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Why are the alpine areas and Caspian coastal lowlands sparsely populated?

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Snow-covered peaks and ridges of the Caucasus Mountains in Russia stretch across the landscape under a pale sky. — Caucasus Caucasus Mountains in Russia.

The alpine regions and the Caspian coastal lowlands of the Caucasus are sparsely populated primarily due to their challenging environmental and climatic conditions.

Alpine Regions: In the high-altitude areas of the Greater Caucasus and other mountain ranges, the climate is characterized by cold, alpine conditions with high humidity, cool summers, and prolonged, cold winters. As elevation increases, the growing season becomes significantly shorter, which limits agricultural viability and makes these areas less suitable for large-scale settlement.12
Caspian Coastal Lowlands: These areas are sparsely populated largely because of their arid, steppe-like environment. The region experiences a dry, desert-like climate in many parts, with high rates of evaporation and limited precipitation. These harsh conditions contrast sharply with the more temperate and intensively cultivated valleys and the Black Sea coast, where the population is more densely concentrated.34152