Natural and man-made sights of the Caucasus: description, photo

Of course, the resorts of Krasnodar Krai attract tourists mainly with the warm Black Sea. But the tourist does not live alone by the beach. I want to see something also. The sea, however beautiful it is, does not provide food for the mind. And on the fifth day of vacation many curious tourists begin to think in their heads: is it not to go somewhere on an excursion? What sights of the Caucasus (except for Kazbek and Elbrus) are in the region? The Tourist Office of Sochi and other seaside resorts offer a wide range of excursions. There are travels for several hours and even for a couple of days. In this article we will show you where you can go on your own. Or make an appointment for an excursion. And what do tourists say about the sights of the Caucasus, which everyone has heard? Is their popularity justified or is it all PR? Let's understand.

Vorontsovskie caves

This landmark is very close to Sochi, and so long been mastered by local guides. Each travel agency in the resort collects a group for a hike through the Vorontsov caves. The sightseeing bus is the fastest and most reliable way to get to the grotto of Prometheus, the main entrance to an intricate labyrinth that has been underground for more than eleven kilometers. But then you have to pay 350 rubles for an adult and 150 for a child. You can get to this Caucasian landmark yourself. Vorontsovskie caves are located in the Khosta district, and a bus runs to the village. But before the grotto it will be necessary to go 7 km. All tourists remain impressed by the beauty and grandeur of the mysterious underworld. True, the tourist route covers only a small, four hundred meters, a piece of these long caves. Tourists visit the Music Hall. Caves reflect the history of the Earth. Their walls are composed of sedimentary deposits of the ancient Tethys ocean. At the dawn of humanity in the grottoes were the sites of primitive tribes. Tourists advise to take on a sweater excursion, because under the ground the whole year round one temperature is only +12 ^о С.

Lake Tambucan

Now you know what to see by resting in Sochi. But the Caucasus region is great, and each of its parts has its own sights. If you chose the health resorts of Pyatigorsk as a holiday destination, then you can go to Lake Tambukan. This, according to the reviews, is a mystical place. Its name in translation from Kabardian means "Tambia's shelter" (the ancient ancestor was buried near the lake). This reservoir is drainless and salty. Scientists are still arguing about the origin of the lake. They say that it is the remnant of the ancient ocean. So it is or not, but Lake Tambukan makes an indelible impression on tourists. Even in a sunny, clear and windless weather, it looks gloomy and dark. At the bottom of the ideal oval water body there are tons of therapeutic mud. It is from Tambukan that all the health resorts of Pyatigorsk are being scooped up.

Ancient temples of Karachay-Cherkessia

In addition to the amazing nature, the Caucasus is famous for its man-made sights. After all, this region has long been gripped by people. Many reviews are advised to visit the ancient churches of the region. The Saints Temple is located in the Lower Teberda aul, which is 18 km from the city of Karachaevsk. The church was erected at the beginning of the 10th century on the spur of the mountain range near the river. On the walls of the temple still visible frescoes of the eleventh century. Nearby is a stone mausoleum of the same era, intended for burial of the clergy. In the immediate vicinity there is also an Orthodox women's Savior-Transfiguration monastery, which has neither historical nor cultural value. And here's what else you need to visit in Karachay-Cherkessia, so it's the Shoanin Temple. It was built in the same era and in a similar architectural style as the Saints Church. The temple is located seven kilometers from Karachaevsk.

Tourist trips

Many travel agencies offer vacationers to go on a multi-day trip through the mountains and dales. They can be both pedestrian and bus. The most popular route for tourists is from Kislovodsk to Dombai. For one trip you can see both historical and natural sights of the Caucasus. The route also passes through the Church of St. Saints described above. This temple is one of the five oldest in the territory of the Russian Federation. Near the road Teberda - Dombai road crosses the river Shumka. Its name is very accurate. A small tributary of Teberda boils like boiling water. The route of the hike is approaching the place from where the river, foaming, like champagne, falls from a height of twelve meters. Shumka waterfall is especially beautiful in spring and early summer, at the time of snowmelt melting.

The Dargavian Necropolis

Some of the sights of the Caucasus can be visited only by people with strong nerves. Near the village of Dargavs (North Ossetia) is a real "City of the Dead". There are about a hundred semi-underground and towering crypts dating back to the 9th-18th centuries. These family tombs are very interesting. They reflect the way of life of the ancient Ossetians - after all, the dead were buried in full vestments and, besides, they put many objects of everyday life in the grave. Despite the fact that there is no sea near, the coffin was made in the form of a boat. Legends tell us that during the Great Plague (1347), infected families came here to die in order not to infect their neighbors. Because of the special microclimate, the bodies were not rotten, but mummified. This can be seen with your own eyes by paying an entrance ticket of a hundred rubles. Necropolis is protected by UNESCO. You can get to it yourself, by bus "Vladikavkaz - Jimar".

Jeyrahsky Gorge

It is located in Ingushetia. This gorge combined the natural and cultural sights of the Caucasus. Here are the most ancient settlements of Targim, Hamhi, Egikal, the ancient Christian temple of the seventh century Thaba-Erdy, the castles of Vovnushki and Erzi. There are all these interesting places and natural beauty in the Jairisko-Assinsky Museum-Reserve. It is almost the largest in Russia. In order not to get lost, the advice is to hire a guide. Although everywhere there are information boards, the story of a professional will make the excursion more interesting.

Barhan Sarykum

Attractions of the Caucasus are not only admirable, but also surprising. Is not it interesting to meet such a desolate formation near the snow-capped mountains? Sarikum is a single barkhan. In addition, it is the largest in Europe. Its area is three times larger than the state of Monaco, and the height reaches 260 meters (approximately as a fifty-story skyscraper). Barkhan consists of very fine golden sand. On a summer day, it heats up to +60 ° C. Scientists are lost in conjecture, where in the Caucasus such a mountain of sand took up. It is a miracle of nature in Dagestan, not far from the Kumtorkalinsky ridge and in the immediate vicinity of the village of Korkmaskali. From Makhachkala to this village there are regular buses.