EUROPEAN RUSSIA 531

MEDITERRANEAN RUSSIA

The southern slopes of the mountains of the Krim Peninsula, and
the portion of the Black Sea coast bordered by the Caucasus, have the
mild temperatures and summer drought so typical of the Mediter-
ranean. Consequently a Mediterranean vegetation occurs, and such
crops as winter wheat and corn are raised. This environment encour-
aged settlement by the Greeks during their period of maximum colonial
and commercial expansion, and even today the Hellenic influence is
strong throughout these shore lands. The natural beauty of the region
is comparable to that of the French Riviera, and this, combined with
its delightful climate, caused it to be the winter playground of the
former Russian nobility. Its wooded slopes are dotted with magnificent
marble palaces which formerly housed the leading aristocrats of Russia,
but which are today used as rest homes and hospitals for the factory
workers and the peasants.

THE CAUCASUS

The Caucasus Mountains are a portion of the great Alpine Fold.
They are young mountains, being high, rugged and very difficult to
cross. No railroads cross the range at present, but plans are under way
for the construction of a line which, through the use of a long tunnel,
will connect Gori in Georgia with the northern slope. At present a
highway leads over the Dariel Pass to Tiflis, and a complete system of
air lines connects the cities to the north and south. The mountains
contain many isolated valleys where remnants of nearly every people
who have ever crossed the area are to be found. Isolation has caused
these peoples to preserve old customs, traditions and languages which
have long since disappeared from more accessible sections. Little won-
der the Caucasus are frequently called "a museum of peoples.'*

To the south of the Caucasus lies a low region composed of the
valleys of the Rion and the Kura. Through these valleys passes a rail
line connecting Baku with the Black Sea ports of Poti and Batum.
Tiflis, the capital of the Transcaucasian Republic and the largest city
of the region, is located where the north and south route over the Dariel
Pass connects with this east and west rail line. Agriculture of a
Mediterranean type is carried on in the Rion Basin, but the broad and
fertile Kura Valley has been largely useless, due to the light rainfall.
However, extensive irrigation projects are at present tinder construe-