Figure 4.10: The environment is a linguistic refuge in the Caucasus Mountains. The rugged mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas—including parts of Armenia, Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan—is peopled by a great variety of linguistic groups, representing three major language families. Mountain areas are often linguistic mosaics because the rough terrain provides refuge and isolation. For more information about this fascinating and diverse region, see Wixman, 1980.