Photo by Dr. Anton Oleinik

Photo by Dr. Anton Oleinik

Photo by Dr. Anton Oleinik

Photo by Dr. Anton Oleinik

Photo by Dr. Anton Oleinik

Kistinka River Valley – Eastern Caucasus Mountains, Northern Osetia. Narrow glacial valley of the Kistinka River, a tributary to the Terek River. The merge of the two rivers takes place in the Daryal Gorge – the narrowest portion of the Terek River Valley. Mountain ridges are made of black Early-Middle Jurassic Black shale, mainly Tsiklauri Formation. Some arêtes on the opposing slope supported by andesitic dikes running through the Lower Jurassic shales.

Dr. Anton Oleinik

Kistinka River Valley, Russia

42 o43’16.26”N 44 o41’45.64” E

Dr. Anton Oleinik


Tent camp at Kistinka

 

 

Tent camp at Kistinka – view down on the Kistinka River Valley from o the slope.Kistinka river is a braided stream with most of its valley being paved by fragments of Lower Jurassic black shale. Large talus slopes on the background – result of crumbling of black shale.

42 o41’04.51”N 44 o43’03.73” E

Dr. Anton Oleinik

Eastern Caucasus, Towers 1

42 o49’50.21”N 45 o02’19.32” E

 

 

Towers 1 – Eastern Caucasus, Chulkhoi-Choch Valley, tributary of the Armkhi River. Ingushetiya. Ruins of the mid-centuries settlement Lyalax (Ljaljax). Dark grey slopes behing the towers – Lower and Middle Jurassic shales. Lighter rocks that towers are made from are mainly pieces of andesite or Upper Jurassic limestone. There is no stairway inside the towers. Old inhabitants used wooden ladders to climb up to the small room on top of the tower to shoot their enemies with bows and arrows.

Dr. Anton Oleinik

Eastern Caucasus, Towers 2

 

 

Towers 2 – Eastern Caucasus, Chulkhoi-Choch Valley, tributary of the Armkhi River. Ingushetiya. Ruins of mid-centuries towers. Notice that the roof made in a pagoda-like fashion. Thin layers are made of the most available building material around – Lower Jurassic black shale.

42 o49’48.47”N 45 o05’51.61” E

Dr. Anton Oleinik

Eastern Caucasus Mountains, Armki River Valley

42 o49’52.82”N 45 o00’09.14” E

 

Arzie - Eastern Caucasus Mountains, Armkhi River Valley, Ingushetia. Mid-centuries settlement (“tower town” Arzie (Erzy). On the foreground in the valley – Lower Jurassic black shale cut by andesite dike. The Arzie itself stands on Lower Jurassic black shale of the Tsiklauri Formation. Slopes above Arzie are made of black shle of Early – Middle Jurassic age. Lighter ridge in the background made of Upper Jurassic limestone.