Elbrus, at 18,510 feet (5,642 meters), is the highest peak in Europe. Located in the Caucasus mountain range, which is squeezed on the small part of land between the Black and Caspian Seas, Elbrus is approximately 1,000 miles south of Moscow and close to the borders of Chechnya, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. In technical climbing terms Elbrus is a straightforward ascent on moderately angled snow and ice, but weather, altitude, and demands on stamina prevent many from reaching the summit. The first summit of Elbrus was in July 1874 and until the 1980's, saw few other attempts do to its remoteness and the difficulty of getting climbing permits during the rule of the USSR.