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Prielbrusye National Park

Prielbrusye National Park
Russian: Приэльбрусье (национальный парк)
(Also: Prielbrus'e)
IUCN category II (national park)
Mt. Elbrus in Russia.jpg
Mt. Elbrus in Prielbrusye NP
Map showing the location of Prielbrusye National Park
Map showing the location of Prielbrusye National Park
Location of Park
Location Kabardino-Balkaria
Nearest city Nalchik
Coordinates 43°21′11″N 42°33′39″E / 43.35306°N 42.56083°E / 43.35306; 42.56083Coordinates: 43°21′11″N 42°33′39″E / 43.35306°N 42.56083°E / 43.35306; 42.56083
Area 1,010,200 hectares (2,496,000 acres)
Established 1986 (1986)
Governing body Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia)
Website http://www.elbruspark.com/

Prielbrusye National Park (Russian: Приэльбрусье (национальный парк)) (also, Prielbrus'e, in English, "Mt. Elbrus") is centered on Mt. Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe at 5,632 meters above sea level. The relative isolation of steep gorges has led to high levels of endemism and biodiversity. The park is in the central Caucasus Mountains, one of 22 national parks in the Caucasus of different nationalities, covering 1.8% of the region. The park is situated in Elbrussky District and Zolsky District, in the southwestern corner of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic of Russia.

Prielbrusye National Park is located on the peaks and north slope of the central Caucasus Mountains, with some southern slope areas, at altitudes ranging from 1400 – 5642 meters. The terrain includes mountain peaks and side-ridges, glaciers, lava flows, lake basins, and lower elevations, a limited system of forested river valleys. Mt. Elbrus is on the western boundary of the park, on the border with the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. The headwaters of the Malka River form in the glaciers of Elbrus and through a plateau below the glacial source, flowing north and east. The Baksan River flow to the east of the mountain through the southern tier of the park. On the southern border of the park is the national border with Georgia. Approximately 155 km2., or about 15.3% of the territory of the park, is either glacier or permanent snow.

Prielbrusye is located in the Caucasus ecoregion, one of the most biologically diverse ecoregions in the world. The diversity is due to the meeting of different ecological zones, and to the altitude variation.

Because of its altitude, Prielbrusye has an Arctic climate (Köppen climate classification, (ET)). This is a local climate in which at least one month has an average temperature high enough to melt snow (0 °C (32 °F)), but no month with an average temperature in excess of 10 °C (50 °F). Actual temperatures in Prielbrusye show extreme variation, however, due to the extreme altitude differentials.


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