Lake Failure in Pyatigorsk: a description of how to get there

The North Caucasus attracts tourists not only with the abundance of sanatoriums, hospitality of local residents, beautiful views, but also with a huge number of attractions that are concentrated in major resort towns. Great love for our compatriots enjoys Pyatigorsk, where people of different ages go to rest and improve their health. Many get permits and spend time, visiting a variety of procedures, while others go to the resort "savages" and manage for a rather short vacation to travel a lot of interesting places. But do you know what unites all these people among themselves? All of them can not imagine a holiday without visiting the unique natural site of Pyatigorsk - Lake Proval. It was this unusually beautiful place that became the topic of our today's article.

Location of the lake

Lake Failure in Pyatigorsk is a natural pearl of the North Caucasus, possessing not only aesthetic value. The fact that baths, which can be taken near the Failure, are cured of rheumatism and many skin diseases (including chronic ones), as well as problems with the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, everyone wants to come here to see with their own eyes an unusual lake and improve their health a little.

About Lake Failure in Pyatigorsk you will tell any local resident, even small children can prompt the road leading to him, and tell a couple of ancient legends about his appearance. A pond of surprising turquoise color is located in a deep natural cave bearing the same name. It is located on the southernmost slope of the most beautiful mountain Mashuk. The depth of the cave resembling a deep funnel exceeds forty meters.

In order to see Lake Proval in Pyatigorsk, it is necessary to climb the mountain for about one meter, and then go through a dark tunnel, under which there is an unusually beautiful pond with an abundance of microorganisms.

History of the Lake

The most popular tourist attraction of the resort city is the mouth of an ancient volcano. The funnel-shaped cave itself is of karst origin, so the groundwaters, which have washed the mountain for several centuries, eventually managed to break through a small tunnel. After some time, he collapsed, creating a cave of unusual structure. On its bottom two small lakes were formed, which existed until the end of the eighteenth century. Later, the rock that separated them fell through, and the two reservoirs merged into one.

The dragon living in Failure

From ancient times, the Lake of Proval in Pyatigorsk was notorious. About him was a lot of terrible legends and myths. The most common story was about the evil dragon who lived in the depths of the cave. During the day he hid himself at the bottom of a blue lake, and at night came to the surface.

The dragon moved silently along the slopes of the mountain and was selected as close as possible to the villages and towns. He could wait hours for lovers who went out for a romantic walk under the moon. As soon as the evil monster saw the young man and the girl, they immediately grabbed them and rushed away. No one has ever seen more lovers, only occasionally their bitter lamentations were carried along the slopes of Mount Mashuk.

Romantic legend

There is another beautiful legend that tells about the formation of the Failure. In ancient times the prince's son Beshtau decided to marry the young beauty Mashuka. But the groom's father, the formidable Elbrus, also fell in love with a young girl and decided to fight for her. In a fierce battle, the father and son met, the animals came to watch the battle, as well as Mashuk with two girlfriends.

Indomitable warriors killed each other. After they emitted a spirit, the remains of the bodies petrified, forming mountain peaks. Turned into stone and observers for the battle. Only the young Mashuka remained alive, but she could not bear the grief and, throwing down the ring, pierced her dagger in her heart. So all the mountain peaks of Pyatigorsk emerged, and the place where the dagger of the inconsolable beauty fell was a failure filled with its tears.

Exploring the cave

Lake Failure in Pyatigorsk interested scientists around the end of the eighteenth century. Peter Simon carefully studied the cave, compiling a report on the origin of the reservoir, its features and medicinal properties.

He first explained why the lake's waters have such a rich turquoise color. This is due to the microorganisms living in it, and feeding on hydrogen sulfide. This gas is contained in large quantities in a cave and fills its air with an indescribable stench. It is this fact that gave birth to stories about dragons and monsters living in Failure.

The water in the lake in winter has a fairly comfortable temperature - about twenty-five degrees above zero, and in summer it is best to refrain from swimming. After all, the water warms up to forty degrees Celsius.

The depth of the lake The failure in Pyatigorsk

In the nineteenth century, tourists had the opportunity to go down to the cave and swim right in the lake, but in recent years it has become very shallow, and now vacationers are taking wellness baths nearby. The lake itself is fenced with bars, and tourists can only admire its beauty from afar.

At the moment, the diameter of the reservoir is fifteen meters, and the depth does not exceed eleven meters. Scientists predict that in the following years the lake will become even more shallow.

Turning the Fail into a tourist attraction

Despite the fact that the locals always treated the cave and the pond in it as something special, tourists began to be interested in this place only in the late nineteenth century. In connection with the influx of visitors over the cave was built the famous bridge Bernardazzi, allowing you to admire the visibility of the lake. A special cradle let the tourists down to the bottom of the cave, and everyone could bathe in the unusual waters rich in microorganisms.

In the middle of the twentieth century, the lift was decided to be removed, and access to the cave was ensured by a tunnel pierced in the rock. It creates simply an indescribable atmosphere of mystery that excites the nerves of most tourists. At the end of the tunnel is a grate, through the bars of which you can see a lake and an icon embedded in a wall. With its help water was covered in the last century.

At the exit from the cave, a little lower on the slope, there are small natural baths, rich in hydrogen sulfide. Everyone can swim in them, but do not forget that a long stay in such water can cause poisoning with all the attendant signs.

Lake in literature and cinema

This amazing place has always interested not only idle tourists, but also writers. It was first mentioned by Mikhail Lermontov, describing the cave in "Princess Mary".

Later in these places they shot the famous comedy "12 chairs", as a reminder about this at the entrance to the Failure sculpture of Ostap Bender was installed. It is made of bronze and is very popular. It is believed that anyone who wipes the entrance ticket in the hands of Ostap and his nose, will necessarily get rich. Not surprisingly, these places on the statue are rubbed almost to a mirror shine.

Lake Failure in Pyatigorsk: address and route

We think that you have already understood that it is impossible to leave the resort without visiting the southern slope of Mashuk. Therefore, the question of how to get to Lake Proval in Pyatigorsk is very relevant among the guests of the city.

The "address" of the location of the famous lake sounds quite simple: Mount Mashuk, the beginning of Gagarin Boulevard. Since this place is very popular, there are several ways to get here.

The easiest way to go to the mountain by bus is the first number. This route begins at the railway station, but tourists can take the bus and other stops. Conveniently, the route of "one" runs through the most famous places of the resort, so it is very convenient for movement. The final stop of this bus will be just Lake Proval.

In Pyatigorsk, how to get to the famous cave, almost any local resident will tell you. But you can get here on foot, this route is even more picturesque and unusual. You should start from the boulevard Tsvetnik, you need to climb up in such a way that the mountain is always on the left side. You will pass the Academic gallery and the entire boulevard Gagarin, at the end of which there is a funnel with a lake. In general, this journey takes no more than half an hour.

If you come to Pyatigorsk, then be sure to stroll to the Failure. This place is really a unique natural monument, preserved to this day almost in its original form.