve is protection and restoration of one of the few bison populations living in natural conditions. Although pure bison species became extinct in the 1920s, some hybrid species have survived in captivity, including those that inherited some of the characteristics of the pure mountain bison. These animals belonging to the so-called Belovezh-Caucasus line, have composed the backbone of the modern bison population of the Caucasus Nature Reserve. After 50 years of selection work these animals have occupied the empty environmental niche that used to belong to the mountain bison. The Caucasus Nature Reserve is the only remaining habitat of the mountain bison, in other places it has been almost completely exterminated by poachers.

Both ancient and modern glaciers have played a very important part in the development of the diverse relief of the Western Caucasus. Here one can see trough valleys, moraines, mountain wetlands and glacial lakes. Multiple karst-forming processes take place in limestone massifs of the northern part of the area. Numerous caves and cavities (these are among the longest and deepest ones in Russia as some are over 1600 m deep and 15 km long) form complex underground systems of rivers, lakes and waterfalls. At rock outcrops of different age and composition one can find very interesting remains of extinct ancient organisms. For example, due to numerous findings of giant ammonite shells (some over 1 m in diameter) the valley of the Belaya River (the left tributary of the Kuban river) has become world famous.

The territory is rich in different picturesque objects including waterfalls and mountain peaks (up to 3360 m); ebbing mountain rivers with crystal clear water, clear mountain lakes, enormous trees (grandiose fir trees that are up to 70 m high and about 2 m in diameter), rare plants (orchids and others) and many other features. The Western Caucasus remains an invaluable unique and pristine natural complex.