Shkhara
| Shkhara | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,203 m (17,070 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,357 m (4,452 ft) |
| Listing | |
| Coordinates | 43°00′02″N 43°06′44″E / 43.00056°N 43.11222°E |
| Geography | |
| Location | Svaneti, Georgia Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia |
| Parent range | Main Caucasian Range Greater Caucasus Mountains |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1888 by U. Almer, J. Cockin and C. Roth |
| Easiest route | Northeast Ridge: snow/ice climb (Russian grade 4b) |
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Shkhara (Georgian: შხარა; Russian: Шхара) is a mountain peak and the highest point in the country of Georgia. It is located on the Georgia–Russia border, in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria region on the northern side, and the Svaneti region of Georgia in the south. Shkhara is the highest peak of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range since both Elbrus and Dykhtau are located along the side ranges which lie to the north of the Greater Caucasus Range. Shkhara lies 88 kilometres (55 mi) north of the city of Kutaisi, Georgia's second-largest city, and closer to the townlet of Mestia in Svaneti. The summit lies in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, to the south-east of Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain. Shkhara is the third-highest peak in the Caucasus, just behind Dykh-Tau.