city of Sochi has been and remains a "tourist Mecca" has for several centuries.The proximity of the sea, healthy air of the mountains and the beauty of local nature made him the pearl of Caucasus.But the unique ecosystem - is not the only attraction.In terms of archeology of Sochi - a storehouse of invaluable knowledge, a kind of inexhaustible source of information about the history of the beginning of civilization ...
In the vicinity of scientists discovered more than four dozen people, the so-called parking of primitive man.Ahshtyrskaya cave - the most famous of them.It was there, in the depths of the rock, clues have been found many secrets of the past ...
Geographical details
In mountainous areas of Sochi, according to a report last archaeological and speleological expedition, there are at least 400 caves of natural origin.However, only a small portion of them, about 10% are of historic importance.And, interestingly, the conventional center of concentration of "cultural heritage" is a former urban village, and now - a part of the eminent resort - Adler.Ahshtyrskaya cave is very close, in some 15 kilometers away (up the river Mzymta).
The fact that the parking lot was once chosen by Cro-Magnons, indicate primitive tools found during excavations nearly 80 years ago.From a geographical point of view of the cave - the extreme northern point of the entire south-eastern region of Europe, "officially designated" for the primitive people of that era.
Secret uniqueness Ahshtyrskaya cave
Why everyone's lips is this cave, and not some other?Yes, because only here you can see a clear expression of cultural layering of ancient times.To get here - like visiting a museum of history of the European race.As scientists believe, the first settlers began to settle down here 70 thousand. Years ago.However, after about 20 thousand. Years, as a result of a natural disaster, the Neanderthals left their hearth and home.But the sharp drop in temperature barely noticed the bears that have become full-fledged masters of the cave for the next fifteen thousand years.
Return bipedal primates came from the Early Bronze Age.Their intellectual level has grown, and it will appear on the arrangement as a way of life.All the details of life of Cro-Magnon told the five-meter "cultural layer", mastered by archaeologists in the last century.
Today Ahshtyrskaya cave, Sochi and mountaineering - synonyms.The monument has not lost its historical value, just change its status - it is now a full-fledged tour a recreational nature.
cave structure
Ahshtyrskaya cave site located at an altitude of 185 meters above sea level.Distance to mirror burnokipyaschey Mzymta mountain - 120 meters (river gorge walls clamped, which increases the echo effect).
leads to the entrance of a narrow path.It is like a cornice, speaks at an almost vertical cliff.This track, which, by the way, is equipped with special protective rails - the only way to the first observation deck.Another short jump - and here they are, "the door» ...
Ahshtyrskaya cave has a distinct eastern exposure.
Her starting segment is a twenty-meter corridor, gradually transformed into a spacious hall and a height of 8 to 10 meters;finish - a rise of clay under the rather steep slope that ends with two dead ends.The total length - about 270 meters.For the convenience and safety of visitors to the cave held lighting where you need - installed and mounted the stairs step.
important nuances walking route
task number one is to get to the trout farm - all transport, walking in the direction of the Adler - Krasnaya Polyana, perfectly suitable (for example, you can "ride" bus route 131 or 135).This is followed by the main entrance to find it the most "fish restaurant" - it is right there at the track, so it should be no problem.Approaching the entrance gate, turn left, then continue driving.If the road construction will meet with the inscription "Shaw glassblowers" - then everything is in order: a tourist has overcome a third of the way to the place that is called Ahshtyrskaya cave.
How to get to the intermediate destination - "glaziers" - are now known.It remains to find out where to walk on.Here, fortunately, is no big deal: about "The show glassblowers" smoothly paved road goes to the right, the two four-story residential buildings of the old buildings.After exactly between them, you must turn right again.After about a hundred meters pavement "you are rested" in the suspension bridge.However, the transition to the other side do not have to: the left is clearly visible trodden path - it is a stranger, and bring directly to the cave (from the suspension bridge to go no more than half an hour).
Ahshtyrskaya cave: how to get the shortest route by car?
Sochi - a city of modest size.But when the holiday season kilometer traffic jams spoils the life of motorists.And in order to move to the "steel horse" does not become a torment, it is necessary to properly plan the route.
Thus, the goal - Ahshtyrskaya cave.How to get from Adler to the world-famous place of prehistoric man?
order not to zigzag mountain serpentine, of which near Sochi set to be immediately on the outskirts of the city, to take a course at Krasnaya Polyana.Reaching the pointer "Cossack Broad" - turn towards the village and drive it "through" (houses are located along the route, so get lost, if they wanted to, nowhere).
Passing the locality, it is not necessary to press on the gas - after about 200-300 meters will seem one more pointer, this time with the inscription "Ahshtyrskaya cave."Will only perform the maneuver - turn right and drive half a kilometer along the dirt road.Here, actually, and all because the cave itself is impossible not to notice ...
Some facts from the history of the discovery
date of the opening of the cave is considered to be September 28, 1903.Glory "pioneer" is assigned to the subject of the French Republic Edouard Martel, and was accompanied by a scientist in his next expedition on the mountain gorges of the Sochi region resident Cossack Wade Gabriel Rivenko.However, the foreign expert is probably not a great lover of archeology, so he saw only that "lying on the surface."
In 1936, the place of discovery, visited the Soviet "digger old" Sergey Zamyatin, who managed to find signs of the presence of great apes.Later it turned out that under the rock fragments hidden well preserved primitive people - here then and thundered throughout the world Ahshtyrskaya cave.
History of Sochi, as well as the history of all the surrounding areas on the basis of the discovery has been radically revised.Cro-Magnons of the Caucasus became a sensation in the scientific world, so many decades, access to the monument of ancient architecture were only "bright minds" and museum workers.In 1999, the situation has changed - the cave was adapted for excursions.
Myths and Legends: Version guides
Almost all the tourist facilities have "legacy": the guides tend to "prescribe in the house register" medieval castles horrible ghosts, filled mystery museum halls, to talk about the "true facts" in the life of famous people of past eras...
From this point of view the cave, open Martel, is no different from the Louvre or the Tower of London - she also has "its own history."The story kind guides will gladly tell everyone visiting tourists.
Ahshtyrskaya cave - in the presentation of guides - it is nothing like the legendary meeting place of Homer's Odysseus and the Cyclops Polyphemus.Their "reasoning" so convincing that some person really begin to believe that the famous Greek ashore for the Sochi coast.Although perhaps in these words more truth than fiction ...
Ahshtyrskaya Gorge Scenic Beauty: reviews
What does the Ahshtyrskaya Gorge and Cave Ahshtyrskaya for ordinary residents of the resort town?Ironically, but for most of them - it's "just a house."People who grew up among the beauties of the Caucasus, accustomed to the fact that "it has always been."Only visitors, getting to this paradise earth, they see the big picture - the local nature of their literally bewitches ...
Just go to any forum on the subject of tourism - Adler and Sochi certainly the center of attention.The surrounding mountains captivate the hearts of not only Russians - about the "ascent to the sky" in these lands dream of Kazakhs and Belarusians, Moldovans and Ukrainians.Yes there CIS!To visit Ahshtyrskaya (Dzyhrinskom) gorge - the desire of many foreigners!Two and a half kilometers in length, two hundred meters deep - formed by the river Mzymta, it is like a sharp blade cuts through the mountain range of the same name.Send those kinds of words that open with panoramic points of its terraces, it is simply impossible ...
Adler: space tourism glory
Thank Ahshtyrskaya cave often overshadows information about other, not less interesting places, so rich with which Adler and surrounding areas.Meanwhile, if the right to make the excursion program, you can easily combine into one "tour" to visit all the main attractions (the more so that the road map Sochi arranged in such a way that the lion's share of the tourist highlights is located in the vicinity of all of the same renowned prehistoric man).
In particular, the Trout Farm, which has been mentioned as a guide in the preparation of the walking route to the cave is a perfect object for heedlessness: in huge pools are bred rare species of fish, tourists also offer her DMPA or taste the already-cooked meals in a cozy cafe.Also noteworthy is the farm "Three Sofia" - live ostriches, for sure, not everyone saw the inquisitive stranger.And yet - Adler lighthouse Psakho River Canyon, Ridge Achishkho ...
