The unique nature of Dombai. A trip to Dombai: what to do there in summer What kind of trees are in Dombai

Nature has awarded Dombay with unique attractions: mountains, lakes, glaciers, grottoes, forests. Unique every year natural monuments The resort attracts thousands of tourists from all over Russia and countries of the world. There really is something to see and admire here.

Alibek glacier

One of the most popular attractions of the resort is the Alibek Glacier. This is the only accessible glacier of the Teberda Nature Reserve, which descends into a dense forest area. And even in the hot summer it is real winter on the glacier! Almost anyone can climb the glacier, but you need to be patient as the journey takes about 7 hours. But it's worth it.

Regular tourists of the resort say that those who have not been to Alibek do not know what Dombay is. By car you can drive along the road to the Alibek mountaineering base, and then follow the forest path that leads to the Uzun-Tala clearing. It is there that a picturesque view of the glacier and majestic mountains opens up.

Mount Belalakaya

“Rising above the Dombai meadow” business card”resort - Mount Belalakaya or “Striped Rock.” The attraction is famous for the fact that white belts of quartz cut through the rocks, the width of which is about 50 meters. The name of this peculiar mountain comes from several words: “beli” - belt, “ala” - motley, “kaya” - rock. The height of the mountain is 3861 meters. The uniqueness of this place is that several thousand years ago there was a plain here, and mountain formations appeared thanks to gigantic forces that raised a section of the earth’s crust from the depths of the earth. The mountain is popular among both geologists and tourists. And the image of Dombay’s pride is on the “Aque Minerale” label.

Semenov-Bashi Ridge

The Semenov-Bashi ridge, thanks to the dome-shaped protrusion of its eastern part, is an easily accessible panoramic point from which a beautiful view of the Dombay-Ulgen river valley, the Main Range, the Amanauz and Teberdy valleys and the Dombay meadow opens. They amaze with their majesty and splendor mountains of Dombay. Like a beautiful queen, she greets guests of Balalakaya. The Dzhuguturlyuchat peak complex put its perfectly correct Peak Ine on display for everyone to see. You can see Mount Sufrudju in the distance, about which Eleonora Brezovskaya wrote a fascinating story.

Dombai glade

Dombayskaya Polyana is located in the southern part of the Teberda Nature Reserve, in the upper reaches of the Teberda Valley.

At the confluence of the Dombay-Ulgena, Amanauz and Alibek rivers there are several beautiful meadows that give the name to the entire area. The clearing offers exceptionally beautiful panoramas of peaks and glaciers, which also attract excursionists.

Currently, a whole tourist complex operates in the clearing, consisting of hotel infrastructure facilities and places. There are 3 phases of the new complex in operation cable cars, 5 lines of the old cable car, a network of rope towing roads (200 - 600 meters long).

Mussa-Achitara Ridge

The Mussa-Achitara ridge is magnificent observation deck, which offers a magnificent view of the peaks and glaciers of the Main Range, the Teberda and Gonachkhir valleys and the mighty Elbrus.

Cemetery of climbers - a memorial place in Dombay

Mountaineers Memorial Cemetery is memorial place Dombaya. Post-war summit conquerors are buried here. On the monuments you can see signs with the following dates: 70s, 80s, 1995, 2000, 2003... Someone admires courage and heroism dead climbers, and someone asks the question: “Why did they go to the mountains?” . Getting to the cemetery is not difficult: from the main asphalt road in Dombay to a dead end, and then along a country road.

Teberda State Natural Biosphere Reserve

Today the reserve is one of the most visited in the system of protected natural areas in Russia.

Teberda State Natural Biosphere Reserve is located in the Western Caucasus, in the basin of the Teberda River, a tributary of the Kuban, and is administratively part of the Karachay district of the Karachay-Cherkess Autonomous Region. The territory of the reserve (total area - 69,535 hectares) stretches along the northern slope of the Main Caucasian ridge and its lateral spurs; it occupies the entire area of ​​the upper reaches of the Teberda River and its tributaries south of the Epchik-Dzhemagat and Muhu rivers and is limited by high rocky ridges.

This is not surprising, since on its territory there are many amazing and beautiful places. The Teberda and Gonachkhir rivers carry their waters through the reserve, and numerous moraine and tarn lakes enliven the mountains. The grace and, at the same time, the power of the Amanauz, Alibek and Ptysh glaciers are breathtaking. Dense deciduous, coniferous, mixed forests, vast bright subalpine and alpine meadows, many rare plants, flowers and animals attract more than 100 thousand tourists every year.

The state took under special protection this outstanding natural resources and beauty corner North Caucasus. Every visitor to the reserve is obliged to take care of its wonderful nature in order to preserve it in all its splendor and integrity.

Amanauz Gorge or Devil's Mill

The Devil's Mill gorge or Amanauz belongs to open museum, which is famous for its waterfalls and canyons. “Aman auz” from Karachay means “evil mouth”. This place is called “gloomy”, since the slope of Belalakai and Teatralny Peak greatly narrow the beginning of the gorge. The sun practically does not reach here, and sometimes the snow bridges over the Amanauz River do not melt even in the summer. The gloominess is conveyed by the rains and fogs that later come to the Dombai meadow. And since Observation deck here is small, you should be extremely careful: the cliff is located directly above the gorge.

Turje Lake

The fabulous turquoise lake got its name because when there are no people around, tours come down to it to drink. The lake acquired its unusual color due to the low water temperature - no higher than +3 degrees. Even in summer, the lake is covered with ice, as it is located between the Bilingual and Alibek glaciers. The origin of the lake is moraine. The excursion to this extraordinary place lasts about 8 hours. The main route passes through alpine meadows, through the climbers’ cemetery and the Alibek camp. It should be noted that you should not take risks and go to the lake without a guide, as it is very easy to get lost.

Azgek lakes

Azgek lakes are located in the Azgek river basin, the right tributary of the Muhu River. In autumn and on cloudy days, the area leaves the impression of gloomy and harsh, but in summer, especially on a sunny day, soft colors and outlines come to the fore.

Murudzhinsky and Baduksky lakes

Murudzhinsky lakes are a unique natural heritage of Dombay; their beauty will not leave any tourist indifferent. They are located in the valley of the Ullu-Muruju River. The most famous among them are the Blue and Black lakes.

Baduk Lakes are a group of mountain lakes located in the middle reaches of the Baduk River, a tributary of the Khadzhibey River. These lakes, as well as the Baduk and Khadzhibey valleys themselves, are rightly considered one of scenic spots in the nature reserve.

Alibek waterfall

There are many waterfalls in the Teberda mountains: Chuchkhursky, Ptyshsky, Sofrudzhinsky, Alibeksky, Shupka.

The largest and most spectacular waterfall in Dombay is considered Alibek waterfall. Its raging stream flows from a height of 25 meters. But the road to it does not take much time. The first part of the path passes through a picturesque fir forest, and this section can be walked or driven by car. In winter, avalanches often occur here, and in June you can see their remains. Heading to the waterfall, tourists can also enjoy beautiful views of alpine meadows and birch forests.

Helpful information:

Mountain taxi, Dobaj excursions
Teberda: Dzhamagat gorge (Narzan springs), Mukha gorge (Azgek lakes), Baduk lakes, Teberdinsky reserve, Shumka Waterfall.
: Alibek gorge (waterfall, Turye lake, glacier), Amanauz gorge (Devil's Mill canyon, waterfall, glacier), Dombay-Elgen gorge.
Gonachkhir (Trout Lake), Russian Glade, Chuchkhurskie waterfalls, Maiden's Braids waterfall, Ptysh glacier, Maiden's Tears waterfall. As well as trips to Cherkessk, Pyatigorsk and Mineral water.
Phone: 8-928-380-10-61; 8-988-716-29-85.

Dombay is a region untouched nature, snowy tops of mountains and forests. Athletes and walkers flock here. The Dombay Valley, where the resort village is located, is surrounded by mountain ranges. WITH south side this is the Main Caucasian ridge, from the east - the Dombay-Ulgen gorge, from the north - the Amanauz gorge and the Alibek gorge from west side.

And to make it easier to navigate, below is a list of all the attractions of Dombay with photos and descriptions.

It occupies an area of ​​85 thousand hectares on the northern slope of the Caucasus Range. The Dombay Valley, where vacationers stay, is southern part Teberda Nature Reserve.

There are many beautiful places on the territory of the reserve that are worth visiting in your free time. These are mysterious gorges, observation platforms, snowy peaks, glaciers and lakes. There are about 150 lakes in the reserve, and the famous one is Lake Klukhorskoye. It is located at an altitude of 2676 m above sea level and is covered with ice almost all year round.

A main river reserve - Teberda is associated with legends and stories. According to one of them, the name means “God’s gift.”

Amanauz Gorge

Translated from Karachay, “Aman” means evil, and “auz” means mouth. This is what the ancient inhabitants of the Dombay valley called it. The fact is that the Amanauz River flows through the entire gorge. The water crashing against the rocks makes a loud roar. It was believed that this evil spirit and the residents did not dare to go to the gorge.

The passage through the gorge is quite narrow and is surrounded by the peaks of the Belalakaya Mountains and Theater Peak. Even in summer, light barely penetrates here, and there are snow islands on rivers and slopes.

The walk along the gorge starts from resort village Dombay runs along the river and ends on a cliff. From the cliff there is a view of the stormy Amanauz River, which makes its way into a narrow gorge.

Each attraction in Dombay is unique. But it is worth highlighting the Murudzhinsky lakes in the valley of the Ullu-Murudzhu River at an altitude of 3000 m. The lakes include 15 reservoirs, but tourists tend to see only two. You can only get to the lakes on foot, but it is better to resort to the help of a guide and allocate two days for the walk with an overnight stay.

Blue Murudzhinskoye Lake differs from other lakes in its size. The diameter is 500 m, and the depth is about 52 m. It is called blue due to the color of the water.

From blue lake hiking trail leads to Black Lake. But the water in the lake is not black, but rather dark green. In the vicinity of the lakes, tourists will enjoy amazing landscapes and encounters with wild mountain goats.

Sentinsky Temple

This christian temple, which is located on the territory of the village of Nizhnyaya Teberda. Although the temple dates back to 965, it is in relatively good condition. Inside the building you can see the remains of a fresco, and a stone mausoleum was built next to it.

The temple is considered one of the oldest buildings in 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 an overnight stay. It’s worth visiting the Baduk Lakes in the fall. Around the lakes there are pine and birch thickets, which fill with colors in autumn.

The first lake in the cascade is small. The water does not warm up above 5⁰C. There is a path along the left bank of the river to the second lake. A gazebo for relaxation and picnic was built next to the lake. You can get to the third lake 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 must-visit places. The glacier viewpoint is easily accessible, and along the way there are many trails to other attractions.

The route to Alibek starts from the camp site of the same name along a forest path. The trail will lead to the Uzun-Tala clearing, from which you will have a view of the glacier and the snowy tops of the mountains. Even on a hot summer day, the glacier is covered with a layer of ice and snow, just like in winter. The Alibek glacier is not the only one in the vicinity of Dombay, but it is the largest. Unfortunately, over the years, the area of ​​the glacier has been decreasing, but it never ceases to amaze tourists with its power and contrast to the green forests and meadows.

Returning from the glacier back, you will meet a sign to the Alibek waterfall. The path to it is easy and will take no more than half an hour. The waterfall is 25 meters high and falls from smooth stones called “ram’s foreheads”. Alibek waterfall is powerful and loud, the splashes from it reach tourists a couple of kilometers from the waterfall.

Chuchkhur waterfall

This waterfall was formed from the Chuchkhur River. It descends from the Chuchkhur gorge to the Dombay-Ulgen gorge. The waterfall has three cascades that are easily accessible. The path starts from the village from the Crocus department. First you will pass Leah's glade, and then Russian glade. It will offer the first view of the waterfall. After the Russian Glade the trail will branch. Turning right leads to the gorge, and turning left leads to the Chuchkhur waterfall. The road to the waterfall will lie through alpine and subalpine meadows. Along the way you will encounter stone blocks higher than 5 meters, which were brought to the meadows by descending glaciers thousands of years ago.

The waterfall consists of three cascades. First, the trail leads to the middle cascade, from it you can climb to the upper one, but the trail there is more difficult and it’s not worth going in rainy weather. From the upper cascade there is a panoramic view of the Dombay-Ulgen peak (4046 m).

Another local attraction that is worth visiting during your holiday in Dombay. It is better to combine a walk to the Devil's Mill with a walk to the Amanauz gorge. There are signs to the waterfall. The main thing is not to get lost with it and not to go beyond the signs indicating the border zone.

During the hike to the Devil's Mill you will come across many small waterfalls and streams. These are all the results of melting glaciers. The waterfall itself passes through a narrow crevice in the shape of the letter S. The water falls along a steep inclined surface, forming a mill of jets. Near the Devil's Mill there is a small observation deck on a steep cliff. Therefore, you should be extremely careful while walking.

The peak of Dombay-Ulgen captivates the attention of tourists at any time of the year. In summer, the icy tops bathe in the rays of the bright sun; in winter, the reflections of sunset can be seen on the snow cover. And in autumn, when the entire forest becomes colorful, the mountain looks even brighter and more contrasting. All year round The tops of the mountains are shrouded in snow and ice. The rapid Teberda River originates from the Ulgen glaciers and descends to the village.

You can look at Mount Dombay-Ulgen from anywhere in the village. This mountain is the highest in the Western Caucasus. The mountain consists of three peaks with heights: 4046 m, 4036 m and 3950 m. From the main and high peak a ridge comes off, which is popularly called the “Dombay saddle”.

The lake is located not far between the Alibek and Bilingual glacier. If the hike to it is combined with a walk to the waterfall, you will have to return to the Alibek camp site and follow the signs to the lake. The trail will not be difficult, but in some places you will have to cross mountain rivers on bridges and walk along kurumniks. Kurumnik is a mound of stones, fragments of rocks and rocks.

Turje Lake is of glacial origin. The water there is bright blue and until mid-summer is covered with a layer of ice. Only the bravest travelers dare to swim in Lake Turye. Mountain goats, called aurochs, are often found near the lake. It was they who gave the name to this lake.

What else to see in Dombay

In addition to the listed attractions, there are many more places to visit in Dombay. No one will have the question “What to do?” and “What to do?”

The first thing you think about when remembering Dombay- This ski holiday. For some reason, in people’s minds this region appears exclusively winter place recreation. In fact, when the snow melts, the fun seems to be just beginning. Do you remember what spring is? Time for rebirth. Time for a new life. So in Dombay everything wakes up by mid-April, everything is seething and sparkling with the inexhaustible energy of life. The hiking season begins in May. And believe me, you will have something to see. The unique climate of the area and its unusual topography provide an interesting combination of flora and fauna and create beautiful places for our eyes.

On these pages, I invite you to mentally walk with me along one of the most popular routes and enjoy nature at least a little.

Alibek. The popularity of this place is explained, first of all, by the fact that you can visit it at any time of the year and in any weather. Moreover, the route is not at all difficult. Shall we go?

We will spend the first four kilometers of the journey among mighty fir and spruce trees. It's not surprising. You and I are still in the first climatic zone- moderately warm. Some coniferous beauties in the Alibek Gorge reach a height of 45-50 m. But in Arkhyz you can also find 60-meter trees.

In fact, the forests of Dombay are quite diverse. Where it is driest, the mountain slopes are decorated with pine trees. In the southern environs they are mixed with oaks, aspens, maples and birches. Lovers of indoor plants have probably already fallen in love with azalea. You can find its wild version in these forests. Do you know what yellow rhododendron looks like? Exactly. It's bright yellow. And in addition to its sunny color, it has an intoxicating smell. You will certainly feel it if you go there in the spring. The uniqueness of this plant is also that it has been growing on earth for more than 3 million years. Just imagine, the first human beings admired these flowers. But now we have had the chance.

There are other long-livers in these forests. In floodplain areas there are yew groves. The age of individual trees reaches 4000 years.

There will even be something to enjoy here. The fruit forests consist of wild apple, pear, cherry plum, cherry and sloe. Hazel and honeysuckle bushes are found in the clearings. There are gooseberries, barberries, currants and of course raspberries - a favorite snack for the brown bear. By the way, yes. These formidable animals live here. But they behave quite peacefully. They feed mainly on berries, herbs and nuts. In early spring, the bodies of animals killed in avalanches are searched for.

But wolves and lynxes, who also live in these places, are no longer so kind. They happily eat mountain goats, wild boars, chamois, and aurochs. Well, if you are unlucky, they snack on black grouse and mouse-like rodents.

There are other predators here: foxes, jackals, forest cats, stone martens. Sometimes raccoon dogs come in.

An interesting fact is that even special, acclimatized Altai squirrels are found in Dombai. Just don’t confuse them with the fluffy creatures that have the funny name dormouse. They also live in trees and settle in hollows, but have rounded ears without perky tassels at the ends.

And the forest, however, ends. The exit is already visible. A few more words about mushrooms, and we’ll move on. And how not to say it? The forests are vast and there is a sea of ​​mushrooms: morels, honey mushrooms, champignons. Under trees and shrubs you can find brown boletus and oak boletus. White russula, chanterelles and chanterelles will delight you. But there is a wonderful miracle here, Dombai. The pride of the Caucasian forest is the coral mushroom. Imagine a handsome man up to half a meter in diameter. I found one of these and fed the whole squad. They say it's really tasty. But besides that, he is also handsome. Made up of small plates, it resembles a flower.

Grasses dominate the meadows: variegated fescue and reed grass. And if in the spring the valleys are full of yellow leotards and blue gentians, then in June they are covered with the even white color of the tufted anemone. From mid-summer until autumn they are again engulfed in a riot of colors, changing quite quickly. Either the pink knotweed is blooming, or the lilac-violet letter, which is replaced by an orange carpet of volodushka.

The higher the mountains, the lower the grass. However, the harsh climate does not in any way affect the picturesqueness of the alpine meadows. True, the colors reach a special richness only in the middle of summer. The whitish blue of the snow is replaced by the blue carpet of Bieberstein's bells. When it gets warmer, Ruprecht's yellow primrose takes over the baton. Mountain violet is varied in its shades. But let's not forget that the alpine belt is primarily scree and rocks. Grasses with a powerful root system, such as a dense clump, take root here. It looks like pads with closely pressed stems. She is not afraid of frosts and winds.

Few animals are able to adapt to such harsh conditions. These are mainly ungulate mammals: aurochs, chamois, red deer and, naturally, bison. After all, the name “” itself is translated as “bison”. There is even such a mountain as Dombay-Yolgen (killed bison).

Scary time civil war 1917-1924 It turned out to be fatal for these powerful animals. Of the 500 individuals living in these places, by the twenty-fourth year only 10 remained. The last bison was killed by some poacher in 1928. It would seem that's it. To some extent this is true. Currently, about 2000 individuals live in the Caucasus. These are the descendants of bison that were once brought there from Askania-Nova.
The stone goat has large curved horns and special soft horny pads on its hooves. The agility with which these large animals (up to 150 kg) move across almost steep cliffs, is amazing. They can graze both at the very edges of the forest and near the eternal snow.

Chamois. Her grace is sung in poetry. From a distance the silhouettes look really beautiful. Although in essence it is an ordinary goat with thin and not very long horns. In winter it is dark brown, turning red in summer. Is it difficult for you to imagine what it looks like? Ride on and visit the Teberdinsky Nature Reserve. Outside its borders, chamois are practically never found.

Along the streams, along the banks of which there is green grass, you can meet a female Caucasian red deer with a cub. A most beautiful and touching animal. Suffice it to recall the cartoon about the fawn “Bambi”. But adult males are not so defenseless. Their huge branched horns are a formidable weapon when fighting enemies.

Let us return mentally to the Uzun-Tala clearing we left behind. In addition to the waterfall, the silhouette of Mount Sulahat can be clearly seen from it. It resembles the profile of a girl lying on her back. People have composed a legend about this mountain:
The beautiful Sulahat was born into the hardworking Alan tribe. And this tribe was happy. The sun gave them a lot of warmth. It filled rye and barley with its light. The meadows were green, and beautiful chamois roamed through them. But happiness does not last forever. Sadness has come to these places too. Where the Alibek glacier lies inaccessible, a passage was formed through which prickly winds began to rush into the valley. The crops died, the fields thinned out and people began to die. With the winds came sadness to Sulahat. But what saddened her was not that she was cold without a piece of bread in her father’s house, while her lover was fighting the winds in ... And what she saw of her fellow tribesmen left without shelter and food. One day, hugging her father, saying goodbye mentally to her lover and friends, she went to the glacier. Having prayed to the good spirits, she lay down along the ridge, blocking the path of the winds with her body.

Yes, the mountaineers are brave people. Who else could survive among the stormy rivers and overhanging glaciers? But let's finish our journey with you. Having passed through the Alibek alpine camp, we will find ourselves in a clearing of the same name. We already know what colorful flowers can await us here. From the hillock there is an indescribable view of the glacier. This place is a kind of fork in the road. Walking less than a kilometer in one direction, you can get to the waterfall.

Have you ever seen an ugly natural waterfall? It seems that such things don't happen. Each of them is unique. Each has its own “face” and its own “character”. The Chuchkhur waterfall is talkative, the Alibek waterfall is mighty. Looking like a light cape, Ptyshsky falls from a decent height.

If you still have a little time and energy left, we will take a walk to the Alibek glacier and Lake Turye. Our road will run along the river. By the way, there are also enough of them. The main river is Teberda, formed by the confluence of the river. Amanauz and Gonachkhir. In addition to these, the water artery of the region is fed by the river. Muhu, Malaya and Bolshaya Khatipara, Khadzhibey, Jamaga, Shumku, Ullu-Muruju, Gedezh. Impressive list, isn't it? Teberda itself flows into the familiar river. Kuban.

Along the way, you and I will be able to see the Dzhalovchat glacier (salt lick). It is named so for the salt lick found in these places, which is very attractive to tours. Our people nicknamed the glacier bilingual because it descends into the valley as if bifurcating.

We will walk past thickets of Caucasian rhododendron mixed with low-growing birches and maples. Let's admire the Alibek gorge. A slight rise and “voila”. A beautiful gem framed by rocks - Lake Turye.

There are three types of lakes on the territory of the reserve. Turye, along with Kara-Kel and Tumanly-Kel, belongs to the so-called moraines. They form in natural dams left by the glacier.

In the highlands, where glaciers advance and retreat, bowls form in the solid surface, which also fill with water. Such lakes are called tarns. They are distinguished by special purity and depth. These include Fr. Klukhorsky, Murudzhinsky, Khadzhibeysky, Azgeksky, etc.

The third type includes dammed Baduk lakes. They were formed as a result of a collapse that occurred about two hundred years ago.

We have very little left: to climb the snowfield and overcome the madder (an accumulation of rock fragments). And so, our journey was crowned with victory. We can contemplate the largest and lowest located glacier in the Western Caucasus - Alibek glacier.

Every year it retreats 1-1.5 m upward. Here's another danger. The thawing surface is often slippery. And all because of global warming. Slowly but surely the glaciers are disappearing. Over the past hundred years, their area has decreased by almost 20 square kilometers.

Of course, we won’t save the glaciers. But we can really take care of the rest of nature. All you need to do is be careful and attentive while hiking. So that it doesn’t happen like with the bison in 1928, let’s take care of the rare gifts of planet Earth, one of which is Dombay, located in the vicinity of the Teberda Nature Reserve.

Nature of Dombay

The nature of Dombay is rich and unique. The mountain forests covering the slopes are magnificent. Below it is mainly park-type beech with an admixture of hornbeam, ash, and maple; above, there are mighty tall beeches with several girths, slender, majestic fir, and occasionally there is a relict yew, more than a thousand years old - the once famous soft tree with dark noble wood . Higher up there are wet spruce-fir forests with special Pontic spruce, and on the dry granite slopes there are forests of pine-fir composition. Even higher there are thickets of mountain maples, birch, rowan, many shrubs - hazel, honeysuckle, azaleas, barberry, rose hips, euonymus. In the upper floor of the forest zone and in the clearings there are thickets of rhododendrons and junipers, a lot of berries - raspberries, currants, wild gooseberries, blueberries, lingonberries and strawberries.

And in the subalpine meadows with grass reaching two meters in height, and in the low-grass alpine meadows there is a kingdom of flowers. There are many hundreds of species here. Different, completely different from each other. Some species have been known since ancient times and came from afar, others were born and preserved only here. Among the plants there are many “true Caucasians”. The thickets of Caucasian rhododendron are magnificent, a creeping shrub with strong glossy leaves and lush large inflorescences, with subtle shades of delicate moist petals. Herbaceous plants are innumerable. A characteristic flower of the highlands, gentiana comes in many variations, from azure blue and ultramarine to pale lilac, pink and white.

There are numerous primroses, anemones, bright saffron, and bluebells. The delicate crimson alpine daisy and mountain asters, crocuses and tulip-like hazel grouse are beautiful. Many species of saxifrage and succulents adorn the heated rocks. Even the stones in the forest and alpine meadows seem to be in bloom, colored with a wide variety of mosses and lichens. The fantastically colorful alpine carpets of Dombay are also one of its main treasures.

This diversity of vegetation, fauna, glaciers and peaks, the unique nature of these places caused the creation of the Teberdinsky State Reserve in 1936, in which the Dombaysky area was given a special, very important place. The reserve carries out extensive environmental and scientific work, carrying out extensive experiments on the acclimatization of plants and animals new to the area. Experiments have shown, for example, that ginseng takes root and is cultivated well here, and the sika deer, raccoon dog and Altai squirrel have already been acclimatized. Much attention is also paid to the conservation and reproduction of rare species of animals and birds.

In the forest zone of Dombay there are numerous wild boars and Caucasian deer, roe deer and lynx, stone and pine martens, squirrels, brown bears and wolves; chamois and Caucasian black grouse hang out at the upper boundaries of the forest; among the rocks and stone placers there are partridges, mountain turkey - snowcock and a magnificent animal of the upper mountain belt - the Caucasian tur. Eagles and noisy alpine jackdaws are common here. In the rivers, piercing the tight transparent streams, beautiful trout quickly overcome the rapids, and on the smooth river boulders, here and there, a small white-breasted bird suddenly appears and disappears, fearlessly diving into the stormy stream. This dipper forages at the bottom of wild mountain rivers.

The bright spring sun gives birth to thousands of ringing streams from granular melted snow, the young greenery of the first grasses covers the slopes awakening from winter sleep, the trees bloom, cheerful bird trills sound in the clear blue sky, the peaks of the mountains shed their snow-white clothes, the spring festival sparkles with colors. Summer brings lush green foliage, the thunder of rainbow-colored waterfalls, carpets of flowers, forest rustles, azure sunrises and regal sunsets. The life-giving air spreads with subtle aromas through the gorges, the sun's rays are crushed in the edges of the rocks and turquoise blocks of the icefalls. Autumn gives birth to a riot of colors and transparency of distances. As if by magic, huge yellowed meadows are covered overnight with a continuous soft lilac cover of billions of crocuses, and the morning grasses sparkle with sparkles of frost. The fabulous winter forest captivates with the play of sun glare and falling diamond dust snow caps, the crystal purity of the graying peaks captivates the eye. Thick, silent snowfalls of myriads of large soft flakes give way to dazzlingly sunny days, and untouched snow lights up with a scattering of diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies.

The high mountainous position of the reserve also determines the nature of its vegetation cover. On the territory of the reserve, two main types of vegetation can be distinguished: forests (deciduous, mixed and coniferous) and mountain meadows (subalpine and alpine). In addition, the vegetation of rocks and screes, as well as meadows within the forest belt of the reserve, also stands out.

Forests occupy the bottoms of valleys, gorges and slopes of ridges, usually up to an altitude of 2200-2500 m. northern slopes the upper limit of the forest lies at a lower altitude, in the southern ones - at a higher altitude. Above the forest there is a mountain-meadow belt. The lower part of the belt is occupied by subalpine meadows, the upper, adjacent to the belt of bare rocks and eternal snow, is alpine. The vegetation of rocks and screes is distributed mainly in the mountain-meadow belt and above it, but is also found within the forest.

Meadows of the forest belt (forb-grass and grass-forb) are more or less steppe, occupying clearings on the lower terraces of rivers.

It should be noted that the boundaries of the forest, subalpine and alpine meadows do not run parallel to each other, but along a broken line. Sometimes the forest is wedged into the subalpine or even alpine belt. Often in the forest you can find clearings with typical subalpine vegetation. The width of the belts (vertically) of alpine and subalpine meadows also varies over a fairly wide range.

Due to the fact that the Teberda Nature Reserve is located on the border of western and eastern parts Northern Caucasus, the flora of the reserve includes plants characteristic of both indicated floristic regions. Thus, Western Caucasian species are widespread in the reserve: eastern spruce, Caucasian fir and Caucasian rhododendron, but East Caucasian species are also common - squat juniper and crenate spirea. In addition, elements of both steppe (feather grass, steppe timothy, fescue and many others) and Colchian flora (cherry laurel) penetrate into the reserve.

Of great interest is a relict of the Tertiary period - yew berry.

The total number of species of flowering plants in the reserve is about 1,100.

Deciduous forests occupy mainly the lower floodplain terraces, the riverbed part of the floodplain and alluvial fans of rivers and streams, and also make up the upper edge of the forest belt in the southern half of the Teberda Nature Reserve.

In the northern part of the reserve (valleys of the Teberda, Dzhemagata, Malaya and Bolshaya Khatipara rivers), the deciduous forest stand includes eastern beech, Caucasian hornbeam, forest apple, pear, cherry and cherry plum; ash, English oak, Norway and beautiful maples, warty birch, aspen; the undergrowth is dominated by hazel, Caucasian honeysuckle, European and broadleaf euonymus. Closer to the Main Ridge, hornbeam, oak, as well as wild fruit trees and shrubs almost disappear; instead, highland maple (Trautfetter) plays a significant role in the valley forests.

Beech forests are especially spectacular at all times of the year. The powerful "pillar-shaped trunks of beech with smooth gray bark bear a mass of crooked branches and shiny dark green leaves. In autumn, when the leaves turn reddish-rusty, the beech involuntarily catches the eye. In general, the deciduous and mixed forests of the Teberda Nature Reserve, thanks to the diversity of tree and shrub species, are unusually good in September - early October. Deciduous species are painted in all colors from straw yellow to crimson, and against the background of these colors the dense greenery of spruce and fir stands out sharply.

In the lower part of the forest belt on the terraces above the floodplain there are more large rivers significant areas are occupied by herbaceous vegetation. Its composition is usually meadow-steppe. Among the steppe plants common in the reserve are: angustifolia bluegrass, fescue, feather grass (John and hair grass), steppe timothy, slender slender leg, bedstraw, six-petalled meadowsweet and many others. Among the specifically mountain species in the meadows, alpine bluegrass, Kurin sainfoin, chistome, great istod, some, sedum and others are common.

Due to the fact that the herbage of the meadows of the lower belt includes a large number of species of forbs, these meadows are full of flowers from May to August. Depending on the abundance of certain flowering plants, the size and brightness of their flowers, different colors and shades predominate in the meadow at different times of the year.

At the upper limit of the forest in the southern part of the reserve there are thickets of birch, beech, and rowan. All these species have a shrub-like shape, their trunks are bent and twisted. This shape of trees is produced under the influence of snow and avalanches. A visit to this “subalpine crooked forest” is of great interest. Here you can see how resistant plants are to unfavorable environmental conditions, how they “hold on to life.” Broken, bent, with roots partially torn out of the ground, trees still live and grow.

Coniferous trees occupy the mountain slopes. Pine is distributed mainly on the slopes of the southern, southeastern and southwestern parts. In pine forests, there is often an undergrowth of yellow rhododendron (azaleas), which in the spring is covered with a mass of strong-smelling bright yellow flowers.

The grass cover of pine forests is usually low. The predominant grasses in it are bluegrass, reed grass, often fescue and other grasses; the common legumes are middle and alpine clovers, common grass, some chins and sochevich, sedum and young are found in large quantities.

Spruce and fir in the middle part of the reserve occupy the slopes of northern exposure; on the border with the Peredovoy or Lateral ridges they are found in small numbers, and in the south of the reserve (near the Main ridge) they inhabit the slopes of all exposures except the south, where pine plays a significant role. In the southern part of the reserve, beech is quite widespread in dark coniferous forests.

The most typical dark coniferous forests are located in the valleys of the Alibek, Dombay-Ulgen, Amanauz, and Gonachkhir rivers.

Spruce and fir, reaching a height of more than thirty meters, have a dense crown and greatly shade the soil. As a result, the undergrowth and grass cover in a dark coniferous forest are usually poorly developed. With a low density of the tree stand in such a forest, the grass cover most often consists of reed grass, mountain fescue, wood sorrel, rose grass and groundsel are quite constantly present, and the most common fern is linnaeus fern. There are almost always common blueberries in one quantity or another, and closer to the Vodorazdelnyi Range there are Caucasian blueberries.

For the mountains of the northwestern Caucasus, Caucasian rhododendron is typical with dark, rather large leaves and beautiful white or pinkish flowers. In the Teberda Nature Reserve, rhododendron is widespread. It is part of the undergrowth in the upper part of the forest belt, and higher up, in the lower part of the subalpine zone, it forms thickets. In the north of the reserve, rhododendron, like fir and spruce, grows on slopes with a northern exposure, and in the southern part it is also found in more illuminated places. Thickets of rhododendron are usually clearly visible from a distance, differing from the surrounding vegetation in their dark green color. Rhododendron is especially good during mass flowering (June) when the bushes are covered with caps of flowers that form a sharp contrast with the foliage.

Above the forest and thickets of Caucasian rhododendron there are subalpine meadows.

Herbs reign supreme here. Among them there is a lot of variegated fescue (mainly in the northern part of the reserve), which stands out for its powerful turfs of variegated brome, Caucasian slender-footed fescue, Asian sheep, mountain timothy, various clovers, sainfoin, astragalus, large-flowered capitol with dark pink inflorescences, white anemone tufted, yellow Ruprecht's primrose, bright blue forget-me-not, pink-red istoda grande and knotweed.

Depressions, gentle terraces and less dry places are usually occupied by tall grass meadows. There are fewer cereals here; this is the kingdom of forbs. Hogweeds especially attract attention; their leaves reach a length of more than a meter, and the plants themselves are sometimes taller than the rider. Large white and purple bells and many Asteraceae grow in the same meadows.

At an altitude of 2400-2600 m and above, subalpine meadows gradually give way to alpine ones. Alpine meadows differ from subalpine meadows not only floristically, but also in appearance. The low grass stand and the large size of the flowers compared to the height of the stem allow even an inexperienced person to notice the difference between alpine and subalpine vegetation.

Some of the species are characteristic of both zones; only the appearance of the plants differs. Among the subalpine-alpine species, the following should be noted: variegated brome, Asian sheep, squat fescue, gloomy sedge, Caucasian scabiosa, Ruprecht's primrose, alpine aster, Caucasian young, alpine forget-me-not, some gentians (Gentians), etc.

A significant number of species are specific to the Alpine belt. These include semi-smooth sibbaldia, multi-leaf clover, three-toothed bell, glacial violet, pleasant primrose, some mynids and saxifrage. Shrubs and shrubs play a minor role in the alpine belt. Too steep cliffs and young screes usually do not have continuous vegetation cover. In such places, a unique vegetation is formed, which is characterized by open cover and a small number of species of flowering plants. In such places, crustose and crustose lichens often predominate. By observing a number of screes within mountain meadow belts, one can trace the process of their overgrowth, from the appearance of individual higher plants to the formation of a closed cover.

The following species are most typical for rocks and screes: Caucasian dryad, Kuznetsov's carnation, variegated colpodium, pleasant primrose, vernal minuartia, stemless chamesciadium, Caucasian larkspur, Siberian saxifrage, Ruprecht's saxifrage, Caucasian saxifrage, durum saxifrage, Kolenati ponticum and Naya, Ossetian grains , rejuvenated Caucasian and low.

The vegetation of rocks and screes is distributed throughout the reserve on the slopes of all exposures. In its most typical form, it can be observed within the Alpine belt.

Depending on the exposure and altitude, the floristic composition varies within certain limits. In addition, in addition to characteristic plants, as a rule, there are also plant communities characteristic of the surrounding rocks and scree.

Fauna of the Teberda Nature Reserve

The reserve is rich in vertebrate animals, there are 184 different species. The number of invertebrate species has not yet been established.

The distribution of animals in the reserve is most conveniently traced by belts.

The forest belt is inhabited by animal species common to the European forest zone (however, they are mostly represented by Caucasian forms).

Among the predatory animals, the bear is ubiquitous. Depending on the time of year, it is found in all valleys up to alpine meadows. The bears living in the reserve are generally peaceful in nature and feed on various plants and insects. In 1952, reserve staff observed, for example, a bear grazing with aurochs.

Two species of martens live in the reserve: the forest marten, or yellow marten, and the stone marten, or white marten. Both of them inhabit the forest belt, but there are more of them in the southern part. The stone marten goes higher into the mountains than the forest marten. Martens feed mainly on small rodents; there have been cases of martens attacking squirrels.

Along the banks of rivers you can find the most valuable fur-bearing animal, the otter; its main food is trout.

The northern part of the reserve is sometimes visited by the badger, which is widely distributed throughout Stavropol region, and a typical steppe animal bandaging.

From the mustelidae family, the Caucasian weasel is numerous in the reserve. Most often it is found in the northern part near human habitations and haystacks. It brings great benefits by exterminating harmful rodents. Occasionally an ermine is seen.

Of the canine family, the Caucasian fox is the most numerous, distributed mainly in the northern part. The raccoon dog acclimatized here is rare.

The wolf is not a permanent resident of the reserve. As a rule, wolves penetrate from neighboring areas only into the northern part. Thanks to the protection of the reserve, wolves do not cause noticeable harm.

The forest cat and lynx live from the cat family. The forest cat is quite common in the northern part. It feeds mainly on mouse-like rodents. Lynx is distributed throughout the territory, especially in the valleys of the Teberda, Muhu, Dzhemagat, Gonachkhir and Amanauz rivers. Often the lynx rises higher.

Of the ungulates in the forest belt, the wild boar is the most numerous. (It is also found in the subalpine zone). There is also a group of Caucasian deer. The closest relative of the deer, the roe deer, is found in very small numbers in the Dzhemagat Valley.

Of the rodents, the most interesting animal is the Altai squirrel acclimatized here. Its main food is the seeds of conifers: pine, fir and spruce. It also feeds on beech nuts, berries and mushrooms.

Another interesting rodent, the poison dart frog, is the dormouse, a nocturnal animal that usually sleeps in a hollow during the day. It feeds on a variety of seeds, including pear and apple seeds.

The forest is also home to several species of mice and voles, the most common of which are the wood mouse, the common vole and the water rat. The latter causes especially noticeable harm by eating vegetables in gardens and gnawing the roots of fruit trees.

Of the insectivores, the mole is the most numerous. It is observed everywhere in both forest and subalpine zones. Shrews are less commonly seen.

Of the bats, the most common are the rufous noctule and the long-eared bat. They are nocturnal and sleep during the day, attached upside down in tree hollows or rock cracks. They hibernate during the winter. They feed on insects, including harmful ones, which are of great benefit.

If there are up to 40 species of animals on the territory of the reserve, then the number of bird species is three times greater. Birds from the order passerines are especially numerous and widespread.

The most common, ubiquitous bird of the reserve is the Caucasian black-headed jay. There are also numerous tits: Caucasian, great, blue tit, long-tailed. These are permanent inhabitants of forests, equally active in both summer and winter.

The finch is extremely numerous, nesting on the territory of the reserve and found in the forest belt up to its upper

borders. Mountain bunting is also common, flocks of which can be observed in autumn and winter. Nuthatch and pika are permanent inhabitants of the forests. The dipper is interesting; this small bird feeds on various aquatic animals, in search of which it can run a considerable distance under water.

With the onset of spring, greenfinches, grosbeaks, wagtails (white, yellow and mountain), skylarks and woodlarks appear. Later, during the lilac bloom, you can hear the melodic song of the lentils. In summer, shrikes, flycatchers, warblers, warblers, warblers, and redstarts are found here.

Common birds of the forest belt are the Wood Accentor and the Wren. Kinglets are not uncommon in coniferous forests. In summer there are numerous swallows: city and village swallows, nesting on the territory of the village. Lots of blackbirds: blackbirds, fieldfares, blackbirds and warblers. The white-throated blackbird descends to the valleys for the winter and lives in the mountains in the summer. Starlings, horned and crested larks are found only on migration. In winter you can see flocks of bullfinches, and occasionally you can see crossbills, which are interesting because they nest in winter.

Of the woodpeckers, which are rightly called the “doctors” of the forest, the most common is the Great Spotted Woodpecker; the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is rare. The black woodpecker, or yellow woodpecker, is quite common in both deciduous and coniferous forests; the green woodpecker can be found in the deciduous forests of the northern part of the reserve.

In the summer, in the upper part of the forest belt you can hear the cuckoo cuckooing. At dusk, a nightjar flies silently. Sometimes you can watch the fast and beautiful flight of swifts. Among the Coraciiformes, the Roller is quite common on migration in spring and autumn; Large flocks of European bee-eaters visit the reserve on migration from the end of August and throughout September. WITH early spring and until late autumn you can often see a hoopoe.

During autumn and spring migrations, the reserve is visited by many other birds.

Of the owls, the gray owl is found throughout the reserve. The common diurnal predator is the buzzard, or buzzard. This is a useful bird that destroys a large number of rodents. Quite common in the forest zone are goshawks and sparrowhawks, which cause harm by exterminating beneficial insectivorous birds. Kestrels can be seen throughout the area. Eagles are rare.

Among the waders, in many places of the forest belt of the reserve, especially in its northern part, you can find woodcock and snipe. The little plover arrives at the end of April and is common in the riverine area. Along the river valleys you can see the marsh hen, crake and carrier. The call of the corncrake in summer can be heard in the northern part of the reserve, where it probably nests. Rock pigeons nest in the rocks, and vitiutens nest in the forests.

Of the chickens, quail is found on migration.

The reserve's reptiles are not particularly diverse. There are four types of lizards: quick, green, rocky and legless, snake-like spindle. Snakes include the copperhead, the common grass snake, and the common viper; Only the latter is poisonous.

Common amphibians include the Caucasian and lake frogs, the green toad and the tree frog, whose cry can be heard in the summer among the foliage of the trees.

The only commercial fish is brook trout, which is found in almost all rivers. Lake trout lives in lakes Kara-kel and Tumanly-kel. In flowing waters there are gudgeons and char, and in stagnant waters there are loaches.

Invertebrate animals in the reserve are very numerous and diverse. The dominant place among them is occupied by insects.

The first thing that catches your eye is the variety of butterflies. In early spring, urticaria, peacock's eye and others awaken from winter torpor. By the end of summer they produce a second generation, which goes into winter. In some years, the thistle butterfly can reproduce in large numbers, and then in the summer you can observe an interesting phenomenon - the migration of butterflies through high mountain passes.

Of the summer butterflies, we will mention such as white butterflies, yellow butterflies, blue butterflies, marigolds, mother-of-pearl butterflies, checkerworts, swallowtails, and Apollo butterflies. There are especially many of these butterflies in the Dzhemagat Valley. IN sunny days Various colorful butterflies complement the fabulous picture of nature.

There are no forest pest butterflies in the reserve. The beech moth does not cause much harm. There are numerous forest pest beetles, especially bark beetles. Less harm is caused by longhorned beetles, weevils, borers and borers.

Glowing beetles are interesting - wingless and winged.

There are numerous blood-sucking insects: midges, mosquitoes, horseflies and others, which accumulate in the habitats of ungulates and cause them great concern. There are small numbers of malaria mosquitoes.

In late spring, a very interesting representative of ancient lacewing insects appears - Ascalaphus. In appearance, askalaphuses resemble dragonflies, differing from them in their long antennae with a large club. Their larvae develop in fallen leaves.

In summer there are many jumping and chirping insects: grasshoppers, grasshoppers, crickets. There are a lot of ants that serve as food for a variety of insectivorous birds; The bear also feasts on them. Bumblebees and wasps are quite numerous in the reserve.

In winter, during a thaw, a large number of spiders inhabiting the soil surface and snow fleas appear in the snow in some places. There are so many fleas that the snow turns black in places. them in more tits eat.

Of the mollusks, slugs are most often found; snails can occasionally be found. Some animals, birds and insects feed on them, for example, fireflies.

There are a lot of earthworms or earthworms in the reserve, which serve as food for various animals, even such large ones as bear and wild boar. Worms are mainly eaten by moles and some birds. Earthworms loosen, mix and fertilize the soil, thereby creating favorable conditions for plant life.

The only terrestrial crustacean is the woodlice, accumulations of which can be observed under stones, dead wood, and in the forest floor.

In the subalpine zone animal world less diverse than in the forest.

The stone marten finds refuge here among the stones.

Where there are rocky outcrops, chamois are characteristic. This is a slender, beautiful animal, very well adapted to life in the mountains. Chamois live in small herds and, at the slightest danger, instantly disappear from view, showing amazing dexterity. In summer, chamois rise to alpine meadows and often graze near aurochs, and in winter they descend to the upper reaches of the forest.

In a subalpine meadow, among stones overgrown with grass, you can often find small stacks of hay, which the snow vole prepares for the winter. The stack is usually placed under a canopy of stone or rock. The weight of one stack can reach two kilograms. Here, in the meadows, there is a mouse mouse; There are very numerous traces of the mole's underground activity.

Common birds of the subalpine zone are stone partridges, or chukars. These game birds feed in the summer on insects, seeds, bulbs, and plant buds. In winter, berries and seeds are obtained from under the snow.

Among the thickets of rhododendron and in the birch forests on the slopes of the Semenov-bashi, Khuty, Khadzhibey, Bolshaya and Malaya Khatipara and Kel-bashi ridges, there is an endemic of the Caucasus - the Caucasian black grouse (Mlokosevich). In summer it feeds on seeds, flowers and leaves of various plants, as well as insects. Its winter food consists of birch buds and catkins.

An interesting bird of the subalpine zone is the red-winged wallcreeper. This small, brightly colored bird deftly moves along the slopes in search of various kinds of insects, which it pulls out of narrow crevices between stones and rocks with the help of its long and curved beak.

Flocks of black red-billed choughs (Alpine crows) are found near the rocks. Near the stream you can see the White-throated Blackbird, which descends into the valley in winter, as well as the beautiful King's Finch. Wheatears, stonechat, mountain pipits, and redstarts are numerous.

Among the reptiles, the rock lizard and viper live here.

Many butterflies fly in the meadows, among which beautiful large Apollo butterflies stand out. The sorrel leaf beetle is striking with its golden-green color.

You can often find a giant slug on the rocks.

Above the subalpine belt, at an altitude of 2700 to 3400 m, there are alpine meadows, where summer time Endemics of the Caucasus live in herds - Western Caucasian turs (Severtsov's turs). In the mornings and evenings they graze, and during the day they escape the heat on rocks and near snowfields. In winter, the tours descend lower, to places where the snow is not so deep and where it is easier to get food.

In early spring, they can be observed in the upper reaches of the forest, where plants develop earlier and there is twig food.

The tour's companions are the so-called mountain turkeys, or snowcocks. Turs provide snowcocks with a great service in winter, when they forage for food from under the snow. By shoveling snow, they thereby provide the opportunity for snowcocks to feed. Snowcocks are very careful: more often you can hear their cry than see the birds themselves.

In the alpine belt lives the high-mountain vole - the Promethean mouse - an animal that leads a very secretive lifestyle. For the most part it is underground, coming to the surface extremely rarely.

Several species of eagles find their refuge in the rocks, including the bearded vulture and the rough-legged buzzard. Here you can also find huge griffon vultures.

Alpine jackdaws fly in flocks; unlike choughs, they have a yellow beak. The brightly colored rock thrush is occasionally seen. Of the reptiles, the red viper (Kaznakova) lives.

Insects include ground beetles, bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and various dipterans.

Based on materials from the Book "Essays on the Teberda Nature Reserve" Stavropol Book Publishing House 1958