Kuma–Manych Depression

The Kuma-Manych Depression is a broad lowland in southwestern Russia that runs roughly east-west between the Kuma and Manych river systems and separates the Greater Caucasus to the south from the Russian plain to the north. It provides a physical corridor between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins.

The depression contains steppe landscapes, river valleys and a chain of lakes and marshes that support steppe and wetland flora and fauna and serve as migration routes for birds. It has been important historically as a travel and migration corridor through southern Russia.

Over time the lowland has been used for grazing, transport routes and regional settlement and today contains agricultural areas alongside semi-natural habitats.

Geographically the depression lies across parts of Stavropol Krai and adjacent regions in southern Russia, forming part of the transition zone between the Russian plain and the Caucasus foothills.

• Geographical role: Forms a broad lowland corridor linking the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins and is sometimes used in definitions of the Europe-Asia boundary in southern Russia.
• Ecology: Contains steppe and wetland habitats with a series of rivers and saline lakes important for migrating birds and regional biodiversity.