Summit of Mount Mashuk

The summit of Mount Mashuk is the highest point of a laccolith mountain on the north-eastern edge of Pyatigorsk, in the central part of the Pyatigorye area of the Caucasian Mineral Waters (Stavropol Krai). Mount Mashuk rises to 993.7 m above sea level. The mountain is a protected natural monument; a cable car, a road and footpaths lead to the top.

Geology and height of Mount Mashuk

Mashuk is a residual igneous mountain, a laccolith: magma rose from the depths but never broke through to the surface, instead lifting and bending the sedimentary layers above it, which later partly eroded away. The slopes are cut by faults; the largest is Proval on the south-eastern slope, a karst sinkhole with a turquoise lake at the bottom. The first scientific descriptions of the mountain were made in the 18th century by Johann Güldenstädt and Peter Pallas. The slopes are covered with broadleaf forest, and the Perkal nursery and an arboretum lie at the foot.

What to see at the summit

The summit is crowned by a television tower about 112 m tall, visible from most of Pyatigorsk. Next to it are the upper cable car station, a viewing platform, a café and souvenir stalls. More recently a "Crossroads" platform with signposts giving directions and distances to cities of the world and a viewing "Arch of Love" were added.

The summit offers a panorama of Pyatigorye: the neighbouring laccoliths Beshtau, Zheleznaya, Zmeyka, Yutsa and Dzhutsa, the Podkumok valley and the streets of Pyatigorsk. On clear days the Main Caucasus Range and twin-peaked Elbrus are visible to the south, and sometimes Kazbek.

History

The slopes of Mashuk are closely tied to the poet Mikhail Lermontov. On the north-western slope, on 27 July 1841, he fought a duel with retired major Nikolai Martynov and was killed; an obelisk marking the duel site was erected in 1915. On a spur of the mountain stands the Aeolian Harp pavilion (1831), mentioned in Lermontov's "Princess Mary".

Construction of the Mashuk cable car began in 1965, and it opened on 24 August 1971. The ride takes about three minutes, and each of the two cabins holds about 20 passengers.

Getting there

• Cable car: the lower station is in the spa part of Pyatigorsk at the foot of the mountain; it runs all year round during the day.
• On foot: along the paved serpentine road or by forest trails. The climb takes one and a half to two hours. A popular route starts at the Lermontov duel site (about 3.5 km); there is also a short steep path beneath the cable car line and a route from the Gates of the Sun viewpoint.
• By car: private vehicles are not allowed up to the summit; a ring road about 10 km long runs around the foot of the mountain and is used by walkers and cyclists.

Many visitors ride the cable car up and walk down along the health trail, which takes about an hour.

Legends

One legend says the mountain is named after Mashuk, a young horseman who died for his love. Another tells of a girl named Mashuko for whom a father and son killed each other; she turned into the mountain, and her tears became the mineral springs.