The highest mountains in Russia

The vast majority of peaks included in the list of the highest mountains in Russia on the map belong to one mountain system – the Greater Caucasus. This huge mountain range is located between the Black and Caspian Seas. The southerners are barely caught up by three Kamchatka hills – Klyuchevskaya, Kamen and Ploskaya Blizhnyaya (13th, 18th and 70th places) and two peaks of the Altai Mountains – Belukha and Tavan-Bogdo-Uul (19th and 67th places).

To prevent Russian climbers from getting bored with monotony, the Mountaineering Federation decided to include in the conditions for receiving the most honorable mountaineering title the conquest of not only the eight highest mountains on the list, but also the assault on Belukha and Klyuchevskaya Sopka.

10. Shota Rustaveli, height – 4860 m

Shota Rustaveli Peak is one of the peaks that make up the so-called Bezengi Wall, a giant mountain range stretching for 13 km. In addition to Shota Rustaveli Peak, the wall is formed by Dzhangitau (fifth place in the ranking), Katyntau (ninth), and Shkhara (sixth).

9. Katyn-Tau – 4970 m

The Kabardino-Balkarians have a sad legend associated with the name of this mountain. The mountain peak Tetnuld ("white"), one of the most beautiful, invariably causing admiration of tourists with its whiteness, decided to leave his old wife, Katyn ("wife"), for a young one, Dzhangy ("new", "young"). Perhaps Tetnuld was a climber - the height of Katyn does not reach 5 km, but Dzhangy, or Dzhangitau, occupies the fifth place in the list of the highest mountains in Russia.

8. Mizhirgi – 5025 m

Mizhirgi is the first mountain in the list of Russian "five-thousanders" — the highest and most dangerous mountains in Russia, which every mountaineer dreams of climbing. Despite its modest eighth place in height, Mizhirgi is a very capricious mountain and surpasses higher peaks in terms of difficulty.

7. Kazbek – 5034 m

This is one of the most beautiful peaks of the Greater Caucasus Range. Its image is featured on many covers of travel magazines, photographs, postcards and stamps. The lonely white peak of a regular conical shape (Kazbek was once a volcano) stands out sharply against the background of green foothills. Unfortunately, due to the complex geopolitical situation, ascents to Kazbek are no longer as frequent as they once were.

6. Shkhara – 5068 m

One of the most beloved peaks by climbers, and the highest mountain in the central part of the Caucasus Range. It can be climbed by a variety of routes, and several peaks will allow you to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding area from new perspectives.

According to the results of recent measurements, Shkhara may move from sixth place to third - according to the latest data, its height is 5193.2 m. However, there is no doubt about which is the highest mountain in Russia - first place is ahead of all the others by almost half a kilometer.

5. Dzhangitau – 5085 m

Like Mijirgi, Dzhangitau is considered one of the most difficult and dangerous peaks. Just three years ago, an experienced climber fell from its slopes (fatally), and a couple of years before that, a group of climbers had to be rescued by helicopter.

4. Pushkin Peak – 5100 m

Most often, people prefer to climb Pushkin Peak from the southern side. However, experienced climbers prefer the northern side - in addition to a slightly more difficult route, you can admire the enchanting beauty of the surrounding nature.

3. Koshtantau – 5152 m

The top three highest mountains in Russia is opened by Koshtantau. Sometimes it is merciful to climbers and gives them wonderful weather, making the ascent easy and pleasant. However, this happens rarely; more often than not, the capricious beauty prefers to dress up in an icy robe, which makes the ascent much more difficult.

The conquest of Koshtantau began with a tragedy - two English climbers and their Swiss guides died while trying to climb it. Since then, several routes have been laid to the mountain, but they all have increased difficulty - from 4B to 6A (for comparison: the lowest category is 1B, the highest is 6B, and category 6A is in second place, up to 6B).

2. Dykhtau – 5204 m

The poetic genius of the Balkar people decided to take a rest on the name Dykhtau. Translated from this language, the name simply means "steep mountain". It is almost a nickname for the strongest man in the world.

The mountain looks severe - the granite-gneiss rocks that make up Dykhtau are dark in color. And in contrast to the white snow and clouds (which are located at a lower altitude than the summit), they look especially gloomy.

The difficulty of climbing the mountain matches its serious appearance - there are more than ten routes to the double peaks of Dykhtau, but even the easiest of them belongs to the category 4A, above average.

1. The highest mountain in Russia is Elbrus, 5642 m

On the border between the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia is the Lateral Ridge of the Caucasus Mountains, where Elbrus, the highest mountain in Russia, is located. Elbrus has two peaks – western and eastern; the difference between them is 21 m.

This is not an ordinary mountain; it is a legacy of the times when the young Caucasus Mountains were still fire-breathing. Elbrus is a huge volcano, fortunately extinct long ago. Over the past tens of thousands of years, Elbrus has become covered with a shell of ice of enormous thickness – in some places it reaches 250 m, which is equal to the height of an eighty-story building.

Despite its terrifying height (Elbrus is considered the highest mountain not only in Russia, but also in Europe, and is one of the ten highest mountains in the world), the mountain has a good disposition and the path to the top has long been found. The first ascent of Elbrus took place in the first third of the 19th century. Since then, who has not been there! People have climbed not only on foot, but also on horses, motorcycles and cars. They carried quad bikes and even 75-kilogram barbells with them. And since the early 1990s, regular competitions have been held in speed climbing the snow giant. The journey from the foot to the top of Elbrus takes exactly 3 hours 28 minutes 41 seconds.

List of 80 highest mountain peaks in Russia

The table shows mountain peaks that are at least 4000 meters high and located on the territory of the Russian Federation.