Ritsa Relic National Park Bolshaya Ritsa Lake. Lake Malaya Ritsa. Abkhazia, Ritsa relic national park

Ritsa relic national park is located in the mountainous part of Abkhazia - on the southern spurs of the Main Caucasian ridge, descending to the middle course of the Bzyb River, ranging from the Gega River to the Pshchitsa River.
The Ritsa Relic National Park was founded in 1996 on the territory of the Ritsa Reserve, established in 1930.

Story

In 1930 scenic surroundings Lake Ritsa with total area about 17,200 hectares have been declared a nature reserve. In addition to forests with a total area of ​​13,000 hectares, the reserve includes lakes Bolshaya and Malaya Ritsa, alpine meadows, rocks and rocky areas. The establishment of the Ritsa Reserve was caused by the need to preserve and study the high-mountainous Colchis forests of Caucasian fir, eastern spruce and eastern beech with rare relict and endemic shrubs and herbaceous plants, unique high-mountain fauna, as well as alpine lake Ritz and others natural complexes of this area.
The territory of the Ritsa Relic National Park covers woodlands Lake Ritsa, flowing from the lake of the Yupshara River, as well as part of the forests of the left bank of the Gega, the right tributary of the Yupshara.
The area of ​​the reserve is about 39 thousand hectares.
The highest peak of the Main Caucasian Range in the area of ​​the reserve is Mount Adjara (2908 meters above sea level). Here, the Gagra Range separates from the Main Caucasian Range, the highest point of which is Mount Agepsta (3257 m) with north side rises above the lake Ritsa. Mount Pshegishkha (2220 m) rises above Lake Ritsa from the southwestern side. The length of the Gagra Range is 54 kilometers. At the eastern foot of the northern part of the Gagra Range, the Gega River originates. In the south-west of the reserve, the Bzybi gorge opens a narrow passage towards the Black Sea.

Climate

On the climate of the reserve big influence have a difficult terrain, mountainous conditions and proximity to the Black Sea.
A humid maritime climate prevails on the territory of the reserve, with the allocation of two zones - at an altitude of 300 to 1500 meters above sea level - a humid climate with moderately cold winters and long warm summers, and - at an altitude of 1500 to 1900 meters - a humid climate with cold winters and long summer. Average annual temperature air is 7.80C. average temperature January - 1.10С, August - 17.80С.

Lake Ritsa

Lake Ritsa is a magnificent creation of nature and the pride of the Ritsa National Park. It lies at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level, its area is 1.49 km2, maximum depth- 101 m. In the spring, during the melting of snow and the rainy season, the height of the water in the lake rises by 1.5 - 2.3 meters, and its length increases from 1700 to 2000 meters.
The rivers flowing into the Ritsa carry cold water, but in spite of this, summer time the upper layer of water in the lake warms up by 18-200C. At depth, the water temperature drops, and at 50 meters from the surface it does not exceed 70C, and at the bottom it is 4.5-50C.
Lake Malaya Ritsa is located northwest of Lake Bolshaya Ritsa. It lies at an altitude of 1235 m. Its length is 0.5 km, maximum width- 275 m, depth - 76 m. Forests grow along the steep banks of the lake, the water in it is unusually clean. Lake Malaya Ritsa has no permanent tributaries and is fed by melt water.
In the Geg Canyon, a waterfall of the same name falls from a height of 55 meters.
On the territory of the reserve is a large number of mineral springs.

Flora and fauna

About 800 species of plants grow in the Ritsa Relic National Park.
More than 90% of the area of ​​the reserve is occupied by forests.
foot mountain slopes covered with beech forests with an admixture of boxwood, yew, fir and spruce, which grow here due to the special microclimate.
At an altitude of 600-800 meters, beech forests predominate, above - spruce-fir. Mountain pines grow on limestone rocks, on the southern steep slopes - mixed forests with a predominance of Georgian oak. At an altitude of 1500-1700 meters, fir forests predominate, above - beech-fir.
The steep slopes of the mountains are covered with low-stemmed forest with an admixture of creeping shrubs - medicinal laurel, etc. Where landslides are frequent, rocks come to the surface, and there is no vegetation.
In hollows and gorges, where avalanches usually descend from the mountains, snow accumulates and lingers for a long time. For this reason, alpine plants, mainly subalpine ones, penetrate into the hollows.
The fauna of the reserve is rich in mammals. The Ritsa National Park is inhabited by brown bear, wild boar, wolf, fox, roe deer, red deer, chamois, tur, pine marten, badger. Of the reptiles - the Caucasian viper. From insectivores - an ordinary hedgehog, a mole, a small shrew and a white-bellied shrew. More than 110 species of birds have been registered in the reserve. Of these, golden eagle, griffon vulture, peregrine falcon, Caucasian black grouse and red-bellied redstart are listed in the Red Book. Great tit, Muscovy, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Wagtail, Dipper, Sparrowhawk, Black Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Eagle Owl, Tawny Owl, Long-eared Owl, Little Owl, Lentil, Mountain Tap Dance, Mountain Pipit, several species of woodpeckers also live here. .
The smallest predator of the reserve is the weasel, and the largest is the brown bear.
Trout is found in the reservoirs of the reserve.
At present, due to the increasing influence of the anthropogenic factor, the issue of environmental protection of the territory of the Ritsa Relic National Park is acute.

The Ritsa relic national park is important not only on the scale of the Caucasus, but also in the entire chain of mountains of Eurasia, as it is part of Colchis - the amphitheater of the mountains of the Eastern Black Sea region, where endemic and relict species that have survived from pre-glacial times are concentrated.

The Ritsa reserve is located in the northwestern part of Abkhazia on the territory of the Gudauta region, on the southern spurs of the Main Caucasian Range. Its territory completely covers the forest areas of the lake basin. Ritsa, flowing from the lake of the Yupshara River, as well as part of the forests of the right bank of the Gega, the right tributary of the Yupshara.

Geg waterfall.

In the territory national park, which is 390 km2, concentrated unique objects of nature and historical monuments. The highest point of the park is Mount Agapsta (3257 m above sea level), and the lowest point is Blue Lake (107.3 m above sea level). The park of relics is divided into two functional zones: a protected area, within which any economic activity, and recreational and economic, combining various loads - regulated grazing, tourism, recreation, spa treatment, research work.

Blue Lake.

The highest peak of the Main Caucasian Range within the reserve is Mount Adjara (2908 m). Here, the Gagra Range, 54 km long, separates from the Main Caucasian Range, highest peak which, the city of Agepsta (3257 m). The spurs of the Gagra Range - the Atsetuk Range, Pshegishkhva (2220 m) are the northwestern, western and southwestern boundaries of the reserve.

Mountain conditions and proximity to the sea affect the climate of the reserve, and the complexity of the relief and the lake. Ritsa play an important role in shaping the microclimate.

The territory of the reserve is classified as a humid maritime climate with two zones: a humid climate with moderately cold winters and long warm summers (at an altitude of 300 to 1500 m) and a humid climate with cold winters and long summers (1500-1900 m).

According to the Ritsa meteorological station, located at an altitude of 928 m, the average annual air temperature is 7.8 ° C, the average temperature in January is -1.1 ° C, and in August 17.8 ° C.

Avadhara.

The main water arteries of the reserve are the Lashipse, Avadkhara and Yupshara rivers. Lashipse originates on the southern slopes of the Main Caucasian Range and after 23 km flows into the lake. Ritsa.

The right tributary of the Lashipse - Avadhara (length 11 km) originates on the southern slopes of Adjara. It has many tributaries, the largest of which, the Mzimna, flows out of the rather deep Lake Mzia.

On the territory of the reserve, in the vicinity of Avadhara, there are many mineral springs. On their basis, a mountain balneological resort Avadhara was built, located at the southern foot of the ridge at an altitude of 1600 m. Mineral springs are located along the Avadhara gorge for 2-2.5 km. For the construction of a bottling plant mineral spring"Avadhara" in the reserve was allocated an area of ​​0.65 hectares, and for resort complex- 2 ha.

In the list of flora of Abkhazia, published famous researcher Caucasus Albov in 1895, 1000 species of plants were introduced. After 29 years, this list already contained 1400 species, and as a result of further floristic research, it increased to 2000 species.

In the Ritsa Reserve, whose area is 2% of the territory of Abkhazia, at least 70% of plant species characteristic of the mountain forests of Abkhazia are concentrated. There are yew berry, Nordmann fir, oriental spruce, Koch pine, junipers, hop hornbeam, oriental beech, sowing chestnut, medicinal laurel cherry, Colchis boxwood, etc.

The reserved forest begins with karst lowlands with dark coniferous-beech forests of the Colchis type. The lower strip of the forest belt (from 300 to 600-700 m) is represented in the reserve by fragments of mixed subtropical forests and occupies a significant area along the Yupshara gorge. Vegetation cover is developed here on stony substrate and dark soils. The sun rarely looks here, water oozes from limestone layers. In shady places where no other tree could survive, high moss-covered boxwoods cluster in groups. Plants miraculously fix on the bare rocks, among them rare amazing bellflower, Pontic bellflower, and green curtains of lianas descend from the cornices.

At an altitude of 600-800 m, beech forests predominate, and above - spruce-fir. Pure beech forests develop mainly on the damp slopes of northern exposure. Limestone cliffs up to 1000-1100 m are covered with pine forests, in some places they are replaced by small spruce patches; on the southern steep slopes, mixed deciduous forests develop with a predominance of Georgian oak. The fir is gradually strengthening its positions. At 1500-1600 m, fir massifs are often found, and at 1700 m and more, the forest is mainly beech-fir.

Steep slopes are covered with low-stemmed forest or crooked forest (beech, above - Lipsky birch) with an admixture of shrubs creeping along the ground - laurel cherry, etc. Snow avalanches usually descend into hollows and gorges, where snow accumulates and lingers for a long time. For this reason, alpine plants, mostly subalpine, penetrate into the hollow forests. Hence the name of such hollows - "inversion". They are often found in the Lashipse gorges, on the slopes of the Atsetuk Range.

The upper border of the forest is strongly winding. This is partly due to the fact that inversion troughs are especially widespread here. straight barrel coniferous forest cuts tongues into the alpine belt, leaving on those slopes where there are no snow falls. Between such tongues, a beech crooked forest is developed, higher up which is replaced by a crooked forest of Litvinov's birch or mountain ash-birch forests.

The fauna of the reserve is typical for the highlands of the Caucasus. Brook trout are found in water bodies.

110 species of birds have been registered (great tit, Muscovy, sparrowhawk, kite, kestrel, eagle owl, owl, golden eagle, griffon vulture, peregrine falcon, Caucasian black grouse).

From mammals - otter, brown bear, weasel, fox, wolf, forest cat, lynx. Of the ungulates - wild boar, roe deer, red deer, chamois, tour.

mountain lakes Greater Caucasus are an integral part of its varied landscapes. Countless mirrors glacial lakes, in the cold surface of which snow-white hats are reflected mountain peaks, serve as one of the best decorations of the already exceptionally picturesque alpine landscape.

Lake Ritsa.

According to the latest data, only within the Greater Caucasus there are about 1600 lakes with a total area of ​​30 km2. At the same time, it is important to note that the levels of lakes and their areas are subject to significant fluctuations over the years and seasons, and some lakes dry up in winter. Most of the lakes of the Greater Caucasus (namely 52%) have a water surface area of ​​less than 1 km2. In the mountains of the Caucasus, tiny lakes are a ubiquitous phenomenon. They, like a precious sapphire necklace, encircle mountain ranges and give the Alpine highlands a special colorful flavor. Despite their small size, they play an important role in providing fresh water residents of remote villages.

The color of the lake changes according to the seasons, which is determined by the degree of transparency of the waters of the inflowing rivers and the development of microscopic algae - phytoplankton in the reservoir itself. In May, green-yellow color of water prevails, in winter - cold blue-blue. The transparency of water in winter is 10 m, in spring 1 m.

The Ritsa Relic National Park was created in 1996 on the basis of the former Ritsa Nature Reserve in order to preserve and rationally use natural resources. In 2001, the Ritsa Relic Park became a member of the Association of Nature Reserves and National Parks North Caucasus Russian Federation.

The Ritsa Relic National Park appeared in 1996 to replace the former Ritsa Reserve. The reserve itself was founded in 1930 and occupied approximately 16 thousand hectares of land. Today, the Ritsa National Park covers an area of ​​39,000 hectares. The main goal of the park is the conservation and rational use of the natural resources of the region. Geographically, the park is divided into two zones: protected and recreational and economic. In the first zone, all economic activities are prohibited, and in the second, regulated grazing, recreation, sanatorium treatment, tourist excursions, research activity.

The park has unique natural attractions and historical monuments. These include famous lake Ritsa, the seething river Bzyb, summer cottages of the Soviet rulers, high mountain ranges, deep gorges with falling waterfalls, picturesque canyons. most high point The park is considered Mount Agapsta with a height of 3257 meters above sea level, and the lowest is Blue Lake with a height of 107.3 meters above sea level. The park is geographically located on south side The main Caucasian ridge between the rivers Gega and Pshitsa.

The climate in the park is moderately warm in the lower part and cool in the highlands. It doesn't feel as hot here as it does in coastal zone and not so cold in winter. In February, the coldest temperature is -1 C°, and the warmest temperature in August is +19 C°. However, in the highlands the temperature can reach -30 C°. In particular, in the Audkhara Valley, the snow cover can reach five meters in height, and in some high-mountainous places the snow does not have time to melt even during the summer.

The Ritsa Relic Park has unusually rich vegetation. The territory up to a height of 1800 meters is covered with continuous forests. There are broad-leaved forests, and Colchian, and mixed beech-fir, and even subalpine crooked forests. Tall grass and alpine carpets look especially beautiful against the background of gray rocks. The grasses of limestone rocks are also unique. These include the "queen of the Abkhazian flora" - Campanula. This pretty herbaceous plant belongs to the bell family. There are many rare trees in the park, such as Iberian oak, Sosnowsky maple, sowing chestnut, elm, Caucasian hornbeam, black alder, etc.

No less diverse is the fauna of the park, especially the avifauna. The most large group in Abkhazia, these are birds. There are more than 273 species here, 71 of which are rare. About 100 species of birds nest in the Ritsa Park. In addition, the Eastern Black Sea migration route passes through the park. The forests are inhabited by blackbird, Caucasian chaffinch, yellow-headed kinglet, red-capped finch, great tit, bullfinches and other bird species. And in the high-mountainous rocks there is a golden eagle, a black vulture, a griffon vulture.

The fauna of the area is represented by brown bears, wild boars, foxes, wolves, roe deer, red deer and lynxes. Of the reptiles, it is worth highlighting the Caucasian viper, and of the amphibians, the rarest frog - the Caucasian krestovka. Trout is found in lakes and rivers. Many representatives of the fauna Ritsa park listed in the Red Book.

Rest photo of sights of Abkhazia(both natural and man-made) can be seen in a special section by clicking on the link.

The Ritsa National Park is located in the mountainous part of Abkhazia, on the southern slope of the Main Caucasian Range, from the Gega River to the Pshitsa River. The area of ​​the park is 39 thousand hectares. High mountain relief and abundant rainfall helped create favorable conditions for the formation of many lakes, rivers and waterfalls. A journey through the park passes through the majestic gorges along the longest river of Abkhazia, the Bzyb. calling card The park is Lake Ritsa. But other sights compete with its beauty - these are Malaya Ritsa, Blue Lake and Alpine glacial lakes, Gegsky waterfall, Dairy and Bird waterfalls.

The road to Lake Ritsa starts from the village of Bzyb, in the vicinity of which tobacco, corn, and citrus fruits are cultivated. Numerous apiaries are located on the forest glades on the road to Ritsa. Having passed the village of Bzyb, the highway enters the Bzyb Gorge. From here to Lake Ritsa you have to drive about 40 km. At the beginning of the National Park, on the 13th km of the road, tourists are greeted by a small lake surrounded by mountain stones. The blue lake was formed at the foot of Mount Tskhyna at an altitude of 100 m above sea level and is a karst well with the purest water bright blue color, which is explained rocks lining the bottom of the lake.

At the 18th km, the road forks, through a narrow passage in the rocks, the Gega River, its largest tributary, flows into the Bzyb. The section of the road now runs along the unusually picturesque Geg Gorge. A little further on, the Gega merges with the Yupshara River. Just above the confluence of the rivers, a side road leads to the Gegsky waterfall (6 km), and behind the fork, the amazingly beautiful Yupsharsky Canyon begins, overgrown with centuries-old boxwoods covered with moss and ivy. Further, on the 29th kilometer, the grandiose walls of the Yupshar Gates open - a huge natural fortress 400 meters high and 25 meters wide. The road exits the canyon into a wooded hollow. When the gorge ends, space opens up before tourists, and after 8 kilometers - Lake Ritsa itself.

And now, after the gorges and wooded steeps with waterfalls, the green-blue expanse of the lake is highlighted through the trees. Ritsa is perhaps the most famous vacation spot in Abkhazia, one of the wonders of nature. It is located at an altitude of about 950 meters above sea level and is surrounded on all sides by mountains covered with dense forest. The beautiful Ritsu is guarded on three sides by impregnable guards - high wooded mountains with snow-capped peaks. From the southwest, Mount Pshegishkha (2222 m above sea level) rises above the lake, from the east - Arihua (2700 m), from the north - the rocky massif of Atsetuk with the peaks of Agapsta (3261 m) and Atsetuk (2546 m). Lake Ritsa was formed as a result of tectonic subsidence of the Lashpsy river valley at the junction of two geological structures: limestones and porphyrites. The length of the lake is about 2000 m, the greatest depth is 150 m, but, despite this, the water of Ritsa is relatively warm, and in summer it reaches a temperature of +17 - +20 degrees Celsius. But the color of the water changes depending on the season. The fact is that the water of the Ritsa, unlike the water in blue lake, "live". Here fish is found - brook trout and microscopic algae - phytoplankton grow well. In addition, two major rivers— Lashipse and Yupshara. The transparency of the water of these rivers varies, which leads to a difference in the color of the water of the lake itself. In spring and summer, the surface of the lake is greenish-yellow, but in autumn and winter it is a cold saturated blue. In total, five rivers flow into the lake, and the only river Yupshara. Water transparency ranges from 1 m in spring to 10 m in winter.

The large water area of ​​the lake creates high humidity both directly on the territory of Ritsa and in the surrounding area. We can say that Ritsa forms its own microclimate. Winds reign here, blowing from the Yupshara gorge to the Lashipse gorge. On a particularly rainy day, an amazing phenomenon can be observed above the water surface of the lake - thunderclouds at high speed passing directly above the water mirror, almost touching the surface.

Five kilometers northwest of Ritsa is another lake - Malaya Ritsa. The water surface with a length of 200 m lies in a giant karst sinkhole at an altitude of 1248 m above sea level. The basin of the lake was formed as a result of a collapse, its depth is about 100 meters. The water in the lake is very clean and transparent, it can be seen up to 18 meters deep, because not a single river flows into the lake, it is fed by underground sources. The water temperature on the surface is much higher than in Lake Bolshaya Ritsa, in July it reaches +18 degrees. The color of the water is blue-green, sometimes bright turquoise.