RUSSIA IX EUROPE 
III the east the Ural mountains separate Russia from Siberia, 
a range of plateaus rather than mountains, attaining an eleva- 
tion of from 3,000 to 5,000 feet, extending from the Arctic ocean 
south about 1,200 miles. They are rich in metals — gold, precious 
stones, iron, and coal — with large and productive mines. In 
the southeastern part of Russia are the Caucasian mountains, 
separating Europe from Asia and running from the Black to the 
Caspian seas, about 600 miles in length and 150 in width. The 
culminating point is mount Elburz, 18,572 feet above the sea 
level, 3,000 feet higher than Mont Blanc. Near the center of 
the Caucasus is mount Kazbek, 16,552 feet, 1,000 feet higher 
than Monte Rosa. These mountains are clothed with snow for 
several thousand feet, and down their sides flow many glaciers. 
The Russians have so little love of sceneiy -that they rarely make 
excursions among these mountains or ascend Elburz, which, 
though half a mile higher than Mont Blanc, is much easier of 
ascent, because there is only a steady climb for several hours 
over smooth, frozen snow. 
Near Kazbek is the pass of Dariel, 8,000 feet in height, the only 
carriage road through these mountains. In ancient times this 
pass, called the “ gates of the Caucasus,” was guarded by Tartar 
towers, which still stand, thousands of years old, overlooking the 
pass. Until Russia conquered the northern part of Persia, the 
two sides were never held by the same power. 
At the southeastern extremity of the Caucasus, on the Caspian 
sea, at Baku, there stands an old temple, where for centuries a 
beacon was kept burning by the fire-worshipers of India and 
Persia. The people in the olden time believed that the fire was 
supernatural — the gift of the god of fire. Modern science shoAvs 
that it came from oil wells, and modern enterprise has here de- 
veloped a great industry. The old temple of the fire-worshipers 
remains; on one side of it are huge derricks, ijumping tlie oil ; 
on the other, a great stone embankment, stretching over a mile 
along the coast, where steam and sailing vessels and long trains 
of railroad cars load Avith oil. Here is a population of fifty 
thousand, Avhere tAventy years ago Avere less than fifteen hun- 
dred. The Parsee tending the fire symbolizes the past; the 
Russian Avith his oil Avells, his railroads, and steamboats, the 
future. The petroleum is used for fuel on the Caspian and Volga 
steamers. It is sent up the Volga and its branches to all jiarts 
of Russia and is carrietl by rail from Baku to Batoum, on the 
