What is Dagestan famous for. Beautiful places of Dagestan

Dagestan a beautiful mountainous country, sung by many poets, writers and artists. Its unforgettable landscapes, original way of life, wonderful carpets, jewelry, ceramics and other products of craftsmen who speak dozens of different languages ​​have always been perceived with admiration and surprise by everyone who has at least a little acquaintance with this country. This is the most beautiful republic. Those who have been to many countries and cities, including Dagestan, will agree that Dagestan is a truly beautiful place. Mountains and the Caspian lake, which disguises itself as the sea - only this combination is enough to claim a place of perfect beauty. Dagestan is rich in historical and cultural monuments. More than 8 thousand monuments.
Dagestan, as well as the Caucasus in general, has long attracted the attention of travelers. Everyone who comes to Dagestan, the most southern republic Russian Federation, an unforgettable experience awaits.

"Land of mountains"

Nature of Dagestan

By geographic location Dagestan is divided into: the plain of the Terek-Kuma lowland; Seaside lowland; foothills; inner mountainous Dagestan; mountainous Dagestan.

On north Dagestan is a vast flat gently undulating, with semi-desert landscapes. Tersko-Kuma lowland , which is famous for its pastures and agriculture. There are many inconvenient lands on the plain: solonetzes and solonchaks, sands and wetlands. Therefore, the vegetation here is quite monotonous. The main background forms Crimean wormwood. In spring and autumn, after the rains, grass revives it viviparous bluegrass that creates bright green rugs. Where the sands grow feather grass, fescue, bonfire, bluegrass, wheatgrass, wheatgrass, and where there is a lot of water reeds And reed. You can find thickets of shrubs from juniper, willow, silvery poplar, buckthorn palassa. On southeast lowland lies Tersko-Sulak delta plain, conspicuous by the variegation of vegetation. In the tugai forests along the riverbeds and branches of the Terek grows oak, hornbeam, poplar, alder And aspen.
There are relatively few forests in Dagestan: they, together with bushes, occupy less than 10% of the entire area of ​​the republic.
Animal world Tersko-Kuma lowland not very varied. Here there are animals characteristic of the steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. Most rodents. Among the semi-desert you can meet herds of saigas, many hares and foxes, wolves. The world of birds is rich. Waders, herons, wild ducks, geese and cranes boldly roam near reservoirs and around swamps. In the reeds, you can scare away a flock of partridges. In the thickets of the Terek delta, you can hear the loud meowing of wild reed cats even during the day. Wild boars, jackals and red deer have found shelter in forests and bushes. Raccoon dog, nutria, muskrat live along the shores of lakes, swamps and rivers.

On seaside lowland there are many plowed lands, and where there is no arable land, the wormwood-cereal dry steppe turns gray. Only in the deltas of small rivers and along the channels there are small green islands of oak, hornbeam, maple, poplar And alder. In the south they are intertwined with evergreen vines ivy And pavoi.

IN foothills steppes from feather grass, fescue, bearded vulture, couch grass, bluegrass. They are mixed with dry-loving immortelle, forming large pink glades, yellow hypericum, yellow bedstraw, white wild carrot, clovers. Thickets are scattered on the northern and eastern slopes among the steppe. hawthorn, dogwood, palas buckthorn, derzhilerev.

On altitudes over 500600 m forests from oak, burger And maple, and in the glades and among the trees there is a dense, high cover of steppe and meadow grasses. On eastern slopes, above 700 m real tall shady broad-leaved forests, where they grow beech, hornbeam, maple, linden, ash.,

Very unique nature inland Dagestan . This is the dominance of mountain-steppe landscapes. grow here mountain xerophytes, and on limestone slopes gray sage scattered pillows sainfoin, scabiose, Dagestan bluebell. Small spaces are occupied by mountain cereal steppes. At the most high peaks and the plateau grows tall and dense meadow and steppe grasses. In some places, small islands of pine and birch forests have been preserved. Inner Dagestan became famous mountain gardening. Orchards rise to an altitude of 15001600 m above sea level.

And finally mountainous Dagestan . This is the realm of subalpine and alpine meadows. In the valleys of the upper reaches of the Andean and Avar Koisu and their tributaries, as well as in the upper reaches of the Samur, broad-leaved forests grow, rising into the mountains to a height of 2000-2200 m.
There are many animals and birds in the highlands. Among the rocks, the refuge of the Dagestan tur found only here was extinguished. A bezoar goat also lives among the rocks. You can meet a herd of chamois. In the forests there are brown bear and Caucasian deer, hares and martens. Flocks of mountain turkeys and stone partridges settled comfortably.
There are no ice caps in the mountains of the republic. Due to the dryness of the climate, only small glaciers lie on the highest peaks.

Barkhan Sarykum

Gunib plateau

"Land of languages"

Folk crafts

Science and culture

The beauty of nature and man was sung by the greatest poets and writers who came from the people. Dagestan literature was glorified by the classic and folk poet-ashug Lezgin Suleiman Stalsky (18691937). Avar Gamzat Tsedas (18771951) the founder of Avar poetry. The successor of the beautiful Avar poetry is his son Rasul Gamzatov. His work colorfully adorned the courageous image of Dagestan with a halo of high spirituality and cultural identity:

The distant peak seems close.
From the foot you look at your fingertips,
But deep snow, rocky path
You go and you go, but there is no end in sight.

Dagestan is not only a high cultural, but also a scientific level. In Soviet times, it operated here Dagestan science Center Russian Academy Sciences. This Dagestan stood out and stands out among the rest of the North Caucasian regions. Even at the level of mass consciousness, there has always been an idea of ​​a certain "elite" Dagestan.

Derbent city

Derbent the oldest city-fortress in Russia

The city of Derbent is located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, on the spurs of the Tabasaran Mountains of the Greater Caucasus, where the mountains almost come close to the coast, leaving only a narrow strip of coastal plain about three kilometers wide. Derbent has existed for more than 1.5 thousand years from 438 AD. It is much older than our country itself, it is older " eternal city» Rome and already existed in the world when geographical maps and there was no trace of modern states. The city was built in the narrowest place of the Primorskaya lowland. Once upon a time, the famous Caspian Way ran here - the only convenient road from the steppes of South-Eastern Europe to the Middle East. On this path, in one of its most strategically important and geographically convenient places, the first settlement arose on the site of present-day Derbent. A large fortress "Naryn-kala" was built, the citadel of which was located on a high plateau, and three high stone walls departed from it, two of them stretched to the sea. There were several gates in the walls. Thus, the rich and flourishing agricultural peoples of the Near and Middle East "fenced themselves off" with powerful fortifications from the devastating raids of nomadic tribes from the steppes of South-Eastern Europe. The very idea of ​​blocking a large piece of land from the sea to the high mountains with a gigantic wall would have seemed fantastic if it were not now standing before us with our own eyes. Thus, a "city-corridor" was arranged between the two walls. Such a construction is the height of originality by today's standards, but this grandiose deed was carried out. The wall extending from the fortress far to the west into the Caucasus Mountains, although it cannot be considered an exceptional invention, is quite comparable in value to the Great Chinese wall, however, of a shorter length and, unfortunately, worse preserved.
At different times, numerous peoples gave the city different names(there are more than twenty of them), but they are all associated with the word "gate". The name "Derbent" is Persian, dating back to the 6th century AD. and literally means "Gate Knot" or "Gate Lock".

However, the powerful walls of Derbent did not save Rus' from Genghis Khan. In 1222 “... the Tatars crossed the Caucasian mountains in impregnable places, filling up the abyss with wood, stones, throwing their luggage there, even horses and military shells”. And in 1223 there was the Battle of Kolka, which began the dark era of the Tatar-Mongol yoke for Russia.

From the 18th century, the Eastern Caucasus and Derbent entered the sphere of state interests of Russia. On August 23, 1722, Peter I with his troops entered Derbent without a fight. He then wrote about this to the Senate: “The Naib of this city carried the key to the gate. It is true that these people unfeignedly, with love accepted us and are so glad to us, as if they rescued their own from the siege.. Peter appreciated the importance of Derbent. By his order, work was carried out to repair walls, gates and other structures. In memory of his stay, the inhabitants keep a dugout, in which the great emperor supposedly lived then. However, Derbent was finally annexed to Russia only in 1806. Since 1820, the construction of the lower seaside part of the city began. Part of the southern wall was demolished, beyond which new residential quarters spread with a rectangular grid of wide streets. In contrast to the European development of the coastal part, in the west of the city, near the citadel, a picturesque oriental pattern of ancient mahals with narrow streets has been preserved, the blank walls of which hide cozy and green courtyards. The construction of the railway, opened for traffic from Russia through Derbent to Baku in 1900, played an important role in the development of the city. This road is a symbol of the new time. As if, at last, a giant and indestructible stone "barrier" has opened, blocking the way along the Caspian Caucasian corridor for thousands of years.

The Great Silk Road passed through Derbent in the Middle Ages

Currently city ​​of Derbent is a regional center in Dagestan, 121 km southeast of Makhachkala. The city has a sea port, a railway station on the Makhachkala-Baku line, the M29 highway (Rostov-on-Don Baku) passes through the city.
Ancient monuments have been preserved in Derbent. Fortress "Naryn-kala", the main attraction of the city the most unique historical value protected by UNESCO. It rises above the whole city and impresses with its safety. The entrance costs a penny, and the view that opens from it to the city, the sea and the mountains is worthy of the best paintings. Near the citadel of Narin-Kala there are the remains of an ancient water supply system, which supplied water from mountain springs to city reservoirs through underground pottery pipes. Sassanid and Arabic inscriptions have been preserved on the walls of the citadel. Of great interest is the ancient Juma mosque and the house of the Decembrist writer A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, who was exiled here.

Admiring Observers different centuries described in detail the amazing city. A. A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky reminded the city “a huge boa constrictor, which, under the scales of houses, stretched out from the mountain in the sun and raised its jagged head with the Naryn fortress, and plays with its tail in the Caspian Sea.”

City of Makhachkala

Through the cities of Dagestan

Khasavyurt city the second largest and most important in the republic, located 90 km west of Makhachkala. The emergence of the city dates back to the second half of the 19th century. It was founded in 1836 on the right bank of the Yaryk-Su River as a military fortification to protect Russian merchant settlers from raids by the "irreconcilable highlanders" - the inhabitants of mountainous Chechnya. Therefore, there are many historically interesting objects in this city.

Resort "Kayakent" specializes in the treatment of diseases of the organs of movement, the nervous system, gynecological and some skin diseases. The resort has a small thermal lake Dipsus, which contains reserves of peat therapeutic mud, the temperature of which is 3542°C.

Tourism

In Dagestan it is good to relax and travel at any time of the year. In spring and autumn, summer and winter, lovers of mountain tourism, ethnographers and historians, hunters and fishermen come here. The history and culture, traditions and customs, life and crafts of the highlanders are interesting. For tourists there is good opportunity get acquainted with the historical monuments of Dagestan. Auls are a kind of line-up of dwellings on the steep slopes of mountains. From a distance, the villages resemble multi-storey buildings. Of the architectural techniques in high esteem are the construction of arches, covered passages, galleries, balconies. Arched stone bridges seem to fly from coast to coast. They are beautiful and durable.

Hard-working highlanders have laid hundreds of kilometers of horse and foot trails in the mountains. Many routes have been laid across Dagestan for every taste: you can live in a highlander's shrine, watch how bracelets and earrings are made, you can walk to ancient towers and auls, ride a horse across the carpet of alpine meadows. And the views of glaciers and mighty peaks of high-mountainous Dagestan will leave an unforgettable mark in your memory.

You will be delighted with the opened beauty. After office dungeons, the eye stubbornly sees in every bump, every blade of grass, every cloud a unique masterpiece of the universe this is the feeling of the first morning of the beginning campaign. The lungs inhale the crystal clear air, the body caresses the cool morning wind. Everything is still ahead and I want to quickly move on, look, absorb new impressions, events, feelings ... Do not rush. Let the artificial slowness gradually turn into uncontrolled braking. Down with the fuss! Everything around is not a decoration, not a photo wallpaper, but your own life.

The nature of the Caucasus in general and the nature of Dagestan in particular is unusually beautiful and diverse. High mountains covered with snow caps all year round, picturesque green foothills and plateaus, bizarre caves, incredible waterfalls, canyons, gorges fall in love at first sight.

Traveling through Dagestan, we have repeatedly met with the incredible natural wonders of this southern region of Russia. Today we have TOP 10 most fantastic natural places in Dagestan. Alas and ah, not everything could be seen with my own eyes, but there will definitely be a reason to return.

Let's start from the end. The tenth line of our independent rating of natural wonders of Dagestan is occupied by the Aeolian city, located near the village of Kug, Khiva region.

If you remember a little the school curriculum with myths and legends Ancient Greece, it will immediately become clear why this place is called that way.

Aeolus is an ancient Greek demigod, patron of the winds. It was the winds, and not the people, who "worked" to create this natural miracle of Dagestan. And water, frost and heat came to their aid.

Aeolian city is one of the natural wonders of Southern Dagestan

The result is real city with halls and rooms, stone bridges and paths, bizarre towers and giant mushrooms. And not people live in this city, but foxes, hares, lizards, snakes and numerous insects. True, tourists often come to visit them to enjoy this beautiful creation of nature. It is only worth remembering that in stone city It is very easy to get lost, so it is best to find a local guide when going on a hike.

Interesting fact! The bizarre landforms of the Aeolian city gave rise to many legends among local residents. According to the old-timers, once upon a time, rituals with sacrifices were performed on the top of one of the stone remains. evil spirits, able to protect local residents from ailments and natural disasters. Until now, among the locals, this area is considered a place of gathering of evil spirits, and traces of sacrificed strange animals can be seen in the stone remains.

How to get there? The eolian city is located in close proximity to the village of Kug (Khivsky district), in the southern part of Dagestan. The easiest way to get here is from Derbent. The distance between cities is about 90 km. If traveling by car, follow the P281 highway.

You can also get to the village by minibus, which departs from Derbent. It is better to check the schedule at the ticket office of the bus station. True, most minibuses to the countryside in Dagestan do not have a clear schedule and depart as they fill up with people.

Samur liana forest

Another natural wonder southern part of Dagestan - Samur liana forest. It is located in the delta of the Samur River, in the Magaramkent region on the very border with Azerbaijan.

The forest is unique in that it is the only subtropical liana forest in Russia, and besides, it is considered one of the last relict forests of the world not subjected to anthropogenic influence.

The territory of the Samur forest is unusually picturesque. Here, in close proximity, you can find hornbeams and cork trees, pear and apple trees that are familiar to us, poplars and lindens. Almost all trees are entwined with all sorts of creepers, of which there are more than a dozen species in the Samur forest. There are also many rare Red Book plants and animals.

So on the territory of the forest you can find walnut-bearing lotuses, Shirvan orchis, Caucasian ophrys, all kinds of butterflies, including yellow swallowtail and lemon podalirium. Of the mammals found in the Samur forest forest cat, Caucasian otter, reed cats. The forest is a nesting place for rare and endangered birds, such as peregrine falcon, Dalmatian pelican, white-tailed eagle, black stork, etc. In total, about 70 species of plants grow here, about 450 species of vertebrates and about 10 thousand invertebrates breed offspring.

How to get there? On the territory of the Samur Reserve there are 7 rural settlements, in particular Samur, Tagirkent-Kazmalyar, Bilbil, Khtun, Primorsky, etc. You can get here both from Makhachkala and from Derbent by private car, fixed-route taxi or electric train. The distance from Derbent to Samur and the nearest settlements is about 60 km, from Makhachkala - about 200 km.

Karadakh gorge

From Derbent we will smoothly move to the north, closer to, where you can also find many natural wonders.

One of them is the Karadakh Gorge (“Gate of Miracles”), located between the Gunib and Khunzakh regions near the village of Karadakh.

Just imagine a small gorge, not exceeding 5 m wide, but at the same time going up as much as 150 m! The further you go deep along the gorge, the brighter the feeling that you are now simply flattened by the rocks that surrounded you on all sides. Eternal twilight and giant boulders hanging overhead add horror and admiration.

Karadakh gorge - a place where twilight always reigns

Surprisingly, this natural miracle was created by a small river Kvartakh. For hundreds of years she has been grinding soft rocks until a narrow gap is formed in them. Looking at this tiny stream, it is impossible to believe that it was he who, in fact, created unique miracle nature of Dagestan. However, it is worth remembering that the Kvartakh river is not always quiet and peaceful. During floods and prolonged rains, the water level in the river rises by several meters. In this case, getting out of the gorge will be extremely difficult.

On a note! For a walk through the gorge, do not forget to bring waterproof shoes.

How to get there? The easiest way to get to the village of Karadakh is from Makhachkala. If you are traveling by car, follow the Levashi - Gotzatl - Hebda highway. When you reach the village, turn onto the dirt road in the village. Murad. After about 2 km you will find yourself at the exit of the gorge. Well, then just walk for about a kilometer.

If you have not got a car yet, look for a minibus from Makhachkala to Gunib. They regularly leave the Northern bus station of the city. From Gunib to the gorge there is a walking route, about 10 km long. The route is not easy. If you are not confident in your abilities, ask one of the locals to take you there.

Saltinsky waterfall

Not so far from the aforementioned Gunib, in the small Avar village of Salta, you can find another natural miracle of Dagestan - the Saltinsky waterfall. Its uniqueness is that it is the only underground waterfall on the territory of the republic.

It was formed on the Saltinka River, which, having passed through the Kudalinsky Canyon, in front of the very village of Salta, suddenly disappears, diving deep into the earth. The river falls into the Saltinskaya gorge, forming a picturesque 20-meter waterfall. It becomes especially rich in water after rain and closer to summer, when snow begins to melt in the mountains.

To get to the waterfall you will have to walk along the picturesque gorge, which stretches for about a kilometer. In some places it is necessary to move along the bed of the Saltinka River. On high water days, it reaches a height of about 30 cm, so do not forget to grab rubber boots. But it is in high water that there is every chance to see the incredible beauty of the waterfall.

We're a little unlucky. On a sunny May day, the Saltinsky waterfall was a thin stream running along the wall. But the path to it is something absolutely fantastic. Rounded rocks playing in the sun and huge boulders hanging right overhead create an incredible sense of mystery.

Behind me, you can clearly see the rounded forms of the local relief.

The Saltinka River in May resembles a thin stream

Interesting fact! In some places, the gorge from above is so narrow that even a goat can jump over it, so nothing prevents the locals from grazing goats there. Unfortunately, goats sometimes fall down. We were lucky. No goat landed on its head, but their sonorous voices now and then violated the feeling of natural magic.

How to get there? The village of Salta is located 21 km east of Gunib. Approximately 12 km is an incredibly dead primer. If you're driving, get ready for a 40-minute jolt. From the village to the waterfall you will have to walk along the gorge for about 1 km.

On public transport you can only get to Gunib (the method is described above), then catch a ride or a taxi.

Alternatively, you can order and drop by Salta along the way, as we did.

Lake Kezenoyam

Now let's move to the very west of the Republic of Dagestan, to the Botlikh region, where you can see another natural miracle - the high-altitude lake Kezenoyam. It is located on the border of two Caucasian republics at once - Chechnya and Dagestan.

Kezenoyam is considered the largest in area and the deepest alpine lake in the North Caucasus. It is located on the southern slope of the Andean Range, at an altitude of over 1800 m above sea level.

Kezenoyam is located on the border of two republics at once - Chechnya and Dagestan

The lake also has other names. In particular, it is called Blue or Big Trout. It is not named so by chance. An endemic species of salmon, the Eizenam trout, lives in Lake Kezenoyam. This fish is not found anywhere else in the world, except for this lake.

The surrounding landscape is also amazing, which is highly dependent on the weather. The turquoise (and sometimes deep blue) water of the lake, which does not warm up above 18 degrees even in summer, against the backdrop of mountain peaks, looks unforgettable.

How to get there? By car, you should follow the route Makhachkala - Kizilyurt - Khasavyurt - Kurchaloy and further to the Chechen village of Vedeno, from where the mountain serpentine will lead you to the lake. It is best to go around Kezenoyam from the western side. From the east, you can only drive on an off-road vehicle in good weather.

Thanks for some photos: InterKavkaz.info, Khiste, Dementievskiy Ivan, Shoma477, Ras.sham and Mmdocent.

Sights of the Republic of Dagestan. The most important and interesting sights of the Republic of Dagestan - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, sites.

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Central Juma Mosque in Makhachkala

The snow-white Juma Mosque in the very center of Makhachkala is visible from afar; it is not for nothing that it is considered one of the largest in all of Europe. The building of the temple can accommodate up to 17 thousand believers at the same time, and, despite its impressive volumes, the mosque harmoniously blends into the urban development.

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They usually begin their acquaintance with Dagestan from the capital - Makhachkala. The main attraction of this city is the central Juma Mosque, built on the model of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. The center of Makhachkala can be walked around in one day, and there is, in fact, nothing to do outside it, so you can safely go to Derbent.

Derbent is one of ancient cities in the world, it is already more than 5000 years old. Its main attraction is the Naryn-Kala citadel. This is one of the most powerful protective structures not only in Russia, but also in the world. The walls of the fortress descended to the Caspian and completely controlled the coastal passage between the Caspian and Caucasian ridge, which was the only convenient way to Persia.

The Naryn-Kala fortress together with the Dag-Bary wall are today considered the largest defensive structures in the world and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Once in Derbent, be sure to spend at least a few days in the local village. Ancient traditions are still alive there, and you will not see such color anywhere else. For example, in some settlements to this day, calling rain with the help of pancakes and other amazing rituals is practiced.

The best beach resorts in Dagestan are located in the city of Kaspiysk. In this small provincial town the Dagestanis themselves come to rest, it is calm, beautiful, and nothing happens in it in the best sense of the word. There is an amusement park, a lot of cafes with cheap and tasty food, and for extreme people there is an abandoned Dagdiesel torpedo factory. By its appearance, it resembles the famous Fort Bayard, they have been going to make a museum out of it for several years, but so far you can only climb there on your own at your own peril and risk.

Rent a car in Russia pitfalls - the choice of almost everyone experienced travelers and many brave newcomers.

Russia is a huge country richest history. And this means that in different parts of it you can find a huge number of architectural structures that are of real historical value. Unfortunately to find a large number of information about the location of such valuables is not always possible, in particular, problems arise when it comes to national republics.

Dagestan is one of the republics, about the sights of which very little is known, which means that it is definitely worth dwelling on them in more detail.

In translation, the name of this fortress literally means " locked gate". It is located on the seashore and was built precisely in order to repel possible attacks during the landing of troops from enemy ships. Historically, it is believed that this fortress was erected under Alexander the Great.

It is noteworthy that the fortress combines a huge variety architectural styles. This is primarily due to the fact that for many centuries the fortress was actively used, and therefore constantly expanded and restored. The Naryn-Kala fortress is included in the list of protected architectural monuments and is a recognized world heritage site.

Location: Derbent, Rzaev street - 7.

Lakes have always been the object of increased attention of tourists. Kezenoy-Am stands out, first of all, for its location. To be more precise, it is located on the southern slope of the Andean Range at an altitude of 1869 meters above sea level. The local scenery is truly amazing.

From all sides the lake is surrounded by mountains and rocks, the coastal area has a diverse flora. In addition to the natural and untouched beauty, tourists are also attracted by clean Mountain air and gentle sun. The lake is especially popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

Built in 1839 as defensive structure, today it is a historical monument of architecture of federal significance. In the old days, the fortress has seen more than one battle and almost always remained impregnable.

Currently, the fortress, unfortunately, is closed to the public, because. no one followed the building for a long time and it simply began to collapse. However, there are extreme lovers who, despite the mortal danger, visit this historically significant place.

Location: Ahty.

Mount Shalbuzdag is not only the highest mountain in Dagestan (its height exceeds four thousand meters above sea level), but it is also a holy place for Muslims and an object of pilgrimage. If we talk about ordinary tourists, then amazing picturesque nature awaits them here, various flowers grow on the slopes of the mountain and many animals and birds live.

It is one of the most popular natural attractions. Geographically, it is located near the Khunzakh fortress and the village of Arani. The terrain here is amazingly flat and a sudden break in many people associates with the "end of the world."

The approximate height of the waterfall is more than a hundred meters. But the waterfall looks especially impressive in winter, when the water freezes and the gorge takes on a fabulous look of a snowy kingdom.

The canyon originates in the mountains, in the place where the Sulak River separates Salatau and the Gimry Range. The depth of the canyon is unimaginable, and is almost two thousand meters. Sulak Canyon is a place of amazing beauty and a monument of natural and untouched nature.

Every year it amazing place visited by hundreds of tourists, among whom there are pilgrims, historians, photographers and artists. The Sulak Canyon rightfully bears the title of the most memorable place among all the sights of the Republic of Dagestan.

This fortress is a historically significant place; during its heyday, these walls witnessed the brutal Caucasian war. And despite the fact that only ruins remain of the fortress today, even they are of great interest to tourists from different countries.

The peculiarity of the fortress is that not far from the fortress wall there is an underground passage that leads from the building to the nearby settlement. You can hear many stories and legends about this place, many of which are absolutely plausible. Therefore, the flow of tourists here will not dry up for a long time.

A unique natural monument of Dagestan. It is the largest sand dune not only in Europe, but throughout Eurasia. Its height is more than two hundred and sixty meters. But the most surprising is its location.

How a barkhan of this size ended up among the mountains and the sea remains an unsolved mystery. In any case, the spectacle is simply amazing and beyond description in simple words.

"Lun" - is the largest ekranoplan in the world and produced in a single copy. Its mass is two hundred and forty-three tons, with an external similarity to an airplane, it is actually a hovercraft.

Many ekranoplanes developed by Soviet engineers were tested in Kaspiysk. However, the "Lun" is especially noteworthy in that it is a very effective instance of a combat vehicle, the purpose of which is to fight aircraft carriers. In addition, it has been perfectly preserved to this day. It is not often possible to see such a flight of thought, the unusual design causes a huge mass of impressions among technology lovers.

Attraction, which was chosen by many lovers of speleology. Among the caves in the Karabudakhkent region, there are three largest ones. The largest of them, at the same time, has a length of about 125 meters and has eight halls connected by narrow passages.

In one of the caves you can find a colony of many thousands of bats, naturally, for ordinary tourist it will not be the most pleasant meeting, but if we talk about wildlife lovers, then they will clearly have something to see here.

Is the largest round tower preserved in the North Caucasus. Outwardly, it is a cone-shaped structure with an observation deck at the top. During construction, the tower was supposed to perform signal and security functions.

Structurally, the tower has walls with a thickness of about two meters, the structure itself has a base diameter of about seven meters. The entrance gate is located at the level of the second floor, which made it possible to get inside only by using a ladder. In total, there are about twenty loopholes in the walls of the tower. The tower is included in the world fund for the cultural heritage of mankind.

A distinctive feature of this fortress is that it was built not from rough stone blocks, like most defensive mountain structures, but from selected stone, fastened together with mortar. The thickness of the fortress walls is two and a half meters, and the height is about twenty-five meters.

Geographically, the fortress is located near the gorge from the side of the village Khunchi. This position offers excellent visibility in all directions and complete control over the road to Upper Tabasaran.

Location: Khuchni village.

The monument is located in the capital of Dagestan, the city of Makhachkala. It is noteworthy that this is the first monument in the world dedicated to the Russian Teacher.

Externally, the monument is a ten-meter sculpture made of bronze, which depicts a young modest woman with a globe in one hand and an open book in the other. At the opening of the monument, President of the Republic of Dagestan M. Aliyev noted that "the monument symbolizes the role of the Russian intelligentsia in the educational development of the Dagestan people."

Location: Makhachkala, Komsomolsky prospect - 59.

Work on the construction of a lighthouse in Derbent began in 1851 and was completed a little less than a year later. Distinctive feature is the fact that the Derbent lighthouse is still successfully operating today, while being the southernmost lighthouse in the country.

In 2007, it was reconstructed and a new, more powerful light source was installed. The Derbent lighthouse is included in the list of architectural historical buildings under protection. When visiting the city, be sure to pay attention Special attention and this attraction.

Republic within the Russian Federation. Formed in 1921 G. The name has been known since the 17th V. and means "Mountain country" (Turkic, Dag "mountain", stan "country, land") . However, this name is valid only in history sense: after the inclusion of the Nogai steppes and plains of Kizlyar into the republic, only 56% of its total area falls on mountainous territories.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic Dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

Dagestan

(translated as "country of mountains"), a republic in Sev. Caucasus(Russia). Pl. 50.3 thousand km², the capital city of Makhachkala ; other large cities; Derbent , Khasavyurt , Kaspiysk , Buynaksk , Kizlyar , Kizilyurt. From the 7th century the territory of D. was part of the Khazar Khaganate, at the beginning of the 8th century. captured by the Arabs, in the XI century. - Seljuk Turks, in the XVI-XVIII centuries. within Persia. Between 1776 and 1813 the territory of D. was annexed to Russia. In November 1920, the autonomy of D. was proclaimed, in January 1921 - Dagestan ASSR within the Russian Federation. Since 1991 The Republic of Dagestan .
Sev. h. D. is on Caspian lowland. , along which numerous irrigation canals are laid ( Nogai steppe , delta Terek And Sulaka); south hours (56%) are occupied by mountains Bol. Caucasus(Bazarduzu city, 4466 m). On mountain rivers built a number of reservoirs. (Chirkey and others). The climate is continental; to the sowing plains - steppes and semi-deserts (reed thickets in swampy deltas), vertical zonality is pronounced in the mountains - from steppes and shrubs in the foothills to broad-leaved and coniferous forests (cover about 10% of the territory) on the slopes, to alpine meadows in the highlands. Dagestan Reserve .
Population 2584 thousand people. (2002), density 51.4 people. per 1 km²; urban 41.5%. 80.6% of the population is made up of the peoples of D., including Avars (27.5%), Dargins (15.6%), Kumyks (12.9%), Lezgins (11.3%), Laks (5 .1%), Tabasarans (4.3%), Nogais (1.6%), Rutuls (0.8%), Aguls (0.8%) and Tsakhurs (0.3%). Russians (9.2%), Azerbaijanis (4.2%), Chechens (3.2%) and Mountain Jews (Tats) live in cities and towns along the Caspian coast. The language of communication is Russian, training is conducted in native and Russian; literary languages ​​- Avar, Dargin, Lak, Lezgi, Kumyk; nat. theaters - Avar in Buynaksk, Kumyk, Avar and Lak - in Makhachkala, Lak in Kumukh, Lezgin in Derbent, Dargin in Izberbash. All the peoples of D. profess Islam; Wahhabism is widespread, condemned by Muslim hierarchs D.
Extraction of oil and gas, quartz sands. Machinery, Appliances and Electrical Engineering, Chemical, Construction, Glass, Light, Wine, Food. prom. Wheat, rice (in the Terek delta), grapes are grown on the plain. Gardening, vegetables, transhumance and pasture sheep, beekeeping both on the plain and in the mountains. D. has long been famous for carpet weaving, art. crafts: Kubachi - jewelry, daggers and sabers, Gotsatl - chasing on copper; production of ceramics, jugs. A number of resorts; beautiful sandy beaches on the coast of the Caspian Sea. main port and the airport are located in Makhachkala; main transp. axes: Grozny - Khasavyurt - Makhachkala - Derbent - Baku and Astrakhan - Kizlyar - Karlanyurt - Makhachkala. Numerous mosques, ruins of fortresses, mausoleums have been preserved; picturesque terraced mountain villages. Here is the genus. and lived Imam Shamil, poets S. Stalsky, R. Gamzatov, Z. Gadzhiev; composers S. Agababov and M. Kazhlaev.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Dagestan is a republic within the Russian Federation (cm. Russia), located in the southeastern part of the North Caucasus, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. Dagestan occupies an area of ​​50.3 thousand square meters. km, its population is 2166 thousand people, 40% of the population lives in cities (2001). The national composition is dominated by Avars (27.9%), Dargins (16.1%), Kumyks (12.9%), Lezgins (12.2%), Russians (7.3%), Laks (5%). In total, representatives of 102 nationalities live in Dagestan. The republic consists of 39 districts, 10 cities, 14 urban-type settlements. The capital is Makhachkala, the major cities are: Derbent, Buynaksk, Khasavyurt, Kaspiysk, Kizlyar. The Dagestan ASSR within the RSFSR was formed on January 20, 1921, since 1991 it has been called the Republic of Dagestan; part of the Southern Federal District.
The leading branches of the Dagestan industry are mechanical engineering and metalworking (separators, thermal, electrical equipment, instruments, machine tools, excavators; ship repair); fruit and vegetable canning, fish, wine-making), chemical (phosphorus salts, fiberglass, varnishes, paints), light (woolen, knitwear, shoe) industries are also developed. The production of building materials has been established. Economic growth is fueled by oil and gas production. Agriculture of the region includes plant growing, the main crops of which are cereals (wheat, corn, barley, rice), industrial crops - sunflower. Climatic conditions contribute to the development of fruit growing, vegetable growing and viticulture. The main branch of animal husbandry is sheep breeding.

natural conditions
On Russian territory, they border on Dagestan Stavropol region, Kalmykia and Chechnya. In the south and south-west of the republic there is a border with Georgia and Azerbaijan. The extreme southern point of Russia (41°10 N) is located on the border with Azerbaijan. In the east, Dagestan is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. In the northern part of the republic there is the Tersko-Kuma lowland (28 m below sea level), in the southern part - the foothills and mountains of the Greater Caucasus (the Gunib plateau); highest point- Mount Bazarduzu with a height of 4466 m. Mountains occupy 44% of the territory of the republic. The very word "Dagestan" in translation from Turkic means mountain country. The main rivers of Dagestan are Terek and Sulak. The republic has deposits of minerals: oil, combustible gas, quartz sand, oil shale, coal, iron ore, mineral springs.
The climate of Dagestan is temperate continental, arid. In the mountainous part, it changes with height: temperature drops, humidity rises. In the southern, coastal part, the climate is transitional from temperate to subtropical. The average temperature in January is from +1 °С in the lowlands to -11 °С in the mountains, the average temperature in July is up to +24 °С. Precipitation falls 200-800 mm per year. Dagestan is distinguished by a variety of vegetation and climatic zones: subtropical forests, deserts and semi-deserts, high mountain tundras and glaciers. There are more than a hundred small lakes on the territory of the republic (mainly in the lower reaches of the Terek and Sulak). At an altitude of 500-600 m to 1500-1600 m there are forests of oak, hornbeam, beech, as well as birch and pine. On the plateau of mountainous Dagestan and on the northern slopes of the ridges, mountain steppes and meadow-steppes extend into subalpine and alpine meadows. Forests and shrubs occupy 9% of the territory of Dagestan. In the animal world, there are typical representatives of the Asian steppes and European fauna: the Dagestan tur, the Caucasian snowcock, the Radde hamster, the North Caucasian weasel. In the floodplain forests and in the valleys of the Terek and Sulak, red deer, roe deer, jungle cat, and wild boar have been preserved. Of the birds - Caucasian pheasant, hazel grouse, Caucasian black grouse, ducks, geese, swans, herons. Numerous lakes are rich in fish (carp, bream, pike perch, catfish, pike, trout). Sturgeon, herring, bream, pike perch, and vobla live in the Caspian Sea. On the territory of the republic there are the Dagestan Reserve, the resorts of Kayakent, Manas, Talgi.

Story
The oldest monuments of the Stone Age, discovered on the territory of Dagestan, belong to the Acheulian era. At the end of the 1st millennium BC, the territory of Dagestan was part of Caucasian Albania, then the power of the Sassanids. From the 5th century AD, independent state formations were formed on the territory of Dagestan: Derbent, Lakz, Tabasaran, Serir, Zirikhgeran (Kubachi), Kaitag, Gumik. In the 6th century, Dagestan survived the invasion of the Huns. In the 7th century, in the steppes of the North-Eastern Caucasus, the Khazar state (Khazar Khaganate) was formed, which included the northern plains of Dagestan. In 664, the Arab invasions and the spread of Islam among the highlanders of Dagestan began. In the 11-12 centuries, a number of independent states(Derbent Emirate, Avar Khanate, Kazikumukh Shamkhalate, Kaitag Utsmiystvo). During this period, Islam in Dagestan became the dominant religion.
At the beginning of the 13th century, Dagestan was conquered by the Mongol-Tatars. In the 14th century, the Tatar troops of Uzbek, Tokhtamysh and Timur invaded the country. From the 15th century, Iran began to expand into Dagestan. Since the 16th century, Dagestan has entered the zone of interests of Russia. In 1722, the troops of Peter I invaded coastal Dagestan and annexed it to Russia. However, according to the Ganja Treaty (1735), Russia, interested in an alliance with Iran against Turkey, ceded these territories to him. Dagestan again became part of Russia under the Treaty of Gulistan (1813), which ended the Russian-Iranian war of 1804-1813.
The highlanders of Dagest put up active resistance to Russian expansion into the Caucasus. The peoples of Dagestan, Chechnya, and Circassia took part in the Caucasian War of 1817-1864. The founder of the movement for independence was Imam Gazi-Magomed. His work was continued by Imam Shamil, an Avar by nationality. Shamil led the struggle of the highlanders against Russia for 25 years. In the mountains of Chechnya and Dagestan, he created an imamate state. After Shamil surrendered to honorary captivity (1859), the mountaineers' war against the Russians began to fade.
In 1860, the Dagestan region was formed Russian Empire. From the middle of the 19th century, especially after the construction of the Vladikavkaz railway in the 1890s, industry actively developed in Dagestan. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were about 70 industrial enterprises in the region. In 1918-1920, the territory of Dagestan became the scene of the Civil War. On January 20, 1921, the Dagestan Autonomous Republic within the RSFSR. In May 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic adopted a new name - the Republic of Dagestan. In August 1999, terrorist gangs under the command of Sh. Basayev and Khattab invaded Dagestan, proclaiming their goal the creation of a single Muslim state in the North Caucasus, but were driven back to Chechnya. These events served as the beginning of the Second Chechen War.

Attractions
On the territory of Dagestan there are unique natural monuments: the world's largest free-standing dune Sary-Kum; the only subtropical liana forest in Russia in the Samur delta; Sulak Canyon, which is deeper than Colorado Canyon; Kugsky "Eolian city", which is a mountain remnant in the form of towers, pillars and arches; Karadakh gorge, called the "Gate of Miracles"; the largest mountain lake in the North Caucasus, Kezenoyam, abounding in trout; Aimakinsky gorge, inhabited in ancient times; many large (up to 100 meters high) and small waterfalls.
Many monuments of history and culture have been preserved in Dagestan. The most famous are the defensive system of Derbent with the Naryn-Kala fortress (4th century), the high-mountain village-fortress of Kala-Koreish (9th century), and the Juma mosque in the village of Kumukh (13th century). The republic is famous for its decorative and applied products. Here are such centers of applied arts as Kubachi (jewelry decorated with niello, engraving, enamel), Gotsatl (copper chasing, jewelry), Balkhar (painted ceramics), Untsukul (wooden items with silver notch, bone inlay, mother of pearl) .
The most common type of handicraft is carpet weaving. The secrets of the craftsmanship of carpet weavers are passed down from generation to generation. Dagestan carpets can be found in the museums of New York, Paris, Montreal, Milan, Tokyo. There are 18 museums on the territory of the republic, including the state united historical and architectural museum, art Museum. Constitution day - National holiday peoples of Dagestan, celebrated on July 26.
"Ots Bai" (bull-harness holiday) - the beginning of spring plowing among the Avars and other mountain peoples of Dagestan - is held in late February or early March. The exact day is set depending on the weather, so different areas he passes into different time. The holiday includes the rite of harnessing bulls, refreshments and competitions. In Kubachi, annually on the fortieth day of spring, counting from the equinox, a colorful feast of holy water is held with dances and songs.
The city of Buynaksk is located in the basin of the Shura-Ozen River, 46 kilometers from Makhachkala, with which it is connected by a highway and railways. Population - 55.9 thousand people (2001). Buynaksk is called the gate to the mountains, it is through it that the roads to many mountainous regions pass. At the end of the 16th century, the conqueror Tamerlane set up camp at this place. Subsequently, the village of Temir-Khan-Shura arose here, which in 1866 received the status of a city and until 1921 was the capital of Dagestan. In 1921, the city was renamed Buynaksk in honor of the revolutionary Ullubiy Buynaksky.
The city of Kizlyar is located in the northern part of Dagestan, on the left bank of the Stary Terek River, 130 kilometers from Makhachkala. Population - 46.1 thousand people (2001). The first mention of Kizlyar dates back to the beginning of the 17th century. It received city status in 1735. Kizlyar is the ancient center of the Russian wine industry. The Kizlyar cognac factory and the winery are located here. There are many historical monuments in the city, including those associated with the name of P.I. Bagration - the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, a native of the city of Kizlyar.
The Dagestan Reserve is located 18-20 km northwest of Makhachkala in Dagestan, includes the Kizlyar Bay (18,485 ha) on the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Sarykum Dune (576 ha) on the left bank of the Shura-Ozen River. The reserve was founded in 1987, its area is 19061 hectares (18900 hectares are occupied by the water area). Kizlyar Bay has a shallow depth (on average 1-2 m), its shores are heavily indented by estuaries, it is almost completely covered with dense thickets of reeds; in his northern part flows into the Kuma River. Barkhan Sarykum is the largest dune in Russia (252 m). The fauna of the reserve is rich: about 30 species of vertebrates, 90 species of birds and 30 species of fish. Wild boar, reed cat, muskrat, raccoon dog live in reeds. protected area is a wintering ground for migratory birds. Of the rare species, there are flamingo, pelican, spoonbill, loaf, Sultan's hen, red-throated goose, small cormorant, Egyptian heron, little bustard, bustard.

Resorts
On the coast of the Caspian Sea there are four resort areas: Makhachkala, Manas, Kayakent and Samur coasts. The Talgi Resort is located in the foothill zone of the Talga Valley, at the eastern foot of the Kurort-Bash mountain, surrounded by treeless slopes of mountain ranges. It is famous for its highly concentrated sulfide springs, the water temperature in which is about +37 °C. The building for medical procedures is equipped with an aerosolarium, treatment and diagnostic rooms and a laboratory.
On the territory of the Kayakent resort (Kayakent seaside) there is a small thermal lake Dipsus, which contains reserves of peat therapeutic mud, the temperature of which is from +35 °С to +42 °С. climatic resort Manas is located 20 km from the city of Izerbash. Gunib is a mountain climatic resort, one of the most beautiful places in Dagestan, located at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level, almost in the center of Nagorno-Dagestan, southwest of Buynaksk. Mount Gunib rises above the mountainous area, and in the upper part of its edges are steep, below the slopes become more gentle. The top of the mountain forms a longitudinal hollow, along which a river flows, cascading down several waterfalls into Koisu. In the valley there are meadows and groves. In addition to mineral waters and mud, the local climatic conditions have an unusually healing effect: mild subalpine climate, clean air, plenty of sun, absence of winds, picturesque landscape.
Oh you - balneological resort, located at an altitude of about 1000 meters above sea level, on the left bank of the Akhtychay River. For medicinal purposes, mineral waters from five hot salt-alkaline springs and two sulfuric-alkaline springs are used here. The climate is characterized by moderately hot summers, warm and dry autumns, low humidity and lack of strong winds. In addition to treatment, tourists can see the sights of the ancient village of Akhta. The name Akhty appeared in the 10th century, before that the village often changed its name. Akhty is the birthplace of the first theater in Dagestan - the Lezgin Theater (in 1906 - a circle, in 1935 - a theater).

Folk crafts

Kubachi products are famous all over the world. (cm. Kubachi) and Untsukul masters. The Avar settlement Untsukul is the center of artistic carving with metal on wood, located on the left bank of the Avar Koysu River. The Untsukul fishery arose at the beginning of the 19th century. Initially, handles, whips, canes and stacks were made here. During the Caucasian War, weapons workshops appeared in Untsukul. At the end of the 19th century, local art products were sold in the Caucasian Mineralnye Vody, in Rostov, Tsaritsyn and Astrakhan, and at the beginning of the 20th century, the works of the Untsukul masters were exported abroad. For inlay with copper, cupronickel, silver, hard wood was used. Cornel and apricot wood was steamed over the fire, took the desired shape and firmly held the pieces of inlay. Often on the Untsukul product there is an image ancient symbol- solar sign. In the 20th century, Untsukul craftsmen produced various decorative items, in particular, wall dishes and panels.

Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

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• Dagestan Reserve

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Glossary of Lemkiv speaking

DAGESTAN- (Republic of Dagestan) in the Russian Federation. 50.3 thousand km². Population 1854 thousand people (1991), highlanders 44%, Avars, Dargins, Kumyks, Lezgins, Russians, etc. 39 districts, 10 cities, 14 urban-type settlements (1991). Capital Makhachkala. IN… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary