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Which geographic features are used in different proposed boundaries between Europe and Asia in the Caucasus?
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Caucasus
Caucasus Mountains in Russia.
The boundary between Europe and Asia is a historical and cultural construct rather than a universally agreed-upon physical line, and the Caucasus region is central to this debate. Several geographic features are used in different proposed schemes to demarcate the continents in this area:12
- The Greater Caucasus Watershed: One widely accepted scheme draws the dividing line along the crest of the Greater Caucasus range. In this model, the region north of the crest is considered part of Europe, while the region to the south is in Asia.1
- The Kuma-Manych Depression: This geologic depression, located north of the Caucasus Mountains, is often cited as a natural boundary. Many geographers use a line following this depression to the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, which places the entire Caucasus mountain system within Asia.32
- The Aras River and Turkish Border: Another proposed scheme identifies the Aras River and the northern frontiers of Turkey and Iran as the line of demarcation, which would locate Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in Europe.1