Kafkasya

Kafkasya, or the Caucasus, is a region at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, lying between the Black Sea to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. It centers on the vast Caucasus mountain system, including the Greater Caucasus and the Lesser Caucasus. In common usage the region is divided into the Northern Caucasus (parts of the Russian Federation) and the Southern Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), though definitions vary and some include adjacent areas in Turkey and Iran.

Geographically diverse, Kafkasya features high peaks, deep valleys, forests and steppe. The climate ranges from alpine conditions in the mountains to semi-arid environments in the lowlands. The area is notable for its biodiversity and complex patterns of human settlement shaped by trade routes and mountain communities.

Historically, the Caucasus has been a crossroads of civilizations. Ancient kingdoms such as Colchis and Iberia, the Armenian Kingdoms, and later Persian, Byzantine, Arab, Ottoman, and Russian influences left lasting legacies. The 19th century brought Russian expansion; the region later formed part of the Soviet Union before the independence of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1991.

Ethnically diverse, Kafkasya is home to numerous groups, including Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Georgians, Circassians, Chechens, Dagestanis and Ossetians. Languages span several language families and scripts, with Russian serving as a lingua franca in parts of the North Caucasus, and Armenian, Georgian, Azerbaijani widely used in the south. Religions vary from Islam to Christianity and Judaism in limited areas.

Contemporary issues include ethnic and territorial conflicts, such as the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute and the Abkhazia and South Ossetia statuses. The region remains important for energy corridors and transit routes, while tourism and agriculture contribute to its economies. Ongoing efforts focus on stability, reconciliation and sustainable development.