My article for the magazine "Russian photo" - http://www.rosphoto.com/travel/zolotaya_osen_v_gorah_dombaya-5461
Photo: Igor Gorshkov
Text: Igor Gorshkov
Dombai - mountain village resort in the Caucasian mountains in Karachay-Cherkessia. It is known primarily as a ski resort, but it is amazing and very beautiful in terms of nature. The participant of the club "Russian photo" Igor Gorshkov says.
Autumn - very beautiful time of year, and in the mountains especially. Never been in the fall in the mountains, so I decided to go and see with my own eyes on the beauty of the mountain golden autumn and for Dombai, where I also had not yet.
There is enough easy to get to Dombai, and you can live in a comfortable hotel among the mountains and cost the minimum things for walking in the mountains. In addition, there is a calm and no-season there at this time and, unlike summer and especially winter, the lowest prices for accommodation. Well, the main thing is near all the beauty of the mountain authentic Caucasus.
Golden autumn in Dombaya, a view of almost the hotel on a beautiful peak Ine.
From the village you can move in any of the direction: the gorge lead to a variety of beautiful places - waterfalls, glaciers, the foot of the vertices. In addition to the North - this is a road, but it is interesting to take a walk, it is very picturesque.
The road to Dombai is very picturesque, and such a picture meets in this place in the midst of the Golden Autumn.
The weather for a little more than a week (namely the trip lasted) was not easy, but interesting: both the sun, and the rains, which were still somewhat more than I would like, and fogs, and on the last day of stay all the first snow.
It was especially beautiful when the sun was peeking during the rain: moisture, fog, clouds on the slopes of mountains and sunlight.
Mountain rivers flow in all the gorges, and you can sometimes go down to them and make beautiful frames at different times of day and weather.
Amanauz River Autumn Evening. Panorama. Shortly before the frame was made, from the top of Sophfloj (away) the mass of snow fell - avalanche. Impressive spectacle!
It is the same place the next morning: it was rained at night, the water was noticeably added and became a drone. The log from the previous frame is simply washed away. Unfortunately, after a couple of days, the excavators arrived at this place and under the left of the high comb, clearing the main channel (it was left), and it was falling asleep. But, apparently, it was necessary in terms of security when the flow of water will increase.
Sunset on the Domay-Ulgen River.
River, Top and Dombai Ulgen Gorge. Panorama.
It was one of the most gloomy and rainy days, snowed snow with the rain, blew a shrill wind, who was moving with golden foliage, but I really wanted to reach this place, see the clearance. And unexpectedly the mountains presented such a beautiful sky!
Then he was immediately tightened.
In rare sunny days, all the mountain slopes and forests were pleased with bright autumnal outfits.
Autumn fogs in the mountains are always interesting and beautiful, though, sometimes, most often at dawn or sunset, they were so thick that there were no neighboring slopes, neither more than the mountains.
Dombaya Bowl of Evening Fog from Alibek Gorge. Panorama.
Later, this fog rose to the vertices and filled the entire space, the return road to the village was almost all in a dense haze - went on a dark forest with one flashlight for two. After that, we always took lanterns with them, even if they planned to come back. And, by the way, never stopped and did not return, the lanterns were all the time. Therefore, you will always be in the mountains - there are always lanterns with yourself, even if the walk is planned for half a day.
Be sure to take a comfortable and pre-dressed shoes. It so happened that the first couple of days I felt very uncomfortable, apparently, for the summer, the legs were turned away from the shoe, although they are far from new. I was often remembered by the words Sebastio Salgado: no matter how good you have a camera, it is important how comfortable shoes you have.
In the mountains of the Dombaya Many diverse streams currently on mountain slopes or in forests, many waterfalls, which are main routes in the gorges.
Waterfall Alibek. It goes the road and a trail in Alibek Gorge. You can go through the river and get closer.
It should be borne in mind that all the gorges and the surroundings of the village of Domabi - the territory of the Teberdinsky reserve, and on all the roads there are posts of foresters who charge fee and give a ticket, but not always. In addition, this is also a cross-border area, a little further located posts of border guards, and to find in this zone rich in waterfalls, glaciers and other beautiful places, permission is necessary. Its in the presence of a Russian passport can make foresters, but the passport must always be worn. Although the autumn of the border guards was practically not on cordons, and we didn't immediately make permission immediately, and the first days we hoped for the strength of the Russian passport, the ticket from the forester, the lack of border guards and human understanding, if a patrol suddenly meets.
Often dogs were linked in the village. At first there was one dog, who somehow made me a company on the morning shooting at the river. Then they were four at some point. It was funny with them, but sometimes it was necessary to take for a twig in educational purposes, otherwise the camera with a tripod could be in a stormy mountain river or just fly on the stones. For some reason, all your games and dogs loved to arrange exactly in the place where I put a tripod with the camera. In one day, a couple of dogs left with us far enough, despite the frequent rain with the wind, and even set aside for personnel.
On the damn mill in the amanauz river gorge.
Here is the river, squeezed between the rocks. The animal became interested in something below, and managed to make several frames.
It was necessary to buy sausage dogs to buy dogs - for the fact that, despite the weather, they walked with us all day in the mountains and still worked out.
In the ski area there is a cable car and slopes for skiing. You can rise in several stages to climb the height of 3168 m above sea level to Moussa-Achitar, look around the surrounding mountain peaks and even if you're lucky with the weather, see the top of Elbrus (we were not lucky, he was hiding in the clouds cap).
Hello, Mountains are such an embroider!
The clouds flow through Pttyush's pass from Abkhazia. They flow, bursting into the valley, and then take off on the mountain: then everything delays fog, but not for long, the wind quickly takes them further.
Game of light, shadows, clouds and mountains.
Top Sophhroju hid in the clouds putting out only his tooth
Highly in the mountains met homely alpine cat. In fact, this is one of the intermediate rope levels, there are many buildings - and it lives somewhere in a cafe and "hunting" for tourists with sandwiches.
Dombaya Romance
The sun hides behind the mountains. The sunset in the mountains comes earlier than on the plain or by the sea. And below - cloudy weather.
Lilac twilight in the mountains
Wanderer over the sea fog. Self-portrait based on the eponymous picture of the German-romance of the XIX century Kaspar David Friedrich.
By making this and other frames, we were late for a rope, although on a schedule in the ticket she had to work for a few more minutes. I had to admire the mountains covered by the full moon and the starry sky over the clouds, but, unfortunately, the batteries for the camera sat down and capture this stunning picture failed.
Then, after a while, after numerous calls to the hotel and unsuccessful attempts to find the employees of the ropes, when we have already decided to go down on foot, the workoverings of the excavators appeared and helped us go down on duty trap.
In the vicinity of Dombuy, many beautiful places - the gorge, lakes, waterfalls, but in a short time it is impossible everywhere, especially with the weather.
Emerald Lake Tumaly-Koyl, which is also called a trout, in the gorge of a gonachhir.
A well-known military-suite road with a good asphalt is held in the gorge, and a lot of cars and buses come to the lake with excursions and vacationers. The lakeside is equipped with a parking lot, mangals, tables and benches, so the most beautiful view against the background of the snowy mountains is almost impossible - all these benefits of civilization fall into the frame.
Gorgeous asphalt road in the gorge of Gonachhir towards the Klukhore Pass, the former Military-Sukhum road. Former, because now another country is around the corner, well, it fell asleep in the transferred part of the road.
Turquoise gonachhir
On the last day of staying in Dombaya, the first snow fell, and it was possible, although not long, admire the type of snow-covered autumn mountain forests.
A little about photographic equipment.
All frames were removed on the Fujifilm X-T10 camera and a small set of lenses to it. Walking in the mountains with a small and light chamber and the same optics was very cool and comfortable, despite the fact that they were always a tripod and a certain number of personal belongings.
Despite the fact that moisture protection is not officially announced by the manufacturer, the camera has completely shifted the shooting in the rain - not a shower, of course, but several times the camera and optics needed to dry, although I tried to protect it as much as possible from the water. Very pleased with the presence of a built-in RAW converter and Wi-Fi, the ability to select the famous Fujiyevsky "film" profiles and other settings.
I could quickly share the impressions of what you saw with friends and in social networks. Some of the presented photos are processed with the help of the camera.
Something about the shooting process (on the old phone): 
Dombai is located in the middle between the coast of the Black Sea and Elbrus. Both sides are direct about 65 kilometers. Perhaps it influenced the fact that Drubai in the summer is especially beautiful. Three weeks I was waiting for a clear sunny day that a trip to the mountains would darken with the fogs and that all the vertices were rich in Dombaya Polyana were open. I managed to see the Mountains of Domboy in all its glory!
Resort Dombay
At 9 am, we crossed the border of the Teberdinsky reserve. After 20 minutes, we have reached the village of Dombay from where it was up. From here from the village stunning view of the beauty Belalakay (3861m.) - One of my favorite photos))
Hotels and hotels
Most of the resort hotels are open year-round. Hotels in Domabai in the summer, in winter, in spring and autumn there are for every taste and wallet.
In general, there is more than a hundred accommodation options in Dombaya. You can see them on our map.
Best hotels in Dombay
Budget hotels in Dombae
A large selection of apartments, cottages and apartments on Dombaya Polyana can be found using the form below.
Not everyone knows, but in Russia the tour operators began to sell tours in Dombay. You can buy a tour on the following sites:
Amanauses - River in Dombay
To get to the cable car, you need to go through the bridge. Here, through the rows of coniferous giants, the Amanauz River carries their waters.
Amanauses is a real mountain river. This rapid flower is the source of the tebere river. By the way, translated Amanauses means "evil mouth".
From the other side of the bridge, there is a stunning view of Sophfloj (3781m) and the Crystal Hotel in the village of Dombay.
Dombaya cableways
There is a developed multi-level system of cable roads on the Dombaya, we used the one that was called new. The network of cableways in the house allows you to climb to the top of the Moussa-Achitara Mountain. In summer, the old and new line of the cable car is functioning. Running forward should be explained that the system is 4-level, i.e. With two transplants. Upon arrival in Dombay, we were at an altitude of 1590 meters, from here was to rise at Moussa-Achitar Mount of about 3163 meters. At the weekend in the summer, Dombai attends a very large number of tourists and excursions. Move to the lift with a speaker in the morning problematic.
Old pendulum cable car. It can only be climbed on the 2nd level.
Our approach to the second level was held in the trailer that can be characterized as performed in some kind of swiss-futuristic style, in comparison with the tricks of the Soviet period.
But now, such booths can be seen in many places. They run in and in.
Domboy cable car diagram is as follows.
Rise to the top of the dom
There was no 10 o'clock in the morning as I was already at the second level - the height of 2277 above sea level.
From here in the rays of the rising sun, the entire village of Dombai and the Alibek gorge, overlooking the Erzog (3683m) and Galovchat (3884m).
Perfectly visible Peak Inna and Jugurvutant Massif (3921m) - translated in the Mountain of the Tour Gorge.
Glacier on the ridge of Mount Jugurvutat. 
Here we spend no more than 10 minutes and continue to rise further on open 6-seater sites. At the same time, cross the old lifts at the top, as well as open, but 2-seater type.
A few minutes and we are at the third level. This level is most equipped, there are various cafes and antennas.
The most interesting from the cafe is "3012" (apparently in the altitude of the location) has a form stylized under the fortress of Caucasian peoples.
On the way back, I served here the trout for 200r, could not refuse myself in a little pleasure in such a beautiful day.
After lunch, she wandered some time, made some photos, some of which for some reason I really resemble the Central Asia - Afghanistan Pakistan, although I have never been there)))
Here the mountains are moved away, they become not so close, but now, now the whole of their huge array appears the gaze - Dombiyaya Polyana. From here it becomes perfectly visible in the Dombai Ulgen gorge into the killed bison - the highest of the mountains of the Western Caucasus - 4046 meters and all its gorge. By the way, the word "Dombay" itself translated from Karachai language means "bison". Once there were whole herds of these animals.
The Amanauz array is visible (3757 m.) - On the photo on the right.
Glacier Dzuguturluhant, Amanauses and Sufroju.
Getting up in all the Gras of Semyon-Bashi (3608 m.) And the border of eternal ice begins.
By the way, from the third level, there is a stunning view of the Taberdinsky Gorge, from there we arrived.
We had 3 hours of time - so much and so little that would enjoy this beauty, plus we took another hour to descend.
Mountains Dombaya. Dombaya Polyana from the top of Mousse-Achitar
But the rise is not over, further upstairs, another cable car leads to the top of Mousse-Achitar. At the time of my reason, the road was not yet commissioned. It was built to build it, but it refused to work according to the old Russian tradition and no one could understand why. In general, experts were waiting for example from Switzerland where this miracle of technology was produced.
Well, this is not even a debris of Mount Beshtau and even did not even think about it and I decided that I would like, according to anyone !!
The rise was given pretty quickly. 10-15 minutes and I was already standing on the top of Moussa-Achitar Main Mountain Dombay. The height was already 3 kilometers. From here, the entire valley of the Domabish Mountains - Domabiyskaya Polyana opened.
Dombaya Polyana is a place in the upper reaches of the Teberda River uniting several mountain gorges. The compound of Dombai Ulgen gorges, Amanauses, Alibek and Gonachir - to form the Circus of the Mountain Territory of which combined by Dombaya Polyana or simply Dombay.
Dombay Ulgen Gorge
The extreme left - Amanauses - Sophhroju - Belarus - Erzog + Galovchat - the extreme right.
Massif Jugurvuts.
Alibeque Gorge
Amanauz gorge
Semen Bashi and Mount Mountain Big Mark.
Teberedy gorge
You make a few steps and before your feet takes the beginning of Teberda on the merger of the Amanauz Rivers and Gonachhir.
Opens the view of the Teberdin Gorge.
Gonachhir gorge
We look at the East and the gorge of the gorge of the Gonachir with the main Caucasian ridge on the other side is getting up.
The gorge is crowned as a crown of the snow-white hat Elbrus.
Top Mousse-Achitar
Here, on top of where all Mountains Dombay, I spent almost an hour. I swatched in the chair of the non-working edge, there was practically twisted legs with a cliff on top of the 3rd kilometers, burned on a bright mountain sun And he received an incredible pleasure from unforgettable species that Domabiyskaya Polyana gives.
By the way, Moussa-Achitar is also known as Musat Cherie.
Dombaya Polyana contains not a countable number of mountains, arrays and peaks. I tried to allocate at least the main, most pronounced peaks.
Summer Dombai on video
On our video Dombay in the summer. Rock up to the top of Moussa-Achitar and Mountains of Dombaya Polyana.
Dombai in the summer. Descent down
It was hard to descend from the top, as my way went through the remnants of the snowy cap, and the remaining snow looks more like a very crushed lodge. Sneakers are absolutely not suitable shoes to intersect such a snow language at least in a width of a dozen meters.
You visited Dombai in the summer, at the top at the foot of the glacier, can see how Biberstein bells grow.
Place where the rivers begin, if you look at the photo below, you can notice a thin rod)))
Snow on the vertices lie all year round as if bonded Dombai. In the summer, the glaciers are melting, with Moussa-Achitars a great view of the Jugurvutian waterfall. He is of course not the only one. Dombai in the summer is rich in waterfalls, but not all of them are easily accessible.
Left tooth Sophfloj, Belarus on the right.
I spent almost half an hour at the second level. I could not find one of the symbols of Dombaya - a hotel in the form of a flying saucer. But my searches ended well. The "Flying Plate" Dombausa presented the President of Finland Urho Kekkonen. Opening took place in 1979. The hotel accommodates up to 8 people.
For the search, I was rewarded with herbs of alpine meadows. Dombai in summer is not only mountains, it's also a stunning beauty nature!
How to get to Domboy
Dombaya Polyana is the mountainous territory in the Caucasus. There is no airport or railway. Nevertheless, getting to the house is not difficult. By the way, entry into the territory of the Teberdinsky Reserve is paid.
How to get to Dombaya from Moscow
From Moscow to get to the houses faster than on the aircraft. The nearest airport is in the city of Mineralnye Vody. From Moscow to Mineralnye Vody, about a dozen flights of various airlines flying at any time of the day. Flight time will be 2 hours.
How to get from Mineralnye Waters to Dombay
Before the domability of mineral waters a little more than 200 kilometers. If you go on your own transport, that is, 2 roads, through Cherkessk or through. Through the road the road more picturesna, if you are not afraid of mountain serpentines.
As an option, you can rent a car, taking a night in Dombay, and the next day to visit the neighboring with Dombaya Polyana Arkhyz. You can even go to Elbrus or in. In addition to the house in the summer in the Caucasus there are a lot of places that can be visited by yourself. Rent a car at affordable prices on the site.
You can get to Dombaya by train, through Nevinnomyssk. From Nevinnomyssk, and Cherkessk, Pyatigorsk and mineral waters can be reached by Dombay on a flight bus from the bus station. Of the minuses, the bus goes to Teberda, there you need to make a transplant. You can see flights and purchase tickets.
To move, you can take a taxi. You can order a taxi to the airport on the website or pobnifying below. You will meet with a sign and take away to the threshold.
At the resorts of mineral waters, you can also purchase a day trip. Departure almost every day at 6 am, the price is about 1200 rubles per person. Individual excursions can be found.
How to get to Dombay by train
As I wrote to the distance to Dombay, the train will not work. On the train you can first get to the mineral waters, and even better to the station Nevinnomysskaya. From Nevinnomyssk, the train can be reached to the nearest to Dombaya Polyana of the railway station in Cherkessk.
Dombai or Elbrus? Where better to go
What would choose much better go to Dombai or Elbrus first need to understand why? Immediately I will say that if possible, it is better to go there and there. Better the mountains can only be mountains. If there is no such possibility, let's consider several options to choose Elbrus or Dombay.
If we talk about the mountain skiing, then Dombaya Polyana is more compact, getting to the trails, but the tracks themselves lose Elbrus. However, on vacation in the winter we will not stop, as an article about Dombai in the summer.
If you are for the first time in the Caucasus and can spend only 1 day on the trip, then boldly choose the direction that is closer to you in the distance. If the distance is approximately the same, I would recommend choose Elbrus. All the same, it is not only the highest mountain of Europe, but also the highest mountain of Russia. Elbrus is not in vain considered the pearl of the Caucasus. On the cable car you can get to the glacier himself, and there, if you wish and good weather, take a snowmobile to the shelter 11. To see Dombai in the summer and to visit the glacier will not succeed. You can catch last year's snowball, but this is not a glacier.
If you are planning a trip to Dombay or Elbrus for a few days, it is better to choose Dombai. The infrastructure there is more compact, the service in hotels is slightly higher. Mountains are slightly more picturesque and closer than in Elbrus. Dombaya Polyana, and all Teberda is considered a place for air in which it is useful for people with elderly diseases. Here, people cured even from CHAGS. But on Elbrus there is no so much greens.
Almost all the fauna and flora of Russia are collected in the small territory of the Dombasy Valley and Elbrus region, all climatic and landscape zones of our country are presented. In addition, rare animals live here, which have no longer anywhere else. Gradually, the issues of preserving natural nature are becoming increasingly important, which is reflected in the legislative framework, work on breeding, the preservation of animals, originally not inhabited in the area, but adapted to the new climate.
For this, new reserves and hunting and protected farms appear. For example, since 1976, there is a Kabardino-Balkan reserve with an area of \u200b\u200b53,300 hectares, located in the upper reaches of the rivers Chegem (the right influx of bucksana), the Cherki Bizengic and Cherkoe Cherki. The Cheger Valley, as is sometimes called the Kabardino-Balkarian reserve, is located on the border with the Elbrus.
As a result, Elbrusie is surrounded by state reserves - from the east of North-Ossetian and Kabardino-Balkar, and from the West - Teberdinsky. Elbrusier plays the role of a buffer zone, which removes the tourist load from the reserves and serves as a "security guard" of unique natural territories. If any recreation is prohibited in the reserves, in principle, it is possible to create a strictly limited number of roads, lay some routes and equip several parking lots. Thus, tourists can though from afar, but to get acquainted with these most interesting places, admire the unique "pattern" of forests and meadows on the surrounding mountains. Hunting and protected farms and forestry are obliged to strictly monitor compliance with the norms.
The Central Caucasus refers to the area with a temperate continental climate, where the altitude exemplary is clearly expressed, and vegetable, as well as climatic zones are separated by the most Mother-nature. The boundaries are easy to detect even with a naked eye. The lowest belt stretching from the glade to a height of 2,000 - 2,400 meters is a forest: fir, fir (up to 45-50 meters high), on southern slopes diluted with oaks, oaks, birch and maples. Fruit forests consisting of alchi, terns, cherries and apple trees are found, the glades threw the leather and honeysuckle, gooseberry, barberry, currants and raspberries. Here you can collect all kinds of mushrooms: chewing, brewer, champignons, chanterelles, sweeps and duboviki, as well as a coral mushroom, which is considered one of the "identification signs" of the house and whose hat sometimes reaches 0.5 meters in diameter, although in other places he ordinary sizes. A special microclimate "in response" for the fact that the familiar flowers and herbs grow simply to unrecognizable sizes.
The next zone is subalpine meadows that spread to a height of 2,600 meters above sea level. Next, the alpine meadows are coming, in which the grass grows up to two meters in height, and in contrast to them - alpine meadows low-altar, attracting attention to bright colors of flowers, in particular Rhododendron and Genzian. In the spring and summer, the slopes of the mountains seem to be covered with a patchwork, consisting of bright flower spots.
The mountains
The most famous and highest mountain in Europe and Russia - Elbrus, whose western peak is located at an altitude of 5,642 meters, and East - 5,621 meters above sea level - located precisely in these unique places. Elbrus is a volcanic array of giant sizes and highly distinguished from the general mountain system. This is exactly what determines the originality and uniqueness of climate, landscape and relief in this region. The thickness of the glaciers on Elbrus reaches 400 meters, the total area of \u200b\u200bglaciation is about 150 square kilometers.
Among the attractions of Elbrusya are magnificent gorges, which are located above 2,000 meters above sea level: Adyr-Su, Adyl-Su, Terskol, Baksanskoye, Yus Things. Each gorge is a separate natural object that has a high degree of attractiveness for tourists.
The largest gorge is the Baksanskoye, which leads most of the tourist routes and through which the path to Elbrus, the Sedovian Patriarch of the Caucasus, runs. It is here, in the upper reaches of Baksan, her tributaries Adylsu, Irik and the Malki Valley concentrated mineral springs that have a different chemical composition and used in the treatment of various diseases.
Dombai.
Mountain resort Dombay is a real "Caucasus Heart", surrounded by mountains and fir forests. The unique beauty of this area is to combine dark wheels of forests and bright greenery of alpine meadows, interfering with stormy rivers, waterfalls, snow-white hats of eternal snow and dazzling glaciers. Created by the nature of the cover of the earth's surface, even approximately cannot be restored by human hand.
Dombay Resort is located in the luxurious Teberdinsky Reserve, created back in 1936. The living museum of nature harmoniously combines the magnificent and deep mountains, overgrown with forests and meadows, rapid mountain rivers and picturesque roofing waterfalls, unreally beautiful alpine lakes and the lush vegetation of the shores. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe reserve is 85 thousand hectares that are located on the north side of the Chief Caucasus Range.
In the Teberdinsky Reserve lives 43 species of mammals, the most recognizable and most common "symbol" of Dombaya - Caucasian stone goat (or Western Caucasian tour). Sablevoid large horns are considered the main decoration of this animal (up to 1 to 1 meter and up to 30 cm wide). Goats are best adapted to life in the mountains, each cell of their body is most suitable for such living conditions.
The second "pride" of the reserve is a bison, which is considered the largest wild beast of Europe. This animal was practically destroyed during World War II, only individual specimens in zoos remained, although initially there were whole herds of bison in these mountains. Now the reserve is trying to revive the bison. Actually, in Karachay, the word "bison" sounds like "Dombai", hence the name of the resort itself. From here it is the name of the highest point of the Dombaya - Dombai-Ealgen, which is translated, by one version, as "killed bison", and on the other - is named after the Celers-hunter who killed the bison alone.
In the forest zone, the houses are found boars and caucasian deers, lynx and roe, sacks and foxes, stone and forest cunning, brown bear and squirrel, wolves. The upper boundaries often meet Caucasian Tetra and Sulna. By the spring of the forest "thick populated" by birds: mountain turkey (Ular), partridges, eagles, dalks and other "inhabitants of trees." The rivers are transparent so much that it can be seen how trout struggles with the flow and overcomes the thresholds. Immediately "hunt" Olenyap - a small bird with a white breast, bravely diving straight into stormy water.
One of the directions in which work is underway in the reserve is experiments on acclimatization of animals and plants who did not live in this area before. So, now the ginseng is cultivated here, they care about Spotted deer, Altai protein and a raccoon dog. Attempts on the reproduction and preservation of rare, on the verge of birds and animals on the verge of the disappearance of birds and animals.
Dombai is the edge of untouched nature, snowy crown of mountains and forests. Athletes and lovers of walks are seeking here. Dombaya Valley, on which there is a resort village is surrounded by mountain ridges. From the south, this is the main Caucasian ridge, with the Eastern - Dombay-Ulgen Gorge, the North - Amanauz Gorge and Alibek Gorge from the west.
And it is easier to navigate, the following is a list of all the attractions of the Dombaya with a photo and description.
It occupies an area of \u200b\u200b85 thousand hectares on the northern slope of the Caucasian Range. Dombaya Valley, in which holidaymakers stop, is the southern part of the Teberdinsky Reserve.
On the territory of the reserve there are many beautiful places where it is worth going to free time. These are mysterious gorges, viewing platforms, snowy peaks, glaciers and lakes. Lakes in the reserve about 150 lakes, and the famous of them is a club lake. It is located at an altitude of 2676 m above sea level and almost all year round is covered with ice.
And the main river Reserve - Teberda is connected with legends and stories. For one of them, the name means "God's gift".
Amanauz gorge
Translated from Karachai "Aman" is the evil, "AUZ" - the mouth. So he was named the ancient residents of the Dombaya Valley. The fact is that the Amanauz River flows through all the gorge. Water, breaking up the rock, makes a strong roar. It was believed that this evil spirit and residents were not solved to go to the gorge.
The passage of the gorge is quite narrow and surrounded by the peaks of the Mountains of Belarus and theatrical peak. Even in the summer, light with difficulty penetrates the light, and snow islands are found on rivers and slopes.
A walk through the gorge begins from the Dombay resort village, goes along the river and ends on the cliff. The rock overlooks the stormy river Amanaus, which makes himself a narrow gorge.
Every landmark on Dombaya is unique. But separately it is worth highlighting the Male Lakes in the Valley of the Ullu-Municipal River at an altitude of 3000 m. The lakes include 15 reservoirs, but tourists seek to see only two. You can only go to the lakes on foot, but it is better to resort to the help of a guide and allocate for a walk for two days with overnight stay.
The Blue Music Lake is different from other lakes with its sizes. Diameter - 500 m, and the depth of about 52 m. Blue it is called due to the color of water.
From the blue lake, the tourist trail leads to a black lake. But the water in the lake is not black, but soon dark green. In the vicinity of Lakes, tourists will open amazing landscapes and meetings with wild mountain goats.
Sentinsky Temple
This is a Christian temple that is located on the territory of Aula Lower Teberda. Although the temple is dated 965, it is in a relatively good condition. Inside the building you can see the residues of the frescoes, and a stone mausoleum is built next to it.
The temple refer to the most ancient buildings on the territory of Alanya.
Or Baduki in simple speech. They are a cascade of three lakes on the Baduk River. You can get to the lakes in 3 hours, so the trip to them will take one day without overnight stay. To Baduk's lakes should be in autumn. Pine and birch thickets grow around the lakes, which autumn are filled with paints.
The first lake in the cascade is small. Water is not warming up above 5⁰s. The second lake goes along the left bank of the river. Next to the lake built a leisure and a picnic leisure. Up to the third lake can be reached in two ways. The third lake is the largest of the cascade and is located at an altitude of 1990 m above sea level.
Alibek Glacier and Waterfall
One of the most popular and mandatory places to visit. To the observation deck on the glacier it is easy to get, and along the way there will be many trails to other attractions.
The route to Alibek starts from the Tourbase of the Tourbase in the Forest Trail. The trail will lead to the Uzun-Tala glade, with which the view of the glacier and the snowy macushki of the mountains opens. Even on a hot summer day, the glacier is covered with ice layer and snow, as in winter. The Alibek Glacier is not the only in the vicinity of Dombay, but the biggest. Unfortunately, over the years, the glacier area decreases, but it does not cease to admire tourists with its power and contrast towards green forests and meadows.
Returning from the glacier back, you will meet the pointer to Alibek Waterfall. The path to it is light and will take no more than half an hour. The waterfall has a height of 25 meters and falls with smooth stones, which are called "Barani Libi". Alibek Waterfall is powerful and loud, splashes from it to tourists a couple of kilometers from the waterfall.
Chuchur waterfall
This waterfall was formed from the Chuchur River. He descends from the Chuchur Gorge to Dombai Ulgen Gorge. The waterfall has three cascades, which are easily accessible. The path begins from the village from the Crocus Department. First you will pass the Leah's Polyana, and then Russian Polyana. It will open with the first view of the waterfall. After the Russian glade, the trail will be branched. Rotate right leads to the gorge, and to the left to the Chuchur Falls. The road to the waterfall will lie through the Alpine and subalpian meadows. On the way, stone blocks tall above 5 meters, which brought outgoing glaciers to the meadows thousands of years ago.
The waterfall consists of three cascades. At first, the trail displays to the middle cascade, it can be climbed to the top, but the path is difficult to go there and you should not go to rainy weather. From the top cascade, the panoramic view of the Vertain Dombay Ulgen (4046 m) is opened.
Another local attraction, which is worth a visit during the holidays on Dombaya. The walk to the damn mill is best combined with a walk in the amanauz gorge. Pointers are placed before the waterfall. The main thing is not to be knocked out with it and do not go for signs with the designation of the border zone.
During the campaign to the damn mill, many small waterfalls and streams will meet. These are all the results of melting glaciers. The waterfall itself passes through a narrow cleft in the form of the letter S. Water falls along the steep sloping surface, forming a mill of jets. Near the damn mill there is a small observation deck on a sheer cliff. Therefore, while walking should be extremely neat.
The vertex Dombay-Ulgen fascinates the attention of tourists at any time of the year. In summer, ice macs are bathed in the rays of the bright sun, in the winter on the snow cover you can observe the sailion of the sunset. And in autumn, when the whole forest becomes multicolored, the mountain looks still brighter and contrast. Round year of the mountains of the mountains are shrouded in snow and ice. From the glaciers of Ulgen, the rapid River Tebereda takes his beginning, going down to the village.
You can look at Mount Dombay-Ulgen from anywhere in the village. This mountain is the highest in the West Caucasus. The mountain consists of three vertices with altitudes: 4046 m, 4036 m and 3950 m. From the main and high peak, the comb, which in the people is called "Dombay Saddle".
Lake is located near the Alibek and Bilingual Glacier. If the hike is combined with a walk to the waterfall, you will have to return to the Alibek camp and go to the signs to the lake. The trail will be not complicated, but in some places it will have to move mountain rivers over bridges and go to Kurumnikam. Kurumnik is a mound of stones, fragments of rocks and rocks.
Turkey Lake has a glacial origin. The water in it is bright blue and until the middle of the summer is covered with layer of ice. Only the most bold travelers are solved in the lake tour. Near the lake there are often mountain goats, which are called tours. They were they gave the name to this lake.
What else to see in Dombay
In addition to the listed attractions on Dombaya there are still mass of places to visit. No one will have a question "What to do?" And "what to do?".
