Updating the First Projects of Using Hydropower Resources of the North Caucasus at the end of XIX – the beginning of XX Century

The article is written on the basis of some archival materials and written sources and examines the problem of the first experiments in designing hydroelectric power plants on mountain rivers of the North Caucasus. The development of electrical engineering at the turn of XIX–XX century was rapid. A great role in this process played famous Russian scientists. Their discoveries and experiments made it possible to begin research on the use of the rich hydropower resources of the North Caucasus. The first realized projects of hydroelectric installations were related to supplying the mining industry and resort business, urban transport. However, the largest projects were prepared in the interests of railway companies. They were not implemented at the time under consideration, but the research results were used in
the construction of hydroelectric power plants later. Many projects are being implemented nowadays.