Ahulgo is Mountain peak located in Russian Federation, in Dagestan. The summit is surrounded by a ring of other mountains. In its northern part, above Sulak, there is Mount Salatau, in the eastern part - the Gimrinsky ridge, in the western part - the Andean ridge, in the southwestern part - the Betlinskie mountains.
The name "Akhulgo" in translation from the Avar language means "Mountain of call".
The northern foot of the Akhulgo is skirted by the Andian Koisu river from 3 sides, thus, it forms a peninsula, which is divided by the Ashilta River into two parts.
Once the mountain served as a fortified residence of Shamil. In 1817-1864, during the Caucasian War, the highlanders under the command of Shamil withstood the siege of the Russian troops led by General Grabbe. This siege lasted from 13.07. on 08/22/1839. On August 22, the Russians nevertheless took Akhulgo, despite the fact that separate battles continued for another 7 days.
Mount Dzhalgan
Dzhalgan is a mountain peak of the Sabanovo-Dzhalgan ridge system. It is located in Russia, in Dagestan and has a height of 708.2 meters.
It is located at the junction of the Primorskaya Lowland and the Foothill Dagestan, near the foot of the summit is the city of Derbent.
This is the eroded wing of the Dzhalgan-Kemakh anticlinal fold. The mountain is composed of slates, clays and marls.
Along the slope, you can trace a sharp transition from the landscapes of the semi-desert Primorsky Dagestan to a low-growing forest and thickets of shiblyak. This is due to the fact that the amount of precipitation rises sharply from the foot to the top.
Maple, oak, hornbeam, ash, hawthorn, dogwood, quince and other vegetation grow on this territory.
There are settlements on the slopes: Mitagi-Kazmalyar, Dzhalgan and Mitagi. The sights of the mountain include: the sanctuary with the grave of the first Catholicos, "Petrovskaya Roshcha", the stalactite cave of the "Holy Breasts" and the holy spring "Urus-Bulakh", from which Peter I drank.
Mount Achigsyrt
Achigsyrt is a mountain peak belonging to the advanced Sabanovo-Dzhalgan ridge of the Greater Caucasus. It is located in the Russian Federation, in the Republic of Dagestan. Its height is 585 meters above sea level.
The mountain has extremely steep slopes. The name "Achigsyrt" is translated from the Azerbaijani language as "not overgrown, open ridge".
It is located at the junction of the Primorskaya Lowland and Piedmont Dagestan, south of the village of Sabnovy and west of the city of Derbent. To the south of the summit is Mount Dzhalgan, in the southern part of the slope, above Derbent, is the citadel "Naryn-Kala".
Dagestan in translation means "country of mountains". In order to visualize the scale of the region and its tourism opportunities, it should be said that the northern slopes of the Central and partly Eastern Caucasus mountains, occupying the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia and Chechnya and Ingushetia, equal in area to mountainous Dagestan.
Up to 30 peaks of Dagestan exceed 4000 m, and its highest point, Bazarduzu, reaches a height of 4466 m. About two dozen mountain peaks are close to 4000 m.
Atlybuyunsky pass, Makhachkala on the right 
The orography of Dagestan is peculiar, a 245-kilometer strip of foothills abuts against transverse ridges, which border Inner Dagestan with a huge arc. Two main rivers gush out of the mountains - Sulak in the north and Samur in the south. The natural boundaries of mountainous Dagestan are: Snegovoy and Andean ridges - up to the giant Sulak canyon, Gimrinsky, Les, Kokma, Dzhufudag and Yarudag - between Sulak and the Samur basin, the Main Caucasian ridge (GKH) - in the southwest of both basins.
Inner Dagestan, in turn, is divided into a mid-mountainous, plateau-like region and an alpine, high-mountainous region. In terms of sports and tourism, these are the most interesting regions of the republic.
The mountains occupy an area of 25.5 thousand km2, and the average height of the entire territory of Dagestan is 960 m. The rocks that make up the mountains of Dagestan are sharply demarcated. The main ones are black and clay shales, hard dolomitized and weak alkaline limestones, as well as sandstones. Shale ridges include Snegovaya with the Diklosmta massif (4285 m), Bogos with the Addala-Shukhgelmeer peak (4151 m), Shalib with the Dyultydag peak (4127 m).
Alpine Dagestan includes the Snegovaya, Bogossky, Nukatl, Shalib, Takliko-Dyultydag knot, Saladag, Khultaydag, Samursky, Kyabyaktepe and GKH ridges (mainly its southern part). The Andean, Gimrinsky, Arakmeer, Les, Kokma, Dzhufudag ridges, the vast plateaus and table peaks Betl, Khunzakhskoe, Tlimer, Gunib, Turchidag, Shunudag constitute Inner Dagestan. The relief of mountainous Dagestan, formed as a result of the interaction of tectonic processes and the erosional work of flowing waters, is complex and confusing. No wonder the famous scientist V.V.Dokuchaev called it an endless labyrinth of mountain ranges, peaks, rocks and gorges.
All the high ridges of Dagestan are spurs of the GKH stretching for almost 300 km, and its northeastern slopes occupy a huge territory, and the southwestern slopes and spurs are short and steep. In the south, along the GKH, along its entire length, stretches the fertile grape and fruit valley of the Alazani and its left tributary, the Agrichaya. The GKH here is inferior to its northeastern side ridges and spurs in height up to 1000-1500 m. Over a long distance from Natsidris to Malcamud, the summits of the GKH do not exceed 3500 m, excluding Guton (3648 m) and Seytyurt (3683 m). Only in the section from Malkamud (3876 m) to Bazarduzu, that is, throughout the entire 24 km, the GKH rises sharply, and in the peaks of Charyndag (4084 m), Ragdan (4020 m) and Bazarduzu (4466 m) it goes beyond 4000 m.
mountain Yarudag Geography of Dagestan 
The snow ridge, the westernmost in Dagestan, at the Godoberi pass joins the Andean ridge, which, in turn, is bounded by the Harigavurtai pass. Behind this pass rises a short ridge of Salatau, which closes the chain of a single watershed between the Argun and the Andean Koisu. One can agree with G. Anokhin, the author of the book "Eastern Caucasus", that the Snow Ridge ends in its snow-ice zone, that is, at the Khulan pass (3290 m) or at the Gakko pass (2997 m). The entire further watershed can be safely called the Andean ridge with its spurs and passes to the most eastern point - the Main Sulak canyon.
The first spur of the GKH itself is a short but high (up to 3683 m) ridge of Kirioti. Stretching to the northeast, it exceeds the summits of the GKH by 500-600 m. The Kirioti ridge serves as a local watershed of the Andian Koisu and Mitluda (Metlyuta) rivers.
In the same direction, near Mount Durudzha (3082 m), the most powerful in terms of glaciation and altitudes (up to 4152 m), the Bogos Range, separating the Andean and Avar Koisu basins, departs. This ridge is composed of shale, and after the Khapurda pass - limestone. In the future, the watershed line runs along limestone plateaus, cut off by rocky walls to the valleys of the Andean and Avar Koisu. The huge Khunzakh plateau rising behind the Tolokero mountain together with the neighboring Arakmeer ridge create their own world of limestone, white marls, raised to the sky with alpine grasses, which does not look like a clear watershed of Bogos. High short spurs extend from the Bogos ridge: to the north - the Khem ridges (up to 3809 m) and Kad (up to 4111 m); to the south - the Keran ridges (up to 3375 m), Tlim (up to 3769 m), Rosoda (up to 3662 m) and Gamchil (up to 3573 m).
Mount Shalbuzdag Geography of Dagestan 
The Nukatl ridge separates the Avarskoe Koisu and Karakoisu river basins. Many geographers place the Nukatl ridge in a more limited framework - between the peaks of Nukatl and Borushch. Further, there is a zone of cuestas in the form of transverse ridges and table peaks (Tliemeer, Gunib, etc.). The initial part of the watershed is a complex orographic system of ridges. The highest point of the entire Nukatl ridge - Mount Butnushuer (3925 m) - is located in this virtually unnamed part of the watershed.
A huge "sickle" of the Samur watershed departs from the Guton nodal peak at the GKH. The first quarter of its length is the broken Taklik jumper ridge. Until the junction with another local ridge of the Samur watershed, the Dyultydag ridge, the Taklik ridge has a northeastern strike, like Kirioti, Bogos, Nukatl.
But already at the very beginning, the Dyultydag ridge changes direction to the southeast and preserves it up to Mount Alahundag. From here, the Samur ridge itself stretches for many kilometers along the Karasamur and Samur rivers to the southeast, and beyond Mount Gestinkil to the east. The end of the ridge is gradually lost in the Kasumkent foothills. The Samur ridge is connected with the region of foothill Dagestan by the Kokma ridge, which, in turn, joins the Dzhufudag ridge. Both ridges border the Chiragchay river basin from the north. The steep arcs of the ridges of central and southern Dagestan give the rivers flowing at their feet an arched direction, with the lower part of the arc facing south.
Akhvakhsky district of Dagestan 
In the Samur basin there are also ridges that are not inferior in height to the Samur ones. These are Hultaydag and Kabyaktepe. The first separates Samur from Karasamur, the second from Akhtychai. The peaks of Khultaydag do not exceed 3550 m. In contrast to Khultaydag, the ridge of the Kebyaktepe ridge, starting from the confluence of the Kurdul River with Samur, rapidly gains height up to 3624 m (Mount Karadag) and, following southward, reaches a height of 4016 m (Mount Deavgai). Further to the southeast, Kyabyaktepe gradually decreases, and from the Kuzaidag mountain turns to the east and, losing height, rests against Akhtychay right in the village of Akhty. The southwestern and southern spurs of Kyabyaktepe are short and steep, while the northeastern and northern spurs are long. The rivers of the northern slopes - Magi, Lalaom, Falfan - flow in narrow, deep gorges.
In the southern part of Dagestan, shale ridges in some places break through with powerful limestone outcrops. First of all, we can note the multi-peaked Shalbuzdag (4142 m) and the huge table of Yarudag (4116 m). The Yarudag plateau drops off almost vertically to the west, north and south, and only in the east has a narrow ridge connecting the Yarudag with the Shahdag ridge. The watershed between Chechychay and Tagirjala begins from the Bazarduzu peak, passes through the depression of the Kurush pass, along the western edge of the Yarudag plateau, through the Gil pass and further to the place where Tagirjala flows into Samur. The Yarudag watershed serves as a natural border between Dagestan and Azerbaijan.
Lake Kazenoy-Am, on the border with the river. Chechnya 
Hydrography.
Dagestan has an extensive river network. The total number of rivers is 6255, but most of them are streams up to 10 km long. All rivers belong to the basin of the Caspian Sea, although only 20 of them flow directly into the sea. The largest river systems are Sulak (144 km) and Samur (213 km). The lower reaches of the Terek also pass through Dagestan.
Other large rivers include Aktash (156 km), Shuraozen (80 km), Manasozen (82 km), Gamriozen (58 km), Ululuchai (111 km), Rubas (92 km) and Gulgerychay (133 km). Sulak serves as a drain of a huge river basin bounded by ridges: Atsunta - in the west, Salatau - in the north, Gimrinsky - in the east, Samursky - in the south, GKH - in the southwest. The main rivers that make up Sulak are the Andean, Avar, Kazikumukh Koisu and Karakoisu. Their basins are occupied by all northern and central mountainous regions of Dagestan. In the south of the republic the rivers of the Samur and Gyulgerichaya basins flow. Samur has two large tributaries - Karasamur (42 km) and Akhtychay (63 km). Gulgerychay collects the waters of Chiragchay (93 km) and Kurakh (85 km).
92% of the rivers of Dagestan are of the mountain type, and only 8% flow in the foothill and lowland areas. The average specific fall of most rivers exceeds 50 m / km. The rivers with a length of 10 to 25 km have the highest values of the average specific fall. The mountain rivers of Dagestan are distinguished by deep incisions of valleys, starting almost from their sources, by significant dissection and large slopes. The deep incisions of the valleys with a large roughness of the terrain dissect its surface into a series of high isolated massifs. A characteristic feature of mountainous Dagestan is a weak afforestation in the high-mountainous and especially in the intramontane regions. The transverse profiles of the valleys cutting through the sandy-shale rocks in the alpine zone look like gorges and canyons. The slopes of the valleys are high, steep, and often sheer.
Rivers in the mountains are stormy, impetuous. The speed of the current is 1-2 m / s, on the rifts up to 2.5 m / s. During floods, the speed increases to 3-6 m / s. The distribution of depths along the length is irregular. Water tourists are usually interested in such characteristics of rivers as water discharge and average slope. The water flow rate of the Andean Koisu is 72.8 m3 / s, Avar Koisu - 94.5, Karakoisu - 18.9, Kazikumukh Koisu - 2.5, Sulak - 176, Samur - 64.3 m3 / s, and the average slope of the Andean Koisu - 8.6%, Avar Koisu - 15.2%, Karakoisu - 27.2%, Kazikumukh Koisu - 31.6%, Sulak - 1.95%, Samura - 13.6%. All the main rivers of mountainous Dagestan, except for the Gyulgerichy, are glacial-fed. The foothill rivers Aktash, Aksai, Shuraozen, Ulluchay and Rubas feed on spring and ground waters, as well as rainfall. As a rule, they do not reach the sea, being lost in the sands or in the floods of the Caspian lowland. Only the waters of Ulucai and Rubas, breaking through the coastal sand dunes, have a constant flow into the sea. Abundant Terek, Sulak and Samur often wander along their delta and change their main direction. Terek currently has three main streams - Stary Terek, Novy Terek and Alikazgan, Samur - Bolshoi and Maly Samur.
Ancient Derbent, fortress 
Glaciers.
Due to the significant dryness of the climate, as well as a kind of precipitation with a maximum in summer, the area of glaciation in Dagestan is much smaller than in the more humid Central and Western Caucasus. According to the “Catalog of Glaciers of the USSR” for 1975, there are 159 glaciers in Dagestan, with a total glaciation area of 47 km2. This number includes not only glaciers of the 1st and 2nd categories, i.e. valley, tar, hanging and gorge types, but also small (up to 0.1 km2) glaciers, firn glaciers and firn snowfields.
The distribution of glaciers across river basins is uneven. The glaciers of Dagestan are not connected with each other, but are confined to high peaks and mountain rises - the Snegovoy, Bogossky, Nukatl, Samursky and other ridges. The largest glacier area near the Bogos massif is 16.5 km2. Most of the glaciers are located in the shady places of the vast circuses and in carriages. The most widespread in Dagestan is the crust type of glaciers; hanging and valley glaciers are less common. Firn glaciers and snowfields are widespread.
The lowest glaciers descend in the west of mountainous Dagestan, on the Snegovoy and Bogossky ridges, up to 2900-3000 m absolute height. The Belengi glacier descends to 2520 m - a “record” achievement for this zone. Following to the south and east, the height of the ends of the tongues increases, reaching 3460 m (Yatmichaar glacier) in the Dyultydag massif, and 3500-3600 m on the GKH, in the Bazarduzu region. All significant glaciers have a northern exposure. On the southern slopes, their number is much smaller, and here there are only small-sized tar glaciers and firn snowfields. Glaciers on both the northern and, to a greater extent, southern slopes are gradually shrinking. Some have disappeared altogether over the past 70 years. Within Dagestan and its mountainous neighbors, Checheno-Ingushetia and Azerbaijan, there are 8 glacier areas.
mausoleum in the village of Khuthula 
RIDGES OF DAGESTAN
1. Snow ridge, the eastern part of the powerful Pirikitelskaya mountain chain, is the northernmost center of glaciation in Dagestan. Glaciers are concentrated here mainly at the peaks of Diklosmt and Ametkhan-Sultan. The total area of glaciation is 7.72 km2, with only 2.1 km2 on the southern (Dagestan) slopes. The most powerful glacier on the northern slope of the Snegovy Ridge, Diklos, has a length of 2.7 km. Glaciers Chero (2 km), Eastern Dyklos (1.5 km) and Dyklos IV (1.1 km) reach over 1 km. The tongues of glaciers of the northern exposure are located on average at an altitude of about 2650 m, and those of the southern - at 3170 m.
2. Bogossky ridge is the most powerful node of the modern glaciation of Dagestan, one of the largest in the Eastern Caucasus. Most of the glaciers are concentrated on its northwestern slope. According to the 1975 “Catalog of Glaciers of the USSR”, the area of glaciation is 16.5 km2. The largest area is occupied by the Belengi glacier (2.9 km2). It is also the longest (3.2 km). Glaciers Tinavchegelatl (2.7 km), North-Eastern Addala (2.2 km), Bolshoi Antsokhsky (2.1 km), Zigitli (2.1 km) are over 2 km long. Most of the glaciers of Bogos are tarry, less often hanging ones. The average height of the ends of the glaciers on the northern slopes is 2820 m, on the southern slopes - 3260 m.
Mount Nessendag Geography of Dagestan
3. Glaciation of the Nukatl ridge is insignificant: 16 small tar glaciers and 2 valley glaciers (Temir - 1.8 km and Mazadinsky - 1.1 km). The largest area (0.7 km2) has a glacier near Mount Salmadul and a firn field 1.5 km northwest of Mount Nukatl (0.9 km2). Most of the glaciers end at an altitude of more than 3300 m. Such their location is explained by the intensive reduction and retreat of glaciers. Now the area of glaciation is 4.5 km2.
4. Glaciation of the Butnushuer - Korkagel peaks, with a total area of 2.2 km2, is poorly developed, moreover, little studied. There are only 10 glaciers with a predominance of firn snowfields. There is only one tar-valley glacier Tlyagdy (on the western slope of Butnushuer) with a length of 1.4 km. Glaciation of the 3rd and 4th regions belongs to the single Nukatl watershed dividing the Avar Kois and Karakois. But even in this case, the glaciation of Nukatl is only 6.7 km2.
5. Guton's glaciation adjoins the GKH. On the northern slopes of Gouton there are 2 hanging glaciers with an area of 0.3 km2, and on the southern one - one tar glacier with an area of 0.1 km2. The firn snowfields are also widespread.
6. The Bishinei-Saladag glaciation is the second thickest after the Bogos one. The many-kilometer arc of the Bishiney, Taklik and Saladag ridges, concave to the southwest, stretches from the Northern Bishiney pass through the peaks of Bishiney (4106 m), Taklik (4047 m) and Saladag (3725 m) to Mount Gilyamush. Glaciers are located mainly on the northeastern slopes (8.3 km2). Of the total glaciated area of 9.7 km2, the north-western and western slopes account for only 1.4 km2. There are 27 glaciers in total.
There are different types of glaciers on this huge arc. Most of them (11) are tarry, and three of them, at the top of Saladag, reach a length of 1 km or more. There are 10 hanging glaciers, 2 hanging glaciers (one of them - Yuzhnokhashkharvinsky - has a length of 2.1 km), and 4 valleys - Taklik (3 km). North Bishiney (1.6 km), Khashkharva (1.6 km) and at Mount Bohzab (1.2 km). The Bnshiney-Saladag group of glaciers, located in the central knot of high-mountainous Dagestan, serves as the main source of the Oysor and Risor, which make up Karakoisu, as well as the Dyultichai and Khalakhur, the left tributaries of the Samur.
Karadakh gorge Geography of Dagestan 
7. Glaciation of the Dyultydag ridge is confined to its northern slope and is represented mainly by Karim and Karov-valley glaciers. On the southern slope, only 2 firn glaciers are noted, at the Dyultydag and Balial peaks. The glaciers in this area are mostly small. The largest of them are Yatmichaar (1 km), a firn field near Balial, 2 glaciers in a huge carrot circus on the northern slope of the mountain 3904 m and Viralu glacier (0.9 km). One of the glaciers of the mountain 3904 m reaches a length of 2.3 km, and the total area of 3 firn glaciers of the circus is 1.5 km2. The glaciated area of the entire Dyultydag ridge is 6.1 km2. The average height of the end of the Dyultydag glaciers is about 3500 m, and the ends of the glaciers on the southern slope are at heights from 3820 to 3900 m, or on average 350 m higher than the northern ones.
8. The area of the GKH and Bazarduzu peaks is an independent small focus of glaciation. This is the southernmost and at the same time the most eastern glaciation zone of Dagestan. All glaciers are located on the northern exposure slopes. Below 3000 m, only the tongue of the Murkar glacier descends. The rest of the heights of the lower level of glaciers fluctuate in the range of 3300-3800 m.
The number of glaciers here is not large - only 7, but the rather famous of them Murkar (2.7 km) and Tikhitsar (2 km), dressing the northern slopes of Bazarduzu with solid ice armor, give the highest point of Dagestan and Azerbaijan an impressive look. The glacier area of the Bazarduzu glaciers is 2.7 km2. Another glaciation center lies in the mountain circus between the Charyndag and Ragdan peaks. The branded glaciers Ragdan and Charyn (1.8 km) provide the main flow to the Chechychay River (Samur basin).
Outside Dagestan, in the Kusarchay basin, there is a group of glaciers with an area of 3.2 km2. The flat-topped glacier Shahdag (1.6 km2) stands out here. Glaciers of this type are rare in the Caucasus. Several glaciers are concentrated near Mount Bazaryurt. The glaciation of the Eastern Caucasus is closed by the Abildare Hanging Glacier near Mount Tfan.
Caspian Sea near the city of Kaspiysk 
Vegetation and animal world.
The territory of Dagestan is distinguished by a variety of vegetation cover, depending on sharp differences in relief, climate, soils and other landscape elements. Most of the territory is occupied by alpine and mid-mountain meadows. Forests are less widespread: only 8% of the territory.
By natural conditions mountainous Dagestan is divided into foothill, mountain and alpine physical and geographical zones. In the foothill zone, starting from the height. 600 m, where the amount of precipitation is higher than on the plain, meadows and forests are common. Birch, hornbeam, oak and other tree species grow in the forests on the northern slopes of the Salatau, Andean and Gimrinsky ranges. In the southern part of the foothill zone, the most common beech-hornbeam forest. Birch appears on the upper border, and alder, aspen, yellow rhododendron, etc. appear on the felled areas.
Starting from an altitude of 1800 m, subalpine meadows spread more and more, and from 2400-2800 m, alpine meadows. Subalpine meadows are characterized by lush vegetation. With the transition to alpine meadows, the species composition of plants gradually changes and becomes poorer, the height of the grass stand decreases. There are cuffs, fescue, clover, astragalus, blue scabiosa, blue gentian, pink rhododendron. At an altitude of 3200-3600 m, near the border with eternal snow, the vegetation is very poor. Mosses, lichens, and other cold-resistant plants predominate. Mountain and alpine meadows, occupying a large area, serve as summer pastures for numerous flocks of sheep.
Gamsutl Geography of Dagestan 
In the intramontane part, woody vegetation is found in the most elevated places, where it is divided into forest islands. Pine and birch forests grow at the foot of the Betl plateau, pine trees on the northern slope of the Daradin plateau, and a linden-birch grove at Chiragchay to the east of the village of Rich. The birch grove in Gunib and the hornbeam grove near Tsudakhar are widely known. There are comparatively large areas of forest on the more humid northern and western slopes of the mountains. In the high-mountainous part of the upper reaches of the Andean and Avar Koisu and Samur, pine-bersse forests have survived to this day. The most wooded areas of the highlands are the basins of Khzanor, Dzhurmut, Mitluda, Kila, Saraora. The main forest tracts of mountainous Dagestan are concentrated here. There are fewer forests in the Samura basin. They are confined mainly to the Karasamura basin and some right tributaries of the Samur (Magi, Lalaom, Falfan).
The fauna is especially rich in the high-mountainous part, where there are unique animals inherent only in Dagestan. There are Dagestan tur, bearded goat, Caucasian deer, dark brown bear, Caucasian leopard. There are many birds in the mountains: ular (mountain turkey), Caucasian black grouse, stone partridge, eagles. In the intramontane part of Dagestan, which is more populated and less wooded, the fauna is poorer. Here you can find various rodents, lizards, snakes. In southern Dagestan, a dangerous poisonous snake, the gyurza, comes across. Trout is found in mountain rivers. The flora and fauna in Dagestan is protected by humans. The Gutonsky and Charodinsky reserves have been created in the mountains, the Kayakentsky and Kasumkentsky reserves in the foothills, and the Samursky reserve in the Caspian lowland.
Lake Khala-Khel Geography of Dagestan 
The climate of mountainous Dagestan is moderately continental, characterized by a large temperature difference between summer and winter in the lowlands and between day and night in the mountains. At an altitude of more than 3000 m, the average annual temperature is below 0 °. The coldest weather throughout Dagestan is in January. Most warm month in mountainous and high-mountainous regions - August. The average January temperature is on the Bogos ridge (meteorological station "Sulak" - 2953 m) minus 11 °, in the Samur valley (aul Luchek) plus 4 °. The maximum average August temperature in the mountains, plus 20 ° C, is typical for the hot Samur valley (Akhty village). The lowest temperature in the mountains was noted at the Sulak meteorological station - minus 28 ° and on the Khunzakh plateau - minus 24 °; the highest - in the area of Akhta - plus 38 ° and Luchek - plus 36 °.
The amount of precipitation is distributed very unevenly over the territory. First of all, it depends on the conditions of the relief. In intramontane Dagestan, where precipitation is trapped by mountain ranges, an average of 500 mm of precipitation falls per year, and even less in the valleys. Most precipitation is in high mountains ah, where even in summer there are low temperatures. Most of the precipitation falls in May-July.
Thunderstorms often thunder. The Bogos ridge (south of Mount Izhena), the GKH in the region of Mount Guton and the Bishinei ridge are considered especially "thunderous". Summer showers and rains are heavy and prolonged. As a result, the temperature drops, rivers swell, demolishing bridges and eroding paths, powerful mudflows descend. The most mudflow-prone are the Temir River and some rivers of southern Dagestan. In such cases, it is undesirable to lay routes along river beds, even if there are paths. It is necessary to use the "upper" trails, which were laid by the mountaineers in almost all gorges.
Communication routes. You can get to Dagestan from the north by railroad Moscow - Baku, by planes from Leningrad, Moscow, Kiev, Tashkent, Baku and other cities and along the Grozny - Botlikh and Rostov - Baku highways. Also possible sea travel across the Caspian, but there is no regular movement here. Dagestan can be called a country of roads: only with hard surface (asphalt concrete, compacted crushed stone) there are 18,620 km of them in the republic. Well, unpaved and so-called pasture roads (that is, passable not in any weather) are punched to almost all auls and villages of Dagestan.
Preobrazhenskaya fortress, Dagestan 
The most convenient way to reach the foothills of the Snegovoy and Bogosky ridges is via the Grozny - Botlikh (129 km) and Khasavyurt - Agvali (141 km) highways. The routes along the Nukatl ridge and Dyulta-Taklik junction should be reached from three points: 1) from Kizilyurt to Buinaksk, through the Arkassk pass and to Tlyarata (227 km); 2) from Makhachkala through the Kizilyar pass to Tsurib (194 km); 3) from Izberbash through Sergokala and Nurgelabek pass to Vachi (132 km). The sixth road goes to the mountains from the village of Mamedkala, passes the regional centers of Majalis and Urkarakh, goes around the village of Kubachi and through the Gutsabek pass reaches the village of Akusha (139 km). The Derbent - Khanag road (62 km) leads to the Tabasaran mountains.
Where the Rostov-Baku highway approaches Gyulgerichy, there is an important crossroads. The highway goes south to Samur, and another goes to the west. Ascending the Chiragchay valley to the Chiragsky pass, it slides into the Sulak basin. The last, ninth, transverse route runs along the Samur valley through the regional centers of Magaramkent, Akhty, Rutul and ends in the village of Tsakhur.
It should be noted that most of Dagestan's roads have directions transverse to the ridges, and this is a long length of roads, and a waste of time, and the need to cross one, two or more passes to achieve the final goal. To avoid such trips, one must either fly to the mountains using local airlines (to Botlikh, Agvali, Bezhta, Tlyaratu, Khunzakh, Gunib, Kumukh, and other points) from the airports of Makhachkala and Khasavyurt, or start the route directly from the Transcaucasian towns of Georgia and Azerbaijan (Napareuli , Eniseli, Kvareli, Lagodekhi, Belokany, Zagatala, Kakhi, Sheki and Kutkashena).
From the upland plateaus and heightened limestone ridges of the middle mountains to the auls of high-mountainous Dagestan, there are also highways along the river gorges: along the Andi Koisu - from Ashilta to Echeda (99 km); along Avar Koisu - from Karadakh to Bezhta (108 km) and Tlyarata (98 km); along Karakoisu - from the Red (Saltinsky) bridge to Gilib and Archib (60 km); along Kazikumukh Koisu - from Gergebil to Bursha (75 km) and Khosrekh (89 km). Two long roads follow the river valleys from the mouth to the sources: along the Chiragchaya - Belidzhi - Chirag (110 km) valley and Samur - Magaramkent - Tsakhur (124 km).
waterfall and canyon near the village of Salta 
TOURISM IN DAGESTAN
The main types of tourism cultivated in Dagestan. Naturally, the lion's share here belongs to mountain hikes, which is facilitated by the relief of the republic. High mountains, relatively large glaciation, a diverse network of watershed ridges and their spurs, the presence of difficult passes, 15 of which have a difficulty category of 2B and higher - this is the basis for the development of mountain tourism in Dagestan.
Since the late 70s, hiking has developed rapidly. Indeed, in Dagestan there are lower ridges and the passes in them are simpler, there are vast forested depressions, easily accessible highlands and plateaus. Through the low and mostly uncomplicated passes of the GKH hiking routes have access to the sunny Alazani Valley. Tourists-pedestrians have mastered both wooded, gently outlined foothills, and intramontane, outwardly non-inaccessible regions of the republic. The number of mastered passes, typical for hiking tourism, exceeds 110.
Water, skiing, cycling, motorcycle tourism is less common in Dagestan. This can be explained by the complexity of the rivers - for water workers, the warm climate - for skiers, the lack of comfortable roads - for motorized tourists. But there are already certain achievements here, as evidenced by the routes included in our guide. Presumably, their number will grow with the general development of tourism in the republic. The interest of those traveling around Dagestan to its history is great. There are 346 state-protected historical monuments in the republic. You can count at least 300 more monuments protected by customs. All these monuments can be divided into archaeological (15, 20 and more centuries ago), historical (from the 6th to the beginning of the 20th century), revolutionary, labor, military (dating back to 1917).
Chokh village 
Archaeological excavations (fortified settlements, settlements, burial grounds) raise the veil over the life of distant times. In Dagestan, there are medieval settlements Urtseki 12 km west of Izberbash and Sigitminskoe south of Chiryurt, Eskiyurt (1st-7th centuries) near Kayakent, an early medieval settlement near the village of Enderi (Andrehaul). The most impressive in Dagestan are powerful defensive structures, and among them is the many kilometers wall of Dagbara, stretching over the mountains from Derbent to the village of Yagdyk. The Narynkala fortress in Derbent is world famous, the oldest building of which dates back to the 6th century. Near the village of Khuchni, the legendary fortress of the Seven Brothers rises on a spur of a mountain above the Rubas River. On the Gunib plateau, the ruins of a fortress of the X-XIII centuries have been preserved. Ancient fortress can be seen near the village of Arkas, and near the village of Mekegi, in the gorge of the same name, a fortified cave city XIII-XIV centuries.
Many fortifications were built in the 19th century, during the Caucasian War. In the Upper Gunib, the Gunib fortress is well preserved, where the tourist center is now located. On the Khunzakh plateau there is the Araninsky fortress, built in 1867. Not far from Makhachkala, on the plateau of Mount Tarkitau, 20-30 years ago one could see the Burnaya fortress. Unfortunately, it interfered with the development of the stone and was demolished. Only cells carved into the sheer cliff remained. The Preobrazhenskaya fortress and the bridge fortification of three round towers in 1859 on the Andean Koisu near Botlikh have been restored. The flat fortress of Toprakkala was built by the tsarist troops in the interfluve of the Rubas and Gyulgerichy rivers. The southernmost fortress in Dagestan - Akhtynskaya - is located in the gardens of the right bank of the Akhtychay.
Endless raids and wars forced the Dagestanis to build towers - combat, signal, residential. They are scattered throughout the highland Dagestan. The oldest surviving towers are the battle tower (17th-18th centuries) in the village of Itzari and the watch tower (18th century) in the village of Koroda. Signal towers rise above the pass in the rocky spur of Bogos near the village of Khushtada and Tindinskaya above Kila. From three gorges - Jurmut, Khzanor and Saraora - you can see the Antsukh watch and signal tower. The bonfire and smoke at its top are visible from the Landa and Hantakoloba towers. There are many well-preserved towers in Urad and Tidib, in the old villages of Kakhib and Goor. Towers also rise on the Kodori and Bechikhi passes, guarding the borders of the "country of mountains". There are towers in the villages of Rich, Tsulda, round and rectangular towers of the 17th century. in the village of Tlibisho, towers in the Cherakh gorge. The towers on the territory of the republic are silent witnesses of the turbulent events in the history of Dagestan, and they must be protected, for this is the memory of the people.
In Dagestan, entire villages can be considered historical monuments. Let's call the world famous Kubachi, which arose in the 6th century, Kahib with buildings of the 16th-18th centuries, Rugudzhu with a castle of the 10th century, Chokh (16th century), raising stone steps-houses to the sky. Quite a few in the auls and villages of Dagestan places of worship Islam: mosques and minarets. Among them is the minaret in the Khryug village - a quadrangular tapering tower with a white stone on top, a mosque of the 11th-12th centuries. in Urkarah, Juma-mosque (XII-XV centuries) with a caravanserai over the old part of Derbent, a mosque in Assab (XVI century), Koroda (XVIII century), minarets in Lower Dzhengutai (1845) and Kvanad, mosques in Tindi (17th century), Khosrekh (16th century), Akhty, Tsakhur, Kalakoreish.
There are traces of Christianity in Dagestan: in a secluded corner near the town of Datun, there is a temple of the 9th-11th centuries. A small building with holes cut into the wall with its architecture resembles the churches of Georgia. Less common monuments include mausoleums, tombs, headstones, and tastefully decorated springs. The mausoleum of the 18th century is known. in the village of Khuchni, the mausoleum of the 15th century. in the village of Akhty, the mausoleum of Hasan Effendi in the village of Shtul. The most interesting are the gravestones of the ancient cemeteries of Derbent, the tomb of the holy sheikh at the northern cliffs of Shalbuzdag in the place “Pir”, a chest-like gravestone of the 11th-12th centuries, which is rare for Dagestan. at the Tabasaran cemetery. Stone bridges of the 19th century look like wonderful creations of old masters. in Akhty and Tashkopur, a reinforced concrete bridge over Akhtychay, built by the Italians. Among the abundance of architecturally designed springs, a domed spring of the early 19th century can be noted. in Tarki.
aul Kubachi 
Terek (Old Russian Terka, Georgian თერგი Tergi, Kabard-Cherk. Terch, Karach-Balk. Terk Suu, Osset. Terk, Chech. Terk) is a river in the North Caucasus.
Antique Russian name rivers - Terka, it repeats the ancient hydronym, probably of Turkic origin. According to E.M. Murzaev, the name of the river comes from the Turkic language, where the Terek is "poplar", and the whole river was called Tereksu - "Poplar River". However, there are other hypotheses: for example, A. V. Superanskaya believes that the hydronym is based on the ancient Turkic (Hunno-Bulgar) terek - "river". The researcher draws a conclusion based on the wide distribution of the lexeme terek in hydronyms (Ak-Terek, Kara-Terek, Uch-Terek, Ish-Terek, etc.), as well as because of the large size of these rivers. In the Karachai-Balkarian language, "terk suu" means "fast, impetuous water or river." In ancient Georgian sources ("Life of Kartliya" by Leonty Mroveli) this river is called Lomeki, which means "mountain water" in Chechen and Ingush.
The Terek was admired by A.S. Pushkin, M. Yu. Lermontov, and others.
Between the mountain<стен>Terek rushes,
The wild shore wears away with waves,
Bubbles around huge rocks,
Here, [there] digs a road,
Like a living beast, it roars and howls -
And suddenly he calmed down and became humble.
Lower and lower, lowering,
Already he is running barely alive.
So, after the storm is exhausted,
The stream is streaming rain.
(A.S. Pushkin)
Geography
It originates on the slope of the Main Caucasian Range in the Trusov Gorge, from the glacier of Mount Zilga-Khokh at an altitude of 2,713 m above sea level. It flows through the territories of Georgia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Stavropol Territory, Chechnya and Dagestan. The length of the river is 623 km, the basin area is 43 200 km ². From the Kargalinsky hydroelectric complex it is called New Terek (sometimes in the literature the name Kargalinka is also used). In the lower reaches, it is called Alikazgan (the name, presumably, was given after the village of Alikazgan, which was located near the modern Krainovsky bridge). Average slope 4.40 m / km.
The first 30 km flows between the Main and Side ridges, then turns to the north and crosses the Bokovaya (in the Darial Gorge), the Rocky Range and the Black Mountains; near the city of Vladikavkaz it opens onto a foothill plain, where it receives the deep tributaries Gizeldon, Ardon, Urukh, Malka (with Baksan).
From the mouth of the Malka it flows in a sandy-clayey channel with numerous islands, spits and shoals; below the mouth of the Sunzha it is divided into a number of branches and channels. It flows into the Agrakhan Gulf and the Caspian Sea, forming a delta (area of about 4,000 km²); the position of the main channel in the delta section has repeatedly changed (since 1914, most of the runoff passes along the channel of the Kargalinsky breakthrough). The old rivers are the rivers that have now been turned into canals - Sullu-Chubutla, Stary Terek (Deltovy Canal), Srednyaya, Talovka, Kuru-Terek, Kardonka, etc. which is supplied with water to the old branches of the Terek.
- a continuous mountain range stretching for more than 1100 km from north-west to south-east from the Black Sea (Anapa region) to the Caspian Sea (Ilkhidag mountain north-west of Baku). The Caucasian ridge divides the Caucasus into two parts: the Ciscaucasia (North Caucasus) and Transcaucasia (South Caucasus).
The Main Caucasian Ridge separates the basins of the Kuban, Terek, Sulak and Samur rivers in the north and the Inguri, Rioni and Kura rivers in the south.
The mountain system, which includes the Greater Caucasus Range, is called the Greater Caucasus (or Greater Caucasus Range), in contrast to the Lesser Caucasus - a vast upland located south of the Rioni and Kura valleys and connected directly with the uplands of Western Asia.
For a more convenient view, the Caucasian ridge can be divided in length from west to east into seven parts:
Black Sea Caucasus (from the Anapa meridian to the Fisht - Oshten mountain group - approx. 265 km),
Kuban Caucasus (from Oshten to the source of the Kuban) - 160 km,
Elbrus Caucasus, or western (Karachay-Circassian) Elbrus region (from the source of the Kuban to the top of Adai-Khokh) - 170 km,
Terskiy (Kazbek) Caucasus (from Adai-Khokh to Barbalo) - 125 km,
Dagestan Caucasus (from Barbalo to the summit of Sari-Dag) - 130 km,
Samur Caucasus (from Sari-Dag to Baba-Dag) - approx. 130 km,
Caspian Caucasus (from Baba-Dag to the top of Ilkhidag) - approx. 170 km.
A more enlarged division is also accepted:
Western Caucasus (bounded from the east by Elbrus);
Central Caucasus;
Eastern Caucasus (bounded from the west by Kazbek).
The entire system of the Greater Caucasus Range covers approximately 2,600 km². The northern slope is about 1450 km², and the southern one is about 1150 km².
The width of the Caucasian ridge in the western (somewhat west of Elbrus, including the Elbrus mountain range) and eastern (Dagestan) parts is about 160 ... 180 km, in the central - about 100 km; both extremities are strongly narrowed and present (especially the western) insignificant width.
The highest is the middle part of the ridge, between Elbrus and Kazbek (average altitudes are about 3 400 - 3 500 m above sea level); here are concentrated its highest peaks, the highest of which - Elbrus - reaches a height of 5 642 m above sea level. m .; east of Kazbek and west of Elbrus, the ridge decreases, and more significantly in the second direction than in the first.
In general, in terms of height, the Caucasian ridge is much higher than the Alps; it has no less than 15 peaks exceeding 5,000 m, and more than 20 peaks above Mont Blanc, the highest peak in all of Western Europe. Forward hills accompanying Main ridge, in most cases, do not have the character of continuous chains, but represent short ridges or mountain groups associated with the dividing ridge by spurs and cut through in many places by deep gorges of rivers, which, starting in the Main ridge and breaking through the advanced hills, descend to the foothills and go to plains.
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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTOS:
Team nomad
TOURIST ROUTES IN MOUNTAIN DAGESTAN
Russian geography textbook.
http://www.geografia.ru/
http://www.photosight.ru/
The Caucasus Mountains occupy half of the entire area of Dagestan. There are about 30 peaks on the territory of the republic, the height of which is more than 4000 meters.
The highest mountains of Dagestan are Addala-Shukhgelmeer (4151 meters), Dyultydag (4127 meters), the Diklosmta mountain range (4285 meters). Shalbuz-dag (3925 meters) rises in the south of the republic. Nearby there is a large dining summit Yaru-dag (4116 meters), its vertical walls have repeatedly become a place for mountaineers from all over Russia to compete.
The most big mountain Dagestan - Bazarduzu. It is located in the very south of the republic. The state border of the Russian Federation and neighboring Azerbaijan runs along the top of the mountain.
In the south and west of the republic stretches the Dividing Range of the Greater Caucasus. It retains moist air masses from the south, which is why the climate in Dagestan is dry.
In spite of great height mountains, the local glaciers are not as grandiose as their counterparts in the Central and Western Caucasus. The largest of them are located in the Bogos mountain range. The largest glacier in Dagestan, Belengi, is 3.2 kilometers long, and its ice thickness reaches 170 meters. Recently, glaciers have significantly lost in size, and many have disappeared altogether.
The highlands of Dagestan are the kingdom of alpine meadows. Close to their lower edge is a forest that rises to a height of 2000 - 2200 meters. It is inhabited by many different animals: Dagestan tours live here, sometimes the shadow of a mountain goat flickers among the rocks, or a herd of swift chamois skips by. Brown bears and Caucasian deer, hares and martens live in the thickets. Here you can find flocks of stone partridges and mountain turkeys. Eagles soar high in the sky above the mountain tops.
Inner Dagestan is an endless labyrinth of mountain ranges, peaks, rocks and gorges. Many rivers are born in the mountains, which carry their waters to the Caspian Sea. Their path lies in deep valleys and gorges.
The northern regions of the republic, where the Tersko-Kumskaya lowland is located, meet the traveler with completely different landscapes. In ancient times, waves of the ancient sea splashed on these plains. Salt marshes and shells of sea mollusks found in the sands still remind of this. Today it is very dry, and the surrounding landscapes are more like a desert. The main local inhabitants are saigas, hares, foxes and, of course, a huge number of rodents.
The salt plain is crossed by a few rivers, but not all of them manage to get to the sea. Only the high-water Terek, Samur, Sulak, Uluchay and Rubas, having taken over the sand dunes, flow into the Caspian Sea. In front of the sea, rivers form large deltas, which change their shape every year. Here, on the coast, among the reeds, there is a real oasis of life. Sandpipers, herons, geese and cranes nest in the water. In the coastal thickets, flocks of partridges live and you can hear the loud meow of a jungle cat. Despite the fact that the local forests are not so large, they are home to wild boars, jackals and red deer.
The deepest canyon in Russia is located on the Sulak River. Its length is more than 50 kilometers, and the average depth is 1200 meters. The canyon is divided into three sections - Glavny, Chirkeisky and Miatlinsky. The most mesmerizing of them is the Chief. Where the canyon walls converge especially close, its depth reaches a maximum of 1920 meters (for comparison, in Colorado canyon this figure is only 1600 meters). The bottom of the abyss is immersed in twilight. The roar of the raging water below echoes through the surroundings, and clouds of water dust constantly hang in the air.
Inner Dagestan is an endless labyrinth of mountain ranges, rock peaks and gorges.
In this article I bring to your attention a story about our trip to the Dokuzparinsky district.
The next point on our route was the Dokuzparinsky district. Having previously discussed all our actions, we left for Usukhchay, where Rakhman Gereev, a representative of FLNKA in the Dokuzparinsky district, was already waiting for us.
As the main goal, we chose a visit to the highest mountain village in Europe - Kurush. Rahman provided us with transport in advance.
Dokuzparinsky district is the smallest Lezghin district of Dagestan in terms of area and population. It is located in the extreme south of the republic, it is here that the most southern point Russia - an unnamed peak near Mount Ragdan.
View of the villages of Tekipirkhur and Kalajukh
The name Dokuzpara comes from the Türkic word "doqquz" - nine. This is the number of villages that were part of the historical Dokuzparinsky free society, located, however, on the territory of the neighboring Akhtynsky district.
And on the territory of the present Dokuzparinsky district there was historically the Altyparinsky free society.
Almost all the villages of Dokuzpary are located in the narrow valley of the ChIekhivatsI River. This gorge is bordered by the massifs of the Shalbuzsuv, Glavny Kavkazskiy, Samurskiy ridges, as well as the spurs of the Erysuv mountains, separating the UsukhvatsIa gorge from the neighboring Adjiakhur gorge, which already belongs to the neighboring Kusar region.
Kalajuh
In general, the area itself is notable for its extraordinary relief characteristics. The main part of the territory of the region is represented by a deep gorge, and along the perimeter of the gorge there are mountain ranges and tops.
Among them - the most high point Dagestan - Mount Kichensuv (Bazarduzu) 4466 m, slightly southeast of Mount Ragdan. These and other peaks belong to the Main Caucasian ridge.
Charaur waterfall falling from Erysuv
Mount Shalbuzsuv is the second highest in the region and the third in the republic, its peak is at a height of 4142 m. Massive spurs made of clay shales and lime rocks extend from the mountain in all directions.
In the southeastern part of the region is the center of Russian mountaineering - Mount Erysuv with a height of 3925 m.Every year the most avid amateurs climb this mountain. extreme rest... From the north, in front of the villages of the Dokuzparinsky region, the Gestinkil peak rises with a height of 2788 m.
The first locality that we meet at the entrance to Dokuzparu is Karakyure. Nowadays, there are two villages - a new and an old aul, located a few kilometers from each other.
View of Kurush, Shalbuzsuv and surrounding ridges from Mount Erysuv
According to some reports, already in the III millennium BC, in the Bronze Age, the surroundings of Karakyure were inhabited by people. This is evidenced by the huge areas of cemeteries that surround the aul from all sides.
In the center is the highest peak of Dagestan - Mount Kichensuv (Bazarduzu), on the left is Erysuv
According to historians, Karakyure was formed by the merger of several settlements - Yar-kyil, Chyuru khuir, Usukh, Chieyar, Sutar avai khur and Uruk. The latter, by the way, was the residence of the Albanian kings. Tukhum Varazar lives in the village in our time, whose name comes from the name of the Albanian king Varaz, who loved to relax in Uruk.
Old mosque in Karakyur
The remains of an ancient ceramic water supply system were found in the aul. Karakure is a kind of open-air museum. Everything here speaks of its antiquity and greatness. Indeed, in the Middle Ages there was Big City, an important center of southern Dagestan.
Erysuv
It had at least 900 households. Considering that4-5 families lived under one roof at once, it becomes obvious that this was really populous city... After a terrible plague epidemic in 1689, only 60 households remained in Karakyur. Nowadays, more than 1200 people live in the village.
On the site of an ancient Christian temple in the 10th century, the Arabs built a mosque, which was known throughout southern Dagestan.
Carved door of the old Karakyurin mosque
Unfortunately, in the winter of 2009, this unique mosque burned down. A few weeks ago, a new mosque was built by Suleiman Kerimov, a native of this village.
Old mosque in Karakyur
The regional center of the Dokuzparinsky district is the village of Usukhvats I, located at the confluence of the Usukhvats I river of the same name into Samur. Historical chronicles testify to the events of the early 8th century that took place in this village.
Clouds envelop the Upper Dokuzparu
There are two versions of the origin of the name of the aul. According to the first, the root "usuh" acts as a form of the verb "sukhun" (stick, stick). The fact is that the Usukhvats I river during heavy rains sticks into Samur like a bayonet.
The second version brings us back to the events that took place many centuries ago, when the Mikrakhs expelled the sons of Mukhtar Saidjab, considering their lands their own. As a result, these territories seemed to be stuck between Miskindzha and Karakyure, hence the root "dry".
The first inhabitants of the modern aul were people from the neighboring village of Karakyure. Nowadays, the population of the district center is about 2 thousand people.
From here we drove up the gorge. With each kilometer, the altitude level became more and more. The road went along the UsukhvatsI river. Huge rocks and rocks were visible everywhere.
Kalajuh
The main occupation of the inhabitants of Dokuzpara is animal husbandry and agriculture. Sheep breeding is especially developed in the region. Large areas are occupied by cabbage, sometimes even entire slopes are planted with it. Immediately after Mikrakh-Kazmayar, the first solid ascent began.
Kalajukh, an aul, immediately opened up to our eyes, a gorgeous view of which we observed all the way to Kurush. Kalajukh is located on the opposite bank from Mikrakh. The old village was located on the top of the Aga-ah mountain.
The name of the village comes from the word "Kala" - a fortress. Indeed, the old village was surrounded by powerful walls. The Kaladzhukhs always had a dispute with the Mikrakhs over land, as a result of which the village was taken by neighbors. Many residents died, there were also fugitives - villages with the same name Kala in Azerbaijan and Rutul were founded by fugitives from Kalajukh.
Feast in the village of Tekipirkhur
The modern village is a continuation of the old one, only located in the lower reaches of the historical aul. The inhabitants of the village are the descendants of Menzifar tukhum - the only tukhum who did not leave his native land; as well as numerous migrants from Mikrakh and other villages.
Having passed Mikrakh, after a few kilometers we entered the village of Tekipirkhur.
This is a small aul, which was founded about 500 years ago by a native of Syria, Pir-Hasan, who, together with his brother Pir-Suleiman, was buried on Mount Shalbuzsuv. There is a mausoleum of Pir-Hasan in the aul, and there is also a ziyarat in the cemetery.
His grave is a place of pilgrimage for thousands of Muslims. Tekipirkhyur is a small village, the number of yards in it barely reaches 60. It is located in scenic location at the foot of the Erysuv and Shalbuzsuv mountains. This is the native village of Suleiman Kerimov's mother.
In Kurush
Further, behind Tekipirkhur, Kurush was already waiting for us. It should be noted that we were very unlucky with the weather in it. If in UsukhvatsIe there was clear hot weather, then after Mikrakh-Kazmayar it became cloudy, in some places it rained, which made it impossible to see the amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
Kurush
After a dozen kilometers of narrow serpentines, long climbs and steep cliffs, we finally reached Kurush, the highest mountain village in Europe and Russia. By God, this unique place... People here are unique. The nature is unique. Air, plants, animals, birds - everything is unique.
Kurush children
Kurush in clear weather in summer against the background of Erysuv
Kurush is surrounded by the highest mountains of Dagestan - from the east Kichensuv and Erysuv, from the north - Shalbuzsuv, from the south - the Main Caucasian ridge. The village is located on the southern slope of Shalbuzsuv, at an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level.
Children playing soccer in the Kurusha schoolyard
From the height of the village, probably the most best views to the mountains throughout South Dagestan. From the east of the aul, Yarusuv rises majestically. From this mountain falls down the most high waterfall Dagestan - Charaur. The height of the fall is 250 meters, and the waterfall is two-stage - the height of the first step is 150 meters, the second is 100 meters. Kurushtsy call it Charadur.
The air in Kurush is rarefied, through which the ultraviolet rays of the sun burn all year round. Due to the lack of oxygen, the faces of the Kurush people acquired a characteristic blush, which makes them stand out from the rest of the locals.
Kurush
Since ancient times, the main occupation of the inhabitants was sheep breeding, extensive alpine pastures - the only wealth of the Kurush people - contributed to this. Sheep breeders led a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Earlier, for the winter period, they drove flocks of sheep to Azerbaijan, overcoming hundreds of kilometers of roads through gorges, passes and ravines.
There are statistical data, according to which in 1917 there were 72 thousand sheep in the village. It was in Kurush in natural conditions that the mountain-Lezghin coarse-wooled breed of sheep was bred, the coarse wool of which is indispensable in carpet weaving.
Kurush greeted us with a gray haze. As I said, because of the fog and rain, alas, we practically did not see anything. At a distance of over 20-30 meters, it was no longer possible to make out anything. It is also worth mentioning the characteristic smell of dung, which is almost the main building material and fuel here. There were practically no people on the street. Only the restless kids played football in the schoolyard.
After walking a little around the village, we, however, did not go deep. We took a few frames and moved in the opposite direction.
On this day, we decided to stay overnight at Rahman's house, in Mikrah. It is a rather large village located on the left bank of the Usukhvats I opposite Kaladzhukh. This region is rich in arable land, hay meadows and extensive pastures. There are many springs and streams here.
Mikrakh
On four sides the village is surrounded by majestic mountains - Kichensuv; Erysuv; Nisinsuv (Midday Mountain); Ekunsuv (Morning Mountain); Shalbuzsuv and Gestinkil.
We took a short walk around the village. Rakhman works as a teacher in a rural school, so he knows the history of his native village well.
According to folk etymology, the name "Mikrah" comes from the words "mug" and "rag" (the nest of the sun). The fact is that when the sun rises from behind the mountains on the eastern side, it hits its rays directly into the aul, i.e. as if into a niche, into a nest. Hence "mugrag >> mikrah".
Mikrakh is one of the largest carpet-making centers in Dagestan, Mikrakh carpets are distinguished by the quality and uniqueness of the pattern, local carpet-makers are distinguished by their art of quick work.
Tekipirkhur
This is a very ancient village. In 1994 locals celebrated the 5000th anniversary of the village. However, the figure is, of course, overstated. The first mentions of Mikrah date back to the 2nd century AD. Numerous cemeteries with an area of more than 20 hectares also testify to the antiquity of the village.
Ancient burial places of Mikrakh
In the Middle Ages, Mikrah was a city that was a craft, trade and cultural center region. During the early Middle Ages, for many years Mikrakh was a stronghold of the Khazars and the city did not accept Islam, offering fierce resistance to the Arabs. However, the combined forces of Arabs and Akhtyns took the village by force.
In a later period, the aul fully recovered, expanded and regained its former value. In 1630 it became the administrative center of the newly formed society Altypara. In the 19th century Mikrakh was the administrative center of the Dokuzparinsky naibstvo of the Samur district.
Rahman showed us the local ziyarat. As well as numerous Christian graves that can be seen everywhere. Almost every stone or slab speaks about the antiquity of the village.
The modern village looks rather poor and faded. There are many dilapidated houses in which people still live. There is no normal road, poor communication. From Mikrakh, Kaladzhukh is clearly visible, which is just a stone's throw from there. At night, there was a dem (wedding dance evening) in Kalajukh, the music was heard as if the wedding was being played in Mikrah.
Mikrakh
Rahman's house is located in the upper part of the village, from its veranda offers a stunning view of Nesinsuv and Kichensuv. Rahman's grandmother made us feel welcome. Our evening was spent talking and discussing what we saw.
FLNCA
Shalbuzdag is the main natural attraction of Dagestan. Her distinctive feature, in comparison with others, is that this mountain, as it were, stands alone, rising up as a lonely pyramid topped with a jagged top. Due to this location, Shalbuzdag gives the impression of the highest peak in the southern part of Dagestan, although the neighboring ones - Bazarduzu and Shahdag - are actually higher. But these are not all the features of a mysterious natural phenomenon. Shalbuzdag. The most famous mountain in Dagestan. Every year from July to August, pilgrims come here from all over the Caucasus. - If you ask, then everything will be fulfilled, it only takes time. The mountain is closer to Allah, he hears our prayers. The mountain became sacred after the grave of the righteous Suleiman appeared there. According to legend, he was very God-fearing, and when he died, a miracle happened. Since then, pilgrims have come here every year. They bring alms and ask God for health for loved ones. It is believed that in order for prayers to be heard, it is necessary to go around the feast three times and be sure to tie a ribbon or scarf. Scientists believe that there used to be a sea on the site of the mountain. Unlike all other heights, Shalbuzdag is distinguished by its unusual shape - a pyramid with a jagged top. This gives the grief a special mystery. Mountain Shalbuzdag is popularly called the road to the fulfillment of desires. The height of the mountain is 4 thousand 150 meters. People believe that if you overcome this distance, then all your dreams and desires will certainly come true. The higher people climb, the steeper the climb itself becomes. The narrow path is strewn with small pebbles, because of them the feet constantly slip. Panting from lack of oxygen, travelers go up, stopping for a breather almost every 20 meters. It is quite normal to meet more than one pair of worn-out sneakers or slippers on the way here. On the mountain, even the most comfortable shoes cannot withstand the load. But, despite the difficulties and armed with a stick, people go to their goal. However, good travelers help someone. A stone path leads to a small lake. It is located in the middle of two rocks, where the sun's rays hardly fall. The water here is clear and cold, even in summer it is covered with thin ice. The source is considered sacred, and the water in it is medicinal. From the lake to the top, there is the last spurt - one kilometer. Here another test awaits a person - a narrow passage among two rocks. In order to get out of it, you need to climb the stones, which seem to be varnished. According to legend, a sinful person, even the skinny one, gets stuck in this passage. Well, those to whom God has forgiven their sins pass easily.
