Atsgara lakes or the Pyatiozerye (“Five lakes”) valley are located at an altitude of about 2,500 meters above sea level in the Urupsky district of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, about 26 km northwest of the village of Arkhyz and 7 km east of the village of Zagedan.

In total, there are more than 10 lakes here, but only 5 are large in size, their length is about 200-350 meters. The lakes are located on mountain terraces formed by an ancient glacier and at different heights relative to each other. In summer, these lakes warm up quite well and you can cool off in them. Atsgara Lakes in Karachay-Cherkessia on Google Maps. Photos by: Fedor Lashkov.

amazing mountain scenery

Tags: Cherkessk city · Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

The Shoana church, built in the Byzantine architectural style at the end of the 10th century, is one of the oldest Christian churches in Russia.

It is located on the southeastern spur of the very picturesque Shoana Mountain (1,232 meters) on the left bank of the Kuban River in the central part of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the foothills of the northwestern Caucasus. Shoana Church on Google Maps. Photos by: Fedor Lashkov.

picturesque mountain church

Tags: Cherkessk city · Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Zelenchuk churches (Northern, Middle, and Southern) are the three oldest Orthodox churches of the Caucasus located in the valley of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River near the village of Nizhniy Arkhyz in the central part of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia.

Northern Zelenchuk Church, the largest of them, was constructed in the late 10th – early 11th centuries. This beautiful building, harmoniously integrated into the surrounding landscape, is built of sandstone. The basis of the construction is a cross with a dome in the center. Northern Zelenchuk Church on Google Maps. Photos by: Fedor Lashkov.

very picturesque old church

Tags: churches · Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Sofia Falls are waterfalls of glacial origin flowing from the Sofia Glacier of Mount Sofia (3,637 meters) – one of the main natural attractions of the Arkhyz ski resort located in the southern part of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the Western Caucasus.

These picturesque waterfalls are located about 15 km south of the village of Arkhyz. Sofia Falls become the most full-flowing at the height of summer (July, August), when the glacier is actively melting. The following photos were taken in late July by Fedor Lashkov. Sofia Falls on Google Maps.

fly over Sofia Falls

Tags: Cherkessk city · Karachay-Cherkessia Republic · landscapes

The Bermamyt Plateau is an amazingly beautiful place, one of the best panoramic sites of the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic. It is located on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus, about 30 km south-west of Kislovodsk in the Malokarachayevsky district of the republic.

The main part of the plateau – Bolshoy (Big) Bermamyt – reaches a height of 2,591 m. Nearby there is a southern rocky ledge – Malyy (Small) Bermamyt (2,643 m). In clear weather, you can enjoy scenic views of the snow-covered peaks of the Greater Caucasus and Mount Elbrus. The Bermamyt Plateau on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrey Vasiliskov.

amazingly picturesque place

Tags: Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Dombay is a resort village located at an altitude of about 1,600 meters above sea level in the intermontane basin at the northern foothill of the Main Caucasian Range in the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia.

The word “dombay” in translation from Karachai means “bison”. In the past, the local forests were inhabited by herds of bison. The settlement arose in connection with the development of tourism in the region in the 1920s. Dombay on Google Maps. Photos by: Konstantin Antipin.

picturesque mountain resort

Tags: Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Dombay is a mountainous territory located in the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia in the North Caucasus, at a distance of about 65 km from Elbrus and the coast of the Black Sea.

The junction of the three main gorges: Alibek, Amanauz and Dombay-Ulgen – forms a natural center of the territory – the picturesque Dombay glade, lying at an altitude of 1,630-1,650 m above sea level. Dombay on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

picturesque mountain landscapes

Tags: Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Karachay-Cherkessia Republic is a subject of the Russian Federation (population about 470 thousand people), a part of the North Caucasian Federal District.

The region is located in the foothills of the north-western Caucasus. About 80% of Karachay-Cherkessia Republic territory is situated in mountainous terrain providing favourable conditions for development of tourism, mountaineering and resort activities. The photos were taken by Timur Agirov.

fly over the mountains

Tags: Karachay-Cherkessia Republic · landscapes

The North Caucasus is the region where the best Russian sea and mountain resorts are located. Among them are the resorts of Krasnodar Region, Caucasian Mineral Waters, Dolinsk, Elbrus, Dombai. At the same time it is the most unsettled region of the country.

The following scenic photos were taken in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia republics by Vadim Mahorov.

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Tags: Kabardino-Balkaria Republic · Karachay-Cherkessia Republic

Elbrus is a stratovolcano in the Caucasus (on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia). Elbrus is located north of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and is the highest peak in Russia. Also because the border between Europe and Asia is controversial, Mount Elbrus can also be the highest peak in Europe.

Elbrus is a saddle-shaped volcano with a two peaks. Western peak has an elevation of 5642 meters, Eastern – 5621 meters. The peaks are connected by a saddle (5200 meters), the distance between peaks is about 3 kilometers. By climbing classification Elbrus has rating 2A (snow and ice), climbing to the top of two peaks – 2B. Photos by Oleg Grigoryev.

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Tags: Kabardino-Balkaria Republic · Karachay-Cherkessia Republic