Shkhara
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shkhara | |
|---|---|
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| Elevation | 5,201 metres (17,060 feet) |
| Location | Georgia |
| Range | Caucasus Mountains |
| Coordinates | |
| First ascent | 1888 by Almer, Cockin and Roth |
| Easiest route | snow/ice climb on NE ridge (4b) |
Shkhara is the highest point in Georgia (the country). It is thought to be 17,060 feet/5,201 metres. Some sources, including the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, give the estimation of only 5,068 metres (16,627 feet), but this is the correct height of the western summit. Soviet era 1:50,000 mapping shows a 5,158 metre spot height to the east, and this can be verified using a panoramic photograph taken from Elbrus. There may be higher ground still further east along the Shkhara ridge, which may top 5,200 metres.
Located in the Svaneti region along the Russian frontier, Shkhara lies 55 miles north of the city of Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city. The summit lies in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range to the south-east of Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain. The slopes of Shkhara are heavily glaciated. The summit is a popular destination for climbing/trekking, but weather hazards include frequent thunderstorms.
