The geological and geomorphological features and climatic conditions of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic (KCR) are favorable for the development of karst processes. On the territory of the republic, four types of caves have been identified, differing in the composition and age of karst rocks. The formation of caves occurred in the upper hydrostatic zone of the underground hydrosphere. In the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, speleologists and local historians have determined, with varying degrees of detail, the morphometric parameters of about 100 caves, ten of them are included in the list of natural monuments of republican significance. The vertical amplitude of the hydrostatic zone, favorable for the formation of karst, reaches 2 km in the morphostructures of the Peredovoy Ridge and 1 km in the Skalisty Ridge. Objects for priority involvement in the tourism sector are proposed. The use of some of the caves as tourist sites would help preserve their historical value and aesthetic appearance.

hydrostatic zone

groups of karst rocks

natural monuments

1. Ezhov Yu.A., Lysenin G.P., Andreychuk V.N., Dublyansky Yu.V. Karst in the earth's crust: distribution and main types. – Novosibirsk: Ed. Institute of Geology, Geophysics and Mineralogy, 1992. – 76 p.

2. Kipkeeva P.A. Implementation of the foundations and principles of ecological-geographical education of youth and schoolchildren of Karachay-Cherkessia using geographic information systems abstract of thesis. ... candidate of geographical sciences: 25.00.36 / Southern Federal University. Rostov-on-Don, 2013.

3. Kipkeeva P.A., Potapenko Yu.Ya. Main factors for ensuring sustainable tourism in Karachay-Cherkessia // Bulletin of Moscow University. Episode 5: Geography. – 2015. – No. 5. – P. 76–81.

4. Kostin P.A. Karst of the Rocky Range east of the Kuban // North Caucasus: collection, vol. 3. – Stavropol, 1974. – P. 43–50.

5. Lipchenko Yu.S. Karst-speleological zoning of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic // Problems of geology, geoecology and mineralogeny of the south of Russia and the Caucasus: materials of the V International Scientific Conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Professor A.G. Kobileva. – T. 2. Novocherkassk, 2006. [Electr. resource]. – URL: http://abissus.narod.ru/kchr.htm. (access date: 08/20/15).

6. Maksimovich G.A. Fundamentals of karstology. – Perm, 1963. – 440 p.

7. Mikhailov I.V. Caves of Karachay-Cherkessia. – Stavropol-Cherkessk: Stavropolserviceschool, 2003. – 96 p.

8. Potapenko Yu.Ya. Geology of Karachay-Cherkessia. – Karachaevsk: KChGU, 2004. – 150 p.

9. Potapenko Yu.Ya., Kipkeeva P.A. The influence of the structure of river basins on the development of socio-territorial systems (on the example of the Elbrus region). News of the Dagestan State Pedagogical University. Natural and exact sciences. 2016. No. 1 (34). pp. 104-110.

The government has identified the development of domestic and inbound tourism as one of the priority areas of the Russian economy for the coming years. The main goal of the state program “Development of tourism in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic until 2016” is the formation of a modern, efficient, competitive tourism market, providing ample opportunities to meet the needs of Russian and foreign citizens for tourism services, increasing employment and income levels. When identifying tourist sites at the state level, little attention is paid to karst-speleological objects (caves, sinkholes, etc.), while they are distributed almost everywhere on the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic; expeditions of speleologists documented the morphometric indicators of 97 caves.

Caves are natural objects of scientific and socio-economic importance. In the Karachay-Cherkess Republic they are poorly studied in comparison with other regions of Russia and Western Europe. Currently, the caves of the KCR are not suitable for visiting by tourists. Uncontrolled and poaching visits, especially by ignorant people, lead to the irretrievable loss of the scientific and cultural components of these ecologically very vulnerable objects. Using the caves for tourism would help preserve their historical and aesthetic value.

The purpose of the study is to determine the vertical amplitude of the hydrostatic zone favorable for the development of karst in different morphostructures of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic; typification of manifestations of surface and underground karst based on modern geological and geomorphological data; recommendations for the use of individual manifestations of karst, as well as unexploited mine workings as tourist sites.

Materials and research methods

Materials and research methods - publications of domestic and foreign specialists in geology, speleology, karst history, local history and tourism: (N.A. Gvozdetsky, A.Yu. Ezhov, P.A. Kostin, I.V. Mikhailov, etc.), as well as regulations and methodological documents on the topic being studied. During the work, various research methods were used, including: geological-geomorphological, field observations, comparative-descriptive, cartographic; GIS technologies were used to construct the diagram.

Research results and discussion

Relief and geological structure

In orohydrographic terms, the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic belongs to the Greater Caucasus province. It is located entirely on the northern macroslope of this mountain structure. Within its boundaries, several parallel ridges alternate with intermountain depressions separating them. The boundaries and west-northwest extent of these geomorphological units are determined by the geological structure. Only the southernmost one - the Watershed, or Main Caucasian Range - forms a continuous mountain chain. The remaining ridges - Peredovoy, Skalisty and Pastbishchny - are dissected by numerous transverse (submeridional) river valleys into segments ranging from 5 to 35 km in length. Based on the totality of geomorphological and geological characteristics, several morphostructures are distinguished on the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the names of which are similar to the ridges mentioned above (figure). Since karst manifestations are associated primarily with carbonate rocks, let us briefly describe the composition of the morphostructures.

Areas of development of karst rocks in the morphostructures of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic: 1 - boundaries of morphostructures (GC - Main Range, PKh - Forward Range, SUD - North Jurassic Depression, SKh - Skalisty Ridge, PsKh - Pastbishchny Ridge, PG - Predgorny); 2 - Devonian limestones; 3 - Lower Jurassic sandstones; 4 - Upper Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous limestones, separated by a sequence of Lower Cretaceous terrigenous rocks

The morphostructure of the Main Range is composed of crystalline schists and Paleozoic granites. The morphostructure of the Peredovoy Ridge contains Paleozoic volcanogenic-sedimentary strata. West of the river Teberda they contain a thickness of Devonian limestones, the thickness of which increases from east to west from 50 to 300 m. Between the Peredovoy and Skalisty ridges there is a mid-mountain flat-topped North Jurassic depression, represented by terrigenous rocks of the lower and middle sections of the Jurassic system. The morphostructure of the Skalisty Range is composed of Upper Jurassic limestones and dolomites with interlayers of gypsum; the thickness of carbonate rocks averages 200 m. The morphostructure of the Pastbishchny Range is an area of ​​development of rocks of the Cretaceous system. The lower part of the section is represented mainly by sandstones, and the upper part by limestones.

All major rivers of the republic are left tributaries of the Kuban and belong to the Azov basin. From west to east follow: Big Laba (with tributaries Damkhurts, Mamkhurts and Makera), Big Zelenchuk (formed at the confluence of the Arkhyz, Psysh and Kyzgych rivers), Small Zelenchuk (formed at the confluence of the Marukha and Aksaut rivers), Kuban proper with the sources of Uchkulan and Ullu-Khurzuk and large left tributaries Duut and Teberda.

Conditions and forms of manifestation of karst processes

As is known, for the manifestation of karst processes, two main conditions are necessary: ​​an abundance of precipitation and the presence of karst (easily soluble) rocks: limestone, dolomite, gypsum, salt. In the mountainous part of the North Caucasus, a combination of such conditions exists to the west of the meridian of Mount Elbrus. Here, the moisture coefficient varies from 1.0 to 2.0 or more, and the karst rocks are represented by four limestone formations of different ages: Devonian, Triassic (developed only in the Krasnodar Territory), Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous.

Forms of manifestation of karst are usually divided into surface and underground.

Surface forms are expressed mainly on the gentle northern slopes of the cuesta ridges - Skalisty and Pastbishchny. As a rule, these forms are expressed by depressions in the relief of various sizes. On the gentle northern slope of the Rocky Range, mesoforms have been recorded: craters, basins, ponoras, dry valleys; on the steep southern slope, microforms are developed in places: karrs. The frequency of occurrence of these forms is maximum to the west of the Kuban valley, while to the east they are more rare, which is associated with a decrease in climate humidity.

Carrs have been identified in limited areas where carbonate rocks are not covered by slope sediments and soil. Based on this feature, they should be classified as bare karst. It is important to recall that back in the 70s of the XX century. karrs were also recorded in terrigenous rocks, namely in sandstones and Callovian conglomerates lying at the base of the carbonate strata of the Rocky Range: “The karrs here have the form of trays, scoops, jugs 25-30 cm wide and up to 40 cm deep. The length of the horizontal karrs is tens meters". The emergence of karrs in terrigenous rocks was possible due to the presence of carbonate cement in them. The wind could also have participated in the formation of horizontal quarries, but the formation of vertical quarries undoubtedly occurred with the leading role of dissolution processes.

Obviously, the patterns on the surface of one of the horizons of massive sandstones of the Khumarin Formation (lower section of the Jurassic system) have the same origin. These patterns are described in tourist and local history literature as “cellular weathering.” Since sandstones have carbonate cement, it is logical to assume that the main agent in the formation of cells was dissolution.

The underground forms of karst are very diverse - vertical and inclined channels, horizontal channels (galleries), vaulted extensions (halls), wells, “organ pipes”, manholes, rubble, ledges, various labyrinths, underground rivers and lakes, waterfalls. The exits of the channels to the surface are called caves and vaucluses. Caves on the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic are widespread, while vaucluses are rare. Only one vaucluse is generally known on the left slope of the river valley. Duut in the southern part of the Front Range. It is associated with a horizon of marbleized Devonian limestones. The Ak-Suu stream flows out of the Vaucluse; higher up the slope in the limestone there is the entrance to the “Snake” cave.

In the underground hydrosphere, three zones are distinguished, differing in pressure, temperature, hydrochemical and petrophysical parameters (from top to bottom): hydrostatic, transitional and lithostatic.

The upper hydrostatic zone is favorable for the formation of karst. It is dominated by non-pressure waters, which are characterized by downward and lateral flows. In areas where pressure water appears, under certain lithological and tectonic conditions, upward flows along layers or tectonic faults are also possible. All underground karst cavities of the KCR formed in the hydrostatic zone.

In the lower lithostatic zone, extending to depths of 12-15 km, pressure is created by lithostatic load. It is characterized by the upward movement of thermal gas-liquid fluids.

The lithological factor plays an equally important role - the vast majority of karst manifestations are associated with carbonate rocks. The area of ​​the globe occupied by karst rocks exceeds 40 million km2. Thus, karst is not a unique, but a widespread natural phenomenon.

The dimensions of karst cavities are limited by the thickness of the soluble rocks and the depth of the erosional incision of the river network - the position of the erosion base. According to these parameters, the geological and geomorphological structure of the republic is potentially favorable for the formation of large and extended karst cavities - the maximum thickness of Devonian limestones is 300 m, Upper Jurassic limestones 200-250 m, Cretaceous - 100-150 m. The erosional incision of river valleys at the intersection of the Front Range reaches 2000 m (Bol. Laba River), Rocky Ridge - 1000 m. The human factor is also important - the caves must be examined by speleologists. In 1971, an ordinary cave in terms of external parameters was discovered in Abkhazia, called “Snezhnaya”. And only thanks to the dedicated work of several expeditions of speleologists, it was examined and in depth (1370 m) it turned out to be the second in the world.

The territories of active development of karst in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic are represented by large fragments of speleological areas that are part of the speleological province of the Greater Caucasus, the Crimean-Caucasian speleological country. Karst phenomena in the Rocky Ridge zone belong to the Cuesta speleoregion of the Northern Slope. Karst within the Foredovoye Ridge constitutes the main fragment of the Foredovoye Ridge speleological region, which is part of the Axial Zone speleological region.

For the tourism sector, of the entire complex of karst manifestations, caves are of greatest interest.

Typification of KCR caves

There are karst (corrosion), abrasion, erosion, deflation, and suffosion caves. In the Lower Cretaceous sandstones of the North Caucasus, geologists distinguish a “cave” horizon - shallow niches often form in them, the origin of which is associated with the influence of wind.

The caves that are the subject of consideration in this work are of karst origin. Their further division is advisable based on the composition and age of the karst rocks.

Caves in Devonian rocks. Devonian deposits within the Karachay-Cherkess Republic are known in the morphostructure of the Front Range. The following caves have been identified here: Ilyasova, Kozlinaya, Zmeinaya, Staratelskaya, Mramornaya, caves of the Gentu ridge, Zagedan, the upper reaches of the river. Kyafar-Agur (drawing).

Caves in Jurassic rocks. Jurassic deposits are represented by two complexes. The lower complex is predominantly terrigenous strata of Early-Middle Jurassic age, accumulated under humid climate conditions; the upper complex is Callovian and Late Jurassic arid carbonate and evaporite formations.

Caves in Lower Jurassic sandstones: Northern, caves of the river. Khasaut and the right bank of the river. Mara (drawing), Pregradnensky grottoes. The formation process of these caves is not typical karst and requires additional research.

Caves in the Upper Jurassic limestones: the Akhmet-Skala massif (Akhmet-Kaya), the interfluve of the Bolshaya Laba and Urup, the interfluve of Urup and the Bolshoi Zelenchuk, the caves of Nelyubova Balka and the karst sinkholes of the village of Khabez, the caves of the left bank of the Kuban River opposite the village of Vazhnoe, the caves of the interfluve of the Kuban and Kuma ( Sarytyuzsky), Grishkiny caves (drawing).

Caves in chalk rocks. In the Central Caucasus and Karachay-Cherkessia, Cretaceous deposits are clearly divided into two complexes: predominantly terrigenous sandy-clayey (Lower Cretaceous) and carbonate, composed of limestones (Upper Cretaceous).

Caves in the Upper Cretaceous limestones: Khabezskaya, Alimkina, Otdushina, Borodina, Hadzhi-Daut, Vodnaya and Vodnaya vtoraya, Dugur-Dorbun, Zagon (picture).

Caves are natural monuments and tourism sites. On the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, 74 natural monuments of republican significance are registered (Resolution of the Regional Executive Committee No. 708 of December 8, 1978), of which 10 are cave monuments.

"Archaeological" grottoes of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Grottoes with petroglyphs are known in the gorges of Argysh-Dorbunla, Kyzyl-Kol and many other parts of the republic, and although such grottoes are not of interest to speleologists, they are very valuable natural and historical monuments.

Not all caves in the KCR are suitable for attracting a massive flow of tourists. Some of them are in hard-to-reach places, others are difficult to pass. For example, in order to get into the most impressive stalactite halls of the Southern Elephant cave, you need to overcome a very narrow hole in the belly style - the “skinner”.

The involvement of caves in the tourism sector should begin with objects located near roads. These are the Alimkina cave in the river valley. Jaganas and sandstone caves of the river. Mara. Marinsky caves are small, but there are other interesting objects nearby - cellular sandstones and a mineral spring. As a third object of acquaintance with the underground world, we offer not a cave, but an adit of the former Elbrus mine in the Kuban valley. The underground workings of the mine are safe and were used for practical training by students of the Moscow Mining Institute until 1991. One of the authors of the article observed the successful experience of turning mine workings into a popular tourist attraction in South Saxony (Germany). There, in the foothills of the Harz - a low and modest ridge, but glorified by G. Heine and J. Goethe, the Germans unanimously visit a 19th-century adit. A trained guide can tell you no less interestingly about the history and minerals of the Elbrus mine, which is also located in a beautiful gorge on the banks of the fast-flowing Kuban. A visit to this adit is physically simpler, but cognitively it is no less interesting than visiting the caves. For, as the philosopher Xenophon (4th century BC) said, “only thinking reveals the real world.”

In the Caucasus, carbonate rocks, favorable for the development of karst, were deposited in the Devonian period, in the Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous eras. Geomorphological and climatic conditions for karst processes were created in the Pliocene and Quaternary periods.

Of the various types of karst manifestations, caves are of practical interest for the tourism sector. In the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, 10 caves are classified as natural monuments.

Based on the composition and age of karst rocks, we have divided all the underground cavities of the republic into 4 groups: Devonian, Lower Jurassic, Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous. The vertical extent of the hydrostatic zone is maximum (up to 2 km) in the west of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic; to the east it decreases, but in some places (the Eshkakon basin) it increases to 1.5 km. This indicates that not all karst cavities are open.

Currently, the protection of caves is not given due attention; poachers destroy their pristine beauty and mineral decoration; many unique cave formations are in critical sanitary condition.

It is proposed to start involving caves in the sphere of mass tourism with objects located near highways of good and satisfactory quality. The caves and their surroundings require competent environmental management, landscape design, organization of supervised visits and protection.

Bibliographic link

1. Unnamed — the cave is located at the mouth of the Bezymyannaya Balka, approximately 17 km east of the river. Hasaut.
The cave extends into the Pliensbach sandstones and, according to the famous Soviet karst scientist N.A. Gvozdetsky, who was the first to explore this cave 40 years ago, is quite interesting.
The cave begins with a large elliptical niche and has a length of 30 m and a height of 10 m. From the base of the niche there is a stepped ascent. In the left part of the niche there is an entrance to the cave itself, the width of which is 12 m, height 6 m. From the entrance there is an ascent along smoothed slabs into a rounded hall. The diameter of the hall is 10 m, height 7 m.

2. WATER — the cave is located in a small nameless ravine, the stream of which, 15 km from the mouth on the left, flows into the Alikonovka river in the Malokarachaevsky district.

3. DUGUR-DORBUN- the cave is located in the Katykhina gully, the stream of which is the right tributary of the Alikonovka river.
In the upper reaches of the gully, on its right side, 400 m Elkush (Malokarachaevsky district), Valanginian limestones are exposed, in which grottoes and a small cave extend. The length of the cave, which is confined to a crack in the north-eastern direction, is 70 m.

4. RED— a cave on the left side of the Krasnaya gully of the right tributary of the Maly Zelenchuk in the Khabez region. The beam is small in length, carved out by a stream in gypsum, the latter flows either as an open watercourse or goes into an underground channel. The cave is part of a channel through which a stream flows. The channel is opened by a small crater in the right side of the beam.

5. MARBLE- a cave in the marbled limestones of the left side of the Teberda River valley.
The cave is located directly in the Agur quarry. It is confined to the acniclinal fold and was developed along a tectonic fracture in a northwestern direction.
The cave is small, length 35 m, width from 1.5 m to 8 m, height from 1.5 to 10 m. You can approach it from a. Upper Teberda, where the road leading to the quarry runs along the left side of the valley.

6. SHAYTAN-TAMAK(devil's throat, Karach) - the cave is located on the left steep side of the Kuban River, opposite the village of Vazhnoe.

GRISHKIN caves, or the Grishkina Balka caves are located in the beam of the same name, which is the right tributary of the river. Eshkakon..

The North Caucasus is a treasure trove of natural beauty. All regions are excellent for active recreation. The Karachay-Cherkess Republic gives its guests an unforgettable vacation and pleasure.

It is here that you can encounter unique landscapes, ancient temples, climb Elbrus, visit various tourist complexes, and taste national Caucasian cuisine. While exploring the cultural and natural attractions, it is worth appreciating the traditions of the peoples living in this wonderful place.

In the mountain system of the Greater Caucasus, a mountain of unique beauty stands out, this mountain is the double-peaked volcano Elbrus. You can see it on the border of the Karachay-Cherkess and Kabardino-Balkarian republics.

Elbrus attracts thousands of climbers. After their rise to the top, their emotions are difficult to express in words. “The whole earth is in the palm of your hand” - this is how climbers can describe their feelings. Endless snowy expanses, mountain ridges, the brightest sun and blue sky - all this is the peak of Elbrus.

Dzheganskoe gorge, Ust-Dzhegutinsky district

One of the most popular routes in the Ust-Dzhegutinsky region among tourists who prefer active recreation is the exploration of the Dzhegonas Gorge. This place is attractive in spring and summer. The most interesting place in the gorge is the canyon of the Dzhegonas River, with rocky banks and waterfalls. The view of the river bed is striking in its beauty.

On the way to the waterfalls, you need to overcome a steep descent, and then at a bend the river ends abruptly, forming a beautiful waterfall. On hot days it is especially good here, thanks to the freshness and coolness. To explore the next waterfall, you need to go downstream, walking along the river bed. By the increasing sound of the water you can understand how close the waterfall is. The river is surrounded by a wonderful forest, which is also worth a walk.

Here you can meet coniferous and deciduous trees, discover animal tracks, and enjoy the singing of birds. You may also be interested in visiting the Alimkin Cave, located on the left side of the Dzhegonas beam. The cave contains interesting finds, such as ceramics and household items of ancient people.

The unique acidic springs have been known to residents and guests of the republic for many years. You can get to them from the village of Phiya, Urup district, a dirt road leads there.

The journey begins from the Bolshaya Polyana, and from it to the springs. Once you find yourself in this Big Glade, you never cease to admire the amazing beauty of nature, its purity and splendor. Around the clearing there are mountain slopes with pine forests, and a fast-flowing river flows along it, flowers grow.

There is also a lake called Black. The water is warm, you can swim and sunbathe. Then the “Health Path” begins, leading to the springs. A special energy is felt at the springs; people visit this place to improve their health. Next to each source, and there are 18 of them, there is a stone with a name, for example, “Heart”, “Lungs”. All the Narzans merge together and fall off the cliff into the river.

Park of Culture and Recreation "Green Island" in Cherkessk

The city of Cherkessk is the capital and pride of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia. And the pride of Cherkessk is the Green Island cultural and recreation park. It was not given its name by chance, because a huge amount of green space against the backdrop of a large city looks like an island.

Sports and cultural events are held here, and residents and guests of the city can relax here. In the park there are many reservoirs with clean water, and around them there is a thicket of trees and shrubs. The islands are connected by convenient passages in the form of bridges. There are various attractions, cafes, and a very interesting visit to the Lukomorye alley based on the fairy tale by A.S. Pushkin.

Location: Ordzhonikidze street - 2.

Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Cherkessk

When going on various trips, even if the trip is not a pilgrimage, Orthodox believers often want to visit holy places and Christian cathedrals. The current church in the city of Cherkessk is the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is both a holy place for Christians and an architectural decoration of the capital.

The history of the temple is unique, it has existed for 275 years, and during its life it has traveled from the Cossack village of Khopra to the Caucasus. The church is wooden and was often moved from place to place; the Cossacks tried to transport it carefully. Now in the church, clergy preach sermons, conduct services, and bells cast from copper sound. And as long as the temple stands on this land, the people’s path to it will never be overgrown.

Location: Lenin street 156-V.

Monument to fallen soldiers in the Great Patriotic War in Malokarachaevsky district

The Great Patriotic War claimed millions of lives. Soldiers from the village of Krasny Kurgan, located in the Malokarachaevsky district, also went to the front, many of whom never returned home.

In gratitude for their priceless feat, saving lives at the cost of their own, a monument was erected in this village. This is a large composition in the form of a man and a horse, made in full height. The material from which the monument is made is bronze. There are trees and benches around. Every year on Great Victory Day, celebrations are held here and wreaths are laid. You should definitely approach this landmark and pay your respects to the soldiers who defended our lives.

Not far from Karachaevsk there is an ancient Christian temple, which was built in the 10th century right in the mountains. Now it is a historical monument. Many people will want to see it, because the temple on the slopes of the mountains is a real miracle of architecture. The cross-domed church is made in the Byzantine style; its white walls are visible from afar.

The view of the temple is mesmerizing; it seems that it rests on the vault of heaven. Christians believed that it was more convenient to talk to God from the heights of the mountains. And its age of more than a thousand years gives it even greater grandeur. The ancient temple on Mount Shoana holds many mysteries. And in order to solve them, you should go to this beautiful place as quickly as possible.

Sentinsky temple in Nizhnyaya Teberda, Karachay district

One of the ledges on the left bank of the Teberda River is decorated with a Christian temple. The Sentinsky temple has been decorating these picturesque places for more than a thousand years.

Its architecture is striking, it fits well into the surrounding landscape, its forms are impeccable, and the slabs and blocks are carefully adjusted. Despite its age, there are no cracks in the temple. A wonderful view of the Teberda Gorge opens from the temple site in winter; the ridges are covered with snow, which creates an impressive spectacle.

Watchtower Adiyukh Khabez region

In the Adiyukh settlement, located in the Khabez region, there is the Adiyukh tower, built from sandstone blocks in the 18th century. It has five floors and is part of a ruined fortress. The tower had a defensive value and also served as a storage place for food supplies.

The tower has a rectangular cross-section, the truncated pyramid narrows at the top, and its walls thicken. Local residents have a legend about the tower. According to which, there lived a beautiful girl whose hands shone in the sun and were very white, so that they could light the way at night. And then one day, she quarreled with her husband, and on a dark night she did not show him the way, and he died.

The girl grieved about this for a long time, hitting the stones, which soon turned red. Then she married another man, but died tragically without ever entering his house. The unfortunate husband buried her in a rock. Many years later, a woman’s burial was actually discovered in the rock, and next to the tower there is a mound in which her first husband may lie. Now the Adiyukh Tower is a historical monument and the main attraction of the Khabez region.

Recently, excursionists had the opportunity to visit the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which has turned into a popular tourist attraction. And, although first of all, this is a scientific site, you can go on a tour here.

It is located in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz and the village of Zelenchukskaya. There are two types of viewing available for visitors: daytime viewing and nighttime viewing. During the day excursion, they are introduced to the operation of telescopes, their location, and distinctive features. And during night excursions you can watch the stars using one of the most powerful telescopes.

Tourist complex "Honey Falls"

The best vacation is outdoor recreation. The Karachay-Cherkess Republic has excellent natural resources that everyone should definitely appreciate. On the territory of the tourist complex “Honey Falls” in the Malokarachaevsky district of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, everyone can have a great rest. Indescribable sensations and picturesque views await them here.

The holiday is comfortable, because there is everything you need - cottages, cafes, a Russian bathhouse. On the territory of the complex there is an ethnographic museum “Karachaevsky Compound”, which contains unique exhibits from various historical eras.

There is a souvenir shop nearby. The tourist complex offers its guests horseback riding of various themes - from a simple walk to a horseback trek to the foot of Elbrus. Active tours include mountain river rafting, jeep tours and safaris. And at the end of a busy day, it’s worth visiting a Russian wood-fired bathhouse or sauna, this will help you gain strength for new adventures.

Residents of Russia have long known the name “Arkhyz” thanks to the mineral water of the same name. In recent years, the village of Arkhyz, where this mineral water is bottled, has been gaining popularity among outdoor enthusiasts.

People come here to practice water sports, which are held on the Bolshoi Zelenchuk River. Among these activities: rafting, kayaking and rafting, sailing on catamarans. And four years ago a ski resort also opened here. It is located on the slopes of three valleys, has long ski slopes, and excellent lift capacity.

Here in the village of Arkhyz there is an interesting rafting base “Neptune”. It provides recreation accessible to everyone. “Neptune” gives extreme emotions, makes vacation unforgettable, here people can easily relax from the bustle of the city.

While rafting down a mountain river, travelers admire the amazing beauty of protected areas and try Caucasian cuisine. Professional trainers are always present with the group, and all the necessary equipment is given out right here.

Health complex "Pearl of the Caucasus" Prikubansky district

Karachay-Cherkessia is rich in natural water resources. There are large reserves of fresh water, mineral and thermal springs. Therefore, the region attracts many tourists.

The health complex “Pearl of the Caucasus” has been opened in the Prikubansky district. It includes pools with water that has healing properties. The complex also has saunas, Russian baths, and cafes. “Pearl of the Caucasus” is currently developing rapidly; there are additional plans to open a zoo here, which will especially appeal to children. And for those who love fishing, a pond is expected to appear.

Location: Stroiteley Street - 1A, Kavkazsky.

For scientists, the appearance of images of saints in various places, be it churches or natural objects, remains unclear. Believers consider this appearance a miracle. While in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz, it’s worth going to Mount Mitseshta to see such a miracle with your own eyes. About 20 years ago, the Face of Christ was discovered in a small sandstone grotto.

The image resembles the Sinai icon. Dimensions: length - 140 cm, width - 80 cm. Getting to this image is quite difficult, but it's worth it. Moreover, now there is a staircase with railings installed there, and there are also benches. On the way back, you can stop at observation platforms and admire the beauty of the mountains.

GRISHKIN caves, or the Grishkina Balka caves are located in the beam of the same name, which is the right tributary of the river. Eshkakon.

The caves have an unusual morphology of cavities, perhaps so far the only ones of their kind in the North Caucasus. Here, on the right side of the beam, at a height of 15 m from the bottom of the beam, there is a small terrace composed of limestone tuffs (travertines), above it there is an outcrop of heavily karstified dolomites and dolomitized limestones. A spring with a flow rate of up to 25 l/sec is confined to the lower part of the outcrop. The spring water is hydrocarbonate-sulfate calcium-magnetic with a mineralization of 0.5 g/l.

Higher up on the limestones lie Tithonian gypsum, heavily karstified, with numerous sinkholes. The waters of the spring are clearly fed by these funnels, which determines the sulfate content in them. The stream, fed by the waters of this spring, repeatedly changed its course along the slope, thus depositing groups of tuffs.

Subsequently, perhaps with a decrease in the base of erosion, water began to seep deep into the terrace into the underlying layer of limestone, reaching the crack of the slope, the water began to accumulate in it. With a particularly increased flow of water and filling of the cavities, the latter began to look for a way out into the valley of the beam, eroding the front wall of the widened crack and thus making numerous holes and windows. The most eroded holes represent modern entrances to the caves.

The section of the outcrop where the caves are located has a length of up to 100 m. 7 of the most bizarrely shaped caves have been mined here, which extend along the repulse crack in a south-eastern direction.

First , The easternmost cavity has 2 entrances and a length of 18 m. Two halls up to 4 m high are connected by a four-meter low (0.7 m) manhole. three organ pipes extending to the surface.

Second cave (10 m west of the first) opens with a bizarrely shaped entrance (2.5 x 3 m) and vent windows. Behind it stretches a cavity 42 m long, where there are 3 halls 22.7 and 9 m long, up to 8 m wide, 2.5 to 5 m high, connected by two-meter manholes.

Third cave opens with an extensive arch up to 14 m wide, up to 8 m high, with a recess up to 2.5 m, from which you can pass through the opening (7.3 x 2.5 m) into a cavity 20 m long, 8 m wide, 1.5– high 7 m. There is a narrow hole from the third cave to the second.

Fourth cave has 2 entrances, between which an vent opens (up to 0.7 m). From all these holes stretch passages up to 6 m long, which lead to a hall 14 m long, 2.5-4 m wide, and up to 6 m high.

Fifth Cave located nearby, it also has two entrances, one of them is blocked with stone, the dimensions of the second are 1.7 x 2 m. Behind the entrance there is a cavity consisting of two halls connected by a hole (1.7 x 2 m). The dimensions of the halls are 5x3x4 and 16x4x6 meters. In the last room you can see organ pipes and vents.

Sixth cave small, represented by one cavity 10 m long, 5 m wide, from which there is a hole into a small chamber (3 x 3 m). The entrance is an arch with a cross-section of 4x4 m.

Seventh, The westernmost cave is damp and dirty, it periodically fills with water, as evidenced by sediment - sand and gravel. The length of the cave is 14 m. There are many sinter formations in the caves and therefore they are also known as Stalactite.

Stalactite cave

Few local residents know that in the far outskirts of Kislovodsk there is a Stalactite Cave. It is a rather large, oblong-shaped hall, with several narrow branches. Somewhere in the dark, mysterious depths you can hear the dull noise of an underground waterfall or river.

The branches in the cave are impassable, so it is unknown where they lead and what their extent is. It is possible that the passages, which have not yet been explored by anyone, are connected to other underground grottoes and halls.

The walls of the cave and the ceiling are covered with bizarre deposits of stalactites. The cave is immersed in eternal darkness, although light penetrates into a fairly large entrance, in front of which a small waterfall incessantly roars.

At the confluence of the Stalaktitka River, which flows along the ravine, into Eshkakon, it is the source of Narzan.

The path to the Stalactite Cave passes along the Alikonovka gorge, past the Castle rock and, from which you should go to the upper reaches of the river. The next day, having risen from the sources of Alikonovka on the plateau, you need to continue the journey west, to the Grishkina beam, which juts deep into the Bermamyt plateau. It cannot be avoided if you stick to the given direction.

When descending into Grishkina Balka, you should carefully look at the right slope so as not to pass by the cave. The entrance to it is visible only from close up, but the waterfall in front of the cave is noticeable from afar.

Caves in different regions of Karachay-Cherkessia

Unnamed- the cave is located at the mouth of the Bezymyannaya Balka, approximately 17 km east of the a. Hasaut. The cave extends in the Pliensbachian sandstones and, according to the famous Soviet karst scientist N.A. Gvozdetsky, who was the first to explore this cave 40 years ago, is quite interesting.

The cave begins with a large elliptical niche and has a length of 30 m and a height of 10 m. From the base of the niche there is a stepped ascent. In the left part of the niche there is an entrance to the cave itself, the width of which is 12 m, height 6 m. From the entrance there is an ascent along smoothed slabs into a rounded hall. The diameter of the hall is 10 m, height 7 m. The rise of the floor continues almost to the very rear wall, where it turns into a flat horizontal platform 2-3 m wide. The rounded hall is bordered at a height by a cornice made of micro-conglomerate, under which there is a semi-circular niche with smoothed walls and a narrow passage. Under the cornice there is a niche that goes into the vault of the hall.

In the valley of the Khasaut River there are many small caves, for example, a cave excavated in Pliensbachian sandstones along an inclined crack with a northeastern strike. The floor and ceiling rise steeply. The length of the cave is 10-11 m. Another cave is up to 20 m long. The maximum width is 7 m. The greatest height is 6-7 m. The entrance is wide, up to 4.5 m. Its height is 3 m. The long axis of the cave is oriented to the north-west . The floor is flat, inclined towards the entrance. Higher up, along the Khasauta valley, there are small caves and grottoes in the Oxford-Kimerydt limestones. Limestones form a structural terrace here, standing out as an edge. Thickness of limestones in area a. Hasaut about 200 m.

WATER- the cave is located in a small nameless ravine, the stream of which, 15 km from the mouth on the left, flows into the Alikonovka river in the Malokarachaevsky district. In the mouth part of the left side of the ravine, Valanginian limestones are exposed, in which two small caves and grottoes have been mined.

The Vodnaya Cave has 2 entrances measuring 3x2 m and 3x6 m. The first entrance is open, the second is half blocked with stone. The entrance leads to a vast round cavity with a diameter of up to 12 m, a height of up to 2.5 m. From the rear wall, along cracks 0° and 30°, narrow and low passages with a length of 8 and 15 m stretch. The right passage is limited by the plane of the crack, along which the drop is marked. The floor is smooth and covered with loose deposits. In the center of the cave, the pipe of the water conduit passing here is walled up from ceiling to floor. The cave is dry, temperature 10°, relative humidity 96%.

Water second- the cave is located up the ravine, 300 m from the Vodnaya cave. The cave has an interesting structure. The cavities here are located on three floors. In the upper part of the outcrop, 2 small inaccessible niches open, below them a larger niche up to 3 m high, 4 m wide, and under it a cave. The cave was excavated along a crack in the north-west direction, the width of the entrance is up to 6 m, the height is 2.5 m, the recess is 11 m. The floor is flat, inclined towards the entrance. The cave is dry, ending in a narrow gaping crack that can be traced to the top of the outcrop.

GRISHKI CAVES, or the caves of Grishkina Balka, are located in the beam of the same name, which is the right tributary of the Eshkakon River. The caves have an unusual morphology of cavities, perhaps so far the only ones of their kind in the North Caucasus. Here, on the right side of the beam, at a height of 15 m from the bottom of the beam, there is a small terrace composed of limestone tuffs (travertines), above it there is an outcrop of heavily karstified dolomites and dolomitized limestones. A spring with a flow rate of up to 25 l/sec is confined to the lower part of the outcrop. The spring water is hydrocarbonate-sulfate calcium-magnetic with a mineralization of 0.5 g/l.

Higher up on the limestones lie Tithonian gypsum. heavily karstified, with numerous sinkholes. The waters of the spring are clearly fed by these funnels, which determines the sulfate content in them. The stream, fed by the waters of this spring, repeatedly changed its course along the slope, thus depositing groups of tuffs. Subsequently, perhaps with a decrease in the base of erosion, water began to seep deep into the terrace into the underlying layer of limestone, reaching the crack of the slope, the water began to accumulate in it. With a particularly increased flow of water and filling of the cavities, the latter began to look for a way out into the valley of the beam, eroding the front wall of the widened crack and thus making numerous holes and windows. The most eroded holes represent modern entrances to the caves. The section of the outcrop where the caves are located has a length of up to 100 m. 7 of the most bizarrely shaped caves have been mined here, which extend along the repulse crack in a south-eastern direction.

First, the easternmost cavity has 2 entrances and a length of 18 m, two halls up to 4 m high, connected by a four-meter low (0.7 m) manhole. three organ pipes extending to the surface.

Second cave(10 m west of the first) opens with a bizarrely shaped entrance (2.5 x 3 m) and vent windows. Behind it stretches a cavity 42 m long, where there are 3 halls 22.7 and 9 m long, up to 8 m wide, 2.5 to 5 m high, connected by two-meter manholes.

Third cave opens with an extensive arch up to 14 m wide, up to 8 m high, with a recess up to 2.5 m. From it, through the opening (7.3 x 2.5 m), you can go into a cavity 20 m long, 8 m wide, 1.5-7 m high There is a narrow passage from the third cave to the second.

Fourth cave has 2 entrances, between which an vent opens (up to 0.7 m). From all these holes stretch passages up to 6 m long, which lead to a hall 14 m long, 2.5-4 m wide and up to 6 m high.

Fifth Cave located nearby, it also has two entrances, one of them is blocked with stone, the dimensions of the second are 1.7 x 2 m. Behind the entrance there is a cavity consisting of two halls connected by a hole (1.7 x 2 m). The dimensions of the halls are 5x3x4 and 16x4x6 meters. In the last room you can see organ pipes and vents.

Sixth cave small, represented by one cavity 10 m long, 5 m wide. There is a hole from it into a small chamber (3x3 m). The entrance is an arch, with a cross-section of 4x4 m.

Seventh, the westernmost cave is damp and dirty, it periodically fills with water, as evidenced by sediment - sand and gravel. The length of the cave is 14 m. There are many sinter formations in the caves and therefore they are also known as Stalactite.

The Grishkina Balka caves have long been known to local residents. The nearest settlement is the village. Uchkeken.

DUGUR-DORBUN- the cave is located in the Katykhina gully, the stream of which is the right tributary of the Alikonovka river. In the upper reaches of the ravine, on its right side, 400 m from the school. Elkush (Malokarachaevsky district) Valanginian limestones are exposed. in which there are grottoes and a small cave. The length of the cave, which is confined to a crack in the north-eastern direction, is 70 m.

The entrance has a height of 3 m, a width of up to 3 m. A cavity stretches from the entrance 20 m long, up to 3 m wide, up to 1.7 m high. Then the height drops sharply, passage is only possible by crawling. At 35 m from the entrance there is a small hall up to 5 m long, up to 3 m wide, up to 5 m high. A crack is visible in the vault. There was a pile of blocks on the floor. At the end, the cave drops to 25 cm, passage is difficult, the air is stale with an unpleasant odor. Translated from Karachay, the name means “uneven cave”.

PADDLE- a cave in the upper reaches of the small Mokraya (or Zamkovaya) gully, which is the right tributary of the Alikonovka river. The length of the gully is about 4 km, and in its steep, steep slopes, composed of Valanginian limestones, numerous grottoes and a small cave, conventionally called “Paddock,” can be traced. The entrance to the cave, up to 6 m wide and up to 3 m high, is blocked by local shepherds with a fence. Behind it is a grotto 7 m long, up to 8 m wide, up to 3 m high. The floor is flat. The ceilings and walls are stable. The cave is used as a cattle pen. In the back wall, along a crack, you can see a passage, which is blocked from the side of the grotto, apparently to prevent sheep from going there.

BY THE WAY. The authorship of the terms (1655) “stalactite” and “stalagmite” (from the Greek “stalagma” - drop) belongs to the Danish scientist Olau Vorm. Drops of water are a solution containing various components, and the chemical processes that occur lead to the precipitation of microscopic particles of calcium carbonate. Thousands of drops falling from the ceiling of the underground cavity leave behind a thin, translucent ring of calcite, which will slowly grow, turning into an elongating tube, falling from the roof, a drop of solution breaks into one cavity, where the deposited calcite gives rise to a single stalagmite, slowly growing, it will strive upward, and, connecting with the stalactite, turns into an underground column - a stalagnate.

SNAKE- a karst cave in the upper reaches of the Ak-Suu stream, which flows from the left into the Duut River about 4 km north of the ancient village of Duut (the village is currently abandoned). The Ak-Suu stream flows from the Vaucluse of the same name. above which, in an outcrop of marbled limestone, is the entrance to the cave. The diameter of the rounded entrance opening is 2.5 m. The cave extends in the south-west direction along a vertical gap carved out by a water flow, and is a chain of small halls connected by narrow wells. The cavity has separate sections where wells to a depth of more than 10 m are overcome “expanded”, and in others it is necessary to attach special equipment. Almost all the walls and vaults of the cave are covered with secondary calcite, there are many interesting sinter formations and accumulations of “moon milk”

The cave was first explored by a group of amateur speleologists from the RTI plant from Cherkessk (expedition leader A.I. Gofshtein) in 1972, when the cave was explored 500 meters. The name of the cave was given because of the abundance of snakes near the entrance.

ILYASOVA- a cave on the left bank of the Chilik River in the Yagodkina Rock area. The entrance to the cave is located at an absolute height of 1765 m in a limestone rock outcrop. The total length of the cave is 45 meters. The entrance is a horizontal slot up to 25 meters long and up to 5 meters high. The cave contains small sinter formations (stalactites up to 10 cm). There are drops in the depths. There is a small carr lake. The bottom of the main hall is covered with a pile of boulders (size of individual boulders: 5x7x3 m), the height of the vault is up to 10 m. Small branches of the main hall end in dead ends, their length is no more than 7 m. The cave is named after the person who allegedly hid in it. This same cave is sometimes called Yagodkina, after the name of the surrounding rock.

GOAT- a cave in the marbled limestones of the right side of the Teberda River valley. The entrance to the cave has a western exposure and is located directly above a quarry for the extraction of gray marbled limestone near the northern outskirts of the resort town of Teberda. The cave is a single cavity up to 3 meters long with a vault height of 1.5 to 7 m. The name of the cave is associated with a legend. They say that the goat that fell into this cave came out of the ground in the Dauta gorge.

RED- a cave on the left side of the Krasnaya gully of the right tributary of the Maly Zelenchuk in the Khabez region. The beam is small in length, carved out by a stream in gypsum, the latter flows either as an open watercourse or goes into an underground channel. The cave is part of a channel through which a stream flows. The channel is opened by a small crater in the right side of the beam. A crack can be traced in its walls, oriented along the slope at an azimuth of 270°. Below, among the boulders, there is an entrance 2 m wide, up to 1 m high. Through it you can go down into a cavity 6 m long, 4 m wide, up to 2.4 m high. The floor is inclined towards the mouth and is littered with boulders. Through an opening in the steppe, a corridor-canal of a stream can be traced, about 30 m long, up to 7 m wide, up to 3 m high. The morphology of the cave shows how difficult it was for the stream to produce cavities, more extensive halls are confined to areas of gypsum lenses, narrow and low channels correspond to lintels from clays between lenses that are poorly susceptible to corrosion and leaching. The cave is damp and dirty, the walls and ceiling are covered with reddish clay, and the levels of the flow during floods are visible. The water in the stream flowing through the cave is sulfate calcium-magnesium, mineralization 0.6 g/l. The name of the cave is due to the color of the clay in this area

MARBLE- a cave in the marbled limestones of the left side of the Teberda River valley. The cave is located directly in the Agur quarry. It is confined to the acniclinal fold and was developed along a tectonic fracture in a northwestern direction. The cave is small, length 35 m, width from 1.5 m to 8 m, height from 1.5 to 10 m. You can approach it from a. Upper Teberda, where the road leading to the quarry runs along the left side of the valley. Marbled Devonian limestones along the Agur and Gidam rivers (tributaries of the Teberda River) are mined for ornamental stone and marble chips. Limestones in this area are quite widely developed along the right and left sides of the Teberda River and its tributaries, where their horizon thickness reaches 10 m and there is no doubt that new caves will be found here.

BY THE WAY. On the right bank of Maly Zelenchuk, karst phenomena can be traced in Tithonian limestones and gypsum. On the slopes of the massif, the gypsum is cut through by shallow beams with gently overgrown sides. Somewhat lower, at the border of the Tithonian and Kimernjian rocks, the beams sharply change their profile, becoming deeply incised, with steep sides, up to 100 m high, exposing a layered layer of limestone and sandstone. Streams flowing along such gullies have closed karst channels in the upper reaches, in places there are gaps formed above them, and the streams in this case flow in open watercourses in cramped miniature canals. The wandering position of the streams is characteristic: sometimes they flow through the middle of the beam, sometimes they are pressed against its side. Often there are small funnels in the sides of the beams. revealing an underground channel. However, all these channels are poorly developed, mostly low, impassable. At the places where the stream passes into and testpyaki of the Kimernj, high ledges are formed, and the streams gently form waterfalls, and then flow in open watercourses in a canyon-like beam until they merge with the Maly Zelenchuk River.

IMPASSABLE- the cave extends in the sandstones on the left side of the Khasaut River gorge, above the mouth of the Sullukol River. An inclined crack leads to the entrance, having a strike azimuth of 15-18° and falling to the east at an angle of 50-60°. This crack leads to a niche up to 6 m high, 5 m wide, and up to 4 m deep. From the niche there is a narrow hole that cannot be passed far. The length of the entire cave is 21 m. The cave was described by local historian P. N. Nikitin in 1953.

EAGLE- a cave in the spurs of rocks higher up in the Kluz in the area of ​​the pass, which locals call Ilyasov, along the gorge of the Kyafar-Agur River. The entrance is located at an absolute altitude of 2352 m, next to the Turya cave. Extends in marbleized Devonian limestones. The width of the entrance is 7 m. The height is 1.5 m. The cave consists of three tiers.

• 1st tier: length - 3 m, height - 4 m. On the floor of the tier a stream flows from under the rubble
• 2nd tier: length - 10 m, height - 1.5 m. In the vault there are two wells connecting the first and third tiers of the cave
• 3rd tier: length - 25 m, maximum height up to 5 m. At a distance of 2 m from the entrance there are two wells up to three meters deep, diameter up to 2 m. The wells connect the second and third tiers on the left; the entrance and two passages are meanders, which cracks open onto the day surface. The length of the hall of the third tier is 7 m, the height is up to 4 m. The next hall of the tier is 9 m long, with a height of 4 m, a stream passes through. There are deposits of marbled limestone fragments on the floor. The name of the cave was given in 1976 by an expedition of the Natural Geography Faculty of the Stavropol State Pedagogical Institute and is associated with an eagle’s nest near the entrance.

NORTH- a cave on the right bank of the Kuban River near the village of Chapaevskoye. The cave extends 25 m in Jurassic sandstones. It is the northernmost cave on the map of the republic, which determined its name.

STRAW- the cave is located in the Khabez region at the headwaters of the Kaybuk gully stream (the right tributary of the Maly Zelenchuk River); on its right side, almost at the very bed. The slopes of the ravine are low, covered with turf, and the bottom is swampy. The slopes are made of gypsum. The latter are exposed on the right side, where from a distance one can see a huge grotto up to 12 m wide, up to 8 m high, deepened by 5 m. In the rear wall there is a wide hole - 5.2 m, 1.5 m high, leading to a large hall. The length of the hall is 32 m, width 15 m, height up to 15 m. The cave was excavated along a crack in the north-western direction. From the hall through a small hole (3 x I m) you can enter the next cavity 17 m long, 7.5 m wide, up to 1.5 m high. From the first hall, from under a pile of boulders, a stream flows out, which flows into the second cavity and goes into the well.

The morphology of the caves in this area, confined to gypsum, has sharp differences from the caves in the western regions of the republic. There, gypsum forms mossy horizons that are more homogeneous in composition, and the cavities are of considerable size. Here the gypsum is represented by lenses of small length and power, so even small caves have bulges and constrictions. The chemical composition of the water circulating in the Tithonian aquifer is also unusual. Instead of sulfate-calcium, we see hydrocarbonate, calcium-magnesium, where the sulfate ion (inherent in these waters). is present in small quantities. This indicates the flow of groundwater from the Valanginian horizon into the Tithonian aquifer.

The name of the cave was given by geologists (headed by Ogorodnikova V.I.), who documented this cavity in 1971.

MINING- a cave in the compressed limestones of the Uzhum first ridge. The entrance to the cave is located in the upper reaches of the Podornennaya beam system. The nearest settlement is the village of Nizhny Arkhyz. In 1933 - 1938, gold mining was carried out in a primitive but effective manner in the gorge of the Undermined Beam. The prospectors, of course, knew about the caves in the ravine and its tributaries, but they were not interested in them. And only a few years ago, the cave in the Polorvannaya ravine began to be explored by amateur speleologists from the special astrophysical observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and they gave the cave the name “Prospector”

The cave has a total length of about 600 m and extends in three tiers with different directions. The cave is flooded, and in each tier there are small lakes that are connected to each other in a single chain, but the studies have not revealed where the water from them comes to the surface. Almost all forms of cave deposits and formations are found in the cave. The cave now continues to be explored; recently, speleologists from Stavropol State University were able to go through a previously unknown 42-meter well and found a continuation of the cave.

TESHIK- the cave is located in the left wing of the Shidzhatmaz gully. the stream of which is a left tributary of the Khasaut River. The cave extends into Jurassic sandstone deposits. The entrance corridor of the cave is 8 m long, 5 m wide, 3 m high and leads to the Great Hall of the cave. The length of the hall is 30 m, width 7 m, height 6 m. At the end of the hall there is a small niche, which ends the cave. The entrance to the cavity resembles a large hole, which explains the name of the cave, which means “hole” in Karachay.

TURYA- a cave in the spurs of rocks above the Vaucluse in the area of ​​the pass, which the inhabitants call Ilyasov, along the gorge of the Kefar-Agur river. The entrance is located at an altitude of 2362 m above sea level, next to the Eagle Cave. The cave extends into marbled Devonian limestones. The width of the entrance is up to 4 m, the height is 4 m. There is a glacier 30 m from the entrance. The length of the glacier is 10 m, with a width of up to 4 m. At 32 m from the entrance to the left there is a branch with a high but very narrow hall. There are ice deposits on the walls. There is a well in the vault (height - 8 m). The length of the traversed section of the cave is 50 m. Further progress through the cave in the summer of 1976 was hampered by ice jams. The name of the cavity was given in 1976 by speleologists of the Stavropol State Pedagogical Institute in connection with the presence of aurochs in the area of ​​the cave.

KHABEZ- the cave is located on the left side of the Belaya gully (a tributary of the Maly Zelenchuk River) 2 km northwest of the village of Khabez. The cave is confined to a tectonic fissure in the Upper Cretaceous limestones. The length of this cave-crack, accessible for passage, is 45 m, width from 0.4 m to 1.5 m, height 7.5 m. The air temperature in the cave is 5 ° C, humidity 75%, CO content - 0. 5%. The entrance is difficult to access, located in a steep rock at a height of 7-8 m from the foot.

HAJI-DAUT- a cave in the upper reaches of the Belaya River, the left tributary of the Podkumok River. The entrance to the cave is located in the ledge of the Darya ridge and is confined to a small fault in the Upper Cretaceous limestones. The fault is directed to the northwest and is accompanied by a narrow zone of crushing, where narrow cave cavities have been mined. The length of the cave is up to 20 m. The width of the mouth is 2.5 m, deep into the cavity the cavity narrows to 40 cm and stretches another 20 m. The height of the cavity is about 20 m. In the western part there is a well up to 7 m deep, along which you can go down to the lower floor and walk another 14 m along a narrow, low passage. The cave has long been known to local residents and was named after one of them. The nearest settlement is the village. Pervomayskoe.

HAIMASHI- karst sinkholes 2 km west of the southern outskirts of the village of Khabez. Four failures are located on an area of ​​about 2 hectares on the slope of the massif, which is the watershed of the Bolshaya and Maly Zelenchuk rivers. The sinkholes appear to be collapsed or subsided underground cavities excavated in Jurassic sandstones.

• Failure 1. cone-shaped, slope angle 35°, depth 6 m, diameter 35 m, covered with bushes
• The failure 2. is cone-shaped, diameter up to 70 m, depth 25 m, slope angle 40°. The most interesting and impressive failure. In the northern part of the cavity, the rocks that make up the massif are exposed, and the part of the arch that has not collapsed forms a large grotto. According to local residents, the sinkhole formed about 60 years ago.
• The failure 3. is cone-shaped, the slopes are quite gentle, the depth in the center is up to 20 m, the diameter is 65 m.
• Sinkhole 4: cone-shaped, depth 3 m, diameter 9 m, slope angle 80°. The name of the sinkholes is translated from Circassian as “latrine” and is explained by the past hostility of the local population towards this part of the territory. Karst sinkholes in the Khabez area were first described in scientific literature by R. A. Buraev in 1954.

BY THE WAY. Karst phenomena have a connection with seismology, for example, any small earthquake can cause the roof of an underground cavity to collapse. At the moment of a collapse, blocks of rock weighing a thousand or more tons, when fired from a height of 10 m, release enormous energy comparable to a multi-magnitude earthquake. And only due to the small volume of rocks involved, such an earthquake will be felt in a small area. Perhaps something similar happened to the west of the village of Khabez at the beginning of the last century, when an earthquake was registered in Karachay-Cherkessia, and local residents were awakened by tremors and a rumble coming from a place that later became known as “khanmashm”. On the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia, earthquakes began to be recorded at the end of the 18th century, precisely from the time when, after a “shaking” on the Kavminvolskaya Mount Mashuk, the famous Proval was formed. Experts classify the territory of the republic as the so-called Cherkess-Teberda seismic region, where the activity of underground forces is moderate, and the strength of earthquakes can reach up to 7 points. In the past century, the most powerful tremors were noted in the republic in 1904, 1905, 1907, 1918, 1925, 1954, 1963... these tremors always frightened residents and harmed their households.

SHAYTAN-TAMAK(devil's throat, Karach.) - the cave is located on the left steep side of the Kuban River, opposite the village of Vazhnoe. The cave was excavated in the upper layer of heterogeneous Jurassic limestone along a crack in the north-eastern (up to 70°) and north-western (up to 320°) directions. The side passages of the cave are confined to cracks in a sublatitudinal direction. The cave opens in the cliff with a small hole measuring 1.9x1.7 m. Near the entrance there are several niches covered with mumiyo plaque. Behind the entrance there is a grotto up to 5 m long, 4 m wide, in its right corner there is a hole with a cross-section of 0.6 x 0.5 m. Behind which stretches a tight hole - a “skinner” up to 9 m long, and then a low corridor ( height up to 0.7 m), leading to the Visitation Hall. The length of this hall is 8 m, width 6 m, height 1.5-3 m. In the front wall of the hall you can see a narrow and low hole (0.7 x 0.6). Behind it is a small ledge; you need to go down and crawl along the Low Gallery again.

The cave as a whole is represented by a low (0.7-0.8 m) but rather wide (3-4 m) corridor. In dense dolomites, the passages are narrower, limited by the plane of cracks; in places where limestones contain calcite, oddly shaped halls with siliceous laces, spongy surfaces, cauldrons and niches developed by waters are noted. The floor is flat, covered with small sharp-angled fragments of limestone and a large amount of dust. Rare expansions are observed - halls up to 3 m high. For a cave, manholes are quite common - labyrinths closed in rings.

From the Meeting Hall, two passages lead to the south and end: one with Vasya’s Grotto, and the other with the Archaeological Hall, to the north there is a small passage leading to the Grotto of Nightmares, and the main gallery of the cave, bending its knee, goes to the Crystal Hall. The total length of the cave is about 1800 meters. The cavity ends with very narrow slits that have not yet been passed through. At the western end of the cave, small stalactites appear on the vaults, and the floor becomes wet.

The cave was found in 1957 by young tourists and schoolchildren from the city of Cherkessk and still remains a popular extreme underground cavity, through the narrow labyrinths of which many generations of young speleologists of Karachay-Cherkessia were “baptized”.

SHAITAN SMALL (or Little Shaitan)- the cave is located on the left rocky side of the Kuban River, opposite the village of Vazhnoe. The entrance and cave are located 350 m north of the entrance and the Shaitan-Tamak cave and are confined to a fissure and lower layers of heterogeneous Jurassic limestone. The cave is small and consists of two chawls, the total length is about 50 m. About 20 years ago, a huge colony of bats lived in the cave. The floor of the cave is covered with a thick layer of guano - bat droppings, which is widely known as a valuable fertilizer. Guano contains up to 30% phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium compounds. In many countries of the world, guano mining is widely carried out for agricultural use and subsidiary plots. Bats belong to the order Chiroptera, one of the most numerous among mammals in terms of the number of species. Karachay-Cherkessia is inhabited by the small and giant noctule, two-colored bat, small and large horseshoe bat, dwarf pipistrelle bat, and pointed-eared bat.

Bats are useful to humans, they are big fans of mosquitoes, and in the south of Russia they destroy representatives of 15 of 32 known orders of harmful nocturnal insects: moths, silkworms, leaf rollers and others, replacing dangerous pesticides. The populations of bats in the caves of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, including in Maly Shaitan, have now sharply decreased, the animal is included in the Red Book, and we must remember that, of course, both sides benefit from the union of man and this flying animal.