Mezmay is a village in the Apsheronsky district of the Krasnodar
Territory. It lies at the bottom of an ancient lake in the valley of
three gorges, through which the Kurdzhips River flows, and is
surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges - Guam, Azish-tau and
Lagonaksky. From Krasnodar to Mezmay about 170 km
The name of
the village in translation from the Adyghe means "forest of apples",
this place is also often called "bear's corner". On the site of the
village many years ago there was a mountain village, then the
Cossacks settled in the territory. In 1868, Mezmay became a haven
for lumberjacks and gold miners. In the 20th century, a railway was
laid in the village in order to export valuable timber from the
Lagonaki highlands. Today, lumber industry in these parts has
remained a history, and a small town with a population of about
1,000 people is developing exclusively as a center for mountain
tourism. There are hotels and shelters for every budget, and in the
vicinity there are beautiful panoramas of mountain ranges, mountain
rivers rich in waterfalls, dense forests overgrown with moss with
thickets of boxwood and many other noteworthy natural attractions.
You can come to Mezmay by your own car or by public transport. In the first case, you need to go through Apsheronsk to the village of Nizhegorodskaya. Further, following the signs, an asphalt road leads to Mezmay, which was laid just a couple of years ago. There is another margrut, but not any car can overcome it: on the road towards the Lago-Naki plateau (Lagonaki highlands), moving Maykop to Kamennomostsky towards Guzeripl in front of the Dakhovskaya village, you need to turn right, cross the Belaya River on the bridge, and then through two kilometers after the cave "Gentle" turn right again, there is a sign. From here, a gravel road of poor quality, about 12 km long, leads to Mezmay.
The following variants are recorded in the State Catalog
of Geographical Names: Kurdzhipskaya, Kurdzhipsky, Mazmai, Mezmay
(Kurdzhipsky).
The modern name Mezmay (Adyg. Mezmy) was
formed from two Adyghe words - Mez (forest) and Mye (wild apple),
thus Mezmay is translated from Adyghe as “forest of wild apples”.
Abadzekhs called the settlement Adyg. Mezmey - "land of forests".
Monuments of nature. Not far from the village
there is an ancient site of primitive people - Mezmayskaya cave, in
which, in 1993, a perfectly preserved skeleton of a Neanderthal baby
was found, from whose bones DNA was subsequently extracted. There
are also unique natural monuments: the University and Yavorovy
waterfalls, the Krasivaya, Monakhova, Piketnaya caves, the Mezmay
gorge, the Ivanova Polyana tract, the canyon of the Kurdzhips and
Tsice rivers.
Ethnographic Museum "Traditional folk crafts of the
Kuban". The collection of the museum, the collection and formation
of which began in 1998, contains more than 2,000 authentic items and
photographs of the 19th-20th centuries. The museum is an
architectural and ethnographic complex, consisting of several
sections, the central of which is the architectural and ethnographic
museum-workshop "Blacksmithing of the Kuban". On its base and the
children's school of traditional crafts of the Kuban, the
festival-workshop "Blacksmithing of the Kuban" is held annually. In
2018, it became the tenth anniversary.
Eagle Regiment
One of the most recognizable places not only in
Mezmay, but also in the Krasnodar Territory. In the warm season,
especially on weekends and holidays, the shelf is very crowded and a
queue is created for those who want to get the coveted shot. Organized
groups often come here. In order to get to the Eagle shelf, the car must
be left on the side of the road, a little before reaching the village.
Kurdzhip gorge
In the gorge you can see the Sandikov waterfall,
the waterfall and the Isichenko cave with the site of an ancient man,
the Palm Falls, incredible views from the viewing platforms of the
canyon.
What to see near Mezmay
There are many interesting
places in the vicinity of Mezmay, the most popular is the Guam Gorge.
You can walk to it on foot from the village along the destroyed narrow
gauge railway. The path is long, but picturesque.
From the
Russian farm, seven kilometers from Mezmay, you can get to the
University waterfall. It is located a kilometer from the beginning of
the Gorelay Balka stream (it is a tributary of the Mezmai River). The
waterfall got its name thanks to the students of KubGTU, who had
practice in these places. The water cascade breaks down from a height of
about 20 meters. At its foot there is a large bath, in which you can
swim right under the refreshing splashes of mountain water.
On
the way to the Universitetsky, there is also the Chinarsky waterfall,
which is also called School. It falls into the rock amphitheater from a
height of 12 meters. Directly behind the stream of water there is a deep
grotto. In winter, the waterfall freezes only partially, turning into a
huge icicle, inside which water continues to fall.
Mezmay is actively developing as a center of mountain tourism. In the
vicinity of the village there are many natural attractions (waterfalls,
caves, canyons, etc.). In Mezmai there is a monument of history and
culture of federal significance "The ground necropolis of the Roman time
(Mezmaisky burial ground)" - the northwestern outskirts of the village.
Observation base of the astrophysical observatory of KubGU.
The following variants are recorded in the State Catalog of
Geographical Names: Kurdzhipskaya, Kurdzhipsky, Mazmay, Mezmay
(Kurdzhipsky).
The modern name Mezmay (Adyghe Mezmy) was formed
from two Adyghe words - Mez (forest) and Mye (wild apple), thus Mezmay
is translated from Adyghe as "a forest of wild apples." Abadzekhs called
the settlement Circassians. Mezmei - "land of forests".
Prehistoric Era: The Mezmaiskaya Cave and Early Human Occupation
The history of Mezmay, a small settlement in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, is
deeply intertwined with the archaeological significance of its
surrounding landscape, particularly the Mezmaiskaya Cave (also spelled
Mezmay Cave). This cave, located in the northwestern foothills of the
North Caucasus Mountains in the Republic of Adygea, overlooks the right
bank of the Sukhoi Kurdzhips River, a tributary of the Kurdzhips River.
The site represents one of the most important Paleolithic locations in
the region, providing evidence of human occupation dating back to the
Middle Paleolithic period, approximately 300,000 to 40,000 years ago.
Excavations at Mezmaiskaya Cave began in 1987 and have revealed a long
sequence of Middle and Upper Paleolithic deposits. The cave was occupied
by Neanderthals during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 5 through 3, roughly
spanning 130,000 to 30,000 years ago, and is associated with the Eastern
Micoquian cultural tradition—a variant of the Mousterian industry
characterized by specific stone tool technologies. Artifacts recovered
include Mousterian tools from the Last Glacial Period, indicating
Neanderthal activities such as hunting and tool-making.
Key
discoveries include the remains of at least three Neanderthal
individuals. In 1993, a well-preserved skeleton of a Neanderthal infant
(Mezmaiskaya 1) was found in the lowermost Eastern Micoquian layer
(Layer 3), dated to around 70,000–80,000 years ago. This burial allowed
for the extraction of ancient DNA, which contributed to the Neanderthal
genome project led by the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig. A second
juvenile Neanderthal (Mezmaiskaya 2) was discovered in the uppermost
layer (Layer 2), dated to approximately 39,000–42,000 years ago,
representing one of the latest Neanderthal survivals in Eurasia. More
recently, a tooth from a third specimen (Mezmaiskaya 3) was identified,
providing further genomic insights into Neanderthal populations in the
region and their genetic relationships with other Middle Paleolithic
groups.
Faunal remains from the cave, including bones of bison,
goats, deer, and other large mammals, suggest Neanderthals used the site
as a processing area for hunted animals. A groundbreaking find in 2003,
reanalyzed in 2025, is a 3.5-inch bone spear tip made from bison bone,
dated to 70,000–80,000 years ago—the oldest known bone projectile point
in Europe. Crafted with stone tools and affixed to a wooden shaft using
natural adhesives, this artifact challenges earlier assumptions that
Neanderthals relied solely on stone tools, demonstrating their
experimentation with organic materials for weaponry long before modern
humans (Homo sapiens) arrived in Europe around 45,000 years ago.
Microscopic analysis revealed impact damage, indicating it was used for
hunting. The cave also contains evidence of campfires and tool remnants,
painting a picture of a seasonal or semi-permanent Neanderthal base in a
forested, resource-rich valley.
Beyond the cave, the area around
Mezmay features other prehistoric sites, such as the Mezmay Formation—a
geological deposit of red siliciclastics from the Tithonian age (Late
Jurassic, about 152–145 million years ago), formed from weathered
granitoids. Upper Paleolithic layers in the cave show a shift in stone
tool technologies, from knepping (flaking) prismatic and edge-faceted
cores in the Early Upper Paleolithic to primary splitting in later
periods, extending into the Epipaleolithic (around 20,000–10,000 years
ago). These findings highlight the North Caucasus as a refugium for
Neanderthals during glacial periods, with the region's milder climate
supporting sustained occupation.
Additionally, the Clay Roman
necropolis (Mezmayskoe burial ground) on the northwestern outskirts of
modern Mezmay dates to later antiquity, possibly linked to Roman-era
influences or local tribes, though details are sparse.
Historical
and Cultural Context: Circassian Roots and Early Settlement
The name
"Mezmay" (Мезмай in Russian, Мэзмые in Adyghe) reflects the area's
indigenous Circassian (Adyghe) heritage, deriving from "Mez" meaning
"forest" and "Mye" meaning "wild apple," translating to "forest of wild
apples." This etymology underscores the region's lush, forested
environment, which has long supported human habitation. The Circassians,
a Northwest Caucasian ethnic group, inhabited the North Caucasus for
millennia, engaging in agriculture, herding, and trade. Their presence
predates Russian expansion into the area during the 19th-century
Caucasian Wars (1817–1864), which led to the displacement of many
indigenous peoples.
While the prehistoric record is rich, the
founding of Mezmay as a modern settlement is less documented but likely
occurred in the late 19th or early 20th century during Russian
colonization of the Caucasus. The area was part of the broader Krasnodar
Krai region, incorporated into the Russian Empire following the
Russo-Circassian War. Early inhabitants were probably Russian settlers,
Cossacks, or resettled Circassians, drawn by the fertile valleys and
natural resources. The settlement developed as a remote village, known
for its quaint, forested setting. Nearby archaeological finds, such as a
warrior's grave from the Caucasus Mountains dating to around the 3rd
century BCE (Scythian or Sarmatian era), indicate earlier nomadic
influences in the broader region, though not directly in Mezmay.
Modern Development: Infrastructure, Challenges, and Tourism
In the
Soviet era, Mezmay's connectivity improved with the construction of the
Apsheronsk narrow-gauge railway, a branch line linking it to Apsheronsk
for logging and transport purposes. This railway played a key role in
the village's economic development, facilitating the movement of goods
and people through the rugged terrain. However, by 2010, most of the
line was dismantled due to declining use and maintenance costs, leaving
only an 8-kilometer section between Mezmay and the neighboring village
of Guamka. This remnant faced further disruption from a landslide in
2011, halting operations until repairs were completed in 2017.
Population data is limited, but Mezmay remains a small community with
fewer than 1,000 residents, primarily focused on agriculture, forestry,
and increasingly, eco-tourism. The post-Soviet period saw a shift toward
tourism, leveraging the area's natural beauty—waterfalls, caves,
canyons, and hiking trails—as well as its archaeological heritage. The
establishment of an astrophysics observatory by Kuban State University
in the 20th century added a scientific dimension, attracting researchers
and stargazers to the clear mountain skies.
Today, Mezmay is marketed
as a mountain resort, emphasizing sustainable tourism and cultural
experiences tied to its Circassian roots and prehistoric past. Events
like guided cave tours and nature excursions highlight its history,
while the area's isolation preserves its remote charm. Despite modern
challenges like infrastructure decay, Mezmay's story evolves from a
Neanderthal refuge to a symbol of Russia's diverse Caucasian heritage.
Mezmay is a small rural settlement located in the Apsheronsky
District of Krasnodar Krai, in southwestern Russia. It lies in the
northwestern foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, approximately 35
kilometers (22 miles) southeast of the district center, Apsheronsk, and
about 170 kilometers from the regional capital, Krasnodar.
Geographically, it is positioned at coordinates 44°11'58"N latitude and
39°57'42"E longitude, at an elevation of around 600-700 meters above sea
level in the valley floor, though surrounding features rise much higher.
The settlement is part of the North Caucasus region, bordering areas
like the Republic of Adygea, and falls within the broader temperate zone
of the Western Caucasus.
The name "Mezmay" derives from the
Circassian (Adyghe) language, combining "Mez" (forest) and "Mye" (wild
apple), translating to "forest of wild apples," which reflects the
area's lush, forested landscape. With a population of under 1,000
inhabitants, Mezmay is a quiet village primarily composed of wooden
houses scattered along the valley, originally settled by woodcutters and
later revitalized by eco-tourists, yogis, and nature enthusiasts in the
post-Soviet era. It serves as a gateway to the Caucasus Nature Biosphere
Reserve, one of Europe's largest protected areas, emphasizing its role
in conservation and outdoor recreation.
Topography and Landforms
Mezmay is nestled in a deep, picturesque valley formed by the Kurdzhips
River, near its confluence with the smaller Mezmay River. This valley is
encircled by steep mountain ridges and plateaus of the Western Caucasus,
creating a natural amphitheater that isolates the settlement and
enhances its scenic appeal. The surrounding terrain is rugged and
karstic, characterized by limestone formations that have eroded over
millennia to form dramatic cliffs, gorges, and shelves. Notable features
include the Eagle Shelf (Orlinaya Polka), a prominent rocky outcrop
offering panoramic views, and the nearby Lago-Naki Plateau to the south,
which rises to elevations of 2,000-2,500 meters and features alpine
meadows and bizarre rock formations.
The area is dotted with canyons
and gorges, such as the Guam Gorge, carved by glacial and fluvial
processes during the Quaternary period. These landforms result from the
tectonic uplift of the Caucasus Mountains, which are part of the
Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt, leading to a mix of folded sedimentary
rocks, including limestones and dolomites. Hiking trails, like the
6.3-mile Mezmay Upper Trail and Eagle Regiment route, traverse these
features, offering moderate challenges with elevation gains of up to 500
meters.
Hydrography
The hydrographic network of Mezmay is
dominated by the Kurdzhips River, a fast-flowing tributary of the Belaya
River, which originates in the high Caucasus and winds through the
valley, providing the settlement's primary water source. The Mezmay
River joins it here, contributing to a series of cascades and waterfalls
that are major attractions. Prominent waterfalls include the Chinarev
Waterfall (also known as University Waterfall) and Isichenko Waterfall,
which plunge from heights of 10-20 meters amid forested gorges. These
features are fed by snowmelt and rainfall, with peak flows in spring and
early summer.
Smaller streams and springs abound, often emerging from
karst aquifers, leading to crystal-clear pools and intermittent rivers.
The region's hydrology supports a humid environment, but flash floods
can occur during heavy rains due to the steep gradients.
Climate
Mezmay experiences a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen classification
Cfb), influenced by its mid-elevation position in the Caucasus foothills
and proximity to the Black Sea, about 100 kilometers to the west.
Summers are mild and humid, with average temperatures of 18-22°C
(64-72°F) in July, while winters are cool but not extreme, averaging
0-5°C (32-41°F) in January, with occasional snowfall accumulating up to
50 cm in higher areas.
Annual precipitation is high, around
1,000-1,500 mm, concentrated in late spring and autumn, fostering lush
vegetation. The valley's microclimate is moderated by the surrounding
mountains, which block cold northern winds and trap moisture from the
sea, resulting in frequent mists and fog. This contributes to the area's
appeal as a mountain resort, with clean air and low pollution levels.
Geological and Cultural Features
Geologically, Mezmay is in a
karst landscape, with numerous caves formed by dissolution of limestone.
The famous Mezmaiskaya Cave, located nearby in Adygea at 1,310 meters
elevation, is a key Paleolithic site containing Neanderthal remains and
artifacts, spanning over 100,000 years. Other caverns, like the Monk's
Cave, feature stalactites and underground rivers.
Culturally, the
region hosts ancient sites such as the Mezmayskoe Burial Ground, a
Hellenistic-era necropolis with Maeotian influences, including princely
graves from the 3rd-2nd centuries BCE. Modern features include the
astrophysics observatory of Kuban State University, taking advantage of
the dark skies and high altitude for stargazing.