Mount Beshtau (1,401 m) is the highest point in the Caucasian Mineral Waters region, its distinctive five-peaked silhouette visible from across the steppe. An extinct volcanic plug northwest of Pyatigorsk, it gives both the Russian and Turkic names to the region — Pyatigorsk means "five mountains town," and Beshtau means "five mountains" in Turkic.
Several trails ascend the mountain, the main route starting from the village of Beshtau. The climb takes three to four hours at a moderate pace. The summit views are exceptional: on clear days, both the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea are visible (reputedly), and the entire Caucasus chain stretches from horizon to horizon. On the southern slopes, the Beshtaugorsky Monastery occupies a dramatic crag — it can be visited without climbing to the summit.