It is no coincidence that the Northern Caucasus is one of the favorite destinations for domestic tourism in Russia. It combines in an amazing way a variety of flora, magnificent landscapes, fast rivers and high mountains, semi-deserts and healing mineral springs, architectural monuments and delicious food. Be sure to visit this wonderful region. At least virtually.

Elbrus

The most high point Russia is rightfully considered one of the seven wonders of our country. The mountain is a cone of an extinct volcano that last erupted at the beginning of our era.

It was here, according to legend, that the Titan Prometheus was chained for daring to bring fire to people. The powerful glaciers of Elbrus give rise to the rivers Kyukyurtlyu, Ullu-Khurzuk, Ullu-Kam, which, merging, form the Kuban - the most big river in the North Caucasus.

In the depths of Elbrus there are still hot masses that heat the local “hot narzans” - springs saturated with mineral salts and carbon dioxide, the temperature of which reaches +52 and +60 ºС.

Tobot Falls

Travelers are treated to an unforgettable view: the flat plateau suddenly ends, as if the universe ends here, and from the top of the gorge, which in this place resembles the Latin letter V, a previously calm river falls with a terrible roar, flying past picturesque rocks. Below, water crystals rise from the bottom of the canyon and, illuminated by the sun, play with all possible colors.

“However, lovers of winter landscapes can argue about the beauty: in the frosty months, Tobot freezes like a giant icicle, hollow inside (crystal clear and incredibly tasty water runs through this cavity). The entire gorge is covered with transparent ice, as if turning into the kingdom of the Snow Queen,” he writes.

Blue lakes in Kabardino-Balkaria

Five amazing karst lakes are hidden between the rocks in Kabardino-Balkaria. Their waters contain hidden mysteries of nature that man has not yet fully unraveled.

Not a single river or stream flows into one of them, the Lower Lake, although it loses up to 70 million liters of water every day, but its volume and depth do not change at all. The lower lake, or Tserik-Kol, is one of the deepest in the area. It rightfully bears the title of one of the deepest lakes in Europe.

It is best to admire them, especially Tserik-Kol, in clear weather. sunny weather, when the water there has a really soft blue color (it is due to the content of hydrogen sulfide). During the day, the lake can change color up to 16 times - from azure to emerald. But the water temperature in it is constant: no more than +9 ºС - both in winter and in summer.

Lake Proval

The beautiful turquoise color of the mineral water filling the reservoir is due to the high sulfur content and the presence of certain bacteria in it.

The attraction of the Proval is two lions guarding the entrance to the cave. These sculptures appeared here in the middle of the twentieth century. Since then, tourists have been sure to take photos (for good luck) with at least one of them.

During Lermontov's time, however, local residents They called the lake “hell’s abyss” and believed that it was home to a fire-breathing monster that circled the city at night in search of victims. Nevertheless, one of the amusements of the “water society” - the society of visitors and military men, which gathered around the family of Prince V.S. Golitsyn, - there were dances over the abyss: on the initiative of the prince, the famous architects Bernardazzi brothers built a platform over the Proval in 1837, on which those who wished could dance a square dance. The most curious had the opportunity to go down in a special basket all the way to the water.

Watchtowers of the North Caucasus

The North Caucasus is one of the few places in Russia where ancestral watchtowers have been preserved - a striking example of a distinctive mountain culture. They are located on the slopes of the Main Caucasus Range: in the territory of Ossetia, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Kabardino-Balkaria.

In the North Caucasus, towers served both a residential and defensive function, which is why they most often served as clan guards. Due to enemy invasions, most of these structures were not preserved. Some of the towers were family ones. According to custom, the tower should have been built no more than a year, otherwise the family could be considered dysfunctional; It was usually built near a settlement.

The North Caucasus towers symbolize the honor of the clan, unity and courage, being the pinnacle of construction and architectural skill of the highlanders of the North Caucasus.

Caucasian dolmens

Dolmens are structures built from large stone blocks, presumably of a cult nature. Today there are about three thousand of them preserved in the Caucasus.

Tiled dolmens usually include four walls, a lid and a floor consisting of one large or several smaller (heel) slabs. The chamber is rectangular or trapezoidal. The plates have grooves, due to which they are all tightly connected. The front plate forms a portal.

Composite dolmens are partially or completely assembled from individual small blocks. They have a complex geometric connection. The shape of the chamber is varied: rectangular, trapezoidal, horseshoe-shaped, round and multifaceted.

Trough-shaped dolmens were carved into the thickness of the stone, and then covered with a slab on top. Dolmen-monoliths are entirely hewn out of one block of stone or into the rock.

The real history of most ancient monuments, perhaps, could be told by their creators. But they are long gone... And unusual man-made structures still excite people. Moreover, incredible stories and legends are born around some of them. Someone confirms them by their own example, collecting evidence that in certain places or ancient buildings there are mystical mysteries, the answer to which can only be found by the bravest and smartest. Komsomolskaya Pravda compiled its route through places in the North Caucasus that are popularly considered mysterious.

Lake Proval

STORY

This natural monument at the foot of Mashuk has long attracted a lot of researchers and ordinary people. The tunnel to the underground lake was built later. At first it could be admired through the collapsed vaults of the cave. Somewhere far below could be seen a spot of a hydrogen sulfide lake of marble blue color. Walking to the Proval was a favorite pastime of the first holidaymakers. In “Princess Mary” Mikhail Lermontov wrote: “In the evening, a large company set off on foot to Proval. According to local scientists, this failure is nothing more than an extinct crater; it is located on the Mashuk slope, a mile from the city. A narrow path between bushes and rocks leads to it.”

WHAT THEY SAY

Among the first inhabitants of these places there were legends that a terrible fire-breathing snake lived in the lake, which flew out at night and ate people. The lake enjoyed a bad reputation. It happened that the bodies of the dead were thrown into it from above. Later, scientists proved that the hydrogen sulfide water of Proval is saturated with beneficial bacteria. And therefore, at the end of the 19th century, a small stone font was made here, which was called the “Shameless Baths.” And now many people take them even in winter, because they believe that after several procedures they can be cured of all diseases.

Where is it located: at the foot of Mount Mashuk. We take bus number 1 from the Pyatigorsk railway station to the Proval stop.

Elsa's dacha

STORY

It was built at the beginning of the 20th century in the pseudo-Romanesque style and resembled medieval castle for a hotel for vacationers. Its owner Elizaveta Gukasova, the daughter of a German merchant and the wife of the famous confectioner Alexander Gukasov, rented out furnished rooms on Bernadazzi Brothers Street, and her husband opened a restaurant and coffee shop there. The couple's business was going well, but the building had to be rented. Therefore, in 1903, they bought a plot of land on the outskirts of Pyatigorsk and built a luxurious dacha with many rooms. The country hotel was given the romantic name “Elsa”. Comfortable rooms opened within two years. After the revolution, the building was nationalized and a sanatorium building was opened in it.

WHAT THEY SAY

Now the building of Elsa's Dacha is in a deplorable state. According to one of the popular versions, the ghost of Elizaveta Gukasova herself lives in the mansion, whom the Bolsheviks allegedly shot and walled up in the walls of the building. And now the rebellious spirit of unfortunate Elsa, who, by the way, divorced her husband even before the revolution, wanders through the dilapidated rooms. Some visitors to the dacha are sure that the ghost of the lady is not at all kind, but has a difficult, evil character. She doesn’t like to be disturbed out of curiosity, but if she feels that talent has come to her, she helps her to open up, albeit with an ominous, mystical overtone.

Where is it: Pyatigorsk, Lermontov str., 15. We get from Pyatigorsk railway station to Tsvetnik on trams No. 1, 3, 5 and go towards the Academic Gallery.

Rome-Mount HISTORY

Located near Kislovodsk in the valley of the Podkumok River. On the slope of Rome Mountain, archaeologists found more than 150 catacomb burials with numerous household items, jewelry, and weapons. It is believed that the catacombs belonged to the Romans. Local residents called the mountain Rim-kale, that is, the fortress of the Rums, or Eastern Romans. It is believed that an ancient trade route ran here. And according to one legend, a detachment of Roman soldiers who died in battle with local residents took refuge in the fortress. Later, archaeologists partly confirmed the assumptions. They established that in the 10th - 12th centuries there was a trading city with an impregnable fortress in the Podkumka valley. And in the catacombs where the Romans buried their own, scientists found arrows, spears, jewelry, and dishes.

WHAT THEY SAY

You can look at the archaeological treasures at the Kislovodsk Fortress Museum. They say that if you are lucky, during the excursion you can find a fragment of ancient ceramics or the remains of a weapon.

Where it is located: 18 km west of Kislovodsk. You can get there by car.

Second entrance to Shambhala

STORY

About interesting cave speleologists told famous local historian Viktor Kotlyarov. On the slabs that crowned it, they found a German swastika.

The entrance to the underground mine is carefully laid out from huge side slabs. It continues to a depth of several tens of meters and is lined with massive stone blocks,” Viktor Kotlyarov told KP. - This is a shaft about 80 meters long, consisting of several bends with transition chambers from one to another. The first of them, going outside, consists of two solid stone slabs, placed parallel, with the sides laid with neat small stones measuring 134 by 43 cm, so not everyone can squeeze through.

The naked eye can see that the mine is partly man-made. Researchers continue to study it. It is quite possible that, having passed through the next narrow passage, they will stumble upon a large cave with interesting artifacts, and perhaps an entrance to a parallel world.

WHAT THEY SAY

According to esotericists, the entrance to other world, where you can acquire the properties of a superman, is located in Tibet. But there are others.

For example, not far from Elbrus - the sacred mountain of the Aryans. In the Northern Elbrus region there is a plateau, which is popularly called the “German airfield”. Some researchers believe that the Germans found a mysterious mystical place on Elbrus with high energy, prayed for since ancient times, and set up an occult laboratory there. They brought Tibetan lamas there for meditation in order to comprehend and perhaps change the future.

The North Caucasus is a graphic and mystical point where the beginning and end of present humanity are united. The meeting place of positive and negative forces, the axis of the world, says Viktor Kotlyarov. - It is quite obvious that Hitler perceived reaching the top of Elbrus as a harbinger of the last battle between the forces of good and evil.

Where is it located: Baksan district of Kabardino-Balkaria. Please note that it is not very calm there now and they may introduce a CTO regime. So you should go there only with tour operators who are well versed in the area.

City of the Dead

STORY

One of the most mysterious archaeological sites, which is located in North Ossetia near the village of Dargavs, in the valley of the Midagrabindon River. The burial complex consists of 99 above-ground crypts.

Scientists attribute it to the XIV - XVIII centuries. It was then that family tombs for collective burials were built in North Ossetia. The Ossetian tradition of burial in such structures was associated with the cult of ancestors, who were buried in full clothing, with small household items. The deceased were placed on special wooden beds or in wooden boats. Scientists are still arguing where such a tradition came from in the mountains. From Mount Rabinaragh, where the City of the Dead is located, you can admire the surrounding peaks. The monument is located in a very beautiful place.

WHAT THEY SAY

Ossetians are sure that the souls of their ancestors are immortal and there is a constant connection with the dead. Visiting a mystical place affects everyone differently. Someone says that you can see a ghost dressed as a prince there. After a visit, someone sees prophetic dreams. The main thing is to come to the tombs with pure thoughts and behave calmly and judiciously.

Where is it located: in the Suburban region of Northern Oestia-Alania, near the village of Dargavs. A bus runs to the village daily from the Vladikavkaz central station, located near the central market.

Many people go on a trip to the Caucasus. And this is not without reason. There's a lot to see here. Many beautiful places: waterfalls, lakes, mountains, ancient monasteries - all this is located in the Caucasus. Nature lovers will be impressed by the journey for a long time.

Alibek waterfall

The attraction is located in the north of the Caucasus and reaches a height of about twenty-five meters. The raging mass of water crashes onto the mighty rocks, presenting an impressive sight. At the same time, an incredible roar from the flow rushing down can be heard throughout the gorge. The place is considered the most popular hiking destination.

The first part of the journey to the alpine camp is often done by transport. If you wish, you can walk this path. The beauty that reveals itself, in particular the relict fir forest, will not leave anyone indifferent. Next, the excursion always goes to the Alibek glacier. Thanks to well-organized transport, tourists of all ages have the opportunity to admire this beauty.

Alibek waterfall is the main attraction of Dombay and, concurrently, its most beautiful place.

Baduk Lakes

This is an unforgettable place. Here, on the Baduk River, the left tributary of the Tiberda, in the valley between two ridges near the village of Dombay, there are 3 small lakes. According to researchers, they are of landslide-dammed origin and were formed recently, only about two hundred years ago. The first of them is small and shallow, and its length is more than eighty meters. Along the banks there are granite blocks, on which you can see inclusions of rock crystal crystals. The slopes are covered with forest, covering the water surface on all sides except one. Mountains are visible through this “window”.

The second lake is located upstream, just sixty meters from the first. It is slightly larger than the first, its length is at least two hundred meters. It is interesting that tourists are not interested in it at all - you rarely see anyone here.

The third lake is located above the other two and is considered the largest. It reaches a length of about three hundred and thirty meters. The water here is bluish-green and slightly warmer than in the first two lakes (+10°C). Huge boulders of stone are scattered along the shores of the lake, with a forest visible behind them. All this gives the reservoir an unusual enchanted look. Baduk Lakes are the main attraction of the Teberdinsky Nature Reserve.

Main Caucasus Range

It's continuous mountain range, stretching for almost 1,100 kilometers from northwest to southeast from the Black Sea. It ends in the area Caspian shores. The highest part of the Caucasus Range is located between the Elbrus and Kazbek mountains (height 5642 m).

The Caucasian order has 15 mountain peaks. It surpasses the Alps in height. The steepest and most undeveloped section of it is the descent to the Alazani Valley. The ridge cannot be called passable; only on the western and eastern sides there are low and convenient passes that are accessible at any time of the year. In other places there are pack and walking paths. Most of them are not suitable for winter use.

Among the most famous glaciers located here are:

• Dykh-Su;
• Bezengi;
• Tsaneri;
• Karaug;
• Big Azau.

A unique architectural monument of Ingushetia. Represents a failure of a complex of defensive towers. Location - high mountainous areas of the Dzheirakh-Assinsky State Historical, Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve. Vovnushki are 3 towers. 2 of them are located opposite each other on opposite sides of a deep gorge through which the Guloy-khi River flows. The walls of the towers are made of stone, which is why the structures look like a natural continuation of the rocks on which they are built. The approaches to them are blocked by a powerful wall. The Vovnushki complex is a unique architectural monument, one of the 7 wonders of Russia.

St. George's Monastery

Located in Essentuki (Stavropol Territory). The walls of the St. George Monastery are made of white marble, due to which it looks majestic and solemn. The floors inside the building are decorated with floor mosaics, the vault is supported by marble columns. At the top there is a bell tower. The structure is crowned with golden domes.

The monastery was built recently and has been operating since 2006. Since its opening, an orphanage has been operating here and various shrines are kept:

• part of the relics of St. George the Victorious;
• icons of the Mother of God “Vsetsaritsa” and “Feodorovskaya”;
• parts of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov and the Diveyevo wives.

Tatar settlement

A miraculously preserved architectural monument of the Ciscaucasia. This natural museum-reserve is located in Stavropol and stores religious, cultural and fortification buildings, burial grounds and ancient roads, thanks to which you can learn a lot interesting information about the life of our ancestors. Currently, excursions are held here and at the same time research is carried out in the fields of zoology, botany, soil science and geology.

Mountain "Ring"

It is located not far from Kislovodsk and is part of the Lermontov Museum-Reserve. Mount “Ring” is a through grotto, shaped like a circle, the diameter of which is approximately 8 m. It is located on the left side of the Borgustan ridge, dotted with caves and grottoes of various shapes and sizes.

The attraction closes the series of beauties of the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, as it is located on the edge of the ridge. Through it a magnificent beautiful view, and in the distance you can see Kislovodsk. Today Mount Ring - famous place, beloved by tourists. People often go here on excursions, so transport links are organized - tourists can easily get there by bus. Next you need to climb the path that goes to the mountain through a subalpine meadow.

The Caucasus and Transcaucasia are rich in attractions. Mountains, nature reserves and other natural beauties stretch here for many kilometers and make an unforgettable impression on every traveler. The surrounding landscapes create beautiful views for memorable panoramic shots.

Found in the North Caucasus ancient building, comparable in scale to the pyramids of Giza.

We are accustomed to believe that the main megaliths of the planet are concentrated in Egypt, South America, China. Our dolmens, which are conventionally classified as megalithic structures, look like dwarfs against the background of pyramids and “great walls”. But more recently, a system of mysterious underground structures was discovered in the North Caucasus. Thus, in Kabardino-Balkaria, near the village of Zayukovo, mysterious multi-kilometer tunnels have been discovered. Researchers suggest that they connected ancient settlements that existed on our planet thousands of years ago. It is curious that all the tunnels are concentrated around a huge underground structure in the shape of an overturned pyramid...

Miracle City

“For many years we have been searching, going to the sites of supposed dungeons, listening to old-timers,” says Vadim Chernobrov, head of the All-Russian public scientific research association “Cosmopoisk”. - And so in the fall of last year we moved to the place where, according to the stories of the elders, there is Old town. This is not an allegory, but a literal translation from the local dialect. Old-timers say that it was built by the people who lived here before them. Nobody knows for sure who lived here, what kind of people they were.”

The object is located at an altitude of about a kilometer above sea level. Local residents showed the researchers one small hole in the mountain. The entrance is very narrow - about 30 centimeters in diameter. The guide said that the local population has a legend: if you climb there, you will find yourself in a huge city where there are squares, streets and houses, but no people. Indeed, the search engines found themselves in a vast dungeon, which, gradually expanding, stretches in depth for tens, and possibly hundreds of meters.

When the researchers began to examine the area around the hole, they discovered a wide crevice. Perhaps this is the main entrance to the dungeon, because if we assume the very fact of the existence of an underground settlement, it is unlikely that its inhabitants made their way through a narrow gap. Perhaps, going down the hole, it will be possible to get to the “main street”. Last year, due to the weather, this was not possible; the researchers postponed the descent until next summer. However, there was a second discovery - another manhole was found not far from the Old Town. Local historians Maria and Viktor Kotlyarov were brought here by climber and speleologist Artur Zhemukhov, who was training in the mountains and drew attention to a strange depression.

Stones are piled on top, bushes grow, and in appearance it is an ordinary hole, the likes of which are visible or invisible in the ground. But Arthur noticed that there was a lot of draft coming from the hole. This means that there is a large cavity in the ground. He began to widen the hole and fell into a huge shaft that led somewhere into the darkness. One did not dare to climb there, so he called a detachment of speleologists. They went down into the mine and realized that there was no end in sight to the underground. “The first thing that caught their eye was that the main walls in the mine were clearly of artificial origin,” says Vadim Chernobrov. - They are made of smooth stone blocks of approximately the same size as in Egyptian pyramids oh, and stacked using similar technologies - one on top of the other. Each weighs 50-100 tons, well processed, although chips and cracks have appeared over time.”

What is this mysterious masonry? There are no traces of concrete or other mortar, as in the Egyptian pyramids. It is not clear how the ancient builders fastened the blocks together, but it is clear that they have been standing for thousands of years and not even a needle can fit into the seam.

When the speleologists delved into the cave, they discovered a strange column. It seems to hang in the air, but at the same time it is firmly attached to the wall. Apparently, the dungeon is colossal in size, and people were able to explore only a small part of it. They advanced 100 meters deeper. And they ran into narrow passages.

Miracle machine

The fact that the dungeon was not intended for human habitation became obvious to the searchers when they explored the entire accessible part of the cave. It turned out that it is crammed with narrow passages, where even a child cannot squeeze through, and tiny holes, where a human hand can hardly fit. Each such mini-cavity goes far into the depths: the light from the flashlights does not reach the bottom. What kind of building is this? The researchers were under the impression that underground pyramid has a technological, not a sacred purpose. It looks like some kind of machine, an engineering structure of unknown purpose. “It looks like some kind of resonator, a device for seismological research, exploration, mining, or an energy generator,” says Chernobrov. “It’s impossible to say for sure yet - no analogues have been found in the world.” Many people come to mind with an analogy with the mysterious cavities inside the Egyptian pyramids, which were also not intended for the movement of people.

In principle, a person cannot get there, but the ancient builders made them conscientiously. These narrow passages also lead tens of meters deep, but for what and where is a big question. Sometimes they end with rows of doors with handles, behind which there are rooms of unknown purpose. There are plenty of versions about the purpose of the underground passages: a “refrigerator” for storing food, the dwelling of the ancient Aryans, a giant air conditioner, an air duct. Or, for example, a giant energy generator... There is information that during the Second World War, researchers from the SS organization Ahnenerbe were seen in these places, which, as is known, was looking for the entrance to Shambhala. They say that Hitler considered the Caucasus, along with Tibet, “the seat of power” and the “center of world control.” And he allegedly rushed to the Caucasus precisely for this reason.

Researchers, of course, also pay attention to the fact that next to the pyramid is the same Old City. And they assume that these two objects are somehow connected. After all, for example, in Turkey, near the village of Derinkuyu, an 8-story city was found underground, designed for the permanent and comfortable residence of 40-50 thousand people. There are houses, outbuildings, bazaars, shops, water sources, wells and ventilation hatches.

In a word, a miracle of engineering technology, which is at least 4 thousand years old. Now about a dozen underground cities have been excavated in the world, three of them have become tourist sites. It is known that some cities have underground communications with each other. These are huge distances - hundreds of kilometers. According to some scientists, the strange hum, which was recorded by scientists in different parts of the planet, is nothing more than air draft in a system of man-made underground communications located in the depths of the earth.

If this summer it turns out that near the village of Zayukovo there really was underground city, then the pyramid can be considered a kind of technical installation that ensures its vital functions. And then the “Zayukov miracle” will turn out to be the largest man-made prehistoric structure on the territory of modern Russia.

Opinions

Vera Davidenko, section head of the Kabardino-Balkarian geological exploration expedition:

The fact that underground caves are man-made is a controversial issue. The tuff of the Zayukovsky site is an accumulation of volcanic ejection products - ash, fragments of lava, volcanic glass and, to a small extent, fragments of rocks that make up the walls of the crater. The ejecta material was hot during accumulation, and therefore, when it solidified, cracks formed separately, that is, the entire tuff massif appeared to be broken into blocks. Consequently, the depression discovered in the area of ​​the village of Zayukovo is one of these gravitational separation cracks, which is characterized by smooth contact surfaces. Another thing is that the natural cavity could have been used by ancient people.

Alexander Pankratenko, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of Moscow State Mining University:

I examined a sample of the “solution” taken by speleologists from the stone blocks of the cave. It looks like some kind of reinforcing material. The composition is unknown to me; nothing similar is used now. Studying the sample also shows that the inside of the cave has ideal ventilation and is quite dry. Photographs of the cave also confirm the version of its artificial origin. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen in future studies.

The North Caucasus is an amazing combination of landscapes, ancient monuments, mineral springs and plants. Those who dreamed of seeing miracles go to the Caucasus to enjoy beautiful views and natural beauty.

To explore the entire Caucasus in one trip is an unrealistic task. To make it easier for you to plan your route, we have prepared descriptions and photographs of all the most beautiful and interesting places region.

Attractions marked on the city map:

A natural monument, which is located at the foot of Mashuk and has long attracted numerous researchers and tourists. Previously, one could only admire the beauty of the underground lake through holes in the rock. In our time, a tunnel was built through which you can go down to a healing underground spring.

The lake water contains healing bacteria for the body, released from hydrogen sulfide springs under the lake. Local residents believe that by swimming several times in the waters of the spring, you can get rid of diseases forever.

Get there You can get here by bus traveling along the first route. The departure station is Pyatigorsk railway station. You need to go to the “Proval” stop.

Elsa's dacha

Built at the beginning of the 20th century in pseudo-Romanesque style. The building belonged to the Gukasov family, whose trade was hotel business. Thanks to the construction of this dacha, the first comfortable rooms appeared in Pyatigorsk. After the revolution, the Elsa dacha was nationalized, and one of the sanatorium buildings was located in it.

Get there You can get to the place from the Pyatigorsk railway station by trams No. 1,3,5.
Building address: st. Lermontova 15 (near the Flower Garden).

This place is located near Kislovodsk. In the valley of the Podkumok River on the mountainside there are more than one and a half hundred burial places, in which archaeologists found large number household items and ancient weapons. It was believed that the catacombs could have belonged to the Romans, who explored these places. Locals call the mountain the Fortress of the Eastern Romans.

Get there You can get to the place by car, moving west from Kislovodsk for 18 kilometers.

City of the Dead

A historical monument located in North Ossetia near settlement Dargavs. This monument is a burial complex of more than one hundred above-ground crypts. Archaeologists have attributed the buildings to the XIV - XVIII centuries. The crypts were intended for collective burials according to old Ossetian customs. The dead were buried in full clothing and surrounded by household items.

The city of the dead is located in a beautiful place - in the valley of the Midagrabindon River. The entire valley is surrounded by the Rabinrag Mountains, which offer amazing views from all parts of the village.

To get there to the place of collective burial, you need to take a bus that goes from the central station of Vladikavkaz and go to the suburban area of ​​Alanya. The rest of the route is done on foot.

One of the most picturesque battle sites, among which is the famous Khilak Wall. Fans of ancient myths can visit Nykhas - the place where the Nart heroes gathered.

Get there You can get to the gorge only by personal vehicle.

This place is located at the source of the Sofia River. This area is very popular among climbers and mountain tourism lovers; it is called Arkhyz. Favorable climatic conditions and the proximity to the Black Sea endow the area with a wide variety of flora and fauna, making the area extremely beautiful.

Get there It is possible to get to the place by small-sized personal transport, moving from the center of the republic - the city of Cherkessk.

Is the most high waterfall Europe, which was also discovered quite recently. The length of this beauty is seven hundred meters. The waterfall originates in a glacier located at an altitude of more than four kilometers. The valley in which Zeigelan was discovered is an unusually beautiful place. It is dotted with small rivers and waterfalls, which take their sources from the same glacier.

Get there This wonderful place can only be reached by off-road vehicles, along the road that starts from the village of Dzhimara (Republic North Ossetia). You need to move 7 kilometers south.

This is a unique complex of towers built in the Middle Ages. The complex is located on the site of a former rich village of the same name, which is why the towers have been preserved. Now there are nine defensive towers left and more than twenty others intended for the residence of local residents. The height of the defensive towers reaches thirty meters, and the thickness of the walls is six meters.

To see these beautiful buildings, you should get to the village of Olgeti, which is located in the Dzheirakhsky district of the Republic of Ingushetia. This can be done by bus or personal transport.

It was located on the site of an ancient solar estuary, but in the nineteenth century local residents built a canal from the Kuban River and desalinated the reservoir. Over time, the estuary became shallow and filled with a variety of different species of fish and plants. The lotus was brought to these places by biologists, thanks to whom the flower has now spread so well throughout most of the estuary.

In the Lotus Valley, which is located on the Taman Peninsula Krasnodar region There are regular excursions. If you are going to this wonderful place, then best time It will be the period of lotus blossoming. This period occurs in the second half of July and lasts until the end of August.

One of the most mysterious places Black Sea coast. Thanks to numerous springs that have healing properties for the body, active mud volcanoes were formed. In total, there are about thirty places in this region where you can take therapeutic mud baths.

The most famous and beautiful volcano is Karabetova Sopka with a crater size of 1380x860 meters. In all places where therapeutic mud bathing is permitted, special pontoons have been built, thanks to which mud baths can be carried out completely safely.

The easiest way to get here is with a tour. But if you still decide get there on your own by private car, then you should stick to the road running between the villages of Termyuk and Peresyp, since all the mud volcanoes are located on this route.

One more thing most beautiful place Caucasus - national park Elbrus region. Its inspection can be combined with a trip to.

Notable cities of the North Caucasus

The Gates of the Caucasus - this is how the city of Stavropol has long been called. Here begins an exciting journey through the North Caucasus. Most significant places cities: monument to the Ciscaucasia - Tatar settlement, Central Park. These places have miraculously survived and continue to delight tourists after many decades.

Get to Stavropol:
By plane: daily direct flights from Moscow to Stavropol (STW) from several airlines (Aeroflot, S7, Transaero, UTair, Russia, etc.). Travel time: 2 hours.

By train: from Moscow (Paveletsky station) or from intermediate stations of the route (Michurinsk, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don). Travel time from Moscow: 1 day 11 hours.

A beautiful city located on the elevated bank of the Don. Attracts tourists due to its contrasting architectural style, which includes both Russian and Western European architectural traditions.

Getting to Rostov-on-Don:
By plane: daily direct flights from Moscow to Rostov-on-Don (ROV) from several airlines (Aeroflot, Transaero, UTair, Donavia, Ural Airlines, S7, Gazprom Avia). Travel time: 2 hours.
From other cities you will have to change trains in Moscow.
By train: from Moscow (Kursky Station), St. Petersburg, Yeisk, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Anapa, Vladikavkaz, Lipetsk, Tula, Makhachkala, Adler, Kislovodsk, Nalchik, Stavropol or from intermediate stations of the routes. Travel time from Moscow: 1 day.

One of the oldest resort places in Russia. Guests enjoy healing mineral springs, beautiful mountain panoramas and historical monuments that still keep many secrets of the past.

Getting to Pyatigorsk:
By plane: to Mineralnye Vody airport from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Ulyanovsk, Belgorod, Simferopol, Norilsk. Then take a bus from the bus station or a commuter train.
By train: from Moscow (Kazansky railway station), St. Petersburg, Caucasus cities, etc. Travel time from Moscow: 1 day.

The famous resort, one of the most modern cities in Russia. Tourists are attracted by a large number of botanical parks, resort areas and places of rest with clean beaches. Sochi is the embodiment of modern technologies, beautiful natural views and majestic historical monuments.

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