What animals live on the mashuk. Caucasian Mineral Waters

On the slopes of the mountain there are terrainkours (walking paths) with a length of 10 km. it beautiful place recreation and tourism.

From Mount Mashuk, wonderful views of the mountains Elbrus (5642 m.), Dzhutsa 1 (1191 m.), Dzhutsa 2 (973.2 m.), Sheludivaya (874 m.), Shagmataya (1080 m.), ( 1400 m.), Goat Rocks (1167), Zheleznaya (853 m.), Razvalka (926), Zmeika (994 m.).

Map

At the top of the mountain there is a television center (Radio and television broadcasting station of the city of Pyatigorsk).

You can climb Mashuk Mountain on foot along the equipped asphalt paths from Gagarin Boulevard (starting not far from the Cable Car), from Kalinin Avenue (at the intersection with 295th Rifle Division Street). You can also climb along cable car.

There are many viewing platforms on the top of Mashuk Mountain. There are souvenir shops and the Dary Kavkaza restaurant.

There is a beautiful view of the city from the Dary Kavkaza restaurant. Here we tried herbal tea and various jams. The selection of jams is large, there is also honey. Didn't try the food, but the choice of food on the menu is varied.

Walks on Mount Mashuk

There is a walking path (terrenkur) around Mashuk Mountain. The length of a full circle is about 10 km. On your way, you will meet such sights as the Gate of the Sun, the Portrait of Lenin (written on the rock), the Glade of Songs, the mass grave of the victims of the Nazi occupation,. There are benches along the paths. There is a lot of greenery here, the air is clean.

Climbing Mount Mashuk - you can climb the mountain along an asphalt road. Cars sometimes pass here, but quite rarely. Therefore, the walk will be quite comfortable. But for her you need to be physically well prepared. We went out onto the road leading to Mount Mashuk from Boulevard Gagarin. The ascent starts from the path. leading up, which is located at the lower station of the cable car (to the right of the grocery store). You should go straight to the Gate of the Sun (stone gate on a large platform). There the road bifurcates - straight up the road leads to Mount Mashuk, and to the left leads along the road around Mount Mashuk. The length of the road to the top of the mountain from the beginning of the ascent is about 2 km.

Cable car

Mount Mashuk can be reached by the Cable Car. The lower station is located on Gagarin Boulevard (near the intersection with Akademika Pavlova St.). The upper station is located on the top of Mashuk Mountain. The trailers run every 10 minutes. The last trailer leaves at 20 o'clock from the top of the mountain. The ascent or descent time is several minutes.

The cost of a round trip is about 300 rubles.

Monument to Pastukhov

At the top of Mount Mashuk, at the upper station of the lift, there is a grave and a memorial obelisk of the military topographer Pastukhov Andrey Vasilyevich (1860-1899). The memorial obelisk is located 100 meters down from the top of the mountain. A stone staircase leads to it.

On the memorial obelisk there is a bas-relief of Pastukhov and the words are carved:

"Military topographer Andrei Vasilievich Pastukhov 1860-1899"

"From the corps of loyal topographers and relatives"

"Kazbek 1889

Elbrus 1890

Ararat 1893 "

Portrait of V.I. Lenin on the rock

Portrait of V.I. Lenin on a rock is located in the area of ​​the lower station of the Cable Car. You can get to the place of Lenin's portrait from the walking path. There is a stand by the road and a staircase upstairs from it to the left. If you go up the stairs, then after about 200 meters you will find yourself at a cliff with a portrait of Lenin.

The portrait of Lenin was painted on July 25, 1925 for the final day of the first congress of mountain and Cossack women of the North Caucasus, which took place in Pyatigorsk. The author of the portrait is the artist N.K. Shuklin.

Glade of songs

An open-air concert hall located on the walking path of Mashuk Mountain. The Glade of Songs is located between the Gate of the Sun and the Place of Lermontov's Duel.

From the Glade of Songs one can see the stone inscription "PYATIGORSK" on the Mashuk mountain.

You can get to the Polyana of Songs from Kalinin Avenue (from the intersection with 295th Street by a rifle division).

View of the Snake Mountain

Video

View from Mount Mushuk

In literature

"Yesterday I arrived in Pyatigorsk, rented an apartment on the outskirts of the city, at the highest place, at the foot of Mashuk: during a thunderstorm, clouds will descend to my roof. Today at 5 o'clock in the morning, when I opened the window, my room was filled with the smell of flowers growing in a modest front garden. Branches of cherry blossoms look out my windows, and the wind sometimes strews their white petals on my desk. I have a wonderful view from three sides. To the west, the five-headed Beshtu turns blue like “the last cloud of a scattered storm”; Mashuk rises to the north, like a shaggy Persian hat, and covers this entire part of the sky.It's more fun to look to the east: below in front of me a clean, brand new town is dazzling; healing keys, the multilingual crowd is noisy, - and there, further, the mountains are piling up like an amphitheater, everything is blue and foggy, and on the edge of the horizon a silver chain of snow peaks stretches, starting with Kazbek and ending with the two-headed Elborus. - It's fun to live in such a land! Some kind of gratifying feeling is spread in all my veins. The air is clean and fresh, like the kiss of a child; the sun is bright, the sky is blue - what would seem to be more? - why are there passions, desires, regrets? - But it's time. I will go to the Elizabethan spring: there, they say, the whole water society gathers in the morning ... "

Mount Mashuk is one of the iconic sights of the city of Pyatigorsk, it offers a dizzying view of the city and other mountains, for example, Beshtau, in clear weather you can even see Elbrus.

The height of Mount Mashuk is almost 994 meters.

Several mineral springs have been found on the slopes, sanatoriums are located nearby, which makes the place popular for vacationers who want to improve their health. For treatment, terrenkury is also practiced - wellness hiking on Mount Mashuk. To master the ascent to the top, you don't have to be an athlete; almost everyone can walk along the asphalt road and paths. Moderate physical activity, combined with the beauty of nature, stunning views and local attractions, has a strong effect on many tourists.

Legend of Mount Mashuk

People tend to poetic Beautiful places, so a beautiful and sad legend is connected with the origin of Mashuk. Long ago in place Caucasus mountains there were vast plains inhabited by sledges. They were led by Prince Elbrus, who had a son Beshtau - a strong and brave warrior. Once Beshtau met the beautiful Mashuko, fell in love with her with all his heart and soon married her. Only now the father was not very happy about this event - after all, he liked Mashuko himself. Wanting to achieve it, Elbrus went for a trick - he sent his son on a campaign to distant lands, and a little later he himself provoked rumors about the death of Beshtau. Mashuko was inconsolable, Elbrus put a ring on her finger by force, but she did not want to be his wife. To break her resistance, he imprisoned her in a tower.

Returning Beshtau, learning about this, stole his beloved and fled with her. However, the cruel Elbrus set off in pursuit and overtook the fugitives. In the ensuing battle, both soldiers fell - Beshtau managed to cut his father's head in half, and he cut him into five parts. Unable to live without her beloved, Mashuko pierced her chest with a dagger. The witness of the events - nature - was so amazed by what had happened that everything around was petrified with grief. And now Mount Mashuk with Lake Proval (a symbol of a wound in the heart), Beshtau with five peaks and Elbrus with two peaks remind of this.

sights

In addition to beautiful nature and its feathered inhabitants on the way to the top, there are many attractions. Near some of them there are tablets with information; for a complete picture of the mountain, its places and legends, you can rent an audio guide at the lower station of the cable car, its cost is 50 rubles.

You should definitely visit Lake Proval, located in underground cave... It was discovered thanks to the collapsed vault. The unusual blue color of the lake, which is due to the presence of sulfur and special bacteria in it, especially attracts attention. Near the lake there is a monument to Ostap Bender - the enterprising hero of the work "12 chairs", who earned money by selling tickets to the place where the lake was visited. The so-called People's Baths are located not far from the lake.

The observation deck is also interesting - the gazebo "Aeolian Harp", earlier it housed harps, which, under the influence of the wind, produced wonderful music. Now in this place musical equipment is installed, the melody can be enjoyed in any weather, regardless of the wind.

Perhaps the most romantic place- The Gate of the Sun or, as they are also called, the Gate of Love. This arch, made of boulders, especially attracts newlyweds, there is even a tradition - the groom must carry the bride under it three times, then a happy family life awaits them. There is also an observation deck next to the gate.

The city of Pyatigorsk is associated with the name of the famous Russian writer - M. Yu. Lermontov, a duel took place on the slope of Mashuk Mountain, which took his life. An obelisk was installed at this place, which can be found during the ascent. Another place associated with the poet is Lermontov's grotto.

Other interesting sights are the rock portrait of Lenin, the Academic Gallery, the Perkal dendrological nursery, the cascade fountain, and the majestic sculpture of an eagle.

At the top of the mountain, in addition to an overview of stunning views, you can admire a tall TV tower and see the signs with the names of cities and the distance from them to Pyatigorsk. Many tourists like to find signs with their hometowns.

How to get to Mount Mashuk

You can get to the top of Mashuk by walking or cycling, you can go up and take the cable car. Tourists come here not only during the season, even in winter there are those who wish, because the snow-covered landscapes are no less beautiful.

The road to Mount Mashuk on foot and by bike

Ascending and descending on foot can take a lot of time and effort, so many devote a whole day to exploring the mountain and its attractions. The asphalt encircles the mountain ring road, walking through which you can see the main interesting places... To get to the top, you need to turn off the road onto one of the many paths, any of them will lead you up. There are many routes that lead to the top of the mountain. The ascent to Mashuk takes an average of 1.5-2 hours, but it all depends on the path chosen and the level of physical fitness.

Many vacationers prefer to get to the cable car by minibus number 1 from the Railway Station. You need to get off at the Leninskie Rocks stop. You can also get to the place by car and taxi, using the applications: Yandex. Taxi, Gett and others.

Then you can walk to the Gate of the Sun and then walk along the serpentine to the top. It is also convenient to ride on this road by bike. Walking along the serpentine, you can turn onto trails, they open up more picturesque views, but at the same time they are more difficult to climb.

Cable car to Mount Mashuk

If there is no time or desire to climb on foot, you can use the cable car service. The wagons cover the way to the top in about 3 minutes, during which time you can appreciate the views and beauty of the landscapes.

Price for using the cable car:

• for children from 5 to 8 years old - 50 rubles. (one way), 100 rubles. (both)
• for adults - 210 rubles. (one way), 360 rubles. (both)
• children under 5 travel for free.

You can have a snack with fast food at the lower station of the cable car, at the top there is an opportunity to dine in a cafe with panoramic views.

Video about Mount Mashuk

And don't go to the top of the mountain Mashuk... On our website, we have repeatedly written about our ascents to the Mashuk peak and described walks around the mountain along the terrenkur. In this topic, we will try to collect all the available information and help the tourist.

Mashuk is a mountain of magmatic origin in the center.

Mashuk height- 994 meters. Some sources provide more accurate data - 993.7 m. However, we will not be able to check these figures, because the top is fenced with a fence, behind which there is an edge repeater with a television tower.

The legend of the name of the mountain... Mashuk is a local toponym that remained to the descendants of the peoples who lived in the region until the end of the 18th century. You can hear from any guide beautiful story about the beautiful girl Mashuko, who turned to stone, mourning the murdered groom. In this version of the story, everyone died, turning into mountains. There are other, more prosaic translations of the title. Some attribute the name of the mountain to the name of some person, others find roots in Turkic and translate the name as “cat”. On old maps and ancient documents of the first half of the 19th century, the mountain is sometimes called Mechukha or Mashukha.

Underground lake "Proval"

Geological structure of Mashuk... We wrote briefly about in a separate article. Considered what might happen in resort town... We will not dwell on the scientific description geological structure the mountains. Perhaps we will write about this later. Mashuk is an outlier mountain of magmatic origin. It is precisely her origin that betrays what her bowels hide. At a time when the Caucasus was shaking violently and Elbrus was active volcano, magma from the depths rose through cracks, penetrating into sedimentary rocks. The magma solidified and could not break through the sedimentary cover. The top of the mountain is composed of vernekhmel limestones and marls, and on the slopes, clayey rocks, marls and, less often, sandstones are more common. The active activity of mineral springs for thousands of years at the foot has created a thick layer of travertine rocks. Mikhailovsky spur, Perkalskaya rock and Goryachaya mountain are completely made of travertine. The magmatic core of the mountain is located at a depth of about 1.5 km.

How to get to Mashuk

• Ring road and
• Old wheel road to the top of Mashuk
• Highway to the top of the mountain
• mountains on the south slope

Attractions on Mashuk

• Monument at the burial site of the topographer A.V. Pastukhov (Mashuk peak)
• and old resort buildings: Pirogovskie baths and old private mansions (and one more)
• Rock portrait of V.I. Lenin
• Resort parks with architectural monuments: Elizabethan flower garden with the Academic gallery; pavilion Eolova harp and Lermontov's grotto in Emanuelevsky park.
• Small architectural form "Gate of the Sun" (Gate of Love)

Lots of useful links and articles about Mashuk sights can be found in the drop-down list at the end of the article.

Mashuk mountains - satellite mountains, spurs and slopes

Slopes Mikhailovsky spur - come out of the north eastern sides (from Inner ridge) from the main cone of Mashuk; Mikhailovsky slopes run parallel and higher (to the north) of Goryachaya Mountain, the western direction (from east to west) is replaced by a small turn to the northwest, resembling a spiral-arc loop. Both of these spurs form a narrow valley-gorge (hollow), which was formerly called Goryachevodskaya. The valley was inhabited in the first half of the 19th century, before the construction of the Pushkin (Sabaneevsky) baths. On the site of the Sabaneev baths, there was the house of E.A. Khastatova (sister of Lermontov's grandmother), where in 1825 M. Lermontov (a ten-year-old boy) came to Goryachy Vody with his grandmother. On Mikhailovskaya Gora there is the Emmanuelevsky Park with the Mikhailovskaya Gallery (c); located Aeolian slide(614 m), on which the Aeolian harp rises, and just below it - Lermontov's grotto. The upper parts of the Goryachevodsky and Mikhailovsky spurs are, as it were, connected architectural ensemble- Academic gallery. The Lermontov House Museum is located on the southern slope of Mikhailovskaya Gora (Lermontov St.).

slide Shaved(see below Failure) and Percala rocks(see above)

Mountains-satellites Dubrovka(690 m), Kazachka(633 m), Fast(555 m) and Picket(565.3 m).
The spur "Goryachaya mountain", as well as the Mikhailovsky spur, and the mountain Kazachka located directly at the foot of Mashuk, in its upper belt. Dubrovka, Fast and Picket- respectively, a little further away, in the lower belt (in the lower city). All four mountains with Mashuk make up a kind of backbone - “ Five Mountains". All other mountains, hills, spurs, slopes, rocks within Pyatigorsk are mentioned little in the literature and guidebooks, they are unfamiliar to the inhabitants and (in fact) are not considered mountains. Therefore, most often the conversation about mountains is about these "five mountains".
Mashuk himself is a mountain-companion of the five-headed Beshtau, which, in turn, also has four satellites (see. Mountains of Pyatigorye).

Kazachka is located between the northern side of the Mikhailovsky slope and the southwestern slope of Mount Mashuk. Around Mount Kazachki there are: Memorial of Military Glory (old cemetery), Lazarevskaya Church, general resort House of Culture, sanatorium "Leninskie Skaly", next to the lower station of the Cable Car, a little higher, on the slopes of Mashuk - "Gate of the Sun" (viewing platform).

Failure

On the southern (southeastern) slope of the mountain is the famous Pyatigorsk Proval - a deep natural well-cave with an underground lake (karst-tectonic origin; also known as Karst Cave "Big Proval"), a kind of creation of nature, which appeared during the formation of Mount Mashuk as a result of the impact of ground and subsoil waters on limestone. It has a [total] depth of 42 m and a diameter of up to 15 m. Its bottom is occupied by a lake of warm (26-42 ° C) mineral hydrogen sulfide water with an area of ​​190 m² and a depth of about 8 m.
For the first time, the Failure was surveyed in 1793 by academician P. S. Pallas (the first attempts to study the lake were made back in 1773 by Guldenstedt). In 1837, a wooden hanging platform with a special mechanism for descending to the lake in a specially equipped basket was arranged over the funnel-well. Interested parties swam in the lake in floating bath, and on the site on a wooden platform, young people arranged dances. Batalin (in the middle of the 19th century) for the first time scientifically examined the underground lake Proval, descending to a depth of 26 m.An interest arose again in the use of the lake, in 1858, at the expense of the Moscow merchant P.A.Lazarik, a horizontal tunnel about 58 m long was laid to it, and there is a road to it from the Mikhailovskaya Gallery.
The level and composition of the lake's waters fluctuate in accordance with the change in the regime of underground mineral waters of the Kavminvodsky hydrological basin. Since 1830, they have been observed to be influenced by the changing seasons, precipitation, earthquakes and human activities. Therefore, Provalnoye Lake is used as an important natural indicator of the state of underground mineral waters at the KavMinVod resorts. The water in it has medicinal properties, and until 1859 (when the tunnel was made) they went down to swim and take baths on a rope in a special basket. Bathing [internal] was stopped only in 1880. In the story of M.Yu. Lermontov's "Princess Mary" about the Failure it is said that "according to the local scientists, this failure is nothing more than an extinct crater."

A plot is associated with the Failure, widely known from the novel by I. Ilf and E. Petrov "The Twelve Chairs".

Next to Proval, directly above it, at the top of the well is shaved slide(690 m). Its appearance resembles an earthen rampart (parapet), as if poured from an allegedly artificially dug cave (Proval). Shaved Hill, together with Proval, is actually located on the Mikhailovsky slope.
Also, route No. 3 of Terrenkura runs to Proval [along the blvd. Gagarin, Mashukogorsk ring highway] about 3 km long.

Ecology

Concerns of environmentalists and citizens

• Building up the mountain can harm underground mineral springs resort.
• Plants, animals and birds, including rare ones listed in the Red Book, may die.
• Development will forever change the landscape and appearance the mountains.
• The appearance of a complex of cottages will not have a positive effect on the transport problem.
• Possible activation of exogenous geological processes
• The very legality of the land sale transaction raises doubts.

Mount Mashuk was recognized as a natural monument back in 1961, a state reserve in 1972, and in 2004 by the Ministry of Culture Stavropol Territory gave it the status of a state historical and cultural reserve.

Sale of land

In 2005, a 37.5 hectare section of a walnut grove on the western slope of Mashuk Mountain, located in the 1st and 2nd nature protection zones, was excluded from the boundaries of a natural monument of regional significance and transferred from the category of forest lands to non-forest lands, and then LLC was privatized. "Kavminekocenter" on the basis of the decision of the Arbitration Court of the Stavropol Territory. The land went to the buyer for 346 thousand 890 rubles, that is, at a price of about 90 rubles per hundred square meters. Territory from st. Kuchury to Polyana Songs was subsequently resold and divided into small plots, which they began to sell in parts. In 2009, the "General Plan for the Development of Pyatigorsk until 2030" was published, developed by ZAO "Kurortproekt", the city of Pyatigorsk, according to which all the land sold was planned under " ... construction of high-tech sanatorium and resort complexes with a limited number of 3-5 storeys for 2.4 thousand holidaymakers". It is worth noting that this general plan went against the development concept developed in Soviet years, and in fact, legitimized all decisions by the city administration on the sale and re-profiling of protected areas, taken without an environmental impact assessment and comprehensive research for possible consequences for the resort from changes in anthropogenic load and construction in the zone of formation of mineral springs.

Start of development

The first attempt to start the development of the site was made in 2010, when the city administration was negotiating with Chinese investors to build the Sanaa complex, but the project stalled. The second attempt to start construction on another part of the territory of 5.29 hectares was carried out in April 2011, when, at the initiative of the developer, a project for the development of the territory in the area of ​​ul. Kuchury. By August, geodetic measurements and land marking began, and already in September, deforestation began. By November 2011, 162 trees and 83 shrubs had been cleared and the area fenced in with concrete blocks.

Society reaction

Protest symbols

At the end of September 2011, public figures and environmentalists of Pyatigorsk demanded to stop any work on Mashuk, collecting more than 100 signatures under an appeal to the head of the city. At the suggestion of the initiative group "Solar Patrol" in social networks, the action "Stop cutting Mashuk!" in defense of the natural monument. At the first stage, collective official requests were initiated through the Democrat system to various departments. More than 600 people supported appeals to the prosecutor's office and supervisory authorities. Also, deputy inquiries were formed. The problem was also supported by other environmental organizations of the Stavropol Territory.

The next step of the activists was a rally in front of the administration building on November 27, 2011.The notification of the rally was submitted to the Pyatigorsk administration on November 15 within the timeframe established by law, but the city administration, violating the law and, despite the court's decision in favor of civil activists, tried to prevent it conducting. Nevertheless, on November 27, 2011, according to various estimates, from 200 to 500 people gathered in front of the city administration, since the police, at the direction of the administration, obstructed the rally, the action took place in the form of a meeting of citizens. It began collecting signatures in defense of Mashuk. The action did not go unnoticed by TV channels and the press.

After the rally, the collection of signatures was continued. Activists and environmentalists from Pyatigorsk took to the streets every week, coordinating actions on social networks. In just a month, more than 4500 signatures of the residents of Pyatigorsk and guests of the resort were collected, under an appeal to Medvedev, Putin and Khloponin. ...

Government response

In January 2012, the Stavropol Environmental Prosecutor's Office responded to public concerns and found violations in the developer's activities. Based on the results of his consideration of the case, 2 employees of OOO Kavzhilstroy were brought to disciplinary responsibility. Also, the prosecutor's office obliged the developer "Kavzhilstroy" to pay the cost of the cut trees in the amount of 350 750 rubles, and the municipal unitary enterprise of the city of Pyatigorsk "Gorzelenstroy" to carry out work to restore green spaces in the city of Pyatigorsk.

In February 2012, a response to an appeal to Plenipotentiary Representative Khloponin was redirected to higher authorities: the General Prosecutor's Office for the North Caucasus Federal District and Rosprirodnadzor for the North Caucasus Federal District. There was also a response to an appeal from the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation, in which it was reported that the citizens' appeal was sent for investigation to the General Prosecutor's Office.

On February 7, the head of the city, Lev Travnev, communicated with the townspeople in a straight line. Questions were received by phone, e-mail and regular, and a number of questions related to the cutting of the western slope of Mashuk.

On February 20, the prosecutor's office of Pyatigorsk made a protest against the construction of a boarding house on Mount Mashuk. According to the supervisory authority, the Pyatigorsk administration violated the requirements of the Urban Planning Code of Russia - it issued OOO Kavzhilstroy a permit to build a boarding house near Kuchura Street in the absence of a positive conclusion of the state ecological expertise, which, as noted, has not yet been completed.

Mineral water

In the past, in the travertine ring of Mashuk, about 40 springs of mineral waters poured out on their own, near which the famous Lermontovsky, Pirogovsky, Pushkin, Ermolovsky, Narodnye and Teplosernye baths, Academicheskaya and Mikhailovskaya drinking galleries were built. Currently medicinal waters are taken from wells and adits. They are divided into four main balneological types:

1. carbon dioxide warm, hot and cold (Pyatigorsk narzans), which are used for drinking;
2. carbon dioxide hydrogen sulfide with a complex ionic composition, with a temperature of 42-48 ° C (the second Pyatigorsk type), are used for baths, less often for drinking;
3. radon waters with a radon concentration of up to 274 nCi / l, used for baths;
4. salt-alkaline carbonate and carbonic-hydrogen sulfide (Essentuki type) are used for drinking treatment.
   In addition, nitrogen-carbonic and methane waters with a high content of iodine and bromine and weakly carbonic chloride-sodium waters of the "Arzni" type are used to a limited extent.

Vegetable world

Most of the slopes are occupied by the natural ash-hornbeam subgrass, which is part of the Mashuk forest park (it joins with the Beshtaugorsky forest park). The glades are covered with rich meadow vegetation, with varying phytocenoses from meadow-like steppe to subalpine meadows. The flora includes more than 80 species of rare and endangered plants, of which 25 were first described on Mashuk and are reference. Extremely rare ones include: dwarf euonymus, Mashukskaya and Pyatigorskaya hawks, Pushkinia proleskidnaya, bracts poppy, narrow-leaved snowdrop, as well as a number of xerophytes on limestone slopes - Crimean asphodeline, rock euphorbia, hedgehog lamira, drooping symphiandra. 29 plant species are listed in the Red Books of Russia and the Stavropol Territory.

On the northern slope, 42 hectares are occupied by the Perkal dendrological nursery (1830s, 1879) with an ecological botanical station - 11.5 hectares. On their territory, a unique botanical collection is collected, consisting of (550) over 800 species of shrubs and trees and about 700 herbaceous plants; flora is represented not only in the KMV region and the North Caucasus, but also in different parts of the world - Transcaucasia, Europe, Central and Central Asia, Of the Far East and North America... They include about 100 species of medicinal and 120 species of rare and endangered plants.

Near the tree nursery there is Komsomolskaya Polyana (northeastern slope), on the western slope of Mashuk there are Walnut Grove and Polyana Pesen. The arboretum together with the Mashuk forest park are natural monuments.

Monuments of archeology, history and culture

On Mashuk there are numerous archaeological sites dating back to the Neolithic, IV millennium BC. e., Koban and Scythian cultures of the VIII-V centuries. BC e., the beginning of our era and the Middle Ages. There are especially many cultural layers on the travertine ledges and terraces on Goryachaya Gora, Perkalskie Rocks, Komsomolskaya Polyana, in the area of ​​the meat-packing plant (plateau over Konstantinovskoye Shosse).

On the Mashuk southeastern slope, which gradually turns into a plateau, these Mounds on the Konstantinovsky plateau (good overview- from the ring road Mineralnye Vody - Nalchik - highway "Caucasus"). Tens of centuries ago, one of the busy roads ran across the Constantine plateau, along which nomadic tribes passed - Scythians, Polovtsians, Khazars. In those burial mounds that were explored in the second half of the 19th century and in our time (late 20th - early 21st centuries), ancient burials, weapons, household and cult items were discovered. The finds made on the Konstantinovsky plateau are kept in the Pyatigorsk Museum of Local Lore and in the museums of the Stavropol Territory, Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Nearby on the eastern slope along the Mashukogorskaya ring road (it is also terrenkur-ring - route number 1 "around Mashuk" [about 10 km long]: Gagarina Boulevard - Proval - Komsomolskaya Polyana - Perkalsky Arboretum - to the place of Lermontov's duel and Pesen glade) for Failure, above these Mounds is the Obelisk on the Mass Grave of the victims of the Nazi occupation.

There are many monuments of history and culture on the mountain, of which the Lermontov places are the true national shrine: "Lermontov's House" (in urban buildings, in the upper city), the place of a duel (a monument at the place of death - on the north-western slope) and the original burial (Voinskoye Memorial cemetery), a monument to the poet (city square [Lermontovsky (?)] Between Oktyabrskaya and Krasnoarmeyskaya streets), Lermontov's grotto, Eolova harp.

At the top of the mountain, with observation deck a few tens of meters down the southern slope [by will - overlooking Elbrus], there is a monument-obelisk at the burial place of the military topographer A. V. Pastukhov.

In terms of the importance and value of natural, historical and cultural sites, Mount Mashuk meets the criteria of the world heritage.

Nature management

A cable car with a length of 964 meters leads to the top; at the very top is one hundred and twelve- a meter-high TV and radio broadcasting tower with a radio relay node (with base stations of mobile operators; the tower is also a topographic landmark) and an observation deck.
Length walking route to Mount Mashuk (one way, to the top) - about 4 kilometers. There are several trails of the "savages": from Mount Kazachki upward, or from the medical town (city hospital No. 1) and Student town (Kuchura St.), passing the Nut Grove, through the "Gate of the Sun" and directly along the western slope; two well-trodden paths from the Mass Grave along the eastern gentle slope; from Proval along the southeastern slope - the shortest, but also the steepest ascent. It is also possible to ascend along the old wheeled road, which runs along the northern side of the mountain (from Komsomolskaya Polyana, camp "Raduga"). Terrenkur route number 2: st. Lermontov - Gagarin Boulevard - in front of the Upper Radon Baths, up to the right - the "Gate of the Sun" and the Forester's House - and further along the serpentine road - we go up to the top of Mashuk, from where an amazing panorama of Pyatigorye opens - the length of the route is about 7 km.
A serpentine road up to 10 km long leads to the top of the mountain - a popular wedding route. Entrance to the automobile Mashukogorskoe ring road (to Gagarin Boulevard) from the center - from Lermontov, Pastukhov streets, etc. [from the south-west] and to the Verkhnyaya radon hospital (along the route of the above-described terrenkur), you can also go up from the meat-packing plant - Fabrichnaya street [southeast], Teplosernaya [from the south, past the Narodnye baths] and again to the hospital, or from the avenue Kalinin at the northern entrance to the city - Arka (pylons) by the road to the place of the duel [from the north-west], bypassing the place of Lermontov's duel. All of them lead to the "Gate of the Sun" and to the cherished peak.

sights

The mountain is a regional complex [landscape, geological and geomorphological] natural monument - a complex object of natural and historical and cultural heritage, combined with monuments of archeology, architecture, as well as with Lermontov places (Resolution of the Bureau of the Stavropol Regional Committee of the CPSU and the Executive Committee of the Regional Council of Working People's Deputies dated 15.09. .1961 No. 676 "On measures for the protection of nature in the region").

Sport events

A 3.5-kilometer mountain trail for mountain bike. Russian championships in freeride (free descent), downhill (downhill) and biker cross are held here annually.

Notes (edit)

1. Caucasian Mineral Waters. Federal resorts of Russia. 2nd edition, jubilee, second-hand books. 2003 ... ISBN 5-87777-019-5 (EAN 4-607023-490182). p. 26.
   More precisely, they clearly originate practically in the same place (as described below, in g. Hot) - from the Pirogov baths.
2. in fact - from the Proval area, below the source no. 24, from the descent [at the Center of prof. Mishagin] to Konstantinovskoe highway [st. Factory], on the right (lower) side of the descent; higher, on the left side of the descent (going down), are the rocks of the Mikhailovsky spur
3. : Karst Cave "Big Gap"
4. The city of Pyatigorsk. Kovalenko A. N. Stavropol chronograph for 2005. Stavropol, 2005.S. 209-226.
5. All terrenkur routes start from the pump room of the source No. 1 on the street. Lermontov.
6. Dying Mashuk
7. Pyatigorskaya Pravda (No. 28 dated 21.03.2009)
8. Pyatigorskaya Pravda News
9. Pyatigorskaya Pravda News
10. Construction and felling still threaten Mashuk - Aif-North Caucasus
11. Caucasian Knot | Residents of Pyatigorsk demand to stop construction work on Mashuk
12. Destruction of a section of the nature protection zone on the town of Mashuk - Demokrator
13. In Pyatigorsk, participants of the action "Stop sawing Mashuk!" will picket the building of the mayor's office - Caucasian Knot
14. Stop cutting Mashuk! / Pyatigorsk Echo / Portal blogs / North Caucasian Federal District - Portal of the North Caucasian Federal District
15. Stop Cutting Mashuk (Vesti Rossiya 1, Pyatigorsk) - YouTube
16. Environmental activists ask Dmitry Medvedev to stop deforestation and construction on Mount Mashuk - Ecoprogress
17. All the bells are ringing
18. Stop cutting Mashuk! (No. 3 (110) of January 24, 2012)

The glorious city of Pyatigorsk stands out among others resort places, it is a precious pearl of the Kavminvod. One of the most majestic and amazing sights of the city is Mount Mashuk in Pyatigorsk.

It belongs to the list of mountains in the region of the Caucasian mineral waters, which were formed as a result of volcanic processes. This article will talk about all interesting facts associated with Mount Mashuk, which is a natural landscape monument of the city of Pyatigorsk.

Every year the resort town is visited by a huge number of tourists, who, first of all, are attracted by the healing properties of the mountain air and mineral waters. Historical and cultural sights are carefully protected and multiplied in it. In short, there is something to admire in Pyatigorsk.

Having visited this city, be sure to visit the unique attraction Mashuk Mountain. How many important historical events are associated with it, and which interesting legends they talk about its formation ... For a start, it is worth retelling interesting and unique legends that reveal the meaning of the name not only of Mashuk Mountain, but also of other mountains of the Caucasian Mineral Waters region.

Legends of Mashuk

In folk art, there are several legends that talk about the history of the origin of the name Mashuk. It is worth telling the most common and interesting ones.

According to one of the versions, Mount Mashuk got its name from the words "mash", which means millet, and "ko" - that is, a place for sowing millet. These words are of Kabardian origin. Another version says that this mountain was named after the courageous horseman Mashuko. This legendary story is about how in ancient times there was a clash and bloody struggle in the Kabardian lands.

Suddenly, the Khan of the Golden Horde with his army attacked civilians. They mercilessly robbed and killed civilians. The courageous, strong and fearless Mashuko stood up to protect them, hot djigits' blood played in him. He lost his bride, she was killed by the Khan's soldiers. And the brave guy wanted to take revenge on the Horde. But the forces were not equal, and Mashuk, not wanting to surrender to the enemy, jumped down from the mountain.

Another legend tells a different story about the origin of the name of the mountain. In ancient times, in the vicinity of modern Pyatigorsk, the Karachai Khubiev Mechuka moved, who was a talented master of making weapons. Mount Mashuk was named after him.

The most interesting and widespread is the legend about the love and misfortune of two lovers, the beautiful girl Mashuk and the brave hero Beshtau. In folk art, there are several versions of the stories of this legendary story. Let's try to convey its main storyline.

Thousands of years ago, when there was a fertile plain on the site of the modern Caucasus Mountains, legendary horsemen lived there. They were engaged in attacking the surrounding villages and mercilessly plundering and ravaging them. Their leader was an old warrior named Elbrus. He had a son, Beshtau, a courageous, strong and fearless hero.

His life passed without worries, in daily hikes and forays, as well as in merry feasts with his friends. He was very dexterous and resourceful. Beshtau perfectly understood the language of animals, and four animals always participated in his endless campaigns:

1. Sly and silent snake
2. Fearless and strong Ox
3. Hardy and patient Camel
4. King of beasts Lion

Not far from this village, where Elbrus ruled, lived a beautiful girl named Mashuka. Poems and songs were composed about her beauty. She loved spring walks and solitude with nature. Her head was always adorned with wildflowers and greenery. Against the background of the blossoming nature, Mashuka was like a field queen. And then one day, an incredible event happened. The mighty conqueror, the son of the ruthless Elbrus, fell in love with this beautiful girl.

He could not live a day without her magical eyes and an enchanting smile. Mashuka could not resist this courageous handsome hero. A strong, fiery and all-consuming love ensued between them. They wanted to get married, and Beshtau immediately asked his father's permission.

The news of the imminent wedding of a young horseman and a beautiful girl spread throughout the Caucasus. This event was celebrated magnificently and cheerfully for three days. But then grief came from where the newlyweds did not expect at all. The gray-haired lord of the mountains, the father of the hero, fell in love with his son's wife. He wished her for himself, and made a terrible plan for how to separate the lovers.

Immediately after the wedding festivities, Elbrus summoned his son and gave instructions to go on a raid on a village where ferocious inhumans lived, who brutally devoured the living. Everyone knew that very few people returned from there alive. Young Beshtau did not dare to go against the orders of his father, although he so did not want to leave his beloved young wife.

But, he gathered his army and went on this dangerous campaign. After some time, the old Elbrus started rumors about the death of his son and his subjects. He forcibly married a grief-stricken Mashaka, who resisted with all her might, for which the hated husband imprisoned the poor girl in a sakla.

But, as it turned out, the young and brave hero did not die, and one late evening he returned to his native place with his army. With him he carried rich booty, which spoke of the success of the campaign, and of victory. But, not having time to get to his house, he learns from his faithful friends about the terrible deeds of his father.

Without thinking twice hot horseman rushes to free his beloved from captivity. Having crept up to the rock, he finds her exhausted and crying. Seeing her beloved alive, the beautiful Mashuka immediately comes to life. Poor lovers decide to flee from the ruthless father who separated them. On the same night, they set off on a long journey, wanting to start new life... Loyal friends volunteered to accompany them.

In the morning, the old man Elbrus, having learned about the absence of the beauty, rushes with his army to catch up with the young lovers. Beshtau and Mashuk could not escape, the army of Elbrus overtook them in the place of the modern mountains of Pyatigorsk.

The battle between the troops of the father and the son took a long time. And so, on Mount Mashuk, there was a bloody duel between father and son. It was a very bloody massacre. But the young man could not resist the strength and skills of the old warrior. The father cut his son's head into five pieces, and the young horseman fell dead. Elbrus himself did not survive in this fight.

The hero also cut his father's head in two. And the young girl Mashuka could not bear this terrible and terrifying loss of her beloved. Leaning over him, she pulled a dagger from her beloved's belt and thrust it right into her heart.

And the earth shook beneath them. She could not bear this terrifying battle. From a bloody spectacle, warriors - horsemen turned into huge snow stones, which today are the mountains of the region of the Caucasian mineral waters and the Caucasus.

A powerful two-headed one can be seen nearby. To this day, poor Mashuka lies with a wound in his chest, where her hot and innocent blood is still oozing. The beauty Mashuka turned into snowy mountain with a hole in the heart.

This is the sad ending of this tragic legend. It describes one of the options for how Mount Mashuk was formed, and why it has such a name.

The value of Mashuk mountain as a landscape attraction

Mount Mashuk is unique place, on top of which you can admire the glorious city of Pyatigorsk. Archaeological values ​​of the most ancient eras have been found on this mountain at different times. The main attractions of Mashuk include:

• Proval - a cave with an underground natural lake;
• TV tower;
• The rock carvings of V. I. Lenin;
• A historical monument at the place where the famous Russian writer and poet M. Lermontov was killed in a duel duel, for more details see the article ""
• Church of St. Lawrence;
• Majestic sculpture of an eagle;
• Monument to the famous topographer Pastukhov A .;
• There are rare zones on this mountain where permafrost reigns.

Everyone is very surprised by the fact that in a relatively small area of ​​the mountain, sources of mineral and healing waters of five types were discovered. All these types of Mashuk waters are now used by sanatoriums in the city of Pyatigorsk for the complex treatment of various chronic diseases.

Also, at the very foot of the mountain there are traces of stone mining, which were left by the first inhabitants of Pyatigorsk mining stone for the construction of houses. Several buildings made of white stone can be seen today on the streets of the city, they are also landmarks of ancient times. Almost century-old trees have survived to this day, which the first inhabitants of Pyatigorsk planted to decorate the mountain.

At the end of the 10th - 10th centuries, people began to understand that Mount Mashuk is a truly valuable landmark that needs to be protected and cherished. At this time, a special nursery was created, in which they began to grow a variety of rare plants to decorate and improve the health effect of those staying at the resort.

Today, this territory contains plants of various species from all over the world, unique and healing trees, shrubs and flowers of which are about a thousand.

Mashuk Mountain attracts tourists with its architectural monuments... At the beginning of the X ׀ X centuries, famous figures in the field of architecture and construction, built an unusual musical pavilion on the cliff of the mountain. In its middle was set musical instrument which made amazingly beautiful sounds.

Unfortunately, the harp has not survived to this day. But, in warm seasons, everyone can visit the musical gazebo and enjoy the music produced by modern audio equipment.

Also, Mount Mashuk is known all over the world for the fact that at its top there is the highest television tower, which was built in the middle of the last century. The tower looks especially delightful at night, as hundreds of beams of bright searchlights are directed at it. Its height above sea level reaches 112 meters.

For a long time, this tower has been considered not only a device for transmitting television and radio waves, but also the most delightful and aesthetically beautiful sight of the Caucasian mineral waters.

Mount Mashuk is famous for its amazing nature reserve, in the area of ​​which it is located in more detail, you can read in the article - Pyatigorsk underground lake "Proval". A lake appeared in a cave in the south of the mountain under the influence of the natural forces of nature. The hole looks like a triangular well with a rare mineral water... Its depth at some points reaches 11 meters.

Back in the middle of the X ׀ X century, thanks to the hard work of the builders, it became possible to approach the lake through a paved tunnel. In ancient times, visitors could not only take a close look at the attraction, but could even swim in this clean and warm lake. Today, tourists can only admire this delightful beauty, swimming in this cave lake is prohibited.

At the top of Mashuk mountain, it is also worth visiting the place where the monument is located famous researcher and topographer A. Pastukhov. This is the only person at that time who was able to climb the peaks of most of the Caucasus mountains. His last dying will was the desire to be buried on Mashuk.

Another attraction, which cannot be ignored, is the majestic sculpture of an eagle holding a snake in its paws. It was installed in 1901 on a hot mountain near the foot of Mashuk, as a symbol of the healing power of nature and springs. The eagle is the prototype of the victor who overcomes the snake, it also symbolizes disease.

How to get to the top of Mashuk Mountain?

Climbing the top of the mountain is not a problem today. The very first road, laid back in the X ׀ X century, is a footpath. You can climb it up the mountain even today, but you need to take into account that in some places it is slightly damaged.

Later, a wide road was laid, along which it was possible to quickly reach the top of the mountain on a horse-drawn carriage. At the beginning of the last century, they built road, along which to this day, visitors get to the top of the mountain using vehicles, or on foot.

The most convenient and popular way to get to the top of Mashuk is the cable car. It was built in the early 70s of the last century. You can get to the highest point of the mountain by cable car in just three minutes. The wagon of this amazing transport can accommodate up to twenty people.

It doesn't matter which way to get there. In any case, there is an opportunity to contemplate all the beauty of natural and historical memorable places... Having reached the very top of Mashuk, you can look at the majestic and beautiful mountain Elbrus, which is located about 148 kilometers from Pyatigorsk.

The influx of visitors is especially large in warm and clear weather. You can meet very different people here. Someone is looking for peace of mind here in communication with nature, someone just decided to admire the beautiful views of Pyatigorsk from above, someone is interested in historical sights ...

It doesn't matter for what purpose you go there, the main thing is that Mashuk Mountain is really the place that is worthy of attention, it has not left anyone indifferent yet.

Having visited the resort town, it is simply impossible not to visit Mount Mashuk, because it is a landscape and historically valuable attraction that conceals a thousand-year history and the secrets of Caucasian mineral waters.