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Information About

Mount Kazbek




  Photo Kazbegi1jpg
  Elevation 5,047 metres (16,558 feet)
  Location Georgia / Russia
  Range Caucasus
  Type Stratovolcano (dormant)Age=Last eruption= approx 750 BC
  First Ascent 1868 by Freshfield, Moore, Tucker
  Easiest Route basic snow/ice climb


Mount Kazbek (, ''Mqinvartsveri''; , ''Kazbek''; , ''Urskhokh'' ( White Mount)), is a volcano and one of the chief Mountain s of the Caucasus . It is located on the border between Georgia and Russia , dominating the town of Stepantsminda near the border with North Ossetia . It is the third highest mountain in Georgia (after Mount Shkhara and Janga ) and the seventh highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains.
Georgians call the mountain ''Mqinvari'' meaning " Glacier " or "Ice Mountain".

Kazbek is located on the Khokh Range , a mountain range which runs north of the Greater Caucasus Range, and which is pierced by the gorges of the Ardon and the Terek . The mountain itself lies along the edge of the Borjomi-Kazbegi Fault (which is a northern sub-ending of the Anatolian Fault ). The region is highly active Tectonically , with numerous small Earthquake s occurring at regular intervals. An active Geothermal / Hot Spring system also surrounds the mountain. Kazbek represents a Dormant Volcano , built up of Trachyte and sheathed with Lava , and has the shape of a double cone, whose base lies at an altitude of 1,770m (5,800 ft). Kazbek is the highest of the volcanic cones of the Kazbegi volcanic group which also includes Mount Khabarjina (3142 metres).

Owing to the steepness of its slopes, the glaciers of Kazbek are not very large. The total combined area of all of Kazbek's glaciers is 135 km&2. The best-known glacier is the Dyevdorak (Devdaraki), which creeps down the north-eastern slope into a gorge of the same name, reaching a level of 2,295m (7,530 ft). Kazbek's other glaciers include the Mna, Denkara, Gergeti, Abano and Chata. The recent collapse of the Kolka Glacier , located in a valley between Mt. Jimara and Kazbek in 2002 was attributed to Sulphur ic volcanic activity along the northern slope of the mountain, although there was no eruption. At its eastern foot runs the Georgian Military Road through the Pass Of Darial 2,378m (7805 ft).
near Mount Kazbek]]
The summit was first climbed in 1868 by D. W. Freshfield, A. W. Moore, and C. Tucker, with a Swiss guide.


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