APSHERONSKY AREA

Apsheronsk and Apsheronsky Area are located in the southern part of Krasnodar Region at the height of 196 meters above sea level, within 109 km from Krasnodar.

There are the wildlife preserves of "Kamyshanova Poliana" and "Chernogorie" located in the territory of the region. The virgin forests with an abundance of fruit trees, berries, a variety of mushrooms, herbs, forests make the most valuable natural depository.

In the submontane part of the area there are many protected natural territories: the subalpine plateau of Lago-Naki, an inimitable by its beauty Guamskoe gorge with a canyon of the river and the karst caves of Azish, passing along the bottom of the gorge narrow-gauge road, — a sort of an underground empire at the depth of 37 m with a fantastic heap of stalactites, stalagmites and stalagnates, Volchy Vorota (the Wolf Gate), Samurskoe Lake, etc. All this attracts here not only the Russian, but the foreign tourists too.

1. GUAMSKOE GORGE

Duration — 3 hours, available all-the-year-round.

Guamskoe Gorge is located in the territory of Apsheronsky Area, in the northern part of Lago-Nakskogoe upland. It is a unique natural sanctuary.

The gorge is located in a picturesque mountain area of the Caucasian Biospheric reserve, between the settlements of Mezmai and Guamka. The natural landscape of the gorge is surprisingly beautiful and is similar to the landscapes of Switzerland. According to the version of scientists, the gorge was formed millions of years ago, and until now, the nature preserved here was saved in a primordial condition. The extent of the gorge is 3 km; the depth is about 400 m, in some spots the gorge is narrowed up to 2 m.

2. BOLSHAYA AZISHSKAYA CAVE

The cave is located in the southern part of Azish-Tau ridge at the height of about 1,600 meters. It consists of several large halls and a ground floor with a river, flowing along the bottom of it. The total length of the cave — 690 m, depth — 37 m, the area — 1,900 square m, volume — 11,900 cubic m. There are many different dripstones in it: columns, large (up to several meters) stalactites, and stalagmites.

3. SOBOR-SKALA ROCK

The Sobor-Skala rock is located in one of the most remote and hard-to-reach places of the region, in the headwaters of Pshekha river of Apsheronsky Area. It is a grandiose rocky cliff, the top of which reaches the height of 1,205 m above sea level. Its length makes 1.5 km, the height of the southern walls reaches 300-350 m, width — 150-200 m. Because of the pointed into the sky vertical lines and original forms, it is quite similar to a medieval Gothic cathedral.