Lakcoliths are "unfinished" volcanoes. Location and features of the Laccoliths of the Caucasus

Mountains are relief formations on the earth's surface that have a tectonic or volcanic origin. When magma from the core of the earth under pressure, expanding the sedimentary rocks, breaks the bark and comes to the surface, volcanoes are formed, usually having a conical shape with pronounced vents, slopes and foot. However, sometimes it happens that in certain areas of pressure to break through the surface fossil formations of the earth's crust is not enough, magma only lifts the future rocks and freezes under them, forming "unworked" volcanoes - laccoliths.

Mountain system of the Caucasus

On the territory of Russia, the youngest and most active mountain system Caucasus is located in the North Caucasus region between the Azov and Caspian Seas. It is a chain of mountain ranges stretching from east to west and having several significant altitudes, lowlands, hills and a group of laccoliths.

These mountains of the Greater Caucasus are the highest in the territory of Russia. The extinct two-headed volcano Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe (5642 m). To the east of Elbrus there is one more asleep volcano Kazbek (5033 m). The last eruptions of Elbrus and Kazbek ended more than 40 thousand years ago, and they are reminded only of the numerous hot mineral springs that strike from the very depths of the earth in the saddle of Elbrus and the entire Elbrus region. This region is also called the Caucasian Mineral Waters.

Lakcoliths of the Caucasus

In addition to its high volcanoes, the Caucasus is famous for the world's largest group of 17 laccoliths. They are located in the area of Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk between the Bermamity plateau and the Borgustan plateau. These laccoliths are much older than the Caucasus volcanoes - they are several million years old. Sedimentary rocks on the crown of the mountains were destroyed, exposing rocky magmatic formations.

The small height of these laccoliths is no more than a thousand meters, and their picturesque slopes are attracted to the Caucasus Mineral Waters area by a huge number of tourists who want to climb the accessible peaks and try the water from healing springs.

Features of the Caucasian laccoliths

The highest Caucasian laccolith is Beshtau (1400 m), and at the foot of Mashuk mountain laccolith (993 m) the city of Pyatigorsk is located. Mashuk is famous for the historical duel of Mikhail Lermontov, in which in 1841 the short but bright creative life of the poet was cut short. There is also a karst cave the Great Failure with an underground tectonic lake that arose during the formation of laccolith.

Actually, together with the laccoliths of the Bull (821 m), the Razvalka (930 m) and the Iron (860 m), Beshtau is neither a full volcano nor a laccolith, since the lava in it broke through the surface layers and came out. However, it was too thick and quite cooled and did not spill over the slopes, as it happens in real volcanoes. The various rocks on the surface of the mountains collapsed quite quickly, forming so-called "stone seas" and internal cracks at the foot of many Caucasian laccoliths. Huge blocks at the descent polished the surface of the slopes, and Beshtau and Ostra have characteristic "mirror" rays. On the slopes of Medovo, the barely exposed golden lava veins are clearly visible.

Legends

The extraordinary beauty and mineral springs of the Caucasus mountain massifs not only attract tourists and guests of health-improving establishments today, but since the prehistoric times they have amazed the imagination of the peoples living here. The ancient Alans have a beautiful legend about the imperious Elbrus and his son Beshtau, who could not divide the beautiful Mashukha and fell in a bloody battle around her along with the faithful dzhigits and warrior spirits of animals. Not wishing to betray her love, Mashukha threw off the hateful ring that froze in a wonderful mountain in the vicinity of Kislovodsk. These stone statues for another thousand years will remind of brave and proud warriors, majestic as the mountains of the Caucasus.