Today, eco-tourism is becoming increasingly popular, the purpose of which is routes through nature reserves and national parks.
In this article you will be presented with natural monuments of the Krasnodar Territory. We will admire the stunning lakes, explore the system of waterfalls and caves, get acquainted with such an interesting phenomenon as the Stone Sea.
What are natural monuments?
For the first time, the term itself appeared with the famous researcher Alexander Humboldt. But later he absorbed many objects and lost his scientific character.
Today, a clear classification has been created, which shows not only the belonging of the monument to one species or another, but also makes it clear which of them need protection or are of great value.
So, the following categories are recognized: natural monuments, reserves, national parks and state reserves.
It is not in vain that today the flow of tourists is growing precisely along the routes of naturalattractions. After all, only here those who wish can relax, get a charge of vivacity, stretch and strengthen muscles, and calm the nervous system.
Abrau
Listing the natural monuments of the Krasnodar Territory, it is especially worth stopping at Lake Abrau. This is the largest freshwater reservoir in the area. Its length is more than two and a half kilometers, and its width is six hundred meters. Approximate surface area is 180 hectares.
The lake is located above sea level at an altitude of 84 meters. It is drainless, that is, rivers and streams flow into it, but the water does not flow anywhere further. The main way of liquid consumption is evaporation.
The maximum depth today fluctuates around 11 meters. It is noteworthy that even in the middle of the last century, the bottom of the lake was 30 meters from the surface. But as a result of the fact that there is no flowing water movement, Lake Abrau is silting up.
Today this is the main problem of this natural monument, as its water is used for household needs by local residents. Work is underway to build a dam to trap sediment and prevent it from entering the lake. In addition, in some places the bottom is cleared of silt.
According to the local legend, the lake was formed on the site of a village that fell underground. Its inhabitants became so rich and proud that they decided to pave the road to the sea with coins of gold and silver. For this, the Lord wiped the village off the face of the earth and filled the basin with water. Actually, the name of the lake comes from the Abkhazian word "abrau", whichmeans "depression".
Today, the researchers of this natural monument are arguing about the ways of formation of the reservoir. There are three versions in total.
According to the first hypothesis, Lake Abrau was formed as a result of the failure of karst. But geologists do not agree with her, since karst lakes are usually located in groups, and this is represented in the singular. In addition, the nature of the bottom does not support the theory at all.
The second version is the assumption that the reservoir is a remnant of the huge Cimmerian basin that once existed. The presence of freshwater fish partially confirms this conjecture, but does not shed any light on the origin of the depression.
The main and most plausible is the version of an earthquake, landslide or other shift in the earth's crust. According to this hypothesis, a cataclysm occurred that blocked the path of the Abrau River to the Black Sea. As a result, a lake was formed. The absence of high mountains from which a landslide could occur is the only reason for the existence of other versions. Therefore, this question remains open for researchers.
Kardyvach
Any person who decides to see the monuments of the cultural and natural heritage of the Krasnodar Territory is simply obliged to visit Lake Kardyvach. This is the most beautiful body of water in the area. It is located 44 kilometers from Krasnaya Polyana, in the Adler district of Sochi.
Kardyvach is a flowing lake. The river that feeds it is called Mzymta. The length of the reservoir is about half a kilometer, the width is 350-360 meters, the maximum depth is 17 meters. It is located at an altitude of 1838 metersabove sea level, surrounded by the slopes of the Main Caucasian Range.
From the shore of the lake you can see such peaks as Loyub, Tsyndyshkho, Kardyvach (main and nodal). The southeast of the reservoir borders the Kuteheku Range.
The origin of the lake is moraine-dammed. When the glacier moved, he created a basin and closed it with a moraine. Over time, due to the influx of rock fragments and sediment, the reservoir becomes smaller.
Although Upper Mzymta feeds Kardyvach, the lake is completely fish-free, as there is a waterfall downstream.
If you go up the river, you can be near the Upper Kardyvach. In this lake, even on a hot summer day, fragments of ice float, which completely covers its surface most of the months.
Agur waterfalls
The complex natural monuments of the Krasnodar Territory leave no one indifferent. Those who once visited these waterfalls will never forget their beauty and natural splendor.
They are located in the Khostinsky district of Sochi. There are a number of hiking trails where participants can enjoy stunning views of all three waterfalls and Mount Akhun.
In general, the distance from the first to the last object is about two and a half kilometers. Let's find out more details about the Agur waterfalls.
So, the lower one consists of two cascades. The first of them is twelve meters, and the second is eighteen meters. If you follow the route that starts from the Devil's Font, then tothe first waterfall distance will be about one and a half kilometers.
Middle Augur waterfall is located half a kilometer from the Lower one. Its height is 23 meters. A little higher is the Upper Cascade, which is 23 meters high.
From the last waterfall there is a stunning view of the Eagle Rocks. It is believed that this is where Prometheus was once chained, and the eagle tortured him. During the route, you can even see the monument of this mythical hero.
Natural monuments are sometimes supplemented by the cultural heritage of mankind, which creates a simply amazing effect.
S alt Lake
The next object is located on the Taman Peninsula. It fully corresponds to its name, because the amount of s alt in it is 350-400 ppm. That is, about 400 grams of s alt will be obtained per liter of water. For example: the Dead Sea has the same salinity.
Once a part of the Kuban estuary, due to the shallowing of the sea and the collapse of the latter, this lake illustrates the formation of the sea lagoon.
On the maps of the nineteenth century, it is still a component of the Kuban estuary, later - part of the Bugaz estuary. On the maps of 1850-1912, this is already a lake, however, it was then called by the name of the bay. Already in the twentieth century, when its value was proved in the process of research, the reservoir began to be called S alty.
A stunning view of it opens from nearby hills. Further, some more monuments of nature will be considered. Protected areas, as you will soon see, are rareflaunt their treasures.
When viewed from the hill, the lake looks big and deep. Its length is about one and a half kilometers, and its width is a kilometer. You will understand all the comedy of this monument when you go down closer. The S alt Lake is only 10 centimeters deep!
But the treasure of the reservoir is not in the coarse-grained mineral deposits. The main value of the lake is a sixty-centimeter layer of healing mud.
When scientists discovered and explored these deposits, the reservoir immediately came under state protection. After all, it contains more than 200 thousand cubic meters of hydrogen sulfide medicinal mixtures!
The beauty of this natural resort lies in the beach that separates the lake from the Black Sea. Its width is about a hundred meters, and its length is 40 kilometers! It stretches to Anapa and is covered with the finest quartz sand.
Khan Lake
Mentioning the protected natural monuments, it is worth stopping at the Tatar lake. It is located on the banks of the Beysug estuary and is administered by the Yeysk sanatorium.
In fact, it represents an early stage in the formation of the S alt Lake.
This is also a part of the sea, which, in the process of shallowing of the latter, first separated into a bay, and then became an independent closed reservoir.
The length of Khanskoye Lake is almost sixteen kilometers long and six to seven wide. Its depth is 80 centimeters.
Water enters the reservoir with the help of rain and occasionally from the estuary, in case of strong wind.
As the legend goes,the lake got its name because of the Crimean Khan, who built a palace here to use the healing power of local mud baths.
Pshad waterfalls
The local waterfall complex includes more than a hundred cascades, but the most popular are thirteen of them.
Natural monuments of the Krasnodar Territory are often referred to as resorts and are equipped with picturesque tourist routes. They pass through a section of the valley called Baza. The main thirteen attractions are located at an altitude of 245 to 270 meters above sea level. They are grouped within one kilometer.
Eight waterfalls from the Pshad complex are located on the Red River. The largest of them and downstream is Olyapkin or Bolshoi Pshadsky. Its height is about nine meters. It is approximate, because one of the banks is sloping and the jet partially hits the stones, and not directly on the water surface.
The second highest is located at the mouth of Grape Creek. It is also the last in a chain of eight cascades and is located at an altitude of 270 meters above sea level. Its own jet falls seven meters down.
The rest of the waterfalls are located between these giants. Their height ranges from 4.5 meters to 30 centimeters.
Kochkareva gap is known for its washed-out stalactite, which is shaped like a crocodile. Upstream, the Gorlyanov Stream flows into the Pshada River. It has about ten waterfalls. Here the heights range from four to ten meters.
Next stop - gorge of 40 waterfalls, upper course of Thab. Here you will have to walk through hard-to-reach places to see objects up to twenty meters high.
Next, you should turn towards the Papayka river, which flows into Pshada. It has a tributary - the Black River. On the latter, there is a chic complex of natural attractions called Papaya Falls.
The route starts from the Black village and goes up the gorge. You need to walk about three kilometers to the first cascades. Then just a leapfrog of waterfalls begins. Gradually their height increases.
The first significant eight-meter-high waterfall is surrounded by a stunning rock amphitheatre. Ten meters upstream is the second - seven meters. Next comes a series of lower cascades. If you have come here, then you are near the Alpinistskaya tourist base. Nearby is the Monastery complex, and if you walk up the mill stream (a tributary of the Pshada), you can find another set of waterfalls.
Thus, if you appreciate the beauty of the bizarre play of rocks and streams, you should definitely visit these places.
Vorontsovskaya Cave
Natural monuments of Russia often amaze with their history and bizarre forms of different formations. Our next attraction is the stunning complex of underground halls. It is part of the Vorontsov cave system.
This monument got its name not from the name of the famous prince of the XIX century, but from the nearby settlement - the village of Vorontsovka.
Systemcaves is located in the Adler district of Sochi, not far from the headwaters of the Kudepsta River.
Underground there are about ten entrances, which are located at an altitude of approximately 400 to 700 meters above sea level. There is such a term among cave explorers - “fracturing”. It shows the level of solidity of formations.
So, where the walls are less homogeneous, that is, there are many cracks, there is a complex of underground halls that simply fascinate with their beauty. Among them, the following are the most famous: Bear, Oval, Hall of Silence and Prometheus grotto. Some of these rooms are dangerous. Due to the many cracks, collapses are not uncommon. For example, in the hall of the Underground River, you can find debris up to 50 cubic meters in volume.
Besides such decaying areas, there are halls with stalactites and stalagmites. The most famous is Luster or Variety. Its width ranges from eight to nine meters, and its length is twenty meters. Anyone who comes here finds himself in a bizarre realm of karst formations.
The longest hall is the Prometheus grotto. Its length is 120 meters.
Archaeologists in this cave system found the remains of primitive bears, as well as Paleolithic sites of ancient people.
Tree of Friendship
Natural objects and monuments of nature do not always form on their own. An example of this would be our next attraction.
This plant is eighty years old. Once (in 1934)scientist Zorin F. M. planted a wild lemon. The goal of the researcher's work was to breed citrus fruits that would not be afraid of Russian frosts.
Sequentially about 45 different fruits were grafted. Various varieties of tangerines, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits.
Once in 1940, Otto Schmidt visited this institute and was shown a tree garden. The polar explorer grafted another branch. Later, in 1957, high-ranking guests from Vietnam repeated a similar procedure.
To date, more than 630 different varieties of fruits have been attached to this miracle plant, and famous guests from 167 countries of the world have participated in the grafting process. Next to it grow 60 "kids" - trees that were planted by foreign rulers, ambassadors, astronauts and other figures.
Today, a museum has been opened here, which stores more than twenty thousand exhibits in the form of souvenirs from different cultures. It is customary to give some remarkable national little things when visiting.
Stone Sea
If you look through the reviews of tourists online, it seems that almost all natural monuments of the Krasnodar Territory are located in the vicinity of the city of Sochi.
But it's not. Now we will talk about one of the sights of the Maykop region. It contains such tourist sites as Khadzhokh with its dolmens, the canyon of the Belaya River, the rock "Carry, Lord" and others. But the most unusual and memorable is the Stone Sea.
This is a huge field of karst outcrops that resemble petrified wavesraging sea. Here there are cars, grottoes and caves. The largest is the Lake Cave.
The protection of natural monuments is very important. For example, this field is used not only by tourists and vacationers, but also by many higher educational institutions for educational purposes.
There are field classes for geologists, botanists and students of other speci alties. It is noteworthy that in the southern part of the Stone Sea there are alpine meadows, and in the northern part there is a forest. That is, the flora of these places is very diverse.
Thus, in this article we got acquainted with the natural monuments of the Krasnodar Territory, walked along the system of waterfalls, visited caves and walked along the Stone Sea.
