North Caucasus

The North Caucasus region descends northward from the principal chain of the Caucasus Mountains to a level plain, where much can be found in rich deposits of oil, natural gas, and coal. The major cities are Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Grozny, Vladikavkaz, and Novorossiysk. Sochi is a popular resort. Farm machinery, coal, petroleum, and natural gas are the chief products. The Kuban River region, a fertile black-earth area, is one of the chief granaries of Russia. Wheat, sugar beets, tobacco, rice, and sunflower seeds are grown, and cattle are raised. Other rivers include the Don, the Kuma, and the Terek, and the Volga-Don Canal is a major transportation route.

Dolmens
The Dolmens of North Caucasus are megaliths and stone labyrinths throughout the Caucasus Mountains, including Abkhazia. Most Dolmens are represented by rectangular structures made of stone slabs or cut in rocks with holes in their facade. There are as many as 3,000 of these structures improperly dated to 5,000 BCE, likely being much older.