Elbrus Has Become Lower. Scientists Measured The Western Peak

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Western peak of the Caucasian mountain range Elbrus decreased by 10 cm. This is evidenced by the data obtained by experts during the ascent to the peak in July 2019. According to new measurements, the height of the western peak of the mountain massif is 5642.58 m.

The expedition to Elbrus took place from July 14 to 21. The date of climbing to its peak coincided with the day of the first conquest of the mountain in 1829 by members of the expeditionary group of General Georgi Emmanuel. As part of the ascent, a group of four climbed the western peak of Elbrus and measured its snow cap, placing special equipment in a small hollow in the snow. As a result, verification of calculations and data received from GPS base stations showed a slight decrease in the height of the western peak of the mountain massif.

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“According to our calculations, the height of this part of the peak remained almost the same as in 1985 when the last such measurements were taken. According to maps of that time, the height of the western peak of Elbrus was 5642.7 m. Today, according to GPS data, this point is 5642.58 m", said participant in the climb Valery Torgovkin.

In addition, he noted that such a change in height is not a catastrophic phenomenon. “Its cause may be either the greenhouse effect or the melting of ice. Part of the peak could melt due to global warming. But 10 cm over such a long period is not a critical figure”, Valery noted.

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Elbrus is a mountain range of the Greater Caucasus, on the border of the Kabardino-Balkarian and Karachay-Cherkess republics. It is an extinct stratovolcano with two peaks - eastern peak (5621 m) and western peak (5642 m). This is the highest mountain range in Russia and Europe (when drawing the border of Europe and Asia along the Main Caucasus Range or to the south).