Psekups is a large mountain river of the North Caucasus, flowing through the territories of the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea. The length of this waterway is 146 km, and the basin area is 1430 km². The large resort town of Goryachiy Klyuch is located in the river valley of Psekups.
Origin of the name
Psekups has two common translations:
- "a river full of water";
- "blue water".
Both interpretations are based on the Adyghe language. The traditional definition in local lore literature indicates the second version of the translation - "blue water". Indeed, the river has just such a color due to the large number of sulfur sources located along the course.
A less common interpretation is "the river of the black maple valley", where the word "Psekups" is divided into 3 fragments: "psei", "ko" and "dogs". There is a version where the hydronym goes back to the ancient language of the Meotians, who lived on the territory of the lower reaches of the Kuban in the early Middle Ages.
Another theoryThe origin of the name is repelled from the Adyghe "Psekuupse", where "kuu" means "deep", and "pse" - a river. That is, the hydronym is translated as "deep-water river". At present, such a characteristic runs counter to the condition of the channel of a heavily shallowed water artery.
Source and mouth
The waters of the Psekups River originate in the Tuapse region, on the northeastern slope of Lysaya Mountain, which belongs to the Main Caucasian Range. The height of the source above sea level is 974 meters. Not far from this place is the Kalachi mountain range, through which a railway tunnel was made to the city of Tuapse.
The mouth of the Psekups River is located near the village of Pcheg altukai Krasnodar reservoir. The place is located at the entrance to the capital of the Krasnodar Territory. Since the reservoir was built on the basis of the Kuban River, Psekups consider it a left tributary. The mouth is opposite the eastern outskirts of Krasnodar.
Geography
The Psekups river valley affects the territories of two districts of the Krasnodar Territory (Tuapse and Goryacheklyuchevsky) and the Adyghe Republic. In the projection on the settlements, the channel passes along the following route:
- beginning (source) - 5 kilometers from the village of the village of Sadovoe;
- territory of the Goryacheklyuchevsky district;
- crossing the border with Adygea - 3 kilometers north of the village of Molkino;
- mouth - 4 kilometers from the village of Novochepashiy (Adygea).
The upper reaches of the Psekups River are located in a mountainous area, whichbegins above the line of the village of Kutais, located next to the Goryachiy Klyuch. This part of the channel is replete with canyons and waterfalls. The coastal relief of Psekups in the upper reaches is represented by a forested zone of mountains, which are dissected by water and gully valleys.
The mountain ranges located above Goryachiy Klyuch form a powerful complex composed of a special type of geological rock - flysch.
Characteristics of the channel
The Psekups River is quite narrow. In the widest section (in the region of the Abadkhez mountain), the distance between the banks is 70 m. For the rest of the channel, this parameter varies from 5 to 35 m. In the mountainous part, the river is the narrowest, in the lower reaches it becomes noticeably wider. Just before flowing into the Krasnodar reservoir, the waters of the Psekups spill over 200-800 meters.
Earlier, the river was considered full-flowing, but now it has become very shallow. The deepest sections (3-8 meters) are located below the village of Molkino. Here the river valley is more full-flowing, especially in the spring. However, for the most part, the Psekups River is shallow. In some areas, it is so shallow that the channel can be easily forded.
River Valley
The river valley of Psekupsa is conventionally divided into three terraces:
- the first floodplain (has a height of one and a half to two meters above the low water level of the river);
- second (height 9 meters above the minimum level);
- third - the highest relative to the waters in the periodlow water (up to 15 meters).
In the upper reaches the valley is quite narrow and is characterized by a mountainous landscape with dense forest vegetation. The expansion starts just above the Hot Key. Before entering the city, the river spreads a little to form clearings.
The valley becomes even wider after passing through the so-called Wolf Gates - a section located between the Kotkhsky and Pshatsky ridges. Then the flat part of Psekups begins, which is characterized by a slow current. The valley here periodically changes landscape from forest to agricultural (tobacco plantations). The coastal zone is periodically framed by low hills.
The Psekups valley in the Adyghe people received a special name - Massir, which literally means Egypt. The reason for this name was the fertility of the river basin zone.
Hydrology
The Psekups River has a mixed supply with a predominance of sedimentary (rain). The contribution of the latter is 70% of the annual runoff. A smaller role in the replenishment of Psekups is played by tributaries and groundwater. The level of the river is unstable and is characterized by a flood regime.
The amount of water consumption of Psekups changes throughout the year. The average value is 20 cubic meters per second, and the maximum is about 1,000. The current has a typical mountainous character in the upper reaches, and is slow in the flat part.
The freezing period on the Psekups River is very short (no more than 2 months, more often about 20 days), and sometimes it is completely absent. This is due to the climatic features of the territories through which the channel passes (winterhere are short and rarely cold).
The waters of the Psekups in the upper reaches are cold and clean, and when moving to the flat part they become cloudy due to the muddy ground. Near sulphurous springs, the river acquires a bluish-green color and a characteristic smell.
Psekups river tributaries
The tributaries of the Psekups are mostly narrow small rivers teeming with waterfalls. They have a typical mountainous character, characterized by a rapid current. Most of the tributaries flow into the Psekups from the left side. The only exception is Khatyps, flowing down from the Koth ridge.
The largest tributaries of the Psekupsa include:
- Psif;
- Big and Small Dogs;
- Chepsi;
- Pine;
- Dirty;
- Kaverze.
The largest among them are Kaverze and Chepsy. Psif is the first river flowing into Psekups. Downstream is the mouth of Gryaznaya.
Attractions
The first thing the Psekups valley is famous for is its numerous mineral springs, which are of great spa and therapeutic value. They come out especially abundantly in the region of Mount Abadzekh. It was here that a large resort town, Goryachiy Klyuch, was founded. This settlement is attractive not only for its mineral springs, but also for its picturesque nature with many interesting places.
The most famous natural attraction of Goryachiy Klyuch is the rock "Petushok", located on the very shore of Psekups. This is a huge stone statue.reaches 28 meters in height and grows into the water with its base. The top of the rock is crowned with six prongs that resemble a rooster's comb, hence the name. The gray stone contrasts with the greenish tint of the water and the lush vegetation around it, creating a very picturesque scene.
The upper reaches of the river are known for their waterfalls. One of the highest in the Psekup basin (30 m) is located near the source and is considered a real attraction. Downstream there are several small waterfalls (3-8 m).
Flora and fauna
The flora of the Psekupsa valley is represented mainly by broad-leaved forests with a predominance of beech, hornbeam and oak. Also found among woody plants:
- linden;
- maple;
- chestnut;
- ash.
Relic pines, junipers and yews are much less common. In addition to the dominant representatives of the tree canopy, the flora of the river valley includes a huge variety of other species. Herbaceous vegetation (violets, corydalis, lily of the valley, forest peony, primrose, etc.) is especially diverse.
The fauna of the river valley is quite rich. Of the mammals found here:
- red deer;
- roe deer;
- boar;
- squirrel;
- pine marten;
- wolf;
- badger;
- hedgehog;
- bats;
- raccoon dog;
- hare;
- lynx;
- wild forest cat;
- mole;
- shrew;
- Polyskun raccoon.
Representatives of birds are very numerous, among which passerines predominate. Woodpeckers are quite widely represented (as many as 5 species). Among the birds of prey of the Psekupsa Valley, buzzards and hawks can be distinguished.
