In The Mountain Villages Of Daghestan

When the famous Avar-language poet Rasul Gamzatov was asked how he had reached such heights of success with his poetry, he replied that in fact, he had come down from the heights. He was referring to his native village of Tsada, perched in the Caucasus mountains of Daghestan at more than 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level. In Daghestan, nearly everyone can say they have descended from great heights. Although there is a steady stream of migration from the mountains to the more populous lowlands, remote villages continue to flourish and preserve Daghestani culture. Correspondent Nurchazul Ahilchiand of RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service filed these photographs of Daghestan's heights. (24 PHOTOS)