Spurs of the Great Caucasus Range extend out beyond the valley of the Urushten River, filled with fog here

Pristine coniferous forests in the Malaya Laba river valley upstream of the Umpyr ranger station

The Caucasian fir reaches a gigantic height of over sixty metres

Caucasian bison in an ancient fir forest

Red deer mating tournament in an old-growth fir forest

A remote outpost near Mastakan Creek gives respite to patrolling rangers in Kavkazsky Zapovednik. 2003

Pristine forests occupy a large part of the Caucasus Nature Reserve

The trunk of an ancient beech tree

The trunk of a giant beech collapsed from old age The trunk of a giant beech tree collapsed from old age

Fallen beech leaves after the rain

Golden autumn comes to the Malaya Laba river valley

Pristine forests on the steep slopes of the Malaya Laba valley

The beginning of golden autumn in the forests of the Caucasus Nature Reserve