Mount Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe, rising to 5,642 metres in the Caucasus.
Elbrus is a dormant volcano in the western Caucasus of southern Russia. It has two summits: the western summit is higher at 5,642 metres, while the eastern summit reaches 5,621 metres. Both summits are covered by extensive glaciers, and the mountain’s broad, snow-covered form is unlike the sharply sculpted appearance of many Alpine peaks.
Its status as Europe’s highest mountain depends on the commonly used geographic boundary that places the Caucasus within Europe. Some alternative boundary schemes place the Europe–Asia divide elsewhere, which is why Mont Blanc is sometimes described as the highest mountain in Western Europe.
The first ascent of the higher western summit was achieved in 1874 by a British-led expedition supported by local guides.