More relevant information on our website: itonga.ru/russia/kavkaz/vostochnaya-digo riya-uallagkom/

After 10 minutes drive, the next stop is at the foot of Daldzagati Kubus Mountain, along which there is another mountain village Makhchesk.

The main local attraction is the battle tower of the Abisalovs, about 30 meters high. These are certainly not the Great Pyramids in Giza, but you must admit that building a building the size of a good 10-story house on a hill in the Middle Ages was not an easy task.

This tower was built by the descendants of the famous warrior Badel, who came to Digoria from Majar in the Golden Horde time and, possessing then outlandish firearms, hired to protect the locals from enemies. Later, however, Badel himself became a local feudal lord.

There are several more towers here. This new building.

Bashi and crypts flash past, the ruins of the Belgian plant built in 1893, Fasnalskaya GRES.

Closer to noon, our minibus climbed a 2-kilometer height and we drove into Kamunta - the highest mountain village North Ossetia. The first settlements appeared here in the XIII century BC, now the number is 16 people. The aul is located on a mountain, although in comparison with the mountains surrounding it, this is not a mountain, but a mound.

From here, to the south, the Tsey Range rises like a wall. This grandiose eight-kilometer wall with a height of more than 4000 m bears a number of pointed peaks.

On the left, Tseykhokh is hiding in the clouds, on the far right, the snow-covered beauty Wilpata, one of the three the highest peaks on the territory of North Ossetia, above it only Kazbek and.

Here it is Wilpata (4648 m) on the right, Songuti (4460 m) on the left.

The eastern branch of the Songuti Glacier is located in the center, Ularg (4320 m) on the right, Oniani Peak (4200 m) on the left.

Tsei-khokh (4260 m.) and Tur-khokh (4110 m.)

Songutidon gorge. There are still a lot of peaks and peaks, I won’t even try to guess them))

At the bottom at the confluence of Songutidon and Dargon-Kom is the mountain village of Dunta.

And this, perhaps, is Sadonkhokh and Spartak-Tseysky

On these roads you can get to the passes leading to the Tsei Gorge.

The village is not located on the very top of the mountain, above the village there are still some ruins, roofing felts of ruins of houses, roofing felts of an ancient cemetery.

A communication complex was installed at the very top a few years ago. The climb here is a bit steep, but easy enough, but not everyone goes to the top. In this light, I don’t understand people who travel for many hours, it’s not known where, and then they are afraid to tear off their ass, move away from the minibus to enjoy all the beauties, and there is something to enjoy!

In the east, the great wall of China is the Kion chain of the Rocky Range, with heights up to 3.5 km above sea level.

Down on the slopes of the ridge is Galiat, or rather what is left of the once large settlement in these places.

Even from here, from Kamunta, you can see how majestic the village once was. Today, surprisingly, a few residential buildings remain among all these ruins.

In the west, another ridge is Sturfars, whose peaks are not so rocky.

Here, too, there are ruins, this is Khonsar. If you look closely in the lower left corner, you can see 2 crypts of the Kulaev family. In comparison, the rest of the ruins look just gigantic.

At the top at the very edge, or rather, even beyond the edge, a small rock stands alone, like a wall made of bricks. This is Kuydzapparan - "Dog Rock".

From here, those condemned to death were thrown down by close relatives, it was considered more humane than execution, and besides, the presence of an executioner was not required.

It is quite easy to get to the middle tier, although it is already behind a cliff, you can climb to the top, but I did not try, there was not much time.

Here the top is exactly what breaks down. The edge of the cliff is so densely overgrown with grass that you have to approach very carefully, because. it is not at all clear where the solid surface is, and where the free flight zone is.

View to the north - Eastern Digoria in all its glory.

You can even see the tower in Makhchesk.

This is Wallagkom, Fasnal-Galiat Gorge.

When I first saw the inscription "Wallagcom" I did not really like the name. "UalLagCom" seemed to be very similar in structure to "Gulag", but no, these words have absolutely nothing in common with each other. In translation, Wallagcom means the upper distant gorge.

After spending an hour in Kamunta, we set off on the return journey. Before reaching Matsuta, we turn right into the mountains to make another stop in the village of Nizhny Zadalesk.

Here is the house-museum of Zadaleski Nana. During the campaign of Tamerlane, she gathered orphaned children, took them from the deserted plains of Alanya to the mountains, and here, in Zadalesk, she raised and educated the future of Digoria. According to local patterns, she is equated with a saint.

Inside the museum.

Digorskoe gorge in the Irafsky region of North Ossetia - one of the most beautiful and wild gorges North Caucasus. It is dug by the Urukh River in the Rocky Range parallel to the Main Range. The road here goes along a narrow ledge carved into the rocks above the stormy waters of Urukh.

Conditions for rest and recreation in the gorge - at different heights above sea level there are dry mountain steppes, humid forests, alpine meadows, forest-steppe zone, lakes, glaciers, streams, waterfalls. There are opportunities for hiking along ecological trails, you can do educational tourism, making excursions to different landscapes with their historical, cultural and architectural monuments to engage in water slalom.

Currently, you can relax here mainly in the warm months. In winter, during the season of heavy snowfalls, the recreation areas do not function, but the landscapes here are beautiful in their own way at this time of the year, and it will be interesting to see these places also in the winter months.

WHERE TO STAY

There are the following options for accommodating tourists for recreation: the Dzinaga LLC camp site, the Digoria-Rostselmash health-improving climbing base, the Taimazi climbing base of the Taganrog Radio Engineering Institute, the Komi-Art climbing base, the Eagle's Nest recreation center.

Tourist base "Dzinaga" provides for vacationers hiking and walking through the territory of the National Park "Alania", multi-day trips to the Bartuy gorge, to the Paradise glade and the Taimazi glade, to the Karaugomsky glacier - one of the largest glaciers of the Caucasus Mountains, to the village of Zadalesk - the place of Alan's revival, to waterfalls, along "Digorsky ring" with visits to villages and historical and architectural monuments.

The camp site is more focused on summer holidays for children and teenagers, whose stay here is financed from budgetary funds and non-budgetary sources. There is an opportunity to receive families, tourist groups and individual vacationers. On the territory of the base there are eight buildings designed for recreation of 450 children. The cost of one day with a three-time stay is 500 rubles.

The distance from Vladikavkaz to the camp site "Dzinaga" to Vladikavkaz is 115 kilometers, travel by bus (minibus "Gazelle") from Vladikavkaz from bus station No. 1, fare - 75 rubles. Travel time 2 hours 30 minutes. Departure daily at 15.55.

Vacationers on recreation center "Digoria-Rostselmash" have the opportunity to take walks to the waterfalls, hiking to Paradise Glade, Karaugom Glacier, excursions to the territory of the Alania National Park, acquaintance with its flora and fauna, to the Zadaleski Nana sanctuary are popular.

On the territory of the recreation center there are summer houses and brick buildings. The total capacity is 250 people. The cost of accommodation together with three meals a day is from 300 rubles in a quadruple room and up to 600 rubles in a double room.

The distance from Vladikavkaz to the recreation center is 125 kilometers, travel by bus from Vladikavkaz from bus station No. 1, the fare is 75 rubles. Travel time is about three hours.

Tourist base "Komi-Art"(former name "Digoria"). The total capacity is 150 people. Accommodation in double and quadruple rooms in wooden cottages and brick houses. The cost of living is 500 rubles per day per person.

The most popular in the summer are routes to the peaks of the eastern part of the Sugan Range and hiking in the Gebe Gorge. For more trained climbers, climbing to the peaks of the central and western parts of the Sugan Range is expected.

For experienced climbers, there are routes of a high category, involving climbing the peaks of Mount Uruimagova, Aikhva, Zagadok, Agibalova, Akritov, which are located in the eastern part of the Sugan Range.

The distance from Vladikavkaz to "Koma-Art" is 125 kilometers, the bus leaves from bus station No. 1, the fare is 75 rubles, the route to locality With. Stur Digora, and from there five kilometers to the base.

Recreation center of the Taganrog State Radiotechnical University "Taimazi" located in a picturesque place of the Digorsky Gorge on the Urukh River, at an altitude of 2100 m. Accommodation in houses for 4-6 rooms (in rooms for 2-5 people), the total capacity is 100 people.

For vacationers, two-three-day trips along tourist routes of all categories of complexity are possible. The proximity of the mountains of the Main Caucasian Range allows you to use the camp as a base for climbing.

During walking tours you can get acquainted with historical monuments and ancient towers, you can collect unique medicinal herbs, berries, mushrooms, hazelnuts.

The formation of groups and transportation to the place of rest is under the jurisdiction of the Taganrog State Radio Engineering University, and vouchers are purchased directly from the administration of the university.

Reader, put on the Yandex-map the places of the Caucasus dear to your heart! Each of its corners is unique in its own way - who has been, he knows. May, with Your help, millions of those who were not there learn about them. Post a description of the object on the "Caucasian Knot" wiki. The most interesting descriptions will appear on the Yandex map.

CLIMATE CONDITIONS

The climate of mountain Digoria is very diverse. Relief is the most important climate-forming factor for this region. Mountain ranges and their spurs, many valleys, gorges and intermountain basins greatly complicate the general circulation of the atmosphere and create a wide range of microclimatic features.

Within this region, according to climate, two territories are distinguished: the Zadaleska basin as a mid-mountain zone and a high-mountain zone.

Zadalesskaya hollow , like all basins of the North Jurassic depression, is characterized by a peculiar dry climate. The rocky ridge protects it from the intrusions of cold arctic air. Therefore, winter temperatures are low here. In Fasnal, the average January temperature is -2.4 degrees. This is the highest winter air temperature in North Ossetia. Rare temperature drops here can reach -30 degrees. The average July temperature reaches 15.8 degrees. In summer, although there are some hot days, the nights are always cool. The annual air amplitude, as a rule, is small and amounts to 18-19 degrees. The basin is characterized by low precipitation (400-500 mm) and optimal relative humidity (62%).

The protective influence of the relief is reflected not only in a small amount of precipitation, but also in a low wind speed. Local winds include mountain-valley winds and foehns inherent in mountains.

Alpine zone , located above 2000 m, has a harsh climate. During the long winter there is a significant accumulation of snow. A stable snow cover lasts 120-160 days. Winter is relatively cold here. The average monthly temperature in February at an altitude of 3000 m is 11 degrees below zero. Spring comes in late April and early May. Summer is cool. At an altitude of 2500 m, the average August temperature is a little over 10 degrees.

The glaciation of the Dividing and Sugan ranges has a great influence on the local climate. The significant reflectivity of the ice and the heat costs of melting glaciers create a noticeable temperature difference between the upper and lower parts of the valley. This generates downward glacial winds that merge with mountain winds at night.

ATTRACTIONS

The main attraction of the Digorsky Gorge is Lake Tsada (Tabarakhtytsad). This is a unique mountain natural reservoir, a relict lake - the only one located on an ancient landslide, at the southern foot of the Rocky Range in the Digorsky Gorge, in the valley of the Aigamugidon River, above the village of Upper Faraskat (1500 m above sea level). In 2004, the first joint expedition of the employees of the North Ossetian Reserve and the National Park of Ossetia to the specified lake was undertaken.

According to experts, the lake is in the age stage called "old age", it overgrows abundantly and gradually turns into a pond. The bottom and walls of the original basin are covered all over with a more or less thick layer of silt, completely hiding its original shape. The original depression has turned into a lake bed.

Above the lake rises a rock-outlier - Alhoyna ("spindle") of limestone, once slipped from the Rocky Range. Near it - traces of collapses with separate blocks and screes. A karst spring springs from under the rocks, and the sound of water is constantly heard. To the west of the lake flows a small perennial stream.

The lake has an oval shape about 60 m long and 20-25 m wide. Along the periphery, the lake is already overgrown with reeds and other moisture-loving herbs. On the dam itself there are separate birch trees. Shrub willows, birches and shrubby cinquefoil (Kuril tea) grow from woody plants around the lake. This overgrown part, apparently, is flooded with water only during periods of snowmelt and heavy rains, that is, when the lake overflows with water.

In winter, the lake freezes over. Ice formation begins in late November-December. The shallowness of the lake, its relatively small size and low water exchange are not remarkable, but for this region, that is, the southern foot of the Rocky Range, this is the largest natural reservoir. The lake is a good object for natural-science excursions.

There are other places in the South of Russia that are well suited for winter holiday. A wide range of materials with practical information about the resorts and sights of the Caucasus is offered to the attention of readers on the "Tourism" page and in the corresponding thematic section of the "Reference Book" on the "Caucasian Knot" website. We also invite you to see and appreciate the natural beauty of the Caucasus, with its unique landscapes and landscapes, in our special photo album "

The Digorsky Gorge in North Ossetia is one of the most beautiful and wild in the North Caucasus. It appeared under the influence of the waters of the Urukh River in the Rocky Range. The Urukh still flows below, and above the river, along a narrow ledge among the rocks, a road is carved out along which cars drive.

Conditions for recreation in the Digorsky Gorge are diverse. At different heights above sea level there are dry mountain steppes, humid forests, alpine meadows, forest-steppe zone, lakes, glaciers, streams, waterfalls.

There are opportunities for hiking along ecological trails, you can go in for educational tourism, making excursions to different landscapes with their historical, cultural and architectural monuments, and go in for water slalom.

Who needs to be closer to the benefits of civilization, it may make sense to consider

Currently, you can relax here mainly in the warm months. In winter, during the season of heavy snowfalls, the recreation areas do not function, but the landscapes here are beautiful in their own way at this time of the year, and it will be interesting to see these places also in the winter months.

This is just a small part of what is possible to visit and see in one of the wild gorges of the Caucasus.

(function(w, d, n, s, t) ( w[n] = w[n] || ; w[n].push(function() ( Ya.Context.AdvManager.render(( blockId: "R-A -256054-1", renderTo: "yandex_rtb_R-A-256054-1", async: true )); )); t = d.getElementsByTagName("script"); s = d.createElement("script"); s .type = "text/javascript"; s.src = "//an.yandex.ru/system/context.js"; s.async = true; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); ))(this , this.document, "yandexContextAsyncCallbacks");

Entry

When entering the Digorskoye Gorge, the main thing is not to slip through the Urukh Canyon Akhsinta (also called the Digorskaya Gorge). There is a major road bridge (in the common people Chertov). The bridge offers a stunning view - a height of 80 meters above the Urukh River, stop if it's not scary. Akhsinta canyon is the main entrance to mountainous Digoria. Good asphalt has been laid to the village of Matsuta, but further on there is a dirt road.

There are many beautiful places here. Here and there old buildings or ruins. It can be seen that people have been living in these remote places for a long time. One can note the Three Sisters waterfalls, which look especially spectacular from afar. Three streams fall from rocks at a distance of 150-200 meters from each other. The source of the waterfall is on the Taimazi glacier. Therefore, their official name Taimazinsky waterfalls.

They make an unforgettable impression of the fall height and beauty. Below, streams of water break on ledges stone pyramids. Water for long years hollowed out many recesses in the stones, which are a real decoration of each of the waterfalls. Water falls into these recesses and in a moment splashes out of them in fountains. There is an excellent hiking trail leading to the falls. But the waterfalls freeze during the cold season.

Photo: national park"Alania"

One of the most beautiful corners of the Caucasus is the Digorsky Gorge in North Ossetia. People come here to learn mountaineering. In addition to natural hits, there are castles-fortresses and ancient burial grounds. In these areas you can practice skiing, water and bicycle tourism.

Reserved Alanya

In North Ossetia there is a historical region called Digoria. It is located in the west of the republic, on the northern slope of the Main Caucasian Range. The area along the banks of the Urukh River has been inhabited since ancient times. It got its name from the ethnic group of Ossetians, who called themselves Digorians. It is in these places that the Alania National Park is located. The Digor Gorge can be called one of its hits.

The protected area appeared in 1998. It includes not only beautiful mountain landscapes, but also man-made sights - parking ancient man and battle towers. Since the whole territory is surrounded by mountain ranges, you can get here by a single road. She goes along the valley of the river Urukh. most high point Reserve is Mount Wilpata. Its height is 4646 meters.

A dense hydrographic network is formed by over 70 rivers and streams. The area is famous for its waterfalls. Some are over a hundred meters high! In Digoria there are many lakes of glacial origin with the purest water. The most famous include Fastagskoye, Mikelay, Gular and Donisar lakes. There are also those that appear in the summer during the melting of glaciers, and then disappear without a trace.

The climate in these parts is quite comfortable. It is caused by mountains that protect from the wind. Winter is mild. The average January temperature is only -3.2°C. Summer is long and not hot. The average July temperature is +20.4°. During this period, heavy rains with thunderstorms are possible. Precipitation in this area is mainly supplied by the Caspian Sea. The mild climate has attracted people here for a long time.

A visit to the past

Many historical monuments have been preserved in the valley of the Urukh River. The mountain village of Galiat is considered a man-made miracle. The houses here are built on flat mountain tops with sheer cliffs. They are very reminiscent of medieval castles in the mountainous part of Europe. Small fortresses, crypts, towers and rocks with petroglyphs have been preserved on the territory of the Alania National Park. Entire mountain villages are under protection. In the Digorsky Gorge is the famous " City of dead» - Donifars.

In the villages of Matsuta, Dzinaga and Fasnal there are medieval above-ground crypts-tombs. They are towers. Alanian catacomb burial grounds are known in the village of Kumbulta. These burials are stone niches lined with cobblestones. In the village of Dunta, the circus monuments, which were installed in cemeteries, are interesting. Some have well-preserved images of people and drawings. And the highest residential, watch and battle towers can be seen in the villages of Galiat, Makhchesk, Kamata and Wakats.

On the territory of the reserve "Alania" many sanctuaries associated with pagan cults have been preserved. These include Lezgor, Sattay-obau, Gabon, Faron and others. The most famous sanctuary is Digori Izad. It is located in a rocky grotto near the village of Zadalesk. Archaeologists have found aurochs, deer, bison and chamois in Nemrog, which people once sacrificed to the gods.

Photo: Watchtower in the village of Donifars

Among the remarkable natural objects of Digoria, it is worth noting the mineral springs. The water in them is completely transparent and highly saturated with carbon dioxide. In fact, this is a natural soda. IN national park there is even an alpine swamp! It sounds very unusual, because swamps are associated with lowlands. From beautiful places Akhsinta canyon should be noted. A bridge is thrown over it, which was nicknamed "Devil's". The crossing offers a magnificent view of the Urukh River.

How to get there

By train or plane, you should travel or fly to Vladikavkaz or mineral waters. Minibuses go from here to the village of Chikola. Travels around Digoria usually begin from it.

Digoria occupies the southwestern outskirts of North Ossetia, covering the territories of the modern Digorsky and Irafsky regions of the Republic. They make up the plain and mountainous parts of this region. The historical name of the area comes from the name of the local ethnic group of Ossetians - Digorians. Irafsky district is named after main river Urukh, which the Digors call Iraf. In this article, we want to tell a little about this little-known and almost unvisited place with amazingly beautiful and untouched nature.

The most popular among travelers is the mountainous part of Digoria. Fascinating pictures are already opening from the unofficial natural "gates" to this fairyland. They are the Akhsinta Canyon. Here, the stormy waters of Urukh, roaring through the huge wall of the Rocky Range, form a narrow passage no more than 30 meters wide. The height of the steep "gates" reaches 300 meters. In the narrowest places, the riverbed does not exceed a couple of meters. At the bottom of this eternally gloomy gorge, the rays of the sun never fall. Once upon a time, a small path ran along the steep slopes of this canyon, which was the only way connecting the Digorians with the North Caucasus. In the twentieth century, it was expanded, but still its width did not allow two cars to pass. Now a safe tunnel has been cut through the ridge. Nevertheless, thrill-seekers today choose the old detour for themselves. Nearby, a concrete bridge was thrown over a stormy river, popularly referred to as "Devil's".

This narrow passage made mountainous Digoria one of the most inaccessible regions of the Caucasus, where the lowlanders have found refuge from outside invaders for centuries. These natural gates stopped the hordes of the Tatar-Mongols, Timerlane, Persian shahs, detachments of Turkish Janissaries and Crimean khans. In moments greatest danger the defenders arranged whole stone collapses, completely interrupting Digoria's connection with the outside world. The ruins of numerous watch and combat towers, as well as geographical names testify to the dramatic pages in the history of this region. So the nearby village of Akhsarisar, translated from Ossetian, means "the height of military prowess." According to legend, the heroic battle of their ancestors took place here - the Alans against the invincible Central Asian commander Tamerlane.

At the very end of the canyon, from sheer cliffs, travelers are greeted by a winged statue of the patron saint of Ossetia - the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. The Ossetians call him "Uastirdzhi" (in the Digorian manner - "Uasgergi"), and his worship combines the interweaving of alien and local traditions. Which is not surprising, because for Ossetians this is not so much a Christian saint as a Nart hero who helps warriors, travelers and shepherds. Praise and prayer are offered to him at any table and at the beginning of every business. There are many sculptures of the Saint in Ossetia, but in the Digorsky Gorge it is special. Here he is depicted without a sword and the usual serpent. He seems to bless people for righteous deeds, stretching out his hand over the steep serpentine of the modern highway.

Nearby is the ancient sanctuary (dzuar) Uastirdzhi. It should be noted here that he is considered an exclusively male saint; therefore, women are not allowed to enter the territory. Saying their prayers and making requests, men traditionally bring a cash offering, and always an odd number. Ossetians are superstitiously afraid of even numbers. In anticipation of their strong halves, women can also usefully spend time: enjoy the picturesque views, quench their thirst at the icy spring located here and take a walk to the nearby waterfall.

Digoria is often called "Paradise for climbers". And she deserves that title. After all, this is the land of the highest peaks, sheer cliffs, huge glaciers, turbulent rivers and other mountainous obstacles. gigantic mountain ranges rise here to a height of more than four thousand meters. The height of steep slopes reaches 2000 m, and the difference absolute heights between peaks and valleys is up to 3500 m. high mountain in Digoria - Wilpata has a height of 4646 meters above sea level. Here you can find passes of any complexity. With a special desire, you can even feel like a pioneer here, go through a place where no human foot has yet set foot.

But the majestic nature of Digoria opens not only for professional athletes, but for amateurs comfortable rest. Even unprepared people without much physical stress can feel all the greatness of the wild nature of Digoria. There are a huge number of routes of the so-called weekend. Sleeping at recreation centers, wearing scarves, or just coming for a day from nearby cities, you can take a short walk to a variety of attractions: waterfalls, glaciers, canyons, mountain peaks, medieval castles. But you can just enjoy the most picturesque panoramas, the cleanest air, the aromas of alpine meadows and coniferous forests.

One of the main business cards Digoria are its glaciers. Its mountainous part is a real kingdom eternal ice and snow left over from the Ice Age. In a relatively small area, there are more than 60 glaciers, with a total area of ​​​​about 90 square kilometers, which is comparable to major city like Elista.

The region has the second largest glacier in the Caucasus - Karaugom (26.6 sq. km). Its huge ice shell, stretched for almost thirteen and a half kilometers from a bird's eye view, appears as a huge silver lizard crawling into the green valley of the river of the same name. At the same time, being the lowest glacier in the North Caucasus (its tongues reach the level of 1850 m), the Karaugomsky glacier is considered one of the most difficult to pass. Its very name, translated from Ossetian, means “Blind Gorge”, or a gorge that has no way out. It earned this fame thanks to the extensive icefall, consisting of a large number ice cliffs, cracks and labyrinths. Nevertheless, the beauty of this Caucasian giant can be enjoyed by walking just a few kilometers along a relatively simple mountain path.

The melting of huge glaciers and snowfields forms a great variety of beautiful waterfalls. For their number, Digoria is often called the "Land of a thousand waterfalls." And they are here for every taste: from huge cascades hundreds of meters high to small but beautiful water streams. The most famous in Digoria are waterfalls originating from the Taimazi massif. The people poetically dubbed them "Three Sisters". This name is determined by the number of three largest streams of water rushing in parallel threads from the wide cap of the mountain. From a distance, they really look alike like relatives, but when approached, it turns out that each “sister” has its own disposition and characteristics. One is more gentle, the other has many thresholds, the third is unusually winding.

In Digoria, as in the whole Caucasus, it is difficult to pass by geographical names, because each of them necessarily hides some interesting story or legend. There is the toponym "Taimazi", which is worn by Mountain peak, as well as glaciers, rivers and glade. According to local legends, they come from the name of a certain Digorian Taymazov, who in ancient times fled from captivity in neighboring Georgia. Fearing a chase, he began to make his way to his native places not through the beaten paths, but

over the top of a nearby mountain. Subsequently, in honor of him as a pioneer, these places were named.

Relatively small waterfalls also have a special charm. One of the most visited is the thirty-five-meter waterfall "Pearl", located on the river Galdorion. bubbling water flow has seven cascades falling into a small bowl. Thrill seekers love to swim in this vast natural shower. But to stay under the jets of water is not so easy. In addition to the powerful pressure of water, the slippery bottom of the bowl also prevents daredevils.

Digoria is also a kingdom of wild nature. In the alpine and subalpine meadows of high-mountainous Digoria, herds of brave Caucasian aurochs and chamois graze. In the forest zone you can meet graceful roe deer, wild boars, wolves and brown bears. Badgers, foxes and martens live in deep ravines littered with windbreak. Periodically, in the most inaccessible regions of Digoria, cases of meeting with the main living symbol of North Ossetia, the Persian leopard, which the inhabitants of the East proudly call "leopard", are recorded. Larger than a large mastiff, this wild cat is unusually wary and rarely seen by humans. Seeing her is considered a great success.

Travelers in Digoria can be surprised not only by wild inhabitants of mountains and forests, but also quite domestic animals. So, herds of highland yaks and Asian buffaloes may turn out to be very unusual for Europeans. These huge shaggy bulls give a special exotic flavor, more typical for the distant Himalayas than for the mountainous Caucasus. In order to preserve unique nature Digoria, on its southern outskirts in the late 90s of the last century, the Alania National Park was created.

Digoria is famous not only for its picturesque nature, but also for its unique original culture. The ruins of ancient mountain villages, legendary watchtowers, family crypts, and ancient sanctuaries testify to the dramatic and turbulent history of the region.

Digoria is especially proud of its castle complexes. Perhaps the most famous is the frigate castle in the village of Khanaz. There is no second such castle in the entire North Caucasus, and in terms of its architectural complex it is very similar to classical European citadels. Attention gets him unusual shape reminiscent of sailing ship. In foggy weather, it seems that this stone frigate, stuck on a sheer cliff, seems to be floating on the transcendental sea of ​​the Caucasian mountains. According to legend, this castle was built by a certain Mansau, the only one of the men who remained in these places after a bloody battle with the invaders. He was a robber and his main trade was stealing children and selling them into slavery in distant Turkey. Foreign ships impressed Mansau so much that he decided to build a fortified castle similar to them.

An amazing medieval architectural complex is located in the village of Galiat. It is an example of traditional mountain villages. The houses here were built in tiers. The roof of one house served as a yard for another, so the Galiatians could easily visit guests without leaving their own yard. The village also has the highest family towers in Ossetia.

A typical Ossetian tower (ganakh) consisted of four floors. The first floor was intended for livestock, the second and third were assigned to the living compartment, the fourth floor was a defensive compartment. In turbulent times, family members alternately kept watch and controlled all approaches to the tower from loopholes.

On the stones of the outer walls of many houses in Galiat there are mysterious petroglyphs - ancient drawings-writings. Scientists still have not been able to accurately determine the date of creation of these ancient works of art. Today, no more than a couple of dozen inhabitants live in Galiata, but once this village was very rich medieval city. It flourished thanks to one of the branches of the Great Silk Road passing through it. The local nobility traded cattle, famous far beyond the borders of Ancient Ossetia. Large handicraft workshops worked in the village itself. The development of Galiat is evidenced by the remains of a water supply and sewerage system found by archaeologists dating back to the 10th century. On the spurs of the ridge around Galiat there are several large religious complexes.

In Digoria, places of sacred significance for the history of the centuries-old Ossetian people have been preserved. So in the village of Zadalesk there is a crypt dedicated to one of the most revered women of Ossetia - Saint Zadaleski Nana. According to legend, after the devastating campaign of Tamerlane, the once powerful Alania was devastated. Being unable to conquer the proud people, the invaders indiscriminately exterminated the locals. Neither women, nor children, nor the elderly were spared. By sacrificing themselves, parents sheltered their small children in small shelters inaccessible to adults. One miraculously surviving woman, after the departure of the enemy, walked through the devastated Alanian villages, collected orphaned children and took them by secret paths to hard-to-reach mountain shelters. Once, in search of food, she went down to the village of Zadalesk. locals built a separate house for the woman and the orphans and helped in any way they could. Over time, the children grew up and took root in the nearby villages. Unfortunately, the name of this brave woman was lost for centuries, and only her honorable name for her advanced age, Nana, remained in the memory of her descendants. After her death, grateful descendants made a sanctuary out of her house. Now there is a museum in the village, where you can learn the history of the region, immerse yourself in the realm of ancient legends and legends. In memory of those events, every year on the third Saturday of July, the village celebrates the holiday “Zadaleski Nana”. Responsible for the holiday are three families who donate a ram for the kuvd (holiday), brew beer, prepare araka. Families in which girls were born during the year bring a sacrificial animal to the sanctuary, bring pies, araka, and beer. The elder prays, entrusting children and youth to Nana, asking them to avoid illnesses and troubles, difficult roads by her grace. They entrust the patronage of Nan and those who go on the road.

In the village of Matsuta there is a crypt of the legendary Nart Soslan. Narts were analogues of medieval Russian heroes, who bravely fought against any opponents. Their adventures and deeds are captured in the famous Nart epic, the main cycle of legends of the Ossetians and other Caucasian peoples. Soslan was one of the main defenders of Digoria and, according to legend, even after death he defended his native land. According to legend, as soon as the enemy army approached the Digorsky Gorge, the locals ran to the Nart’s crypt and shouted loudly: “Exiled, fadis!” (“Exiled, alarm!”), to which Soslan immediately jumped out of his tomb with one single question - from which side the enemy is. And moments later, the enemy was defeated. But one day, out of simple curiosity, one man called a mighty Nart, and when he saw him, he laughed out loud. Since then, Soslan stopped helping his descendants.

Like the Russian heroes, the Narts were not fictional characters, but were real people, whose glorious life path was shrouded in fairy-tale legends. So in 1880, during excavations in the Matsut crypt, Professor V. Miller found a skeleton of "really remarkable size", which confirmed the burial of a mighty warrior here.

Travelers are genuinely interested not only in impressive monumental structures, but also in traditional Ossetian grave monuments - tsyrts, which are installed in large numbers on the outskirts of villages and along roads. They are vertically placed rectangular stone slabs, the height of a person. A complex ornament reflecting the image of the deceased is carved on their front part. The direct ancestor of the Ossetian tsyrts are ancient Scythian tombstones. From the Scythian culture, they migrated to the Alanian, and then to the Ossetian.

But Digoria is famous not only for its ancient architecture. The attention of visitors is also attracted by a small chapel, erected in 2007 in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Search for the Lost". Located at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest objects of religious worship in Russia and Europe.

A special flavor to any region is given by the people who inhabit it. By their ethnic origin, being part of the Ossetian ethnic group, the Digors are also descendants of many ancient Iranian-speaking peoples: Scythians, Sarmatians and Alans. Before the arrival of the Tatar-Mongol hordes, they dominated the central part of the North Caucasus. After the foreign invasion, their ancestors took refuge in remote areas isolated from each other. Mixing with the local population, they gradually formed separate sub-ethnic groups with certain ethnic, linguistic, cultural, material and other differences. One of these groups is the Digorians, who took refuge in the gorges of the upper reaches of the Urukh River. home distinguishing feature Digorians lies in the language. They speak a very specific dialect of the Ossetian language, which until the middle of the 20th century was considered a separate literary language of the Iranian group of Indo-Europeans. In addition, the Digorians have quite complex religious traditions. In this regard, among them there are Christians, Muslims and representatives of traditional Ossetian (pagan) beliefs. At the same time, all of them are intricately intertwined, and here it is difficult to meet orthodox believers who strictly observed the canons of only “their” religion.

Like other Ossetians, the Digorians are distinguished by their special Caucasian hospitality. It is here that the most sincere cannot eat. Local residents, receiving guests and communicating with visitors, do not so much strive to show how good they are, but express their love for their native land and natural goodwill. Locals are happy to tell legends about their region and show local sights.

Unfortunately, the famous mountain villages are gradually dying out. In the once crowded places where hundreds and even thousands of people lived in the distant Middle Ages, today only a few families remain. In some places, there are more chances to meet foreign tourists than native Digorians. Sometimes it seems that life has stopped here. However, it is in such silence, especially near the abandoned ruins, that eternal serenity is felt.

As for the best time of the year to visit Digoria, this is without a doubt the middle of summer - the beginning of autumn. In the summer months, alpine and subalpine meadows look most advantageous, delighting travelers with multi-colored carpets of various colors. In autumn, tourists are spoiled by warm, dry and windless weather. At the turn of August and September, in addition to enjoying the most picturesque views, you can also enjoy the generous gifts of the mountainous region: raspberries, blueberries, lingonberries, stone berries, barberries, currants and mountain ash. In winter, mountains and valleys are covered with many meters of snow.

In conclusion, I would like to say that there are places where you want to return, but after visiting Digoria, you understand that there are still places, having visited which you want not only to return, but to continue the journey, to walk the entire region far and wide. Digoria is such a place, having visited it, you fall in love with this mountainous region and feel an irrepressible desire to travel all over Ossetia, look into all corners of this glorious Republic, and feel its special flavor.