Laba is a river that is famous for its unbridled character, rapid flow and indescribable picturesqueness. It is especially popular among tourists traveling in the Caucasus mountains. Local residents widely use the waters of Laba for economic purposes. This reservoir can be safely called the main river of the Krasnodar Territory, without which the landscape of the European part of Russia would not be so colorful.
Laba (river): where is
This reservoir is one of the most significant in the Transcaucasian region of Russia. Laba is a river (a tributary of the Kuban), which flows through two regions: Adygea and the Krasnodar Territory. It originates from the villages of Krasny Gai and Svobodny Mir. Formed by the confluence of two rivers: Malaya and Bolshaya Laba. Streams, turning into a huge river, flow from the glaciers of the Main Caucasian Range.
Laba is a river in the Krasnodar Territory that flows through flat terrain, in the Adygei region - through lowlands and high mountain gorges.
On its banks erectedtwo large cities: Labinsk and Ust-Labinsk. From the side of the Krasnodar Territory, on the Laba, there are the villages of Phii, Rozhkao, Zagedan, and the Asian settlement. In the Adyghe region, there are many small villages and villages near it: Natyrbovo, Egerukhai, Pshizo, Khatukai.
Origin of the name
The Adyghe people nicknamed Laba "Labe". There is no definite version of why the river bears such an unusual name. Guesses are made that the word is borrowed from the Iranian language, in which "lab" means "shore". From the language of the Svans, the neighbors of the Caucasians, "labna" is translated as "source". The Karachay language interprets the word "laba" as a bell. If we draw a parallel and collect all the variants of origin and translation together, we get the literary affectionate “ringing river”.
General characteristics
This river has the following dimensions:
- length - 215 km;
- length with tributaries - 10500 km;
- depth - from 1.2 m to 2 m;
- width - from 35 m to 200 m;
- basin area - 12.5 km²;
- current speed - from 0.7 m/sec to 1.2 m/sec.
The upper course of the river is swift. The tributaries of the Laba, formed in the mountains and at their foothills, murmur noisily and flow through bottomless gorges. The lower course, on the contrary, is moderate, with sloping banks and sandy beaches.
Laba is a river that has a huge number of tributaries, their total number exceeds 4000. Kuksa, Chamlyk, Giaga are considered the largest tributaries of Laba.
The river is full of water, but in autumn it becomes much shallower. With the advent of spring, glaciers and mountain snows begin to melt, the Laba River increases in volume. Of great importance for the spill is the amount of precipitation. In the valleys of the gorges, snow lies even in summer. The river is fed by underwater waters.
There are more than 45 glaciers. In some places in the Laba valley powerful underground springs beat. The surface of the river is covered with a crust of ice in the second half of December during severe cold. If the winter is warm, Laba does not freeze at all. It thaws in late February or early March.
Laba - a river that for many years served as an irrigation tool for flood fields, rice was grown on its banks in the 70s. Now there are no fields, but the main function behind it has been preserved: it is used for household needs.
Flora and fauna
In the areas where the Laba River begins to flow, impenetrable spruce forests predominate. Some trees reach several tens of meters in height. Poplars, willows, ash trees, perennial oaks, bushes like thorns and hawthorns grow in dense forests. The flora growing along the banks of the river belongs to the steppe species. Characteristic plants are wheatgrass, mint, beans. The floodplain of the river is wide, swampy in places. There are small islands in it, completely overgrown with trees.
Trout, crucian carp, roach, chub live in the waters of Laba.
Tourism
Laba - a river in the Krasnodar Territory, the photo of which shows that itpopular with tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. It is used for kayaking and canoeing, for fishing and excursions.
Roads have been built along the course of the river. The largest of them are Psebaya-Mostovsky, M29-Labinsk, Rodnikovoe Highway. The only bridge built across the Laba connects Adygeya with the Krasnodar Territory and stretches for 4.4 km in length. Access to the river is open and free.
Laba is a river favored by fishermen. Some of them are engaged in catching fish on special equipment professionally. Hotels, sanatoriums, recreation areas have been built along the banks of the Laba, and beach areas have been equipped. Cyclists have noticed the river and regularly arrange races along its banks. In late spring and summer, vehicles are available for rent at numerous camp sites.
Waterfalls
There are several places along this river that are especially popular. These are waterfalls that have become a landmark of the reservoir. They are often visited by tourists to admire the unique views of nature.
The Kapustina waterfall, located between the villages of Nikitino and Kutan, is the largest in the entire district. The purest water falls from a height of 54 meters. The place of contact of water with the cliff is covered with perennial moss, a stream spills at the foot of the rocks. Visitors to the wonderful place stand under the waterfall and enjoy the powerful bursts of huge water flows.
The height of the Nikitinsky waterfall, the second largest in the area, is 46 meters. The waterfall is located in the valley of the Laba River. ledges fromweighty stones, framed by moss, catch the eye. The noise can be heard several hundred meters away. This natural object is not inferior to the Kapustina waterfall in terms of attendance. It is hardly possible to admire the beauty of nature alone at the Nikitinsky waterfall.
