Shkhara

Shkhara lies 88 km north of Kutaisi, Georgia's third-largest city, and right at the townlet of Mestia. The summit lies in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, south-east of Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain. The third-highest peak in the Caucasus, just behind Dykh-Tau.

• Name — Shkhara • Other Name — შხარა Ушхара • Elevation — 5203 m • Prominence M — 1357 • Parent — Main Caucasian Range Greater Caucasus Mountains • Listing — * Seven Third Summits • Country high point • Location — Svaneti, Georgia Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia • First Ascent — 1888 by U. Almer, J. Cockin and C. Roth • Easiest Route — Northeast Ridge: snow/ice climb (Russian grade 4b)

Shkhara is the high point and the eastern anchor of a massif known as the Bezengi Wall, a 11-12 km ridge. It is a large, steep peak in a heavily glaciated region, and presents serious challenges to mountaineers. Its north face (on the Russian side) is 1500 m high and contains several classic difficult routes. The significant sub-summit Shkhara West, at 5068 m, is a climbing objective in its own right, and a traverse of the entire Bezingi Wall is considered "Europe's longest, most arduous, and most committing expedition".

The peak was first climbed in 1888 via the North East Ridge route, by the British/Swiss team of English climber John Garforth Cockin and Swiss guides Ulrich Almer and Christian Roth.