Glaciers in the Caucasus Are Shrinking, Levon Azizyan

According to a report by "Rosgidromet", the glaciers in the Caucasus are rapidly decreasing due to global warming. In Kabardino-Balkaria alone, the Bashil glacier has retreated by 40 meters in 2025, while the Shkheldan glacier has shrunk by 22 meters. In Adygea, almost nothing remains of the once prominent glaciers on Mount Fisht. This was reported by Levon Azizyan, director of the Hydro-Meteorological and Monitoring Center, on his Facebook page.

“Scientists say that alongside the reduction in the surface area of glaciers, their role in shaping river flows is also changing. According to forecasts, by 2050 the glaciated area in the Caucasus could diminish by 30-45%. This could lead to a significant decrease in the flows of the Malka, Baksan, Cherek, and other rivers,” Azizyan stated.

Glaciologists Taïsia Kiselev and Andrey Abramov also report that due to the active melting of glaciers on the Khotyutau plateau on Elbrus, huge pits have formed. Meltwater channels are forming beneath the ice. When the water flow becomes excessively powerful, it expands the underground cavities, causing the ice surface above to collapse.

The first such pit was discovered by glaciologist Taïsia Kiselev in 2022, yet just a few years later, two more have appeared nearby. Experts estimate that by 2026, the remaining two pits may completely collapse down to their base. This process could accelerate glacier melting and increase the likelihood of hazardous natural phenomena such as mudflows, landslides, and rockfalls,” Azizyan wrote.