Dombay is a mountain resort territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic of the Russian Federation. Located near the border with Georgia.
Briefly about the main thing
Dombay is not an administrative unit and not a mountain system, it is a natural area that does not have clear boundaries. This word refers to the northern slope of the Caucasus mountain range, consisting of three gorges: Amanuz, Alibek and Dombay-Ulgen. Together they create a unique landscape - the Dombay Valley. It is located at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level. Earlier, the upper reaches of the Teberda River were called Dombay .
Dombai Valley is a secluded place lost among the mountains. 65 km south-west of it is the Black Sea, and 70 km to the east is the highest point in Russia - Elbrus (Caucasus Mountains).
Dombay has an extraordinarily beautiful landscape. This splendor is represented by mountains and a large valley. This area is actively used as a ski resort. Dombay is a tourist and climbing center of the Greater Caucasus, a popular place for sports and recreation.
Climate features
The climate of the continental type. Throughout the year, there are many sunny days, and the air is saturated with light ions that have a beneficial effect on the human body. Climatotherapy in Dombay can be carried out year-round. Winter is long, lasting from November to April. Frosty temperatures are frequent, but not high. The average winter rate is -5 ° ... -7 ° C. Most of the precipitation falls precisely in this season in the form of heavy snowfalls, thanks to which the local mountains are covered. Dombay is a territory where the snow cover lasts all winter and reaches 3 meters. Summer lasts three months, but the weather is always cool. The warmest days can be found only in July. As a rule, at this time the air warms up to + 20 ... + 25 ° . The average annual rainfall is from 1,000 to 1,600 mm.
The uniqueness of these places
In addition to the favorable climate, in the territory of Dombai there are many healing springs. The water in them belongs to the hydrocarbon-chloride and sodium-calcium types. It is rapidly absorbed by the walls of the stomach and intestines and normalizes metabolic processes.
Peaks of Dombay
The highest peaks are always covered with snow. The highest point is the city of Dombay-Ulgen with a height of more than 4000 m.
Other peaks surrounding the Dombay Valley are no less magnificent:
- Ine Peak in shape resembles a sharp pyramid.
- Sofruju is composed of black rocks and stands out from other mountains.
- Sulahat is an oblong peak.
- Belaly-Kaya (Striped) is a mountain with a very original appearance, intersected by layers of white quartz.
Inland waters
At the top of the mountains are perennial glaciers. The most studied is Alibek. It descends to the borders of the forest and has long been mastered by climbers. Numerous streams and waterfalls descend from the peaks and glaciers into the Dombai Valley. Majestic streams of water envelop the slopes of the mountain. Dombai is rich in natural attractions. The waterfall flowing from the Alibek glacier is considered one of the main.
In the hollows between the mountain slopes are numerous glacial lakes. The water in them is surprisingly clear, but quite cold. The largest bodies of water: Baduk, Murujinsky, Tumanly-Gel, Klukhor.
Neighborhood
Natural zoning is visible here with a change in height. At each level, different vegetation can be observed. At the foot of the mountains and at altitudes up to 600-800 m, the natural zone is represented by dense beech, and then coniferous forests. Alpine meadows spread above , affecting a large number of plant species.
Dombay is a resort that does not lose its popularity throughout the year. Both in winter and in summer it is beautiful and interesting in its own way.
Dombai in winter
First of all, in winter, the resort attracts all lovers and professionals of skiing. The season begins in November and lasts until the end of March. The mild climate of the region attracts more than 200 thousand people every year.
The ski slopes are modern, they accept both amateurs and beginners, as well as professionals. The most favorable ski slope is the Mussa-Achitara (Dombay) ridge. The height of the mountains allows you to equip routes of varying difficulty. As a rule, they start at 1,800, and the maximum figure is 3,200 m. The length of the ski run is about 20 km, the difficulty is represented by several categories. It is possible to try such extreme sports as freeride (descent not on equipped tracks), heli-skiing (landing of skiers from a helicopter). Snowboard competitions are held annually.
Summer in Dombay
Dombay is one of the very first centers of Soviet mountaineering. In summer, lovers of active sports come here. These are climbers, climbers, representatives of cycling and hiking, as well as those who prefer camping trips. In total, 12 hiking trails of various difficulty categories have been laid, thanks to which you can conquer the local mountains.
Dombai also awaits passive rest lovers. They won’t have to get bored here. In this special area, everyone can find for themselves entertainment. The water in the lakes warms up to +20 ° C, there are equipped beaches. Mountain and coniferous air have a beneficial effect on the body. Guided tours of the area.