a mountain range of the Greater Caucasus, located in the southern Dagestan ASSR. Part of the Bokovoi Range system, the Samur Range extends from the Diul’tydag Range in an easterly-southeasterly direction along the left bank of the Samur River for 115 km. Elevations reach 3,801 m (Mount Ala-khundag). The Samur Range is composed primarily of clay shales. It is almost devoid of vegetation in the crest area. Lower and further east, alpine and montane meadows and meadow steppes predominate. Broad-leaved forests are located in the east.

a river in the Dagestan ASSR, partially along the border with the Azerbaijan SSR. It is 213 km long and drains an area of 7,330 sq km. The Samur originates on a slope of Mount Guton (Greater Caucasus) and flows through a deep narrow valley between the Kiabiak and Samur ranges. The valley widens further south, and the channel branches. The Samur forms a delta where it empties into the Caspian Sea. The river is fed in various ways, although predominantly by rain. It is at high water from late March through August. The mean flow rate of the Samur 20 km from its mouth is 75 cu m per sec. The average turbidity is 1,950 g per cu m. The Samur-Apsheron and Samur-Derbent (33 km) canals join the Samur River.