Bazardüzü

Bazardüzü, at 4,466 metres, is the highest peak in Azerbaijan and simultaneously the highest point of the Russian republic of Dagestan, with the main Caucasus watershed ridge running directly across its summit. The name derives from Turkic and roughly translates to 'market plain', a reference to ancient trade routes that once crossed the surrounding high-mountain terrain. The ascent is a serious alpine undertaking: glaciated slopes, loose scree, and frequently icy conditions demand mountaineering experience and appropriate gear. On clear days the summit offers a vast panorama deep into the Greater Caucasus range on both sides of the border — a view experienced in near-complete solitude given the remoteness of the area.