Morphostructural analysis of the drainage network of the Upper and Middle Kuban river

Abstract

An analysis of flow direction and drainage pattern revealed their structural control. General flow directions have been proved to be inherited from the previous stages of the evolution. The main river valleys are sub-meridional within the erogenous belt, diverge to NW at the erosional-accumulative plateau and inclined fluvial plains, and to W and SW within the limits of the flat aggradations plain. Since the Oligocene the drainage pattern became consequent due to arch-block uplift of the Great Caucasus and subsidence of the foredeeps, fault tectonics being also of importance. A large-scale radial-concentric system of river valleys is revealed.