Mount Elbrus - the two peaks of the extinct volcano - East altitude 5621 m above sea level, m 5642 West Main composition of the rocks -. Gneisses, granites, tuffs and volcanic diabase. Located on the side of the ridge and connects the main Caucasus range Hotu-Tau ridge. The surface of the 3500m height is mostly covered by glaciers (of 77), the area of which 144.5 sq / km. On the free surface of the glaciers - moraines. Most of the slopes - is flat, but on the height of 4000m average steepness reaches -35 degrees. On the western and northern slopes of the steep rocky areas up to 700 m. The glaciers are cut and fissures in the bottom of the icefalls are cut off. Southern and eastern slopes smoother. Below 3500 m cliff, rock slides, and often in the summer, covered with melting snowfields