Where is the village of Elbrus located? Photo. Archaeological and tourist complex "Upper Balkaria"
The highest peak in Europe, the main ridge of Kavakaz, mysterious gorges, the transparency of the waters of mountain rivers, flowery plains, snowy peaks - all these are the most beautiful places in Kabardino-Balkaria. Traveling to this bewitching land means a rich choice of attractions, interesting sightseeing tours. Photos and videos taken in these places will leave this breathtaking trip in memory for a long time.
In this region, you can admire the mysterious Baksan and Chegem gorges, enjoy the strength and beauty of the Djily-Su tract, marvel at the scale of the towers in the village of Kunnyum and visit many other equally interesting places.
Mountain Elbrus
This is the real pride of the local region, capricious, recalcitrant and so majestic - the queen among the mountain peaks of the Caucasus. Its name is translated as "eternal mountain", some call it "mountain of happiness".
The height of Elbrus is more than 5000 meters above sea level, they tried to climb to its top for many years, and only at the beginning of 1829, a group of climbers led by military leader G. A. Emmanuel climbed to the very peak. The mountain is shrouded in snow, at the top there are a large number of glaciers that do not melt even in summer.
A large number of climbers come to this place every day, dreaming of conquering the summit. For those who do not want to climb the peak on their own, a cable car has been built.
Mount Cheget
One of the highest mountains in the Caucasus, its height is about 3700 meters. From the mountain you can admire the view of the highest peak in Europe - Elbrus. Another feature of Mount Cheget is the second line of the cable car, which passes through an area where snow lies throughout the year.
In total, there are 3 stages of the cableway. The first one is one of the most popular among tourists, its height is 1500-1600 meters. The second one starts from a height of 2700 meters. The third one starts from a height of 3100 meters, but the subscription does not apply to it and you can get there only for a fee. The best period for skiing on Cheget is from late November to mid-May, at other times of the year there is a danger of avalanches.
Chegem waterfalls
The real pearl of the Chegem Gorge is the Chegem waterfalls. Streams of water fall from a height of 55 meters, falling off the cliff and flowing out of numerous crevices. A powerful stream of water falls down, and a rainbow appears in a cloud of flying drops. If you look closely at the rocks, you can see unusual images, all this was done by water over many years.
Chegem waterfalls are very beautiful and spectacular not only in summer, but also in winter: a large number of icicles hang from above, impressive blocks of ice rise from below, covering the entire rock.
Waterfall Maiden's Braids
On the rocks of Barani foreheads, not far from the southern slopes of the Terskol peak, there is the most powerful waterfall in Kabardino-Balkaria, Maiden Spit. It got its name not by chance - streams of water flowing down small gutters are very reminiscent of the hair of a mountain girl.
Here, water flows in a stormy stream from the melting Gara-Bashi glacier, the height of the Maiden's Spit is 25 meters, the width at the lowest part is about 14-15 meters. Up close, the waterfall seems huge and very noisy.
In this place in 1967 they filmed one of the scenes of the movie "Vertical" with Vladimir Vysotsky in the title role.
Waterfalls Gedmishkh
In the Zolsky district of Kabardino-Balkaria, 11 kilometers from the village of Khabaz, there is a beautiful cascade of Gedmishkh waterfalls.
Waterfalls fall from a cliff more than 55 meters high, it seems that rocks and trees hang overhead like a huge umbrella, along the edges of which water flows. The waterfall is especially beautiful in clear weather, it is filled with sunlight and reflections of colorful greenery, and many rainbows appear in the spray cloud.
A feature of Gedmishkh is that the water in this place is clean and drinkable, since its sources are the purest springs. Scientists are still studying them, trying to identify the healing properties of this water.
Blue Lakes (Chirik-Kel)
The lakes are a network of 5 karst reservoirs, one of which is considered the world's second deepest karst source and is a water-bearing karst mine with sheer walls. On the surface, the length of the Blue Lake reaches 230 meters, the width is 125 meters, while its depth is not exactly known. The maximum depth of the shaft is 258 meters, in the extended upper part the water depth varies from 0 to 35 meters.
The Blue Pond is a mysterious place that holds many secrets. One of the main questions is where the lake, located 800 meters above sea level, is replenished from. Neither streams nor rivers flow into it, but at the same time a river flows out with a daily volume of more than 70,000 cubic meters of water. Scientists suggest that underground springs are located in this place.
Lake Donguz Orun-Kel
It is located surrounded by two peaks - Nakra-tau and Donguz-orun-towers, the height of which is 4228 meters and 4450 meters, respectively. Orun-Kel is located at an altitude of just over 3000 meters. Translated Donguz Orun-Kel means "next to the pig pen."
A feature of Lake Donguz is its unusually beautiful color, which it received thanks to glaciers: along with melting water, minerals from mountain deposits enter the reservoir, which painted the amazing lake in 3 colors.
The lake is flowing, on the one hand the Donguzorun river and the Medvezhiy stream flow into it, and the Donguz-Orun Baksan river flows out.
Lake Syltran-kel
It is considered one of the most delightful alpine lakes in the Caucasus region. It is located at an altitude of about 3000 meters between the mountain peaks of Mukal and Syltran, its area is more than 9 hectares. It is located in a deep pit of a rock-scree circus. Translated from the Turkic name Syltran-kel sounds like a "beautiful lake".
This place has a kind of severe charm due to the rocky shores of Syltran-kel, the proximity of snow-capped peaks, bright plants in rocky crevices and the remnants of icebergs floating in the reservoir in the summer.
Valley of Narzanov
Not far from the village of Baidevo is the famous Narzanov Valley. This is the only convenient and affordable source of narzan for tourists. The glade has an area of about 3 square kilometers and is equipped for the convenience of visitors.
In a clearing surrounded by a pine grove, several mineral springs of narzan gush out of the ground, coloring everything around in a bright orange color - the water here is rich in calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium and potassium.
Since ancient times, narzan has been famous as water of extraordinary healing power. According to legend, the water from this source strengthened the strength of warriors, healed mortal wounds and raised the hopelessly ill to their feet. The healing liquid should be drunk only from the source, since when narzan is put into a container, a “rusty” sediment appears after a short time.
Baksan Gorge
The most famous gorge of the Central Caucasus. The Baksan Gorge takes its beginning near two ridges (Pasture and Rocky), in an area with sparse forests that lead to the foot of Elbrus.
The ridges stretch through the villages of Zhankhoteko and Lakshuty. On one side of the gorge, limestone sheer walls of yellowish color are visible, on the other - a cliff to the Baksan River.
The Baksan gorge is quite wide, it begins to narrow only behind the village. Outside the city of Tyrnauz, the gorge is covered with a picturesque pine forest, which stretches to the Azau glade, located at an altitude of 2300 meters. At this point, the gorge road ends at the village of Terskol and the route to Elbrus and other Caucasus Mountains begins.
Cherek Gorge
A very picturesque place, which has gained great popularity among tourists. In the gorge there are Blue Lakes and ancient historical monuments of the Balkar people. According to legend, it is the original place of settlement of the local people - the Balkars.
The main attractions of the gorge are Kurnoyat Castle, Andemirkan Mound, Zylgi Fortress, City of the Dead, Amirkhan Tower, Hot Lake, small waterfalls. A stormy river Cherek flows along the bottom of the canyon. The most interesting section is the place where the old road to Upper Balkaria passes.
The walls of the Cherek gorge are almost vertical, their height reaches 500 meters. They are vertical, and at some points converge up to a distance of 30 meters. The majestic canyon of the gorge is Tesnin, so deep that sunlight rarely gets here.
Chegem Gorge
Gorge of the Chegem River, which divides the Kabardino-Balkarian mountain zone into northern and southern parts. Rocks rise above the waters of the winding and deep river, as if artificially decorated with the greenery of trees and shrubs. Noisy, beautiful waterfalls fall down from the rocks. All this creates a unique flavor of the Chegem Gorge.
The narrowest point of the gorge is the Chegem gorge, in which the main part of the waterfalls is concentrated. There is a 17th-century watchtower up the gorge, and next to the bridge lies a “stone of shame”, according to legend, criminals were tied to it.
Walking along the Dzhilgi-su river, you can see the ruined ancient Greek sanctuaries carved into the rocks. Also in this beautiful place there are lakes with crystal clear water and mineral springs.
Adyr-Su Gorge
A picturesque place located on the territory of the Elbrus national park. At the beginning of the gorge, you can admire the bewitching waterfall, which is formed by the turbulent waters of the Adyr-Su River. There are many mountain peaks here (Dzhailik, Sullukol, Tyutyu-bashi, Kayarta, Sakashil, Killar and others), on which routes of various difficulty categories are laid.
In Adyr-Su, a reserved regime is observed, there are few casual visitors and tourists. Tours live in these places, bears live in the berry fields and in the thickets of the undergrowth. Among the talus and rocky walls live mountain turkeys - snowcocks. However, this bird is rarely seen, but often in the silence of the mountains you can hear its melodic singing.
The lowlands of the gorge are covered with forests, but with height they thin out, give way to alpine meadows, and behind them - snowy peaks, impregnable rocks, glaciers.
Dzhil-Su tract
This is a place where you can admire waterfalls, mountain ranges, turbulent rivers with crystal clear water, alpine meadows and mineral springs.
The mineral springs of the tract were formed in layers of solidified volcanic magma and are located at a peak of 2350 kilometers above sea level. Scientists have found that the substances contained in mineral water can treat many diseases, including cancer.
Also in this area flows a large river Malka, along which pastures are spread. In the Jil-Su tract, you can admire the Sultan waterfall, the height of which is more than 35 meters.
National Park "Prielbrusye"
The territory of the national park is located in the Central Caucasus and includes part of the Lateral and Main Caucasian ridges. Within the "Elbrus region" there are several forms of relief: medium-altitude mountainous, high-mountain-glacial, lacustrine-hollow and lava flows.
The beautiful nature of the park attracts many tourists. Here you can enjoy the view of the majestic Mount Elbrus, the picturesque gorges of the North Caucasus, snow-capped mountain peaks.
Also on the territory of the park you can visit many wonderful places, for example, the Narzan Glade, the upper reaches of the Malka River, the Dzhil-Su tract, and numerous lakes. One of the most interesting is Syltran-Kel, located at the head of the Syltran River.
The rivers of the national park are famous for their extraordinary beauty with waterfalls. These are Sultan, Maiden braids and others. Monuments of archeology, history and ethnography are represented in this place by the remains of household and residential buildings, burials.
Archaeological and tourist complex "Upper Balkaria"
The final point of the popular excursion route through Aushiger and the Blue Lakes. The complex is located in the village of Upper Balkaria, in the southeast of the Chereksky district.
The territory of the archaeological and tourist complex is rich in various sights. Here you can admire the objects of cultural heritage of the indigenous people of the late Middle Ages: watchtowers and battle towers, feudal residences, underground and surface mausoleums - tombs, fortifications of Malkar-kala, Zylgy-kala, Bolat-kala, Karcha-kala, Kurnayat-bashi castle , ruins of ancient Balkar villages.
Not far from the highest point in Europe - Mount Elbrus - there is a village of the same name.
Where is the village of Elbrus located?
Elbrus is one of the peaks of the Caucasian ridge. The Elbrus region stretches around, which includes the few villages of Adyl-Su, Tegenekli, Terskol, Baidaevo and Elbrus, which receive tourists. All this is the most beautiful territory of Kabardino-Balkaria.
The village of Elbrus is located on the Baksan River in the Baksan Gorge. Its GPS coordinates are N 43.15, E 42.38. The village lives according to Moscow time.
Tourists are most interested in the possibility of skiing, so you need to know that the village of Elbrus (KBR) is located at a distance of 15 km from the famous peak, named among the 7 wonders of Russia. located directly on the highway that leads to the famous mountain.
How to get there?
If there is a road ahead from afar, it makes sense to use air travel. In the cities of Minvody and Nalchik there are airports from which it will not be difficult to get to the village of Elbrus, as well as to other settlements of the Elbrus region.
The distance from Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, to the village is 130 km. Theoretically, buses run from Nalchik to Elbrus, but there is a nuance: national color. It is necessary to personally agree with the drivers of tiny minibuses in advance so that they take fellow travelers with them. Therefore, it is easier to find a car traveling in the same direction on Internet resources by offering to pay for gasoline, or take a taxi.
The road by car or taxi takes at least 2.5 hours, and it should be borne in mind that there are many traffic police posts and video surveillance cameras on the highway. However, the route is not overloaded with traffic, only cows, which calmly walk along the road and do not pay attention to passing vehicles, create interference.
From the airport in Mineralnye Vody, you will have to make an even longer journey - 3.5-5 hours.
The path to the village goes through mountains and passes, however, due to the optical effect, it seems as if the road runs down. The quality of the asphalt pavement on the road to Elbrus is good.
Tour of the village with a mountain name
The village of Elbrus is small, only 3 thousand inhabitants live in it. You can walk around the village in half an hour. First, go along Elbrusskaya street, then from the street. Musukaev, turn onto Lesnaya, leaving Buka lane aside, and through Shkolnaya Street again exit to Elbrusskaya. That's the whole village.
But the infrastructure of the rural settlement is quite modern:
- there is a kindergarten and a school;
- there is a hospital and a stationary point;
- house of culture;
- mosque.
Of course, there are cafes and shops in the village, where tourists can easily find everything they need for relaxation and climbing.
Village administration: administration
The head of the administration of the village of Elbrus manages the life of the ski resort, solving everyday problems. The local administration employs 38 people, of which 3 are deputy heads of a rural settlement. In the structure of the village administration there are 5 departments (education, culture, land use, finance, economics) and 1 committee (for physical culture and sports).
The administration is located in Tyrnyauz and works according to the standard schedule from 9 am to 6 pm.
Note to the tourist: housing
Those who come to Elbrus not for the first time know that it is much more profitable to rent accommodation near the famous peak, for example, in the village of Elbrus. You can choose simple and inexpensive accommodation on the territory of camp sites or which are located both in the village itself and nearby in the Adyl-Su gorge.
Teachers and students of the Kabardino-Balkarian and Moscow State Universities come to the Elbrus village for vacations, as the universities have their own recreation centers. There are also camp sites "Elbrus" and "Green Hotel".
5 alpine camps near the village allow you to relax inexpensively in a tent.
There are hotels of various categories in the village of Elbrus, boarding houses and even a children's sanatorium.
Hotel "Maral" offers 2- and 4-bed rooms with bathrooms. Meals are not included in the room rates, but you can prepare your own meals in the shared kitchen. The hotel is located in a pine grove in the Adyl-Su gorge.
Room categories: apartments, deluxe, deluxe and standard are offered to guests of the ski resort at the Sky Elbrus hotel. Each room is equipped not only with a bathroom, but also with a mini-bar and a flat-screen TV. Buffet breakfast is included in the rate, and in the evening you can relax in the restaurant or order food to your room.
In addition, the hotel has a children's playground, a spa complex, billiards and a ski school.
From the village you can easily get to the ski lifts on the glade Azau or Cheget without overpaying for accommodation.
Unique natural beauty
Where the village of Elbrus is located, the beauty of the mountains is simply breathtaking! The village is located in a valley, stretching along a narrow ribbon. The height above sea level in the village is 1775 m, this helps to adapt to the height painlessly.
The village is surrounded by a range of peaks covered with snow even in summer: Gubasanty, Irikchat, Donguz-Orun and others. Many rivers fill the air with freshness, and pine forests with coniferous aromas. Noisy waterfalls, deep, even during the day, dark gorges, forest paths leading to alpine meadows - all this can be seen by going for a walk around the settlement.
All this extraordinary beauty makes up the Prielbrusye National Park, in the center of which is the village of the same name Elbrus, a photo of which can be found on the Internet. Having admired the expanses and snows, you will certainly want to visit here and see everything with your own eyes.
Attractions nearby
There are many interesting things in the Elbrus village itself. There are laboratories that belong to the Elbrus National Park.
You can admire the beauty of the harsh mountains if you go hiking through the Adyl-Su gorge along the Adyl River. On the other side of the village there is a picturesque gorge Irik-Chat, which ends with a powerful waterfall. Along the same gorge, tourists climb the glacial plateau, reach the Dzhily-Su spring or climb from the eastern side to the top of Elbrus.
Narzan springs come to the surface near the village. However, there are especially many of them in the Narzan Glade near Chegem, where even the stones have a strong reddish tint due to the abundance of iron compounds in the water. There is a silver narzan spring in the village of Neutrino, the taste of the water is soft and gentle.
In the neighboring village of Tegenekli there is a museum dedicated to Vladimir Vysotsky, because it was in these places that the famous film "Vertical" was filmed.
In the village of Tyrnyauz, the local history museum opens its doors to visitors. More than 2700 exhibits tell about the nature of the region, its defenders during the Great Patriotic War, about the conquest of Elbrus.
Well, and, of course, the main attraction of the region is the handsome Elbrus, proudly towering over the Caucasus. Its western peak rises to 5642 m above sea level. The cable car lifts tourists up to the mark of 3800 m, from where a stunning panorama opens up.
Elbrus is a mountain in the Caucasus, on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Elbrus is located north of the Greater Caucasus Range and is the highest peak in Russia and Europe. Elbrus is a two-peak cone of a volcano. The western peak has a height of 5642 meters, the eastern - 5621 meters. They are separated by a saddle of 5200 m and are located at a distance of 3 km from each other. The last eruption happened almost two thousand years ago. The total area of Elbrus glaciers is 134.5 km, the most famous of them are: Big and Small Azau, Terskol. Its borders are rather conditional, but in general, its main part is located on the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The Republic is located in the central part of the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus. It borders on the Stavropol Territory, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia and Georgia.
Why Elbrus is called Elbrus:
- According to one version, the name comes from the Iranian Aitibares "high Mountain", more likely the Iranian "sparkling, brilliant" (like Elburs in Iran).
- The Georgian name Yalbuz comes from the Turkic yal - "storm" and buz - "ice".
- The Armenian "Alberis" is probably a phonetic variant of the Georgian name, but the possibility of a connection with the common Indo-European base, to which the toponym "Alps" goes back, is not ruled out.
Tranquility, friendliness and hospitality - these are the distinctive features of the Elbrus region. To the east of Elbrus, in the mountainous regions of the Central Caucasus, along the gorges of the Baksan, Malka, Chegem and Cherek rivers, the Balkars live compactly. To the west of Elbrus, similar areas along the gorges of the Kuban, Teberda, Zelenchuk and Laba rivers are inhabited by the Karachays who are related to them.
- The local residents of the Karachay-Balkarians (Alans) call this mountain "Mingi-Tau", that is, "the eternal mountain of consciousness and wisdom."
Elbrus in history
Due to its symbolic significance as the highest point in Europe, Elbrus became the scene of a fierce confrontation during the Great Patriotic War, which was also attended by units of the German Edelweiss mountain rifle division. During the Battle for the Caucasus on August 21, 1942, after occupying the mountain bases "Krugozor" and "Shelter of Eleven", the Nazi Alpine shooters managed to install Nazi banners on the western peak of Elbrus. By the middle of the winter of 1942-1943, the fascist troops were driven off the slopes of Elbrus, and on February 13 and 17, 1943, Soviet climbers climbed the western and eastern peaks of Elbrus, respectively, where red flags were hoisted.
Shelter-11
Shelter-11 is a unique three-story building built on the slopes of Elbrus at an altitude of 4200 meters back in the 30s. All the conquerors of this highest peak in Europe traditionally stopped there before climbing. In 1998, the attraction was "devoured" by a fire. The reason is the careless handling of gasoline by one of the participants in the sports group. According to eyewitnesses, gas cylinders began to burn during the fire. The exits from the premises were blocked by fire, and the inhabitants of "Shelter-11" jumped and descended on ropes from the windows. "Shelter" burned all night and burned to the ground. On the basis of the boiler house "Shelter-11" a new building is currently being built, which is actively used by climbers.
Now on Elbrus at an altitude of 3800 m at the Gara-Bashi shelter there are twelve six-seater comfortable huts-hangars in the form of cylinders, the so-called "barrels". In them you can fully relax and restore your strength. The internal space of the barrel is divided into three parts: in the center of the cabins - the company, on the right and left living compartments with flooring for sleeping and storing things. The house has electricity, a stove for cooking, necessary utensils. Currently, this is the main starting point for those climbing to the top of the mountain.
Climbing Elbrus
The top of Elbrus is one of the coldest places on the planet (even in July-August it is always below zero there, a similar temperature during this period is observed only in Antarctica and Greenland). This mountain, as if by nature itself, is intended for setting records. On Elbrus, for example, the lowest pressure in Russia was recorded: about 380 mm of mercury (2 times less than the usual figure in Moscow). Even if you have never thought about conquering the peaks, you will certainly want to climb it when you arrive at Elbrus. Fortunately, now this can be done without risk to life, although with a lot of thrills. According to the climbing classification, Elbrus is rated as 2A snow-ice, the passage of both peaks is 2B. There are other, more difficult routes. Elbrus is distinguished by the fact that routes that do not require too high qualification of climbers run to its peaks, but the conquest of Elbrus does not lose its significance due to its highest absolute height over the entire space of Europe and Russia - from Portugal to Kamchatka. Therefore, climbing Elbrus is still very prestigious. Therefore, every year more and more new groups with bold projects flock here. So in 1998, an expedition of local residents climbed Elbrus on Karachai horses. The Karachay breed of horses entered the Guinness Book of Records.
Instructors and entire companies with 30 years of experience think through everything to the smallest detail, develop an individual scheme for each group, each tourist, taking into account age, physical fitness, character and equipment. With stops for acclimatization under the supervision of experienced guides, newly-minted climbers from 14 to 70 years old can feel like Kilar Khashirovs - (it was this Karachay guide who reached the eastern peak of Elbrus on July 10, 1829. It is especially pleasant to repeat his path from the northern side of Elbrus, since here nature remains untouched.
Climbing Elbrus from the north is easier and more pleasant than from the southern slope for many reasons. On the northern slope from a height of 3800 m (from the hut), the eastern peak of Elbrus is reached in 7-8 hours, and on the southern slope from a height of 4200 m (from Shelter-11) - in 8-10 hours. The northern exposure of the slopes saves from the scorching sun in summer. The ever-changing landscapes of virgin nature will relieve the boredom of monotony. The neighborhood of green grass and glaciers, the play of colors of stones and rocks, turning from emerald green and red-brown into the crystal shine of ice, are peculiar and amazing. The top of El is covered with a cap of firn - densely packed granular snow and ice, from which 54 glaciers descend to the sides (the largest are Bolshoi Azau, Irik, Terskol). The glaciation area is 134.5 sq. km. Those who have been there agree that among the dazzling whiteness, the feeling of the surrounding magic does not leave, filling with air and energy and making the consciousness crystal clear. On the way to the top, among the frozen lava flows, covered with colossal glaciers, the load of everyday bustle evaporates like water.
At the top in any season it is really very cold. And with a good wind, an experienced tourist becomes scared. Therefore, before a trip to Elbrus, a potential conqueror should be well insulated. The list of necessary clothes will be announced by a representative of the travel agency or a guide who will be responsible for the ascent. You will definitely need trekking boots, an insulated jacket, a waterproof and windproof jacket and pants, a face mask, sunglasses and cream, a sleeping bag up to -10 ° C and much more specialized.
The history of climbing Elbrus
In 1813, Russian academician V.K. Vishnevsky for the first time determined the height of Elbrus (5421 m).
For the first time, the eastern peak of Elbrus was conquered in 1829 by an expedition led by General G.A. Emanuel, head of the Caucasian fortified line, the expedition was scientific in nature, it included: academician Adolf Kupfer, geophysicist, geologist, founder of the Main Physical Observatory in St. Petersburg, physicist Emil Lenz, zoologist Eduard Minetrier, founder of the Russian Entomological Society, botanist Academician and Director of the Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences, artist-architect Joseph Bernardazzi, Hungarian scientist Janos Besse. The auxiliary service of Emanuel's expedition consisted of 650 soldiers and 350 Cossacks of the line. The first to climb the eastern peak was the Karachai guide Hilar (or Kilar) Khachirov (Khashirov).
The western, highest peak was conquered in 1874 by English climbers led by F. Grove and a Balkar guide A. Sottaev.
skating
Needless to say, the gently sloping Elbrus and hilly Cheget are a real paradise for skiers and snowboarders. On Cheget, the active ski season lasts from early December to May, on Elbrus you can ride all year round. The Elbrus region is rightfully considered one of the best ski resorts. There is everything that is created by nature for the pleasure of skiers. Here are the longest tracks in the Caucasus with the largest elevation difference. A wide corridor for skiing allows even "dummies" to feel comfortable on the track. The trails are equipped with markings and landscaped with the help of snowcats.
The Elbrus National Park is an area with unique opportunities for backcountry, freeride and heli-skiing (helicopter riding), an area with unique natural landscapes and an ecosystem. The Central Caucasus certainly surpasses all other regions of the world where heli-skiing programs are held. Dizzying descents through the snowy expanses take place against the backdrop of the grandiose Elbrus, the fabulously beautiful massifs of Ushba and Shkhelda. It is characteristic that the descents here take place in completely secluded places where there are no traces of civilization. At the same time, a cozy hotel with European service awaits below.
Tracks
The main ski areas of the famous Baksan Valley are Cheget and Elbrus. The elevation difference on Cheget is from 2100 to 3040 m, on Elbrus from 2300 to 3800 m. The highest accessible point of Elbrus is Gara-Bashi, an altitude of 3780 m above sea level, from the Mir station this mountain can be reached by snowcat. Mount Cheget is one of the most difficult tracks in the world's ski resorts, the total number of tracks here is 15. The length of the slopes from Cheget and Elbrus, depending on the chosen route, can be 5-7 km. The total number of lifts is 11. The longest routes: Azau - Stary Krugozor 2.5 km, Stary Krugozor - Mir 2 km, Cheget 1.6 km.
Entertainment
From morning to evening, the question of entertainment is not worth it - all life happens on the mountain - here from early morning they come to the lift, sit in a cafe with a cup of traditional mulled wine, a bowl of spicy soup or khychin, or slide down, go down, move down, rush, fly, rush down. But in the evening and at night, vacationers, tired, but still having a charge of vivacity for a worthy end to the day, tend to cafes and bars. And, of course, to the iconic Cheget Hotel. As a hotel, the great advantage of the 8-storey Cheget, located in the village of Terskol, is that it stands directly at the foot of Mount Cheget, next to the lower station of the chairlift. So there is a chance in the morning to avoid queues for the lift. However, in terms of conditions, the hotel leaves much to be desired. The rooms are mostly block type and rather shabby. You don’t have to live here, but you need to come here, it’s so nice to drink cognac in the bar (which they will offer to try “just like that” if you doubt its quality), they make delicious coffee, and the restaurant with high ceilings and cozy leather chairs invites heart-to-heart conversations and informal acquaintances. As excursions, you can visit the museum of Vladimir Vysotsky and the museum of mountaineering, located in the village of Tegenekli. At the foot of Elbrus there are many healing mineral springs, the waters of which restore health. The warm narzans of Djaly-Su are famous, in which you can swim to maintain your strength. And the very presence in this beautiful place is a great entertainment. This is what the locals think. Therefore, they are so fond of the words from the folk Karachay song: “Handsome Elbrus looks through the clouds, in a white hat, into the blue. I can’t stop admiring the proud peak, bold, powerful.”
Legendary Bushuev
Each resort has a legendary instructor in a particular sport. On Elbrus, this is Eduard with the speaking surname Bushuev. He is known not only for his impulsive character and hot temperament, but also for the fact that he knows his business. Even those who can’t imagine themselves skiing in motion and sadly “poking around” in the paddling pool on the roll out, he “takes it down” from Cheget in a few days. He also leads groups in the mountains. He works not alone, but with a huge marble dog. At the sight of a dog, some tourists go numb, the instructor reassures in his usual way: “Bite - it won’t bite. But the pressure can rise.” Dog is famous for his exaggerated sense of responsibility. Once taking patronage over a tourist, he tirelessly watches him until the end of the vacation. This habit of his saved several lives. Due to the Russian mentality, guests of the Caucasus often overestimate their capabilities and climb alone or in a group without a guide. The dog more than once found such unfortunate travelers who got lost and, showing the way, led them to the village. Bushuev's house is famous almost as well as the instructor himself, it may well play the role of an architecture museum - all the furniture in the house is made by the instructor himself from wood and lovingly decorated with carved scenes from Russian fairy tales, the ancient Greek epic, or embodies the creator's bizarre fantasies. This hobby was inherited by Bushuev from his father. Until you visit his house, you will not suspect a gentle son in this daredevil, who keeps portraits of his parents in the most prominent place - the wall in the living room. Another attraction of the “museum” is a 20-year-old cat, complacently enduring the clamor of a huge number of guests. Whatever you say, the mountain air does its job. Having left here, the unreal whiteness of the landscapes, the clouds under your feet will be dreaming for a long time. And on New Year's Eve, you can suddenly receive a parcel with a horse's head carved from wood and the return address: “Elbrus village. Bushuev.
Characteristics of the ski slopes of Elbrus
Pendulum cable car "Elbrus"
1st turn -
from the station "Azau" 2350 m to the station "Staryi krugozor" 3000 m.
Elevation difference 650 m.
The length of the track is 2500 m.
2nd turn -
from the station "Stary krugozor" to the station "Mir" 3500 m.
Elevation difference 500 m.
The length of the track is 2000 m.
3rd turn -
KKD from Mir station 3500 m to Gara-Bashi station 3750 m
Elevation difference 250 m.
The length of the track is 2000 m.
Plot "Shelter-11"
(4100 m) - Pastukhov rocks (4600 m). To climb to the region of the Pastukhov rocks (up to a height of 4400-4600 m), you can use a snowcat. From here, the length of the descent can reach up to 10 km.
Directions
By plane to Mineralnye Vody airport (1335 km), then by regular bus to Nalchik (100 km) or Baksan (80 km), then by bus or fixed-route taxi to Terskol village (130 km);
By train to the Nevinnomyssk or Cherkessk station, then by regular or commercial bus to the city of Nalchik (100 km) or the city of Baksan (80 km), then by bus or fixed-route taxi to the village of Terskol (130 km or 110 km);
By car from Moscow highway M-4 Moscow Rostov-on-Don Min-Vody Baksan Tyrnyauz Terskol (1600 km).
Alexey Kozachenko
It will help you navigate the ski resort. We tried to place the most significant objects on it. In addition, on this page you can see the coordinates Elbrus region on the map countries and get information about the largest tourist settlements.
National Park "Prielbrusye"
The Elbrus National Park is located in the center of a large mountain range of the Caucasus Mountains, on the southern border of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. This is the upper reaches of the Baksan Gorge. The Elbrus region includes several settlements: Upper Baksan, Neutrino, Elbrus, Tegenekli, Baydaevo, Terskol. Nearest city - Tyrnyauz, administrative center Elbrus region.
The settlements were located along the road that runs along the bottom of the Baksan Gorge and leads to the foot of the highest mountain in Europe. Location Elbrus on the map can be quickly determined by switching to the satellite. The white spot of eternally snowy peaks is clearly visible against the background of a green massif. Elbrus coordinates(western peak): latitude 43.2113, longitude 42.2630.
On Elbrus map another vertex highlighted. This is Mount Cheget. It is located a little closer to the villages and has very interesting slopes for skiing. But the descents here are so difficult that they are suitable only for professionals. That's why ski Elbrus does not lose its popularity. Its pistes are longer and are served by a new cable car.
The main tourist infrastructure of the Elbrus resort is concentrated in 3 settlements. These are settlements Elbrus, Tegenekli And Terskol.
Elbrus village
Elbrus is a village located in Elbrus region Kabardino-Balkaria, on both banks of the Baksan River.
On Elbrus map it can be seen that a side gorge leaves the village to the right. This is Irik-Chat, through which you can access Elbrus glaciers or go to the source of Jily-Su. The gorge is crowned by the Irik glacier, one of 23 Elbrus glaciers.
To the left goes the side gorge Adyl-Su - the most popular and beautiful in the Elbrus region. There are several climbing bases next to it.
In the village itself there are cozy comfortable hotels (“Peak of Europe”, “Grand Ozon”, “Ozon Landhaus”, etc.), the Prielbrusye boarding house, the Andyrchi children's sanatorium, several cafes, a hospital specializing in the treatment of the respiratory system.
Almost in the center Elbrus the office and scientific laboratories are located National Park "Prielbrusye". The famous pine forest of Baksan begins from the village.
Tegenekli village
On the left bank of the Baksan River, between Elbrus villages(1.5 km) and Terskol(10 km) there is a small Tegenekli village. It is located at an altitude of 1850 m above sea level. Elbrus and Cheget ski lifts are 10-12 km away. from Tegenekli.
Here are the boarding houses "Edelweiss" and "Elbrus", the recreation center "Baksan", several cafes and bars, a training slope with a drag lift.
also in Tegenekli village there is a mountaineering and hunting museum. V.V. Vysotsky. Here, in Tegenekli, the shooting of the famous film "Vertical" took place.
In the late 1960s, the film by Stanislav Govorukhin became a cult work on which a whole generation of Soviet people grew up. "Vertical" was the first domestic film about climbers.
One of the main roles in it was played by the young Vladimir Vysotsky. The museum has a wide range of exhibits and materials about the history of the Elbrus region and its inhabitants.
Terskol village
The village of Terskol is a center of mountain tourism, mountaineering and skiing in the Elbrus region. It is located in the upper reaches of the Baksan Gorge, under Elbrus, 4 km. from Azau glade.
On Elbrus map it can be seen that this is the highest mountain village, located at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level.
IN Terskol
IN Terskol there are small private hotels (“Esen”, “Balkaria”, “Vershina”, “Legend”, “Ozon Cheget”, etc.), boarding houses (“AnTau”, “Cheget”, “Tungsten”, etc.), shops, cafes, snack bars, a children's ski school, post office, telegraph, control and rescue service.
Not far from the village there are cable car complexes Elbrus (2 km) and Cheget (1 km). The village is surrounded by a picturesque pine forest, and very close to the mineral spring Achi-Su.
The whole life of the village is permeated with skiing, it is felt even in summer. Posters, announcements, interior furnishings - everything says that you are in the largest ski resort.
Gives a visual representation of the location of cable cars and ski slopes in the mountains Elbrus and Cheget. Complex " Elbrus» includes 3 stages of the old cable car (pendulum and cable-chair lifts) and a new gondola-type cable car. The complex "Cheget" is represented by a chairlift and a double chairlift.
On Elbrus map The Museum of Military Glory of the Defenders of Elbrus and the Caucasian Passes during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was noted. It is located on the territory of the Mir station, at an altitude of 3500 m. This is the highest mountain museum. The exhibits presented in the museum acquaint tourists with the heroic defense of the Caucasus, tell about the fighting on this high-mountainous sector of the front.
From the Mir station, a high-mountain taxi - a snowcat will take you to "Shelter of Eleven"- a unique mountain hotel in the world (4200 m above sea level).
At least once, but it's worth the trip. In good weather, the shocking sensations of being on the same level with the peaks of the Main Caucasian Range will remain with you forever, and the descent through wide fields, and even through fresh snow, will not disappoint.
From the shelter you can see a full panorama of the Caucasus Mountains, both peaks of Elbrus in the north, the ridges of Svaneti, the Main Caucasian Range and its northern spurs.
On the map of Elbrus the rocks of the Shelter of Pastukhov are also marked. Hence the Russian geodesist and climber, explorer of the Caucasus A.V. Shepherds went to the eastern peak Elbrus. Today, the Shelter serves as a starting point for many Russian and foreign climbers to storm the highest peak of the Caucasus.
