The Caucasus reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Caucasus

The Caucasus is a region in eastern Europe and western Asia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea which includes the Caucasus mountains and surrounding lowlands. The highest peak is Elbrus (5642m).

The independent nations that comprise today's Caucasus include Russia (Northern Caucasus district), Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Large, non-independent areas of the Caucasus include Ossetia, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan, among others. The Caucasus is one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse places on earth.

The southern section of the Caucasus is known as the Transcaucasus.

Historical events:

• The Arab-Khazar Wars
• Conquest of the Caucasus by Russia
• Armenian Genocide
• 1991: Re-establishment of the independence of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan

In Greek mythology, the Caucasus, or Kaukasos was one of the pillars supporting the world. Prometheus was chained there by Zeus.

See also

• Caucasian peoples
• Iberian-Caucasian languages

Links and reference

• Ethnolinguistic Groups in the Caucasus Region - US Central Intelligence Agency, 1995

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