Geography of the Republic of South Ossetia

South Ossetia is located on the southern slope of the Central Caucasus and in the foothills of the Inner Kartli Plain. Almost 90% of the republic’s territory is located at altitudes of more than 1000 m above sea level. The highest point of South Ossetia is Mount Halats (3938 m).

The mountainous part of the republic is constituted by the Dvaletsky ridge on the border with Russia, and the transverse ridges adhered to it - Rachinsky with Likhsky , Kesheltsky, Mashharsky, Dzausky, Gudissky, Harulsky , Lomissky and Mtiuletsky. Between them are deep gorges - Kudargom, Sinagurskoye, Mashkharskoye, Kesheltskoye, Dzauskoye, Rokskoye, Gudisskoye, Zonkarskoye, Ksanskoye , Lehurskoye .

The foothill region is located in the extreme south of the republic, where the valleys of the Prone, Bolshaya and Malaya Liakhva , Majuda and Ksan rivers overlook the northern outskirts of the Inner Kartli Plain.

In the structure of the mountain system of the Greater Caucasus on the territory of South Ossetia, sedimentary strata of Hercynian and Alpine folding, represented by marble, sandstone, shale, limestone and a powerful volcanic suite, take part. The folds have a complex structure, since the older ones are tipped over to the younger ones in a southerly direction, and besides, they are still complicated by faults and thrusts .

The second tectonic unit on the territory of the republic is, located in the extreme south, the Inner Kartliysky intermountain block with the most rigid and stable part of the lithosphere, which overlooks the surface in some places.

Tectonic movements of the earth's crust of the young mountain system of the Caucasus determine the seismic activity of the territory. The last catastrophic earthquake occurred in South Ossetia on April 29, 1991. Then Dzau and many villages were destroyed.

The bowels of South Ossetia are rich in ore and non-metallic minerals, most of the deposits of which are located in the Dzau region. Here is the largest Kvaysinsky deposit of polymetals (lead-zinc ores) in Transcaucasia. Barite reserves have been explored at the same deposit. Also, non-ferrous metals in the republic revealed deposits of copper, arsenic, nickel, and tin. From non-metallic raw materials there are deposits of building materials - brick clay, building sand, tuff, limestone, granite, basalt, marble, andesite, marl, gypsum and talc. Studies conducted in the Soviet period indicate a possible occurrence of hydrocarbons (coal, oil and gas). In the north-east of the republic, along a large thrust passing here, there are numerous mineral springs of different hydrochemical composition and temperature, which have healing properties. Most sources are located in the favorable climatic conditions of the Dzau resort in the valley of the Bolshaya Liakhva River: Dzau-Suar, Mskhlebi-Suar, Kodibin-Suar, Hvze-Suar ...

Most of the republic’s rivers belong to the Kura basin (flows into the Caspian Sea ): Bolshaya Liakhva with its tributary Malaya Liakhva , Ksan , Mejuda , Lehur ... The rivers of the north-west of the republic - Jojora and Kvirila belong to the Rioni basin (flows into the Black Sea ). The watershed of the river basins of the Black and Caspian Seas is the Rachinsky and Likhsky ranges .

The largest lake in the republic is Kelistba , located on the Kelsky volcanic plateau at an altitude of 2921 m. Of the small lakes, Erzo is most famous, located in the picturesque basin of Erzo, as well as Lake Koz , not far from Kvaisa and the high-mountain lake Tsetelikhatskoye . The largest man-made reservoir is the Zonkar reservoir on the Malaya Liakhva River .

Glaciers and firn fields cover the ridges of the Main Caucasian Range and the highest peaks of South Ossetia .

The climate of South Ossetia is formed under the influence of various climate-forming factors , but primarily under the influence of high-mountainous terrain. South Ossetia is protected from the northern cold winds by the Main Caucasus Range , as a result of which it is warmer here even at high altitude than in the North Caucasus .

A significant role in the formation of the climate of South Ossetia is played by the amount of solar radiation and atmospheric circulation . The climate in the mountains is very different from the climate of the lowlands. The climate is affected by the geographical latitude of the terrain, the location of the ranges and the height of the terrain above sea level.

With an increase in the height of the terrain, winter becomes longer, the snow cover becomes more powerful, its stability and duration increase. In the mountains, summers are usually cool and short. In the highlands during the daytime, their surface abundantly absorbs solar heat, and intensively radiates it at night, so mountain-valley winds prevail here, which blow at night down the mountain slopes.

At the bottom of the Dzauska and other intermountain basins and in deep closed gorges in winter, cold air accumulates, which falls from high peaks and plains down the slopes.

In accordance with the vertical zonality, the amount of precipitation also changes; the average annual rate in the republic is 598 mm.

The following types of climates are distinguished in South Ossetia:

1. A dry, steppe climate with moderately cold winters and hot summers. Air temperature in January from −0.5º to + 2ºС, and in July - from 22º to 25ºС; during the year, precipitation is 350-600 mm; maximum - in April-August. This type of climate is common on the Inner Kartli Plain in the south of the republic.

2. Moderately humid climate with moderately cold winters and long summers. The air temperature in January is from −1º to −8ºС, and in July - from 13º to 20ºС; The amount of precipitation during the year is 700–1400 mm, with a maximum in May – June and a minimum in January and August. It is distributed on the Mashkhar, Cheselt, Gudis, Dzausk, Lomis and Harul ranges, in the north of the Likh range, at an altitude of 2000-2200 m.

3. Humid climate with cold and long winters and cool summers. Air temperature in January is from −8º to −14ºС, and in July - from 3º to 5ºС; Precipitation during the year is 1000-1800 mm; the maximum falls in May - June, the minimum - in January. It spreads at an altitude of 2200-3000 m.

4. Alpine humid climate of eternal snows and glaciers. It is widespread on the peaks of the Main Caucasian Range, at an altitude above 3000-3600 m (in the region of the Halac, Zikar, Kozy-Khokh, Dzedo mountains).

At the passes of South Ossetia, snow falls almost at any time of the year. Snow cover at high altitude falls early: on the northern slopes of the Rachinsky, Harulsky, Lomissky, Gudissky ridges and on the slopes of the Dvaletsky ridge, on the Mashkharsky, Cheseltsky, Ruksky ridges at an altitude of 2000 m - in mid-November (sometimes, in the second half of October), and descends at the very end of April - early May, and in some places at the end of June.

Visible life appears in South Ossetia below the border of eternal snows. At an altitude of 3,500 m, a narrow strip along the slopes of mountain ranges stretches a belt of mountain-rocky tundra with a predominance of mosses and lichens. Below the altitude of about 2500 m, grass-grass alpine meadows are spread, followed by high-grass subalpine meadows with shrubs and shrubs of the heather family: rhododendron , lingonberries , blueberries , and water crowns .

The fauna of alpine meadows is represented by tours , chamois , snow reels , larks , nests , Caucasian ular , snow voles . In the subalpine zone there live a hare-hare , a prometey and common vole , a Caucasian mouse , moles , shrews , mullets , mountain skates , gray warbler , stenolazes , raptors - an eagle , golden eagle , peregrine falcon , falcon , bearded raccoon are less common.

Forest species rich in species composition of South Ossetia combine vegetation of the temperate and subtropical zones. The main forest-forming species here are oak , beech , chestnut , linden , ash , alder , and from conifers - spruce , fir , pine . Medlar , dogwood , wild apple , pear , cherry , cherry plum , turn , barberry , sea ​​buckthorn , viburnum , walnut , birch , mountain ash , maple , willow , and juniper grow a little lower. Hazelnuts , red currants , laurel cherries , boxwood , blackberries , raspberries , and wild rose grow in the undergrowth. In some gorges, the preglacial relic , yew berry, has been preserved in some places. Forests grow at altitudes from 600 to 2300 m.

The brown bear , red deer , roe deer , wild boar , wolf , fox , badger , raccoon dog , stone marten , forest dormouse , weasel , squirrel , hares , forest mice , bats , hedgehogs , Caucasian viper live in the mountain forests of the republic, numerous European forest birds and donkeys.

In the extreme south of the republic, secondary thistle-steppe steppes are common on the site of flat lowland forests. Rosehips , hawthorn , a tree , buckthorn grow here ... Hamsters , voles, field mice , hedgehogs, hares, foxes, jackals , stranglers , steppe eagles live from animals.

The only, so far, specially protected natural area is the Liakhvsky Reserve .

• A. D. Dzagoev. Geography of South Ossetia: Textbook. - Vladikavkaz: Olympus, 2003.