| Gagra Range | |
|---|---|
 View of Gagra mountains. | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mount Agepsta |
| Elevation | 3,357 m (11,014 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 85 km (53 mi) |
| Geography | |
   | |
| Country | Georgia |
| Region | Abkhazia[note 1] |
| Range coordinates | 43°29′54″N40°12′50″E / 43.49833°N 40.21389°E /43.49833; 40.21389 |
| Parent range | Caucasus Mountains |
Gagra Range (/ˈɡæɡrə,ˈɡɑː-/;Georgian:გაგრის ქედი,romanized:gagris kedi;Abkhaz:Гагратәи ахықә,romanized: Gagratəi ahyķə;Russian:Гагрский хребет,romanized: Gagrsky khrebet) is amountain range of theGreater Caucasus in theRepublic of Abkhazia[note 1]. It runs between the valleys of theBzyb andPsou rivers to the south of theCaucasus Major, in a general North-South direction. The highest elevation is located atMount Agepsta at 3,357 m (11,014 ft). Geologically, the range is formed of LowerCretaceous and UpperJurassiclimestone, carved into dramatickarst based landscapes within theArabika Massif.
Gagra Range is part of theGreater Caucasus inAbkhazia.[note 1].It runs between the valleys of theBzyb andPsou rivers to the south of theCaucasus Major, in a general North-South direction. The range spans 85 km (53 mi), dropping abruptly toward theBlack Sea, forming deep valleys along the coast.[1] The range consists of steep slopes, with the highest elevation located atMount Agepsta at 3,357 m (11,014 ft) along the Abkhazian–Russian border.[2] While the western slopes drop sharply toward the sea, while northeastern foothills are gentler and more vegetated.[1] The Gagra Range approaches the Black Sea close to the city ofGagra and plays an important role in moderating the climate of that resort by blocking cold, continental winds from the north and east.[1]
The mountain range is composed oflimestone from LowerCretaceous and UpperJurassic period.[3][4] These limestone form extensivekarst landscapes includes caves, sinkholes, gorges, and subterranean rivers.[3][4] The mountains host some of the deepest cave systems in earth. TheVeryovkina Cave extending up to 2,209 m (7,247 ft) deep, is the deepest-known cave on Earth. It was discovered in 1968 and explored to full depth via vertical exploration systems.[5][6] The Sarma Cave is the third deepest globally at about 1,830 m (6,000 ft) depth, with documented stygobiontamphipods.[4] These cave systems incorporate numerous water springs, fed by deep cave aquifers formed five to six million years ago, and feed into the sea via the coastal foothills.[4][7]A highway toLake Ritsa, the deepest lake inAbkhazia (116 m), runs by the range, along the Bzyb,Iupshara and Gega rivers.[8][9]