Emerald Valley of the Ashe River. Psydakh and Shapsug - a murmuring decoration of the Ashe river valley

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Waterfalls in ASHE

Legends and were the valleys of the river Ashe - Waterfalls Psedakh and Shapsug in Ashe

The Ashe River is the sixth largest river in the Sochi Black Sea region. The length of the Ashe River from the confluence of its tributaries, the Nauzha and Bekish rivers, to the mouth is 13 km. A visit to the picturesque valley of the Ashe River is one of the most interesting and memorable. You will admire the panorama of the Adyghe mountain villages, visit the dolmen in the village of Shkhafit, see the "Rock of the Old", visit the small mountain "Cave of the Witches" (or "Salvation"). You can get into the "Cave of the Witches" by reaching the village of Kalezh and walking 90 m along the suspension bridge over the Ashe River. Then follow the path to the cave about 200 m through the Colchis forest. The cave has a diameter of about a meter and a length of 70 m. A stream flows along its bottom and you can ride a boat with a guide. Locals will tell legends related to the name of the cave. Then the tourists return to the village of Kalezh and head to the Psydakh and Shapsug waterfalls. You will have to get to them along the bed of the Ashe River for about 2.5 km. In the summer, they deliver here from the village of Kalezh on off-road vehicles. The two-cascade waterfall Psydakh is located on the tributary of the Ashe River. His overall height about 20 m. There is a wooden staircase with railings and viewing platforms. The café is open during the summer. The Shapsug waterfall is located on the right bank of the Ashe River. Leads here suspension bridge with a railing 30 m long. Then you can climb to the top of the waterfall along a wooden staircase. This waterfall has three cascades with a total height of about 50 m.

ASHE

The first waterfall is called "Waterfall of brides", and the second - "Shapsugsky". its height is 21 meters. Both of them are located in bewitching mountain gorges. If you make a tour in the evening, then your impressions will not stop replenishing, because from the waterfalls you will be taken back to the village of Kalesh, where the same family of local residents has already prepared dinner for you ( traditional dishes Adyghe cuisine), and after dinner - an incendiary show - Caucasian music and dances performed by professionals, amateurs and tourists themselves.

Cascade of three beautiful waterfalls under common name Psedakh is located 1.8 km upstream of the confluence on a tributary of the Bekish River. The downstream waterfall is the smallest waterfall of the cascade. The water here falls from a height of about 2.5 m. Visiting the "middle" and the foot of the "upper" waterfalls became possible only thanks to the wooden stairs with railings built here. The height of the "Middle" waterfall is about 5 m. The water falls from a narrow (2 m wide) canyon, which further expands and takes the form stone bag with sheer impregnable walls. The "upper" waterfall of the cascade is the most picturesque of the three. Water falls from a height of 30 meters, breaking into dust and falling into a small reservoir at the foot of the mountain in a white foamy stream. The bewitching beauty of both the gorge and the waterfall prompted the indigenous people - the Shapsugs - to call it "Psedakh", which means "Beautiful Water".

To the waterfalls in ASHE

If we go upstream from the Psedakh cascade along the Bekish teka, then 0.6 km away we will see another left tributary, in the mouth part of which there is a cascade of four waterfalls. The highest and most beautiful of them is the lower one called Shapsug. This is a two-stage waterfall about 20 m high. Water falls from a steep ledge onto an inclined platform, slides down and again falls off in a wide stream. At the foot of the waterfall, huge boulders of an old collapse are visible. The largest of them is the size of a small house. The waterfall can be reached by suspension bridge thrown across the Bekishey River. Further, the path passes along the steep and steep slopes wooden stairs. Climbing them, you can visit 3 more waterfalls 5, 10 and 8 meters high.

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Sochi national park rich in entertainment natural monuments. One of them is the mesmerizing waterfalls Psydakh and Shapsug. The journey to them through the incredibly beautiful Emerald Valley of the Ashe River is bright and memorable compared to others in Sochi.

Where are the waterfalls on the map of Sochi?

They are located in the northern part of the neighborhood. The nearest settlements to them are the farms Kalezh, Lygoth and Khadzhiko.

Geography, history and legends

- a typical mountain river with a rocky bed in the Lazarevsky district of Sochi. Although it is quite shallow, it is quite noisy and fast, about 40 km long. The river has four tributaries - Bolshoy Bekishey, flowing in the upper reaches, Bol. Pseushko, more full-flowing, as well as the Chigishepsy and Kapibge streams. Flowing from the top of Grachev Venets, it absorbs the waters of numerous streams, then flowing into the Black Sea. There are suggestions that it got its name from the name of the prince, who once owned lands in the vicinity. But since "Ashe" in translation from Adyghe means "Weapon", and the river itself is swift and noisy, it is believed that it was from this word that the toponym was formed.

Back in the 19th century, the gorge was difficult to access and dangerous, the locals preferred to bypass it. Here was located the outpost of the obstinate Circassians-Khakuchi, created by nature itself. They hid in stone rubble, and the majestic and cruel landscapes made it impossible to penetrate to them. Even after the conquest of the community, the place remained untouched by civilization for a long time. With the advent of the new century emerald valley became more and more interested in scientists and researchers who discovered new historical, cultural and natural monuments. All this served as an impetus for the development of mass tourism in the Caucasus - the All-Union tourist route No. 29 passed here.

The gem here is the waterfalls unearthly beauty Psydakh and Shapsug. They are located on one of the tributaries of the Ashe - Bol. Bekish. By the way, its name is translated as "valley of pickets" - that is how the observation posts of Russian soldiers in the mountains were called. Each of the cascades is formed in flysch rock, characterized by layering, and their filling is melted snow, rains and springs.

The waterfalls are quite large. maximum height the water flow reaches 50 m, these are the most famous and visited sights of the area. Like any popular tourist facility, they are shrouded in various myths and legends. One of them, the most popular among tourists, says that any girl who plunges into the icy waters of Psydakh will certainly get married soon, as a result, its second name is “Waterfall of Brides”.

Routes on Psydy and Shapsug

Any traveler who goes hiking to these waterfalls, first of all, notes the incredible variety of flora in the valley. It is because of its evergreen bright vegetation that she got her name. First of all, tourists will open Psydakh. It is not called so by chance: in translation from the language of the indigenous inhabitants of the area - the Shapsugs - the name means " beautiful water". It is impossible to see him from afar, as he hides in stone bag-canyon. Psydakh consists of three rapids: the lower one is 2.5 m high, the middle one is 5 m, and the upper one is 30 m high.

A comfortable staircase with railings and viewing platforms leads to each tier. They say that the very first of the bridges grants wishes. In general, the cascade looks extremely impressive: from a huge rise among rocks, ledges and cliffs, jets rapidly fall down, gathering in small pools at the foot. Psydakh is wrapped in water spray like a bride's veil, which also explains why it got its second name.

After 600 m, closer to the upper reaches of the river, there is Shapsug, which consists of four cascades. The highest and most spectacular among them is the lower one. It consists of two steps with a total height of 20 m, charmingly breaks down from a sheer ledge to a gentle platform, from where it again falls down to a blockage of boulders. The next ones look less impressive: the first falls from 5 m, the second - 10, and the third - 8. There is a place that fulfills a wish here too - this is a huge boulder that meets everyone who decides to admire the Shapsug waterfall. Photos that can be taken near all the local natural beauties really come out memorable.

All travelers should protect themselves and go hiking in comfortable sportswear and shoes: the path is rocky in places, and the stairs can be slippery. The best time to visit the waterfalls is spring, as they can be a little draining in summer.

The infrastructure on the way to the waterfalls is very developed: there are small cafes and souvenir shops, it is easy to taste honey, tea and wine of local production. Recreation at the waterfalls can be diversified by visiting several more iconic sights - dolmens on the Ashe River, Old Men's Rocks and Witches' Caves.

How to get (drive)?

You can also get to the waterfalls on your own, and for this it is not necessary to have a personal car. In the area of ​​the Lazarevsky railway station, take the minibus number 159, which will take you to Kalezh. From the latter you will have to walk (well, or drive - if you catch a ride) about 3.5 km to the east, along the river current.

By car, the route will be simpler, here's how it looks on the map:

Note to the tourist

• Address: p. Kalezh, md. Lazarevskoe, Sochi, Krasnodar region, Russia.
• Coordinates: Psydakh - 44.000242, 39.390174, Shapsug - 43.998792, 39.396579.

Many holidaymakers and vacationers note that the Psydakh and Shapsug waterfalls must be included in the travel program in Sochi. Reviews of tourists who have been here confirm that they really amaze with beauty and charge with incredible energy! In conclusion, we offer a small but very interesting video clip about them, enjoy watching!

Ashe is a small mountain river located in the Lazarevsky district near Sochi. The river itself is shallow and its length is only 40 km, however, due to its favorable location, it is concentrated around a large number of interesting objects. It originates high in the mountains at the confluence of several small mountain rivers and for 40 km the Ashe river descends for more than a kilometer and flows into the Black Sea in the area of ​​​​the city of the same name. Going down to the sea, the river forms a picturesque valley, in which there are a large number of waterfalls, rapids, simply amazingly beautiful. mountain scenery. It is also on the Ashe River that the most high waterfalls Krasnodar Territory.

The magical beauty of the Ashe valley, in fact, has a formidable meaning in translation into Russian - “weapon”, but the traveler’s heart can really hurt this place only with its charm. In summer, its trees rustle with emerald foliage, icy water runs in a stone channel, and the sky covers everything around with a blue tent, and it is not clear what can cause alarm here. But as soon as a downpour passes, the whole valley begins to shake from the noise of a mountain stream. It rushes at breakneck speed, breaking branches and stones. No luck for those who get in his way.

Sometimes floods even occur in the Ashe valley, there are cases that claimed human lives. This place is famous for its waterfalls and legends. The most touching of them is about the Rock of the Old Men, with which old times pushed the weak people together. One young man did not push his father, but hid in a cave, and constantly went to consult with him, which is why he was known as very wise. One day, his father gave him advice that saved the whole village from death. Then the young man revealed his secret and the old people were no longer thrown down. A terrible story, which is hard to believe, because old age in the Caucasus has always been highly revered, and the highlanders up to a hundred years old retained a sound mind and activity.

Waterfall Shepsug

The pearl of the valley is the Shapsug waterfall. He received the name in honor of the nationality living here. The flow is formed by four cascades. They are like the mouth of a jug flowing down the washed river bed. The recess, as if with small bricks, is lined with different rocks. This effect was due to the fact that different rocks are differently subject to the process of leaching.

The stream flies from a height of 50 m, a staircase is built along it, which makes it possible to climb to the base of the waterfall. The largest lower cascade is 20 m. It consists of two steps with a smooth turn. The upper cascades are wider, but shorter.

At the lower two-stage cascade, huge boulders are piled up. The Stone of Desires is also located here, by touching it you can make anything - it will come true. The upper cascades rise to inspect only the most persistent tourists, and they are rewarded with an unforgettable view of the valley. From here you can see the bridge, which you can head to by going down the stairs again. Crossing the bridge is another test, this time not of endurance, but of courage. The bridge is wobbly and looks terribly unreliable.

Waterfall Psydakh

The first on the way along the valley of the Ashe River, about 2.5 km from the nearest locality This is the Psydakh waterfall. The waterfall itself is located on a tributary of the river, consists of several cascades and has a total height of about 30 meters. The lowest part of it is only a few meters and the water flows smoothly along it, the middle step has a height of five meters, and the last and highest one has a height of about 20 meters and the water falls through a narrow beautiful gorge like a pipe. Arranged around the waterfall viewing platforms, as well as a large thirty-meter suspension bridge. In translation from the local dialect of the name, it means "Beautiful food". However, it also has a second name - "Waterfall of brides" and according to legend, an unmarried girl who bathes in it will soon get married.

In addition to waterfalls, there are others near the riverbed. interesting objects such as the Cave of the Witches in which you will be offered a ride on a boat. The length of the cave is about 100 meters, part of it can be waded.

How to get there

Getting to the valley of the Ashe River is not difficult at all and there are three options. However, in any case, first you need to get to the village of Kalezh. From the M-27 highway, which runs along the Black Sea, there is a direct road to the village of Kalezh. If you move from the side of Sochi, then turn immediately after the village of Ashe, if from the side of Gelendzhik, then turn before entering the Village.

From Kalezh you can walk directly along the riverbed, and the entire route is about 4 km one way. Also in the village you can hire an SUV, UAZ or GAZ, depending on the size of the group. The third option is by car, along the bed of the Ashe River the road goes, which comes almost to the waterfalls and you have to walk no more than a kilometer from the road.

Location: Krasnodar region, Lazarevsky district, Kalezh village

coordinates: 43°59"46"N 39°23"47"E

Another one-day itinerary with Roma and his group. Roma took a new action camera with him for the first time.Photo report from the already regular companions of the routes with Roma, a married couple from Novomikhailovka.So this time the company gathered is not small: there are four of us from Krasnodar, two from Novomikhailovka, and for the first time a couple from Krivenkovskaya was with us. On three cars.

We arrived at the stop "Dolmen" in the Ashe valley - here is the official stop of bus number 159 "Lazarevskoye - Kalezh". There are two dolmens, next to the ticket office, a summer cafe, etc. But at the end of February, visiting the dolmens "Kapibg" [without the "e" at the end] is free.

Having examined the commercial dolmens, we drove into the Kapibge valley and left the cars in a clearing. Above the valley is a capital recreation center, which receives tourists during the season. The base superintendent was asked : "Is there a path up the Kapibga to the waterfalls?" Says: "No." Well, we're not used to it. But as it turned out quite recently, high on the orographic port side of the Kapibge, a road was cut for off-road vehicles directly to the waterfalls (see map). More precisely between the "first" (lower) and "second". Unfortunately, we only found out about this when we climbed the Mizeguh rock and saw a new road from there.

The path along the Kapibge gorge cannot be called simple. In places, however, an old portage appeared, but it was always interrupted by blockages and thickets. So 2 km. the passage through the valley of Kapibge was exhausted decently.

The waterfall was not as impressive as expected. There is little water. Yes, and the height of 40 m declared in the last route is clearly exaggerated: https://fotki.ya ndex.ru/users/ft tuf/album/426921. Then the height of the waterfall was measured by the difference between the altimeter readings in the navigator above the waterfall and at the foot. All the cascades of the "lower waterfall" were taken into account, perhaps the navigator in the canyon "breathed". Therefore, this time we "lowered" the height of the waterfall twice, to 20 meters, which is also quite a lot!

We returned to the confluence and began to climb without a path to the Mizeguh rocks. In general, the trails in this route were tight. Although in some places along the way we came across old inscriptions on trees, in one place of the ascent we saw ancient mounds...

Last time we went through the "Wolf Passage" pass and then "drilled" for a long time along the overgrown ridge to the Mizeguh rock. This time we decided to climb directly to the rocks. It's cool at the top, but this way seemed more optimal.

Imagine our surprise when we met about 20 Sochi tourists on the top of the Mizeguh rock. Wow, this place is popular! Barely placed all on a small rocky patch. Sochi people climbed from the south of the dolmens (we are going there), and then went along the ridge towards Mount Mizeguh. By the way, Sochi residents call these rocks "Wolf teeth". Let there be a double name.
The view from the panoramic point is magnificent. The truth was unlucky with the weather, it even started to rain. Nevertheless, we saw Fisht - it means "it was not in vain that we went."

The descent to the dolmens cannot be called simple. There are no paths, thickets. We went to the dolmen with a cork along our previous track. Roma was surprised to find that on the OSM map in the navigator, the dolmens are not shown there. But we are no longer surprised. We know that all the points of the dolmens at the headwaters of the Unexpected River on the OSM map are not correct. This was confirmed last year. Some kind of "pest" inflicted them, or vice versa - the "keeper" of the dolmens. So that the "left" tourists do not roam here, but only the elite ...

The dolmen is located on the left slope of the beam, on the right slope two more unfinished dolmens were found. Sochinets was also mentioned about a small, well-preserved dolmen on a hillock - 200m. from a dolmen with a cork. But we didn't find it.

From the unfinished dolmens along the right bank of the beam there is an old portage, and from the dolmen with a cork along the left bank there is an overgrown path. All of them lead to the road crossing numerous beams from the headwaters of the river Unexpected. This is a technological road along the cable laid from the Ashe valley to the Makopse valley. The road, although overgrown, is being destroyed, but it helps out a lot. And then we are already worn out walking without trails through the thickets.

On the way we walked a little towards Makopse to visit the dolmen by the road. He is half asleep. But if you look inside, you can see that a cork is inserted into the hole, which is covered with a layer of earth. So this dolmen with a cork.

But it's time to return. Everyone was tired, so they decided not to go directly to the cars through the top of Mizeguh. We went around along the road, through Hatlape. These are cottages on a small right tributary of the river. Ashe.

We crossed the pass (conditionally - "Khatlape") from the valley of Unexpected to the valley of Ashe and began to steep road descend to Hatlap. But suddenly good road instead of going down, it went up steeply. Probably in this place it is more logical to go along the bad overgrown road to the dachas (not sure if the road is normal). We decided to take the good road. Clearly lost in time. But they came to a pretty bamboo grove, which Roma especially liked.

The road went down to the asphalt highway along Ashe, almost next to the cottages of Khatlape. On the asphalt we returned to the cars. They got home in the dark.

Good evening everyone. Today we will go on an excursion to the valley of the Ashe River. If you are on vacation in the Lazarevsky district and decide to go on some kind of excursion, the first thing you will be offered at the tour desk is a trip by UAZ cars to the Ashe river valley. But since in summer season on the coast, everyone is trying to earn the maximum, then the cost of such a trip will come to you from 500 to 1000 rubles / person. Therefore, in order to save money and certainly see such beauty of nature, today I will tell you how to visit the valley of the Ashe River on own car. And so we went.
In the area of ​​the village of Ashe, you turn off the Dzhubga - Sochi highway and climb along the Ashe River up the beautiful highway.
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As soon as you turn off the road, you immediately open beautiful view to the mountains and the Ashe river valley itself.
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We drive further to the village of Kalezh, where the main attractions are located. At the entrance to the village of Khadzhiko we make the first stop and climb up along the equipped path to the dolmen.
Dolmens (from Bret. taol maen - stone table) - ancient funerary and places of worship belonging to the category of megaliths (that is, to structures made of big stones). The name comes from appearance structures common to Europe - a slab raised on stone supports, resembling a table.
Caucasian dolmens were created during the Early and Middle Bronze Age from the 3rd-2nd millennium BC and were used until the 1st millennium BC. e. during the existence of the dolmen culture.
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And this dolmen is considered not only plundered, but also destroyed.
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At the entrance to the village of Kalezh is the Rock of the Old.
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There are legends among the locals about the Rock of the Old Men, and according to this legend, once upon a time locals they threw their sick and weak elders into a huge abyss. And then one of the sons, instead of throwing his father into the abyss, hid him in a cave. He consulted with his father all the time and therefore was known as a sage. One of the old man's advice saved the whole village, after which the young man revealed the secret of his wisdom. And then they stopped killing old people.

To be honest, it is hard to believe in this legend, because old age in the Caucasus has been held in high esteem for centuries.
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We pass through the whole village and then we head along the river of the Shapsug and Psydakh waterfalls. Previously, excellent asphalt was laid here, but last year the river overflowed its banks and part of the road was simply washed away, now it is being restored.
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Waterfall Psydakh (sometimes written as Psedakh) is the first on the road. Its name translates as "beautiful water".
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And this waterfall is really very beautiful and unusual. It cannot be seen from afar. He hides from prying eyes in a crevice well.
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The second name of the waterfall is "Waterfall of Brides". According to legend, a girl who bathed in the waters of this waterfall will soon get married.
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The Psydakh waterfall consists of three cascades - upper, middle and lower. Previously, it was very difficult to get to the upper cascade, but now wooden walkways and stairs with viewing platforms lead there.
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The total height of the waterfall is about 30 meters.
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600 meters upstream of the river is the second waterfall Ashe - Shapsug. It is named after the people living in this area.

The Shapsug waterfall consists of four cascades and is higher than Psydakh. Its total height is about 50 meters.

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The lower two-stage cascade is about 20 meters high. The upper cascades of Shapsug are 5, 10 and 8 meters high.
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Here are the main attractions of the Ashe River Valley we visited today, there are of course more interesting places which are worth seeing here, but now it is not the season to visit them. I will just say a few words, but we will certainly return to them, but in the summer.
And so we have to visit:
The Cave of the Witches is a beautiful cave with stalactites, but it is filled with water, so you can visit it only in the summer.
Natural jacuzzi - beyond the waterfalls, up the river, there is a natural jacuzzi on the bank of which there is a Russian bath. Since the bathhouse is open only in the summer, so we will return here a little later.
National Adyghe concerts - opens in the villages in summer more quantity cafes where national concerts with songs and dances are held in the evenings. I advise you to definitely visit this event, it is very beautiful and interesting. By the way, returning again to the tour desk, I want to say that they also ask for an evening trip to pay extra 500 rubles per adult and 250 rubles per child, since the trip includes an evening program with a concert. But in fact, if you go on your own, then you won’t have to pay anything for the concert, it’s all a free show in any aul cafe.
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And finally, a couple of photos of the village and the river
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You can make such an exciting trip while on vacation in the Lazarevsky district.