What does the Caucasus mean?

"Narzans' Valley" is located 34 km south of Kislovodsk in the Hasaut river valley (it is the Malka river tributary falling into Terek River) and just at the foot of Big Caucasus mountainous rocky ridge (at 1300 meters altitude and near to the boundary between Stavropol region and Kabardin-Balkarian Republic). There are 17 sources of narzan mineral water type in the "Narzans' Valley". The specific characteristics of their mineral waters are well known all over the world...

"Honey Waterfalls" are located in the vicinity of the Alikonovka river canyon. This valley is well known due to its picturesque and beautiful landscape. In the Alikonovka river valley just on the way to "Honey Waterfalls" there is one of the most popular excursion places of Kislovodsk region called "Rocky Castle" (or "Castle of perfidy and love") It is located in the deep stone dell. The whimsical looking rocks reminding castle with cogged walls are rising over valley here.

"Valley of Charm" is located at the north spurs of Djinal mountain ridge just 3 km far from Podkumok railway station. A small river is twisting through the valley. It begins from a thick spring that has the source in vertical rocks. The valley has a picturesque landscape: brushwood, shrubs, cozy meadows, shadowy corners for the convenience and walk around.

"Eagle Rocks" are the most beautiful place. The Rocks are located in the south-west of Beshtau Mountain slope. The "Kukla Rock" is near to the "Eagle Rocks" and it is very well seen from alpine meadows. The big stone which is of 100 meters high broke from Eagle Rocks and placed here. The Elbrus Mountain and part of Big Caucasus Mountain ridge are seen from that stone. The "Eagle Rocks" neighbourhood is very picturesque: the glades with meadow flowers, deciduous forest, rocks and even mountain landscape. The Rocks are 6 km far from Zheleznovodsk railway station.

Dombay is a climatically recreational country located at the mountain hollow right at the foot of the north slope of Main or Watershed ridge of Big Caucasus at the altitude of 1600 meters above sea level at the Amanauz, Dombay-Ulgen and Alibek rivers confluence place. It is 115 km south of Jeguta railway station and 26 km south of Teberda health resort. Dombay meadow is located at the Teberda nature preserve territory and it is "The heart of the mountains". It's surrounded by the mountains, covered by conifer forests, mostly with silver firs. Dark conifer forests and emerald grass of alpine meadows, violent rivers, waterfalls, eternal snow and glaciers make this place of unique beauty. Dombay meadow itself is surrounded by mountains.

Teberda is located at altitude of 1260-1300m just in the valley of Teberda river and at junction of Jamagat and Muhu rivers which fall into it. Teberda is known as a town of resort and place of active tourism. Teberda tourist camp is the initial point of the tourist routes crossing the Teberda nature preserve and neighbouring territory.The most important salubrity factors of Teberda resort are the soft climate successful for the climate therapy all year long and mineral waters also.

Arkhyz is the recreational climatically resort place of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk river valley located at the altitude of 1450 meters at the plot of Teberda nature preserve. There are about 60 mountainous lakes here in the vicinity of Arhyz. The unforgettable impression of Sofia glacier strikes you with 12 waterfalls crashing down from the height of 120meters.

Baksan canyon is the most famous in the Central Caucasus. It leads to the foot of Elbrus Mountain. The way to it spreads, first of all, through the little afforested places of Pasture and Rocky ridges, through the Janhoteko and Lashkuty villages. And the landscape becomes especially attractive after those villages. The vertical grey or white and yellow lime stone walls are hanging on one side and Baksan river is streaming under the precipice on another one. One of the North depression's plots - wide and full of sun valley - is situated after the Shat-Bavat narrow pass.

Klukhor pass is situated at the altitude of 2781meters, and you can follow from Teberda river valley to the Black Sea shore through it. It is the part of Suhumy millitary road. There were severe battles of the Soviet Army against the Nazy invaders during the Great Patriotic War here in 1942. You can get a splendid view of the Main Caucasus Ridge mountains from here.

As far as the Caucasian Mineral Waters (CMW) mountains region's relief is concerned, it can be divided into two parts: the North-West part with lakkolithos-mountains rising up in the plain and South-West one with typical mountainous landscape. The South-West part includes the Rocky Ridge with its monotonous landscape and the Bermamyt plateau that slipping down to Kislovodsk. The great view of the Main Caucasus Ridge and highest mountain in the Europe - the Elbrus Mountain (5642m) - opens from these peaks.

The great attention is paid to the questions of planting trees and shrubs in the CMW Resorts' region. The State Research Institute of resort had established that the sources discharge rises in connection with the growing forests in the vicinity of CMW. There are three Forestry Departments that had been established in the region and are functioning at present time: Kislovodsk (covered area is 13126 hectares), Essentuky (3515 hectares) and Beshtau mountainous (12306 hectares). All the plantations are covering the valleys and gorges of Bermamyt plateau rivers, Jinal Ridge spurs, Borgustan plateau, slopes of lakkolithos-mountains such as Mashuk, Beshtau, Zheleznaya, Razvalka and so on. The forest parks covers Pyatigorsk and Zheleznovodsk resorts' territory.

Berezovka river canyon starts from Kislovodsk outskirts and goes straight to Bermamyt plateau. There's a road that leads through very picturesque places up to the Berezovka river upper. The dolomite wall grows up from the right and green slopes are on the left side here, which are cut by gorges, and alternated with fanciful rocks. There is a warm mineral source that is 8 km far from the town with the same characteristics as Kislovodsk narzan. It's used for the health resort purposes only. The place from the source up to the Upper Berezovka is known as Elkush (settlement of eagles). N.A. Yaroshenko has perpetuated it in his picture in 1880-1890. This valley was populated with Alans in medieval times. There are some graves (dated VI or VII century before Christ) and remains of fortress wall that were discovered by the archaeologists. The Berezovka river canyon is very popular because of it's landscape peculiarities, pure mountainous air, healthy narzan and plant.