Karachay mountains. Attractions of Karachay-Cherkessia

Emerald mountains with snow-white caps, tied with cobwebs of light yellow trails and milky mountain waterfalls - this is the kind of bird's eye view of the mountains of Karachay-Cherkessia.

general information

The territory of the KChR, like many other mountainous regions, combines relief zones of mountains, foothills and plains. Most of the area (approximately 80%) is mountains with foothills.

The north of the republic is outlined by the advanced ridges of the Greater Caucasus. The southern borders are reliably sheltered from the winds by the Side and Dividing ridges, the height of their mountain peaks reaches four kilometers. The Klukhor pass serves as the border between Abkhazia and Karachay-Cherkessia and, together with the Marukh pass, reaches the Black Sea coast.

Mountains - "record holders"

Elbrus

Mount Elbrus is located in the border zone between Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. The name of the peak, translated from the Karachay-Balkarian language, means “a mountain surrounded by winds”. However, there are other versions - the etymology of this name causes a lot of controversy among linguists.

The maximum heights of the mountain range range within 5600 m. This gives reason to call the peaks of Elbrus the highest points in Europe. The mountains are separated by an elongated saddle with a width of one and a half kilometers.

Elbrus glaciers replenish the waters of the largest Caucasian rivers: Kuban, Baksan, Malka. The total area of ​​23 ice massifs is 124 square kilometers.

Main directions tourist routes climbing Elbrus:

along the northern slope;

along the southern slope;

along the east edge.

Copper mountains of Urup

The peaks located in the water area of ​​the Urup River got their name due to the record amount of ores that are used in copper smelting. The mountains are hills covered with forests, shaped like a dome.

For the development of deposits of ore bodies (and there are more than 50 types of them in the Urup region), a mining and processing plant was built in the village of Urup.

Rome mountain

An amazing geological object related to the natural, historical and cultural attractions of the region. The height of the Rim Mountain is just over 1000 meters. It is located in the region of Maly Karachay, 18 km from Kislovodsk.

If you look at the top from a certain angle, you can see that it forms the impregnable walls of the fortress, into which two staircases lead. The very shape of the fortress is absolutely natural, created by nature, in contrast to the steps made by human hands. The top of the hill looks like a flat table.

Scientists-archaeologists have found that even before our era, there was a whole settlement on Mount Rome.

Tourist areas

If you are looking for a pleasant combination of a useful vacation with an active one, feel free to choose the ski resorts of Karachay-Cherkessia.

Teberda

On the territory of Teberda there are many sanatoriums and other health resorts, where qualified personnel will carry out all the necessary procedures for the treatment of various ailments. Most often people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and upper respiratory tract are treated here.

Dombay

Such towers rise above Dombay famous mountains like Erzog, Amanauz, Dombai-Ulgen, Peak Ine, Sulakhat and others. The highest point of the village is Dombay-Ulgen - four kilometers.

In addition to the fact that the village is one of the most popular resorts, it also claims to be the leader among the picturesque places of the KChR.

Arkhyz

A small village, in addition to skiing pleasures, surprises its guests with 75 high-mountainous lakes. The depth of lakes is determined by the height above sea level: the higher the lake is located, the deeper and larger it will be. The reservoirs are fed from the glaciers of the northern slopes. The altitude ranges of lakes above sea level vary from 2200 to 2800 m. Often, even in summer, ice cover can be seen on high-mountain reservoirs.

The highest peaks of Arkhyz are two mountains: Sofia (3.6 km) and Pshish (3.5 km).

Karachay-Cherkess Republic (Karachay-Cherkessia; Karachai-Balk.Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Kabardian-Cherk. Kareshi-Cherkess Republic, Abaz.Karcha-Cherkess Republic, leg. Karashai-Sherkesh Republics) - a republic within the Russian Federation constituent entity of the Russian Federation, part of the North Caucasian Federal District.

The capital is the city of Cherkessk.

Bordered in the west with Krasnodar Territory, in the north with the Stavropol Territory, in the east - with the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, in the south - along the Main Caucasian ridge - with Georgia, as well as with Abkhazia (which is a partially recognized state; at the same time, according to the administrative-territorial division of Georgia, it is included in composition of Georgia).

Glorified by Vizbor ski and tourist resort. It is interesting primarily because many famous peaks (Belalakaya, Zub, Sofrudzhu, Ertsog, etc.) are visible directly from the village in all their glory. If there is a place in the world that “it is better to see once”, then it is, of course, Dombay - a country of blue skies, a generous sun and snowy peaks, a country glorified by poets. Throughout the history of Dombai, a lot of them have been here, as well as artists with musicians, or even just people who are in love with the mountains, "sick" with the mountains. The world famous Dombai glade, located at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level, in the very heart of the mountains, is formed by the mouths of the Amanauz (Evil mouth) and its two tributaries - Alibek and Dombai-Yolgen. These rivers originate on the peaks of the same name. The latter, Dombai-Yolgen (Killed Bison), gave the name to Dombai himself (in Karachai “dommai” means “bison”).

Dombay is not an administrative concept, and its borders do not have a strict boundary designation. This is a modern, although dating back to tradition, name of the upper reaches of the Teberda River - a large tributary of the Kuban, uniting several mountain gorges, originating from the Main Caucasian ridge. The word "dombay" (dommay) means in Karachai "bison", once upon a time in the Dombay forests whole herds of mighty giants roamed.

Dombay is one of the modern recreation and sports centers, mountaineering, skiing and tourist Mecca of the Greater Caucasus. With the emergence of a market economy in Russia, the hotel industry has developed rapidly. Currently, a tourist complex of several dozen hotels, including modern mini-hotels, is operating in the Dombayskaya glade.

Sofrudzhinsky waterfall

Mount Dombay-Ulgen

Dombay-Yolgen is the top of the western part of the Main, or Vodorazdelny, ridge of the Greater Caucasus (on the border of Abkhazia and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic), at the headwaters of the Teberda River. Height 4046 m, this is the highest point of Abkhazia. It is composed of gneisses, crystalline schists, granites. Covered with eternal snows and glaciers.

Dombai-Ulgen is the highest peak of Dombai, located east of the village of Dombai, has three peaks: western (4036 m), main (4046 m) and eastern (3950 m). A steep ridge departs from the main peak to the north, ending in a depression - "Dombaysky saddle". From Dombaysky saddle goes upward classic route(category 3B), available for ascent in one day with a descent to the camp, located either on the site of the "Dombaysky saddle", or the Ptysh bivouac. In 1960, at the top of Dombai-Ulgen, an alpinist expedition of 4 people, headed by Igor Erokhin, died.

GPS coordinates: N43.24406 E41.72571

The address of the village of Dombay.

Klukhorsky pass

Pass on the Military-Sukhum road at an altitude of 2781 m through the Main Caucasian ridge. It was described by ESBE: "A stone path was drawn along the Kodor gorge through the Klukhorsky pass in the main Caucasian ridge, to connect Sukhum with Cherkessk". It leads from the Kodor basin to the upper Kuban. The rivers Kodor and Teberda flow.

The Klukhorsky pass is the highest section of the Military-Sukhum road. Its section, leading through the Klukhorsky pass, is currently not suitable for car traffic. Transport connection on the Military-Sukhum road depends on the weather in this section. Snow drifts are frequent here in winter. After the armed Georgian-Abkhaz conflict of 1992-1993, through traffic on the road was closed.

A very picturesque road along its entire length with steep serpentines rises along the Gonachkhir River, which runs in a powerful stream to meet Amanauz. The place of their confluence is considered to be the beginning of Teberda. The road offers a view of the gorges of the Bu-Yolgen, Chotcha, Hakel, North Klukhor rivers, which originate from powerful glaciers peaks of the same name. The road goes to the lake Tubanly-Kol (Foggy Lake), it is also called Trout. It is located at an altitude of 1850m. Its length is 275 m, width - 120 m. The lake is cold and deep, but on hot days the water in it warms up, and you can swim.

GPS coordinates: N43.24416 E41.86527

Dombay address.

Alibeksky waterfall

One of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in Dombai, in Karachay-Cherkessia. The waterfall is over 25 meters high. The waterfall is formed by the fall of the Djalovchatka river from the Alibek glacier; the stones from which the water falls are called "sheep's foreheads".

Alibek waterfall appeared in the XX century. Back in the 1930s, there was no waterfall, and the rocky ledge was covered by the tongue of the Alibek glacier, which every year recedes upwards by a meter and a half. Popular object hiking... It is located on the territory of the Teberda nature reserve. The nearest settlements: Alibek alpine camp (about 2 km), Dombay village (about 7 km).

GPS coordinates: N43.29726 E41.55754

Address Dombay, Alibek river valley.

Dombai glade

It is surrounded by mountain ranges at the intersection of the Dombai-Ulgen, Amanauz and Alibek rivers at an altitude of about 1600 meters above sea level. Beautiful panoramic views, starting point for many excursion routes.

GPS coordinates: N43.29104 E41.62173

Address of the village Dombay.

History of Karachay-Cherkessia

The territory of Karachay-Cherkessia at the end of the first millennium AD was part of the Alanian state, some architectural monuments of that time: Zelenchuksky, Sentinsky, Shoaninsky christian temples, fortified settlements. From the first half of the 19th century (according to the Russian-Turkish Adrianople world of 1828), the territory of modern Karachay-Cherkessia is part of Russia as the Batalpashinsky department of the Kuban region.

Since 1918, Soviet power has been established here. From April 1, 1918, the territory was part of the Kuban Soviet Republic, from May 28, 1918 - part of the Kuban-Black Sea Soviet Republic, from July 5 to December 1918 - part of the North Caucasian Soviet Republic. From December 1918 to April 1920 it was controlled by the White Guard AFSR. Since January 20, 1921 - part of the Mountain Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

On January 12, 1922, the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region was formed as part of the South-Eastern (since 1924 - the North Caucasian) Territory, with the center in the village of Batalpashinskaya (then renamed the city of Sulimov, Yezhovo-Cherkessk and, finally, which received the modern name Cherkessk) ...

On April 26, 1926, by a resolution of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, KChAO was divided into the Karachay Autonomous Region, the Circassian National District (since April 30, 1928 - the Autonomous Region), Batalpashinsky and Zelenchuk Districts.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Karachay Autonomous Region was liquidated on October 12, 1943, and the Karachais were recognized as accomplices of the fascist troops and on November 2, 1943, they were deported to Central Asia and Kazakhstan. The southern part of Karachay went to Georgia (as the Klukhorsky region), and most of it was annexed to the Stavropol Territory.

After the rehabilitation of the Karachais with permission to return to their native lands, on January 12, 1957, the Cherkess Autonomous Region was transformed into the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region as part of the Stavropol Territory. She also received Zelenchuksky, Karachaevsky and Ust-Dzhegutinsky districts of the Stavropol Territory.

to form the Urupsky district - the center of the village of Pregradnaya.

abolish the Urupsky industrial region of the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region

The Adyge-Khabl, Zelenchuksky, Karachaevsky, Malokarachaevsky, Prikubansky and Khabezsky rural areas of the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region shall be transformed into districts.

On November 30, 1990, the Council of People's Deputies of the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region decided to secede from the Stavropol Territory and transform into the Karachay-Cherkess Soviet Socialist Republic (KChSSR) as part of the RSFSR, which was approved by the RSFSR law of July 3, 1991 No. 1537-1 ...

In 1989-1991, the congresses of individual peoples of Karachay-Cherkessia convened by national movements began to turn to the leadership of the RSFSR with a request to restore or create separate autonomies.

At the congresses of deputies of all levels, the following were proclaimed:

November 18, 1990 - Karachaevskaya Soviet Socialist Republic(since October 17, 1991 - the Karachay Republic),

in November 1991 - the Abaza Republic,

August 19, 1991 - Batalpashinskaya Cossack Republic and Zelenchuksko-Urupskaya Cossack Soviet Socialist Republic (November 30, 1991 united into the Upper Kuban Cossack Republic).

After many days of thousands of rallies on December 3, 1991, by a resolution of the Supreme Soviet of Karachay-Cherkessia, an appeal was made to the federal center for the recognition of individual republics.

In January 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin was ready to recognize the division of Karachay-Cherkessia and submitted draft laws "On the restoration of the Karachay Autonomous Region and the Cherkess Autonomous Region within the Russian Federation" to the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. A commission of the Supreme Council was created for the education of three autonomous regions - Karachaevskaya, Cherkesskaya, Batalpashinskaya.

On March 28, 1992, a referendum was held, at which, according to the official results, the majority of the population of Karachay-Cherkessia spoke out against the division. The division was not legalized, and a single Karachay-Cherkessia remained, from December 9, 1992, which became the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

Population of Karachay-Cherkessia

Karachay-Cherkessia is a multinational republic: representatives of more than 80 nationalities live on its territory. According to Rosstat, the population of the republic is 469,837 people. (2014). The population density is 32.90 people / km2 (2014). Urban population - 43.07% (2013).

National composition

Number in 2010, Number in 2002,

Karachais ↗ 194 324 (41.0%) 169 198 (38.5%)

Russians ↗ 150,025 (31.6%) 147,878 (33.6%)

Circassians ↗ 56 466 (11.9%) 49 591 (11.3%)

Abaza ↗ 36 919 (7.8%) 32 346 (7.4%)

Nogays ↗ 15 654 (3.3%) 14 873 (3.4%)

Ossetians ↘ 3 142 3 333

Political situation

On July 30, 2008, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev introduced the candidacy of Boris Ebzeev to the People's Assembly (Parliament) of Karachay-Cherkessia to vest him with the powers of the president of the republic. Ebzeev has worked as a judge of the Constitutional Court since 1991. On August 5, 2008, at an extraordinary session of deputies of the People's Assembly, Boris Ebzeev was unanimously empowered with the powers of the President of Karachay-Cherkessia; on September 4, he officially took office.

On February 26, 2011 B.S.Ebzeev resigned at his own request. On the same day, Rashid Temrezov, head of the federal state institution “Office of Federal Highways on the Territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic of the Federal Highway Agency”, was appointed as Acting President of Karachay-Cherkessia.

On February 28, 2011, the President of Russia submitted Temrezov's candidacy for consideration by the People's Assembly of Karachay-Cherkessia to empower the head of the republic. His candidacy was approved on March 1.

Famous people

Dima Bilan (b. 1981, the city of Ust-Dzheguta) is a Russian singer.

Yuri Popov (b. 1929) - opera singer, People's Artist of the USSR (1978).

Vladimir Khubiev (b. 1932) - Chairman of the Karachay-Cherkess Regional Executive Committee (1979-1990), Head of Karachay-Cherkessia (1990-1999).

Vladimir Semyonov (b. 1940) - General of the Army, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR-RF (1991-1997), President of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic (1999-2003).

Vladimir Bryntsalov (b. 1946) is a Russian businessman and politician.

Mikhail Eskindarov (b. 1951) - Rector of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Economics (2000), Professor (1998).

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTOS:

Team nomad

http://culttourism.ru/karachaevo-cherkessiya/

The nature of Karachay-Cherkessia.

Wikipedia website.

http://www.nashikurorty.ru/

Photosite.

Site of the Teberda Nature Reserve.

Blue mountains of the Caucasus, I greet you! You have nurtured my childhood; you wore
me on their wild ridges, they dressed me with clouds, you to the sky me
taught me, and since then I have been dreaming about you and about heaven. Thrones of nature, with
which thunderclouds fly away like smoke, some only on your peaks
He prayed to the Creator, he despises life, although at that moment he was proud of it!
M. Yu. Lermontov

Caucasus! What does this word conjure up to you? Stunning snow-capped peaks with strong winds? The rapture of a climber who has conquered his "height"? Or a long-awaited rest from the everyday work and everyday life? All this can be found in Karachay-Cherkessia, a small mountainous country... Tourists are captivated by its natural beauty. They admire the sun-drenched alpine meadows, the majestic mountain ranges and the variety of hiking trails. Let's take a closer look at this country.

Karachay-Cherkess Republic takes square slightly more than 14 thousand km 2. Of these, only in the north a narrow strip falls on the hilly plains of the Caucasian foothills. And the main part of the republic - more than two-thirds of the territory - is located in the mountains. Its southern border(with neighbors Abkhazia and Georgia) runs along the Main - Vodorazdelny - ridge at an altitude of about 4000 meters (Mount Dombai-Ulgen - 4040 m). Eastern section the high-mountainous border with Kabardino-Balkaria approaches the summit of Elbrus. WITH northeast and northwest the neighbors of Karachay-Cherkessia are Stavropol and Krasnodar regions, respectively. The capital city is Cherkessk.

Climate here it is continental, but soft, moderately warm. In January, the average temperature is from -5 ° C in the northern plains to -10 ° C in the southern highlands; in July from + 21 ° С (in the plains) to + 8 ° С (in the mountains). But fluctuations can reach 39 ° C heat - 29 ° C frost. Precipitation is plentiful, from 550 mm in the south to 2500 mm in the north per year.

The bowels of the republic are striking in diversity mineral ... This and gold, and coal, and copper pyrite and polymetallic ores... Production has been established granite, marble of different colors, limestone and clay various uses. So the saying "small spool, but expensive" also applies to Karachay-Cherkessia.

Three-story relief

Three distinct parts can be noted: foothill plain, on which there are wide river routes, foothills and mountains of the Greater Caucasus.
At first they rise above the plain Sychev mountains with heights up to 888 m. Their northern slopes are sloping, and the southern ones are steep and steep. The next ridge - Cretaceous ridge, or Pasture - rises already up to 1200-1500 m and breaks off in the south with a ledge several hundred meters high. From this ledge begins a gentle, although clearly visible by eye, rise to the third ridge - Rocky ridge , the southern cliffs of which in some places are giant sheer walls.
South of the Rocky Range, separated from it by a strip of narrow intermontane basins, there are axial, central ridges - Side and Main ... On the Side, the peaks reach 3500 m and more. There are several closed hollows between the mountains, of which Dombai glade , located in the upper reaches of the Teberda River, has become widely known ski resort, as well as training camps mountain tourism and mountaineering.

Both ridges rise here significantly above the snow line, and therefore the entire area has many glaciers ... In addition to Elbrus, they are famous Marukhsky, Alibeksky and Amanauz glaciers... This is where the big rivers — Urup, Bolshaya Laba, Bolshoi Zelenchuk, Marukha, Kuban and many small ones. Other major rivers originate below the glacier zone in the Rocky Ridge. North Caucasus — Kuma and its biggest influx is Podkumok... Rivers flow in the canyons, sometimes fascinatingly picturesque, sometimes gloomy, striking with pristine-harsh savagery. They cut the mountains into numerous isolated massifs of bizarre shapes, often very difficult to access.

Picturesque nature

The mountain slopes are covered forests (in Karachay-Cherkessia there are more than 400 thousand hectares). At the bottom, deciduous species dominate, mainly beech and hornbeam. Above them spruce and fir wedge in. Mixed forests rise up to 2200-2500 m, and above they are replaced by a belt of meadows - subalpine, and then alpine. At an altitude of about 3000 m, the zone of eternal snows and glaciers begins. However, there are exceptions to the rule everywhere. Very often, forest edges come close to glaciers, and in areas where avalanches develop, their snow masses are deeply driven into the thicket.

Beech forests make a strong impression. They are very shady, even gloomy. Columns of huge trunks in two or three girths rise up to 40 meters. The gray glossy bark strikingly harmonizes with the eternal dusk, damp air, and the smell of decaying leaves. The grasses are not thick here. Birds are almost inaudible: they prefer clearings open to the sun. Closer to the lightened edges, where the beeches are thinning, a forest apple tree, wild pear, sweet cherry, cherry plum and trees resembling Central Russian oak forests - oak, birch, maple, grow, and in the underbrush - hazel, euonymus, honeysuckle (Caucasian). Glades and edges are densely covered with meadow grasses.

V coniferous forests pine dominates on the southern and southeastern slopes, and spruce and fir - on the northern. Spruce-fir forests are as shady as beech forests. In the Caucasus, special species are widespread: oriental spruce and Caucasian fir. They are characterized by gigantic growth: trunks 40-50 m high are not uncommon. Their branches, covered with brush needles, are so thick that not every rain can soak them through. In places with high humidity, there are many blackberry and blueberry.

At an altitude of about 2500 m, thickets appear in many places beech woodland- undersized, crooked, often with a one-sided crown of trees. Birches feel better here. Their white trunks clearly set off the transition to alpine meadows. Above you will be met by a rhododendron - an evergreen shrub. From June to August, when it blooms, its thickets are very beautiful. The flowers give off a strong, slightly intoxicating scent.

Above the edge of forests and forest-shrub crooked forests dominate meadows ... Here there are dark blue gentians, and bright yellow violets, and light lilac primroses, and turquoise forget-me-nots, and bright pink cornflowers, and many others. From a distance, the alpine meadow resembles a colored spotted carpet. The vegetation, becoming smaller and thinner, comes close to the foot of the glaciers, from under which streams run out with a never-ending dialect.

Animal world

Karachay-Cherkessia is interesting not only for its exquisite vegetation, but also for the variety of fauna. Getting to know the local fauna can make your trip truly unforgettable. Graceful representatives of artiodactyls are found here - red deer, tur, chamois, roe deer... Saved brown bear, fox, jackal, wolf, raccoon dog, lynx... There are also smaller animals: muskrat, marten, mink, otter, hare, forest cat, badger... From the feathered family can be seen (and heard) gray partridge, pheasant, black grouse and Caucasian snowcock, griffon owl and ducks... Of course, most likely, you will not be able to immediately notice one of them, but there are many animals here. If you have patience and perseverance, then, especially at the hour of dawn or at dusk, you may be lucky enough to photograph a beautiful animal.

Gardens are laid out in the Teberda Nature Reserve at an altitude of about 2000 m above sea level

A rushing stream of crystal clear water, soft waves of grass in the wind, a cloudless sky overhead, sunlight, warm and joyful. A magnificent sight appears before us, extraordinary sounds are heard, and, of course, this is only the beginning of a beautiful day. Where are we? V state biosphere reserve , located in the southernmost part of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, adjacent to the Main Ridge, in the upper reaches of the Teberda River. Here, on an area of ​​about 100 km 2, vegetation and animal world highlands (in total there are 43 species of mammals, 170 species of birds and 6 - snakes and reptiles). On the territory of the reserve 100 glaciers, 30 rivers and 130 lakes... There are gardens at an altitude of about 2000 m above sea level.

The Caucasian State Reserve is located within the Kuban slopes of the Western Caucasus. This is one of the most extensive and most interesting alpine and mountain-forest reserves in the world, a rare monument of virgin nature that has survived to this day. It differs not only in its diverse, but also unique in its kind, the most ancient, found only here, plants and animals.

People, their history and culture

The population of Karachay-Cherkessia is multinational. Here besides Karachais and Circassians live Russians, Abaza, Ossetians, Nogais, Ukrainians, Little Greeks and Armenians... Karachais live in the southernmost, most mountainous part of the republic. Their auls are scattered along the river gorges and in the depressions between the ridges. The Circassians live "one floor below" - in the intermontane lowlands between the Skalisty and Cretaceous ridges and partly in the foothills. The settlements of other ethnic groups are scattered among the Karachai and Circassian auls.

Among the indigenous population of the republic, the most numerous Karachais ... The history of this people has been little studied; the most probable is the assumption that they descended from a Turkic-speaking people - Polovtsi... However, in their formation, a certain role was also played by Alans, since at the end of the 1st millennium A.D. the territory of the modern republic was part of the Alanian state.
The Karachais appeared in the highlands of the Central Caucasus, most likely in the XIII or XIV century. These were nomads, moving with their herds along the intermontane depressions over a large area. Subsequently, under the onslaught of other tribes, their nomadic territory was reduced to approximately its present size. The first information about this mountainous country began to reach Russia in the 17th century. Then it was called Karachay... But it was only in the 19th century that a detailed acquaintance between the Russians and the Karachais took place. In the first half of the same century, Karachay joined the Russian Empire.
After the arrival of Soviet power in 1922, the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region was formed. In 1992 it was renamed the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.

In the language, culture, everyday rituals of the Karachais, the features of the nomadic Turks are largely preserved. Recently, a revival of artistic crafts has begun, which, despite the historical vicissitudes, have been preserved in folk traditions. In his applied arts Karachai-Cherkessians reflect the harsh life of the mountains and ideas about the world that surrounds them. Wood carving, embroidery, weaving, pottery, making dishes from ceramics and their subsequent painting, sewing with gold and silver threads, - this is what the republic has long been famous for. And this, of course, is not the whole list. So souvenirs and gifts purchased here by tourists will remind you of this beautiful mountainous country for a long time.

A little about cities

Cherkessk is the capital of the republic, formed in 1825 as the village of Batalpashinskaya. Since 1888 the village has been one of the seven administrative centers of the Kuban region. There was a concentration of cultural and trade ties of the Kuban Cossacks and mountaineers.
The appearance of the former Batalpashinsk has completely changed. Instead of rural houses, multi-storey residential buildings now rise; the streets are paved, asphalted and greened. Created parks, gardens and squares... I would especially like to mention park of culture and rest "Green Island" separated from Friendship of Peoples square a canal through which a pedestrian bridge is thrown. In the park you can visit swimming pond, boat station, stadium and motodrome... The kids will be happy to frolic in children's town... Or you can just walk along walking paths along the beautiful trees.
The center of the multinational culture of Karachay-Cherkessia is located in Cherkessk. Doors 4 state theaters always open to you. We are glad to receive our guests 3 museums and 18 libraries cities. Lovers of real music are advised to visit State Philharmonic ... And those who are close to folklore, will delight with their art city ​​Cossack song and dance ensemble and state dance ensemble "Elbrus", which has already conquered more than one European capital.
The landscape of the city is complemented by several hot fountains on the outskirts, gushing from underground springs. This water has good medicinal properties. Outside the city, a majestic panorama of the highlands unfolds. Cherkessk itself, in terms of the number of sunny days (and there are more than 300 of them a year), will not be inferior to any settlement North Caucasus.

Karachaevsk is the second most important city in the republic. It is located behind the Skalisty ridge, in the intermontane basin at the confluence of the Kuban and Teberda rivers. Karachaevsk is young (founded in 1926) and small, but planned and rebuilt beautifully, as if in the center of an amphitheater formed by mountain ranges towering on three sides, dark from the forest covering them. Rows of houses, stretched along the paved streets, are immersed in ornamental greenery. Successfully located lawns and squares are in harmony with the surrounding area. From a bird's eye view, the city looks like a horseshoe stretched along the rivers, and the Komsomolskaya Mountain divides it into two parts. Small centers of human production activity are not striking among the greatness of the pristine mountain nature.
In terms of climatic conditions, Karachaevsk, if not superior, then certainly not inferior to the resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters and Transcaucasia. There is the same abundance of sunny days here as in Cherkessk. Autumn is fabulously beautiful among the seasons. In general, this place can be called the capital of the Karachay-Circassian resorts.

Resorts of the republic

... The road from Karachaevsk goes along the valley of the Teberda river and soon leads to climatic balneological resort - Teberda ... He is known for his wonderful medicinal properties... The city is located almost 500 meters above Kislovodsk, among the majestic mountains. Clean dry air, abundance of solar radiation, cool summers and warm, almost frost-free winters, constant air purification by mountain-valley winds- these are the main healing factors of the resort. Here almost ideal conditions for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, to restore the nervous system and treating certain types of heart disease... For these purposes, sanatoriums with the most modern equipment have been built. Along with the treatment by nature, the latest achievements of medicine are used. The majority of those treated here retain their hardening for several years.
The city of Teberda is the starting point of numerous mountain tourism routes and mountain climbing... There are several tourist centers here.

Arkhyz. West of Teberda, at the confluence of the mountain rivers Kizgich, Psysh, Sofia and Arkhyz, is Arkhyz village (translated - "Old dwelling"). Around there are high steeply-ribbed mountains, black below from the dark coniferous forest covering them, dazzling white from the snow and glaciers covering them at the top. Dry, warm winters, low-rainfall summers, complete calm, long-lasting sunlight, surprisingly clean alpine air, saturated with the aroma of mountain forests, mineral springs with ferrous waters- all this is done by Arkhyz the famous alpine climatic resort.
And what a space around! Elbrus rises far to the east. On the northern slopes Glaciers can be seen on the main ridge. From under one of them - the Bolshoi Sofiyskiy - the Sofia River throws nine waterfalls into a hundred-meter abyss. Also in the Arkhyz area there are over 75 lakes... The largest and most beautiful of them is located under the Kelbashi peak. On its smooth blue, even in summer, small icebergs break away from the surrounding glaciers stand out in white.

... The world famous Dombai glade ... The name Dombay (from Karachai "Dommay" - "bison") comes from one of these three rivers. Blue sky, generous sun and snowy peaks - what else does a person need to feel alone with nature. The local nature itself contributes to the recovery and strengthening of your body: mild, fertile climate, clean air filled with coniferous aroma, fragrant alpine meadows and a large number of sunny days a year. Summer in Dombai is not hot, and winter is snowy (which is very attractive for ski lovers). The Velvet season falls on the beauty autumn.
One of the oldest in Russia is located here. ski resort ... It seems that nature itself has created all the conditions here to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Well-equipped cable cars will help you access the ski slopes. Is increasingly popular heli-skiing, where delivery to the slopes of the mountains is carried out using helicopters. Those who want to feel "above the mountains" can do delta and paragliding.
Of course it is a great place to relax and gain strength for the whole year.

Other places of interest

Uchkurka. Outside the city of Cherkessk the Kuban river valley , albeit wide, nevertheless the massifs of mountains are pressed on both sides. Elbrus appears majestically on the left. With every kilometer of the way, the proximity of the mountains is more clearly felt. The valley gradually narrows, the rise becomes more and more noticeable, the hills are coming closer and closer. And suddenly, somehow unexpectedly, the road turns out to be above the Kuban bed at an altitude of 100 meters or more and for a kilometer stretches along a ledge cut at the foot of a steep cliff. An overhanging wall of stone on one side and a deep cliff with a raging river stream on the other make a strong impression. This place is called Uchkurkoy .
Further on, the Uchkurki mountains finally come into their own: they have moved very close, the Kuban Valley narrows to 1.5-2 km, the riverbed meanders between the layered reddish rocks. Steep slopes, covered with green forests, shot up high. Bizarrely varied peaks loom against the deep blue sky. On the slopes, clinging to the green stubble of the forest, clouds creep like cotton wool.

It's old path to the mountains... But far from the only one. Many pages are not enough to describe all the beauty and all the splendor of the small mountainous republic. What are they worth Honey waterfalls, Marinskoye gorge, Lashtrak sour springs and many, many other unforgettable places.
I would especially like to note Karachay-Cherkess Historical, Cultural and Natural Museum-Reserve ... It is located on a vast territory, and includes:

• The local history museum in Cherkessk is the main institution of the museum-reserve.
• Art Gallery.
• Exhibition Pavilion.
• Museum-monument to the defenders of the Caucasus passes, located on the main highway from Cherkessk to Dombay.
• Museum-estate of the 19th century Prince of Karachai I.P. Krymshamkhalov.
• Lower-Arkhyz architectural and archaeological complex of the 7th-14th centuries.
• Shohan complex X-XI centuries
• Khumarinskoye settlement of the VIII-X centuries.
• Sentin complex X-XII centuries.
• Alan settlement VIII-XIV centuries and the tower "Adiyukh" of the 18th century.

Tourist routes

And how can you not mention those beautiful excursions and routes , which Karachay-Cherksia provides to its inquisitive guests. Offers:

• Climbing the top of Hope , to the lakes and glaciers located on the Sofia ridge.
• Dombai auto safari by jeep "Dzhorzhik" along the roads of the Dombaysky and Teberdinsky gorges.
• Horse tour "Golden Mustang" ... You can admire the pristine beauty of the mountains in the saddle on a calm horse of the Karachaev breed.
• Trip to the observatory ... Inspection of the largest optical telescope in Eurasia.
• Student tour with meals and accommodation, with walking and car excursions, with a supply of adrenaline and impressions for the entire academic year.
• Visit to the Church of the Intercession Holy Mother of God , built by the Khoper Cossacks in the 18th century.
• Excursion to the upper reaches of the Sofia river .
• Excursion to the Turiy lake and the Alibek glacier .
• Excursion to the horizon Mussa-Achitara with an ascent by cable car to the zone of alpine meadows.
• Excursion to the rock of Shoana To ancient temple George the Victorious (IX century).

Here is a varied, but far from complete list of what can be imprinted in your memory and on your camera.

Epilogue

High. About 3000 m. Dizzying altitude makes breathing difficult: there is not enough oxygen. The height hides the true size of objects: the forest giants - spruce and fir - seem to be matches stuck in the sloping edges of the mountain. In the highlands there is a deep silence, and the melodic roar of many streams below the edge of the glacier does not break, but only emphasizes the majestic silence. Mountains are beauty combined with power. Such a union has always fascinated people. Most likely, you think so too.

This region rightfully occupies one of the leading places in the list of the most visited resort regions of the country. Ski resorts and balneological hospitals, natural and historical sights - all this attracts numerous tourists from Russia and neighboring countries.

The climate in the republic is close to moderately warm with a characteristic long duration of sunshine. In the foothills, the average temperature in winter is about -6 degrees, and in summer the air warms up to about 22. And higher towards the mountains the climate becomes more humid and more like a sea with colder winters compared to the foothills.

Active tourism and recreation

Active rest in Karachay-Cherkessia is one of the most popular tourist destinations... At this resort you can try yourself in mountaineering and rock climbing, skiing and hang gliding, as well as equestrian sports and rafting. For this, there is everything you need, because in the KChR there is one of the most famous resorts in Russia - Dombay, which attracts fans of different sports with a variety of mountainous reliefs. And if you don't want to get up on skis and climb mountain peaks, then there is always the opportunity to just admire the wonderful landscapes, walking along the slopes and picking local berries and medicinal plants.

Sanatorium treatment

In the resort areas of the republic there are many health resorts that help in the treatment of various diseases due to the amazing natural conditions and excellent climate. In addition to general health promotion, KCHR sanatoriums specialize in the treatment of tuberculosis, as well as diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

sights

The main natural attraction of the resort is the Tiberdinsky State Nature Reserve with an area of ​​almost 70 thousand hectares, which occupies the entire region of the Teberda River. There are about a hundred glaciers here, which make up about 10% of the entire area of ​​the reserve. In addition, the territory is permeated with a huge number of rivers that form truly picturesque waterfalls of different heights. The largest and most powerful of them is Sofrudzhinsky at the foot of the Amanauz glacier, which has been considered the abode of evil spirits since ancient times. Also, it is in the reserve in the upper reaches of the Teberda that the famous Dombai glade is located, from which a dizzying view of the surrounding peaks and glaciers opens.

However, in addition to natural attractions in the republic there are many memorable places... One of them is a graveyard of climbers on the way to the Alibek gorge, where many climbers were buried from the 60s of the last century to the early 2000s. Some of these monuments are dummies erected in memory of those climbers whose bodies have not been found.

And not far from Nizhny Arkhyz, at an altitude of more than two kilometers, there is the most powerful astronomical observatory in Russia, formed in the 60s at the foot of Mount Pastukhov. The main mirror of the observatory has a diameter of 6 meters, and the azimuth telescope is the largest in all of Eurasia and the second largest in the world.

Largest transport hubs

Almost all routes run through the capital of the republic - the city of Cherkessk. There is no airport here, but there is Train Station where flights arrive from the nearest cities of Russia. In addition, federal roads A-155 Cherkessk-Dombay and A-165 Lermontov-Cherkessk pass through this city.

I.V. Mikhailov

More than 200 million years ago, on the site of the Caucasus, there was the bottom of the Tethys Ocean, which included the modern Aral, Caspian and Black Sea, and the huge ocean itself then connected the modern seas: the Mediterranean and the Okhotsk.

Tens of millions of years have passed, the waters of the Tethys Ocean retreated as a result of the movement of the earth's crust, and about 20-25 million years ago the Caucasus was formed and acquired modern forms of relief.

The relief of Karachay-Cherkessia, like the entire Caucasus, is distinguished by a variety of forms, which is due to the complex geological and tectonic structure of the territory. All points on the surface of the republic lie above 400 meters above sea level, gradually rising to the south and southeast to 5642 meters. By the nature of the surface, three zones can be distinguished: plain-hilly, foothill and mountain.

A small area in the northern part of the republic with heights from 400 to 800 meters is referred to a flat-hilly area, where hills of different altitudes rise among the relatively flat terrain.

The main underlying relief-forming rocks here are sandstones and conglomerates, and the river valleys are covered mainly with Quaternary alluvium, formed due to the products of erosion of mountain slopes by water flows.

Most high part zones - Sychevy mountains, with a height of up to 888 m.

The main line running south of the Beslenei aul to the city of Cherkessk, north of the village of Nikolaevsky and further to the east can be considered the border between the plain-hilly zone and the foothill zone. To the south of this line, the foothill zone stretches out in a wide strip up to 160 kilometers long. Its southern border can be conditionally drawn from the village. Kurdzhinovo at st. Zelenchukskaya, then to the Upper Mara and the Biychesyn plateau.

In the foothill zone, watershed areas are clearly expressed, the heights here grow to the south, the surface is crossed by gullies and short river gorges. Within this zone, there are two large orographic objects: the Pasture (Melovoy) and Skalisty ridges.

The pasture ridge got its name for the abundance of pasture lands here, it is located north of the Rocky Range, it is lower-mountainous, its average height is 900-1000 meters, and in the east it reaches 1500 meters. The ridge is composed mainly of limestones and marls of the Upper Cretaceous: the sandstones cutting through them play an important role in the relief formation of the entire zone. They contribute to the anti-erosion stability of slopes, form the so-called table ridges and separate elevations with flat tops.

The rocky ridge stretches over the territory of the republic for 160 kilometers from west to east. The average height of the ridge is 1200-1600 meters. The rocky ridge, like the Pasture and Sychevy mountains, is a cuest ridge in shape. Its northern slopes are gentle, and the southern ones are steep and in places form walls up to 200 meters in relative height.

The northern slope of the ridge is composed of limestones and dolomites almost along its entire length, and in the south, in depressions, there are clay shales, sandstones, granites, andesites, and basalts.

The Lateral (or Foremost) ridge with its ridges stretches south of the Skalisty and parallel to the Main Caucasian ridge. The Bokovaya is separated from the Rocky Ridge by longitudinal depressions with heights of up to 1000 meters (they stretch from Kurdzhinovo to Kumysh), and to the east, these ridges are separated by the Biychesyn plateau.

The lateral ridge begins in the region of Archis, where one of its massifs is ridge. Abishira - Akhuba rises to a height of 3223 meters. In the east of the republic, at the western summit of Elbrus, the Lateral Ridge reaches highest heights, here a 10 - 12 km mountain cofferdam separates the western summit of Elbrus from the Main Caucasian ridge.

To the south of the Lateral Ridge, the Main Caucasian Ridge rises like a giant wall. This is the most elevated and picturesque part of Karachay-Cherkessia, here many peaks exceed 3000 m, and the highest point, Mount Dombai-Yolgen, has a height of 4046 m.

The territory of Karachay-Cherkessia is very interesting and geologically diverse. There are deposits of all geological ages: from Precambrian to Neogene and Quaternary inclusive (Appendix 1). The latter are represented by normal, weakly compacted sediments; ancient formations are recrystallized, sheared, transformed into gneisses and crystalline schists.

All igneous and sedimentary rocks are distributed zonally, stretching in strips of the general Caucasian direction, and when moving from south to north, more and more young geological formations come to the surface.

In the pre-Upper Proterozoic time, this entire territory retained a stable platform regime, without mountain-forming processes. In the Late Proterozoic and early Cambrian geosynclinal conditions prevailed, when, along with the deposition of marine sediments, volcanism took place. This stage ended with the era of folding with the introduction of magma into the earth's crust, as well as general uplift.

Until the end of the Carboniferous period, there was a process of new stages of submersion of the territory and the accumulation of marine sediments.

In the Jurassic period, almost the entire territory of the Main Ridge was still under water. The diving regime prevailing at that time was sometimes violated by short-term uplifts. By the beginning of the Late Jurassic era, the final uplift of the modern zone of the Main Caucasian ridge took place, and it was never again covered by the sea. The rest of the modern territory of the republic was covered by the sea with small interruptions until the end of the Eocene, after which a gradual retreat of the sea to the north began. In the Miocene, the sea remained only in the northern part of the territory (north of the latitude of Adyge-Khablya), and at the beginning of the Upper Miocene, the entire territory of Karachay-Cherkessia became stable land.

Geologically, in Karachay-Cherkessia, three zones are conditionally distinguished, almost coinciding with the zones distinguished by the nature of the surface: I) northern - flat-hilly, where Tertiary or very young deposits are mainly developed; 2) middle - foothill (mid-mountain), where a rather wide strip of Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks occurs; 3) southern - the area of ​​the Lateral and Main Caucasian ridges, where predominantly ancient Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks are widespread. However, in the northern and middle parts of this zone there are also deposits of the Jurassic period, they are known in two depressions located to the north and south of the Lateral Ridge and received their names, respectively - the North Jurassic and South Jurassic depressions.

The most ancient rocks - Paleozoic, whose age is determined in the range of 600 million - 1 billion years, emerge on the day surface both in the axial part of the Main Caucasian ridge and on its northern slopes. These are mainly various crystalline schists formed over many millions of years under the influence of high temperatures and pressures from sedimentary, volcanic and igneous rocks. Crystalline schists are cut by numerous granite intrusions, much younger (their age is determined at 310-330 Ma); They are found from the headwaters of the Bol. Laba in the west to the headwaters of the Kuban in the east, as well as in the valleys of the Khasaut and Musht rivers in the south-east of the republic.

Rocks of the Silurian period are represented by sandstones, argillaceous and siliceous-argillaceous shales, less often lavas of various compositions, in the valley of the river. Hasaut - limestones and phyllites.

Quite a narrow strip stretching along the latitude Zagedan - Arkhyz - Verkh. Teberda - Uchkulan, volcanic formations of the Lower and Middle Devonian emerge on the day surface, represented by various lavas and their tuffs with interlayers of jasper-like rocks of various colors.

Lower Carboniferous rocks, represented by shales, sandstones, limestones, small lava beds, are developed mainly along the river. Bol. Zelenchuk (in the area of ​​Bogoslovka), r. Marukha (area of ​​Pastukhov) and stretch in a narrow strip from the sources of the river. Guides in the west to the right sources of the river. Kol-Tyubu in the east.

Permian rocks are mainly red-colored conglomerates, sandstones and siltstones, lavas of various compositions and their tuffs. These deposits are most widespread on the watershed of the Aksaut and Teberda rivers. In addition, Permian rocks are noted along the river. Bol. Zelenchuk north of Bogoslovka and in a narrow strip adjacent to the zone of the Main Caucasian ridge from Arkhyz to Uchkulan.

A wide and continuous strip north of the latitude of the Asiatic - Nizh. Arkhyz - Marukha - Nizh. Teberda - Khudes and rocks of the Lower and Middle Jurassic come to the surface up to the foothills of the Rocky Range. represented by sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, with horizons of effusive rocks and limestone. Lower and Middle Jurassic deposits are developed in the zone of the Main Caucasian ridge and are traced in the form of a narrow strip from the upper reaches of the river. Small. Laba to the sources of the river. Teberda. The youngest are Quaternary deposits, mainly river, alluvial-deluvial and glacial, represented by pebbles, loams, sands, clays, etc. Glacial deposits are found mainly in the zone of the Main Caucasian ridge, the rest are widespread.

Karst processes developed most actively during the last epoch of the continental regime. Here's how it happened:

Oligocene(Annex 1). The Caucasus is gradually rising and expanding. The Kuban Valley is formed, the mantle of sedimentary rocks of the Lower Paleogene is eroded, limestones of the Upper Jurassic are partially exposed.

Miocene. The Caucasus continues to rise, its relief is declining, which leads to a decrease in erosion-denudation processes. Paleozoic and Triassic carbonate rocks are exposed that make up the Lateral Ridge. Oxford-Kimmeridgian limestones begin to karst.

Pliocene. The modern transverse valleys of the Laba rivers are specifically designated. Kuban and others. Depressions began to form, isolating the parallel ridges of the Greater Caucasus. Cuesta ridges of the Rocky and Pasture ridges are formed, where intensive processes of karsting of Mesozoic carbonate deposits begin.

Pleistocene. The Greater Caucasus is becoming a country of mountain glaciation, the area of ​​glaciers is about 8 times larger than the present day. The Rocky and Pasture Ridges were not exposed to glaciation and continued to intensively karst.

Many caves formed in that distant period, perhaps, have hardly changed by our time. The question of determining the age of karst cavities is a complex and debatable one.

We can get an idea of ​​the lower age limit of karst undergrounds based on the entire body of knowledge on the geology and geomorphology of the cavity in question. Even a thorough study of organic remains and other sediments preserved in caves (fossil bones of Pleistocene animals, pollen and spores of extinct plants, drip formations, etc.) physicochemical, radiological (determination of the absolute and relative age by the carbon isotope C 14, by isotopes uranium and radium, by spectral analysis and other methods) make it possible to approximately judge only the upper age limit of the formation of karst cavities, and, in particular, the age of the deposits themselves.

Conditions for the accumulation of cultural layers are created in caves devoid of constant water flows. At the same time, the time separating the final cessation of water inflow into the karst cavities from the beginning of the accumulation of sediments in them can cover a significant segment of the geological epoch. Therefore, caves are always much older than their paleontological and archaeological deposits.