Elbrus expeditions. Trekking and ski-touring in the Mount Elbrus area. Caucasus Mountains, Russia. Mt Elbrus climb. gb@geographicbureau.com phone: +7 812 230-45-76 Postal address: 197110, P.O. Box 162, St Petersburg, Russia

GEOLOGY AND RELIEF

The Caucasus main ridge is a magnificent Alpine-type mountain chain with rocky peaks and glaciated slopes. The ridge rises almost 1000m above the permanent snow line. Most passes lie a' 2400-3000m above sea level and are crossed only by mountaineering routes. The Main Ridge is made of hard crystalline rocks - shales, gneisses and granites. Heavy glaciation has resulted in characteristic glacial sculpture, including glacial cirques and elegant pyramidal summits. From the cirques glacial tongues extend a long way down into many of the major valleys Elbrus itself is a huge volcanic cone that lies several km. off the main ridge.