Sochi National Park (Сочинский национальный парк)

Image of Sochi National Park

Location: Western Caucasus Map

Area: 1937 km2 (478,730 acres)

Tel. (8622) 64 52 37

E-mail: forest_sochi@pochta.ru

Official site

 

Description of Sochi National Park

Sochi National Park is Russia's second largest National Park. Located in the Western Caucasus, it is part of the Western Caucasus World Heritage Site. Sochi National Park contains 28 well marked trails and tourist excursions. Backcountry camping is also possible, however due to numerous dangerous animals like bears, wolves, boars and even leopards, it might be a risky thing. But then again it is possibly the only way to find a local zubr or European buffalo that moved here from the Belorussian forests in an attempt to repopulate these forests. The region is full of history and ruins. Some date to the time of the Greek colonists who were looking for the Gold Fleece or simply wanted to make a living. Other belonged to the Byzantine Empire. It would be hard to count and name of the castles, towers, and settlements since many remain nameless. Ancient legends claimed that these mountains served as a prison for legendary Prometheus. According a legend he was a titan, who stole fire from gods of Olympus and gave it to the mortal men. Gods punished him by chaining to the Caucasian mountains. An eagle came here ever day to eat his liver. During the night Prometheus regenerated his body organ and the next morning the punishment continued.

 

 

Byzantine Church (10th- 12th century) (Sochi National Park)

Location: South of village Loo Map

This medieval Byzantine Church is located just South of village of Loo. It was originally found in the 8th century. It was badly damaged during an earthquake and subsequently rebuild in the 10th century. Later it was converted into a fortress by the local tribes in the Late Middle Ages, when the Byzantine power started to wane and they abandoned these lands.

Achun Tower (Башня Ахун) (Sochi National Park)

Achun Tower stands on top of the Achun mountain that is situated about 3 km (2 mi) from the sea coast at elevation of 662 meters above sea level. The name came either from a local Abchaz word "ach" and means "hill" or it might be given after Achin, god of shepherds and hunters. The tower was designed by S.I. Vorobiev and constructed in 1936 as a medieval stronghold near ruins of a Byzantine church. It took only 108 days to erect this structure that reached a total height of 30 meters. Some say that in a good weather you can see the shores of Turkey.

 

Volkonsky Dolmen (Волконский дольмен) (Sochi National Park)

Volkonsky Dolmen is situate along Lazarevskoe- Sochi highway just 2 km from a village of Soloniki and about 1 km from a Black Sea. This magnificent structure was carved from a single boulder. Inner chamber measures 1.65 mmeters by 1.90 meters by 0.90 meters. The entrance is a hole with a diameter of 0.45 meters and points in the South Eastern direction. It was made by ancient people 3000 years ago. This monolith is situated near a sulfur spring so the smell might be somewhat unpleasant.

 

Orekhovsky Waterfall (Sochi National Park)

Image of Sochi National ParkOrekhovsky Waterfall is one of the most picturesque geological formations in the Sochi National Park. It flows near a small village of Nizhnaya Orekhovka and reached an elevation of 27 meters. It is particularly strong in the late spring months when melting water causes the river to swell.