Arkhyz

Arhyz 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. The place is very picturesque and surrounded with such a high and steep mountain ridges such as Sofia mountain (3638m), Cheget-Chag (2940m), Ujum, Arkasara, Abishira-Akhuba and Ahresku (average height is about 2500 meters) rocks, Kosaya mountain (2749m) and so on.

The region is too crossed by a chain of rivers. The main water way in the plot is the Bolshoy Zelenchuk river with its tributaries: Sofia, Belaya and so on. 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.

Flora and Fauna

Arhyz valley is rich of plant. There are more than 140 kinds of shrubs and plantations of trees represented here. The big pine woods and not touched by felling down fir ones are saved in the nature preserve.

You can see the patriarch fir in the Upper Kizgych, which is 700 years old. You can meet cherry laurels, Caucasian bilberries and firs among the arboreal here and so on. The upper boundary of the forest is completely covered with the stunted birches, which are followed by rhododendron brushwood and rich sub-alpine meadows. There is one more zone of alpine meadows situated just a little bit higher and reaching the boundary of everlasting snowy and glaciers.

In the valley you can meet Caucasian deer, bear, roe, chamois, aurochs, wild boar, wolf, lynx, fox, wild cat, squirrel and so on. There is a great number of different kinds of birds that reaches more than 120 and they are as follows: white headed hoarse, golden eagle and so on.

Climate

The continental and temperately soft nature of the climate is a distinctive character of Arhyz region. The mountain rocks are protecting the valley from the winds. There are almost no winds there. The average temperature in January here is minus 5°С. The snow cover stays from December up to March. Spring is late and cold and the weather is not steady here. Summer is temperately warm and the average temperature in July is about 14-16 °С. Autumn is long, dry and sunny.

A great number of sunny days, pure air, temperate moisture make possible to use Arhyz region in support of climate therapy. The sources of carbonic acid mineral waters, which can be used for the medical treatment have been explored here in Arhyz valley also.

Tourism

Arhyz is the initial point for the most of the tourist routes leading up to Sofia, Kizgych, Arhyz rivers' valleys, to "Hellish mill" settlement, to Sofia and Arkasara lakes, to the waterfalls through the passes of the Main Caucasian Ridge, Teberda, Dombay and other places of the Western and Central Caucasus. The climate, plenty of snow and even relief make it useful for mountain skiing sports' development in Arhyz region.

The Bolshoi Zelenchuk river's valley is rich not only of nature's beauties. The ancient tribes and peoples, who forced out and replaced each other, settled here and among them were Scythians, Sarmats, Meots, Gunes, Alans, Bulgarians, Byzantinians, Arabs, Polovtsians, Tatars, Adygeians and so on. Many memorials of history and culture reflecting the past times were saved here also. You can see the ancient settlements and temple ruins of X-XI centuries in Arhyz as well as beautiful monuments of architecture.