precious-postcards

Western Caucasus

The Western Caucasus, extending over 275,000 ha of the extreme western end of the Caucasus mountains and located 50 km north-east of the Black Sea, is one of the few large mountain areas of Europe that has not experienced significant human impact. Its subalpine and alpine pastures have only been grazed by wild animals, and its extensive tracts of undisturbed mountain forests, extending from the lowlands to the subalpine zone, are unique in Europe. The site has a great diversity of ecosystems, with important endemic plants and wildlife, and is the place of origin and reintroduction of the mountain subspecies of the European bison.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/900

The Western Caucasus comprises the extreme western edge of the Caucasus Mountains, from the Black Sea to Mount Elbrus. Together with the Virgin Komi Forests, it is one of only two large mountain areas in Europe that has not experienced significant human impact. Its habitats are exceptionally varied for such a small area, ranging from lowlands to glaciers. 

The area includes:

- Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve 

- Sochi National Park 

- Bolshoy Thach nature park

- the nature monuments of Buiny Ridge

- the headwaters of the River Tsitsa

- the Pshecha and Pshechashcha rivers

Fauna includes wolf, bear, lynx, wild boar and the reintroduced European bison which are globally endangered. 

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/westerncaucasus.html