Dombay (mountainous area)

The capacity of the existing ski slopes of Dombai allows serving up to 200 thousand people a year. The ski area is located at an altitude of 1800–3200 m, the length of the tracks of varying degrees of difficulty is more than 20 km, and the maximum height difference is 1400 m.

The slopes are well equipped with a network of lifts: 8 cable cars, a pendulum road, a gondola, 7 ski tows from 200 to 600 m long. A complex of three new cable cars was launched in 2007 ^[5] . These are the most modern cable cars in Russia. For example, the capacity of the gondola road is 2400 people / hour.

Descent from the top of the Moussa-Achitara ridge can be carried out on a dozen options of slopes of varying degrees of steepness, complexity and speed, which can satisfy the tastes of both experienced and beginner skiers. In the vicinity of Dombai there are great opportunities for off-piste skiing. From 1997 to 2010, the resort annually held one of the main events of the Russian snowboard - the international festival and snowboard camp Dombay Flammable Camp . Both in winter and in summer, Dombai glade often becomes the venue for Russian championships and cups in extreme sports.

In summer, Dombai is no less interesting than during the ski season. A large number of excursion routes diverge across the territory of the Teberdinsky Nature Reserve to natural monuments inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List ^[6] . Hiking, Nordic walking are popular in Dombay. You can also rent a mountain bike, rent an all-terrain vehicle with a driver, or go horseback riding. There is also a deltadrome ^[7] .

A tourist base has existed since 1925 (the development of tourism and mountaineering began here after the opening of a mountain club in Tiflis in 1876). For skiers and vacationers on the slope of the Mussa-Achitara mountain (Kovarny ridge , 3012 m), a pair-chair cableway and two tow tow tow lines (skiing is possible in late spring and early autumn) are also laid. The first and second stages of the cable car lift vacationers in trailers to a large clearing where you can appreciate the beauty of the surrounding mountains , sunbathe, dine in a cafe.
There is a ski station and a hotel on Mount Mussa Achitara . In the gorge of the Alibek River, at the foot of the glacier is the Alibek ski base (alpine camp).

Dombay is the cradle of domestic mountaineering. He was sung by the great mountain lover Yuri Vizbor in the songs “ Dombay Waltz ”, “The Cabin” and others ^[8] .

Crystal clear meltwater in some of the mountain lakes warms up to temperatures of more than 20 degrees. Due to its structure and saturation with volatile production, it has high healing and anti-aging properties. Near such ponds are equipped beaches and places for recreation.

Dombay is called the "heart of the mountains." It is surrounded by mountains covered with coniferous forests, mainly from fir . Dark coniferous forests and emerald green alpine meadows, stormy rivers, waterfalls, eternal snows and glaciers create the unique beauty of this area. Mountains from all sides surround the Dombay glade. The highest peak - Mount Dombay-Ulgen ( Killed bison , 4046 m) is covered with eternal snows and glaciers. On the opposite side of the Dombai glade rises the tetrahedral peak of the Belaly-Kaya rock (the Striped Mountain , 3861 m), surrounded by wide bright veins of quartz; Levy - Black Tooth Sofruju (Watershed). In the depths of the gorge, the formidable walls of Amanauz are visible. In the foreground is the many-headed crest of Dzhuguturlu-Chat (Dwelling place of the tours ), the pointed peak of Ine (Igla).

In the vicinity of the Dombai Glade there are well-known panoramic points from where views of exceptional beauty open up. From the slopes of the Mussa-Achitara ridge, from the horizon of 2400 m, a panorama opens up of a snow chain of mountains more than 30 km wide. The main ridge is visible from the snow trapeze of Gwandra in the east (see Uzunkol ) to the Black Saw of Karakai (Kara-Kaya, 3896 m). The Dzhuguturluchat (Dzhuguturluchat) massif, the Ine peak, the Sulahat ridge, Dombay-Elgen ridge , the peaks of Belalakai and Amanauz , the tooth Sofruju are especially spectacular . From the top of Moussa-Achitar , Elbrus is visible in clear weather ^[9] .

In summer, from the Dombai glade you can go to the Chukhchursky waterfall (Small Waterfall), noisy near the entrance to the gorge of the Ptysh River. The Chukhchur stream, breaking through a deep channel, is thundering with powerful cascades from the ledge. Merging, Chukhchur ( Chuchkhur ) and Ptysh form the Dombay-Ulgen river. From the waterfall there is a wonderful view of the peaks and glaciers of the Main Range, which are not visible from the Dombay Valley. The most accessible for inspection is the Alibek glacier , whose area is 9.75 km² (and the most powerful Dombai glacier is Northern Ptysh ). At the beginning of the ascent, the Alibek waterfall is visible. At the junction of the two moraines of the Alibek and Bilingual glaciers, there is a small, exceptionally clear Turye Lake .

To see all the beauty of the surroundings of Dombai, it is advisable to come here for a few days, in the warm season.

In the depths of the gorge of the stormy Amanauz river, from the glacial grotto, Sofrudzhuksky waterfall (Sofrudzhinsky) falls from a height of several tens of meters. He scatters around the spray, carried by a water curtain, creating a unique sight.

On the northern slopes of the Mussa-Achitar ridge in the basins are picturesque lakes with surprisingly clear water. In these places the comparison “lakes - the eyes of the Earth” involuntarily comes to mind.
To the north, behind the neighboring Gonachkhir ridge [behind the Gonachkhir gorge] in the gorge of the Ullu-Muruju river (in the upper reaches) - the Murujinsky lakes , in the Gonachkhir valley and upstream in the Klukhorsky gorge (old Military Sukhumi road ) at an altitude of 1850 m - Lake Tumanly -Gel (Trout). From the Northern Shelter we rise to the Kluhor lake. A panorama of the Main Caucasus Range opens from the trail. The stream flowing from the lake forms the Upper Klukhor Falls , its height is 35-40 m. The lake itself lies in a deep rocky notch at an altitude of 2700 m. Its length is 500 m, width 400 m, depth - up to 35 m. The lake is freed from ice to midsummer. Along the lake, the road is pretty steep and goes to the Klukhor pass , from here on a clear morning you can see the Black Sea; here begins the descent to the South Shelter and the sea.
From the Dombai glade to the north-west, between the ranges of Baduksky (3059 m) and Hadzhibey (3474 m), behind Mount Semyonov-Bashi (3114 m) - Baduk lakes (behind Hadzhibey ridge - also Lake Hadzhibey ).

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  Dombay Sunrises

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  Belalakaya

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  Dzhuguturlyuchat

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  View from Mount Eagle Nest

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  Panorama of the Main Caucasus Range from Mount Mussa Achitara

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  Snowmobiling July. 'Eagle Nest'

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  Massif Dzhuguturlyuchat, waterfall. View from the middle station

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  Muruju River

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  Muruju River

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  View from above

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  At an altitude of 2000 meters