Alanya Digor Gorge. Digor Gorge, North Ossetia. Geographical characteristics of the Digor Gorge

Mountain Digoria is divided into Eastern and Western parts. The conventional border between them is considered to be the bed of the main water artery of Digoria - Urukh (Irafa in Digor style), which in the upper reaches is formed from the confluence of the Karaugomdon and Khares rivers. After merging with the Karaugomdon River (absolute height 1490 m), flowing out from under the Karaugom glacier, Urukh immediately becomes high-water, increasing in water volume by 2.5-3 times. Flowing further along the bottom of the wide Urukh gorge, the Urukh River receives its two largest tributaries: on the left - Bilyagidon, on the right - Aigamugidon. The Urukh plain comes out near the village of Kalukh (absolute height 750 m). Thus, over a relatively short distance - 20 km, the drop in height is almost 750 m. You can imagine the speed of the water flow.

The road to the upper reaches of the Digor Gorge is laid along the Urukh River and passes the “gate” national park"Alania" in the village of Matsuta.

Almost all the natural attractions of Western Digoria are located on the territory of the Alania Park, access to which is still free (2016).
After Matsuta, the road turns to the left bank of the Urukh. The valley gradually narrows, the slopes become steeper, and a forest appears. The outlines of the surrounding mountains become sharp, the peaks are sharp and rocky, and the slopes become steep and steep.

After 6 km from Matsuta we find ourselves in the village of Akhsau, beyond which the Digora gorge becomes wider. From here you can clearly see the entire Urukh Gorge - a grandiose trough with a flat, wide bottom and steep steep slopes. To the right of the road rise the spurs of the Sugansky ridge, to the left - the Kazatykhokh massif - two huge links of the Side Range, separated by the transverse valley of the Urukh River. The river flows along a wide bottom, winding and dividing into numerous branches.

The peculiar trough-like (trough-shaped) shape indicates that it was created not only by the river, but also by an ancient glacier that descended 20-25 thousand years ago from northern slope Main Dividing Range.

Another 4 km of the way, and at the foot of the Chirkh ridge, where the Karaugomdon and Khares rivers - the two main sources of the Urukh River - merge, the road forks. To the left, across the bridge along the Karaugomdon River, the road goes to the Dzinaga tourist center and further to the village of Dzinaga.

We will continue our journey along another road along the Khares River to the Khares, or Upper Digor, gorge. Here it would be appropriate to talk about the origin of the name of the gorge Digorsky. It comes from the name of the Ossetian ethnic group - Digorians (in Ossetian - “Digoron” or “Dyguron”), who have long inhabited the Urukha Gorge.

The Verkhne-Digorskoe gorge is very beautiful. From the south, above the greenery of the forests, the peaks of the Main Dividing Range, exceeding 4000 m, sparkle with white snow; from the north, no less high granite massifs of the Sugansky Range rise.

The road passes through the villages of Moska, Odola and Stur-Digora, which is located 6 km from the fork in the road. IN late XIX V. it was the largest village in mountainous Digoria. In 1884, there were 588 residents (67 households).

Nowadays, like all mountain villages, Stur-Digora (Ustur-Digora, Big Digoria - Ossetian) is not experiencing better times. The number of households, and accordingly, the number of residents, decreased sharply. But many new brick houses under tiles and slates also appeared. In Stur-Digor, old buildings (Khadzars) are well preserved. The lower floor of such a house had a commercial purpose, and the upper one served as housing.

In the village in 2007, a chapel was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost.” This is one of the highest mountains (2300 meters above sea level) in Europe and Russian Federation chapel. A landmark of sorts.

The blue (the color of the Virgin Mary) pyramidal dome of the chapel seems even bluer against the backdrop of snow-white peaks, because from the village of Stur-Digora there is a wonderful view of the mountains. The cone-shaped green Mount Kubus, sacred to the Digorians, is clearly visible, which separates the valleys of the Hares and Tanadon rivers.

The last village in the gorge is Kussu, which is located near Stor Digora - 3 km. When you are at the top of Kubus, you notice that the villages of the Verkhne-Digorsky gorge are located along the left bank of the Khares almost nearby. Between them are holiday villages and new recreation centers, so it seems that the houses of the villages stretch along the road in a single street.

Another 1 km from Kussu, and we approach the Rostselmash recreation center.

This is where it starts resort area Digor Gorge with recreation centers of various sizes and comforts - for every taste and budget. On a section of the gorge 3 km from the Rostselmash recreation center, among pine forests there are such comfortable shelters as “Eagle’s Nest”, “Threshold of Heaven”, “Tana-Park”, “Koma-Art”.

Stop and enjoy the rare beauty of nature, walk along easy routes to the waterfalls, of which there are many, because it is not for nothing that Digoria is called the “Land of a Thousand Waterfalls”.

The trip to the Digor Gorge had been planned for a long time, but on this particular day we weren’t going to go, we had completely different plans... But, probably, the stars aligned that way, and in the morning, over a cup of coffee, we decide - we’re going!
The weather was pleasant, a sunny autumn day + good mood and we were on our way.
I want to say right away that I didn’t like it - there are no signs to attractions, it was difficult to find where to eat (there are practically no cafes), and the lack of gas stations (you must take gasoline with you).
In the meantime, we are passing through Kabardino-Balkaria

Let's go to Ossetia

We drive to Figator as our final destination, the village of Dzinaga. We have some little information along the route, but we didn’t think that the objects were not marked anywhere for tourists and we would have to look for them at random... and this is a waste of time (((.
We reach the tunnel, a little before reaching it, there is a turn to the right - this path leads to the Devil's Bridge, which spans the Urukh River.

The place is called Akhsinta Canyon, and if you drive across the bridge, the road will lead to the Didinag (flower) tract, to hay meadows. The height of the canyon is about 70 meters

We drive past the bronze monument to Uastrji. Its weight is 13 tons, height 6 meters + cliff 30 meters.

Not far from the monument there is a men's sanctuary, there is a legend about how it appeared -
Hundreds of years ago, a lone traveler was traveling along a narrow road. Suddenly the cart almost fell into a cliff, but miraculously the man remained alive, as if some unknown force prevented him from falling to the bottom of the ravine. In gratitude to Saint Uastirdzhi, this sanctuary was erected, which has already been renewed several times

And all around are mountains, sun and clean air!

The place where the great prayer festival takes place

On the opposite bank, high in the mountains, we see the remains of towers and decide to turn off. The turnoff is approximately five km away. from the tunnel and leads to the remains of the villages of Lezgir, Donifars, to the Satayi Obao crypt and to the necropolis.

Climbing upward, we come across an archaeological expedition that has been traveling to these places for about 20 years and is excavating the settlement of Saouar. On a plot of only 70 sq.m. A powerful production center has been discovered, including 5 pottery workshops, 2 metallurgical complexes for smelting ferrous metal and bronze, a bone-carving complex and a charcoal burner's workshop! The age of the village is 2-4 centuries. BC!
The guys had already preserved the excavations until next year and the most interesting things were already covered and packed, but we still clicked the camera as a souvenir

We rise even higher to the ruins of the village of Donifars

A little to the side is the village of Lezgor

Donifarsko-Lezgorsky necropolis

A little history. The village of Lezgor is one of the most ancient villages in mountainous Digoria; in 1886 there were 58 households in it. Residents abandoned it in 1927 after a mudflow, which brought many casualties and destruction. The village was part of Donifar society and an important strategic point. From here the attacks of the Digor feudal lords were repelled. Residents of Lezgor and other Donifar villages never submitted to the local nobility.
The village of Donifars is the only completely Muslim village in Ossetia.
Donifarsko-Lezgorsky necropolis - a large number of stone crypts and stone steles. It is not as famous as the city of the Dead in Dargavs, but is much larger in area and includes tombs different types. Presumably, burials were made from the 5th to the 18th centuries.

Above the village of Zadalessk, on the edge of the cliff, the Sedanovs’ tower is visible

Along the road Tsyrt is a roadside stone in memory of a deceased person

In front of the Dzinaga camp site, on a stone, is a rather tattered portrait of Stalin.

We pass the tourist center and enter the village of Dzinaga

In general, we have completed our plan, it is already three o’clock in the afternoon, and we are terribly hungry))). Unfortunately, there are no cafes; at the camp site we were told that vacationers cook for themselves, because... the season is closed...
And only after returning to the village of Matsuta, right before entering the reserve, we found a shop where we were fed delicious Ossetian pies of enormous size. A master class on making them was held for me, so I hope that on winter evenings we will eat Ossetian pies at home and remember sunny Ossetia)))

We didn’t see much, so there will be a goal to return...

The Digor Gorge in North Ossetia is one of the most beautiful and wild in the North Caucasus. It appeared under the influence of the waters of the Urukh River in the Rocky Range. Urukh flows below, and above the river along a narrow cornice among the rocks there is a road carved out along which cars drive.

Conditions for recreation in the Digor Gorge are varied. At different altitudes above sea level there are dry mountain steppes, wet forests, alpine meadows, forest-steppe zones, lakes, glaciers, streams, and waterfalls.

There are opportunities for hiking along ecological trails, you can engage in educational tourism, making excursions through different landscapes with their historical, cultural and architectural monuments, engage in water slalom.

For those who need to be closer to the benefits of civilization, it may make sense to consider

Currently, you can relax here mainly in the warm months. In winter, during the season of heavy snowfall, the recreation areas do not function, but the landscapes here at this time of year are beautiful in their own way, and it will be interesting to see these places also in the winter months.

This is just a small part of what is possible to visit and see in one of the wild gorges of the Caucasus.

Entry

When entering the Digora Gorge, the main thing is not to miss the Urukh Akhsinta Canyon (also called the Digora Gorge). There is a capital road bridge(in common parlance, Devil). The bridge offers a stunning view - a height of 80 meters above the Urukh River, stop if you are not afraid. Akhsinta Canyon is the main entrance to mountain Digoria. Good asphalt is laid up to the village of Matsuta, but further on there is a dirt road.

There are many beautiful places here. Here and there are ancient buildings or ruins. It is clear that people have been living in these remote places for a long time. You can note the Three Sisters waterfalls, which look especially spectacular from afar. Three streams fall from the rocks at a distance of 150-200 meters from each other. The source of the waterfall is located on the Taymazi glacier. Therefore they official name"Taymazinsky waterfalls".

They produce unforgettable impression height of fall and beauty. Below, streams of water crash against stepped stone pyramids. Over the years, water has carved out many depressions in the stones, which are a real decoration of each of the waterfalls. Water falls into these depressions and after a moment splashes out of them in fountains. Excellent route to the waterfalls walking trail. But the waterfalls freeze in the cold season.

Tour route: Mineralnye Vody - Digorsky gorge - Matsuta - Karaugomsky gorge - Uazakhokh massif - medieval settlement Zadalesk - Tana-dona gorge - Nakhashbita clearing - Taymazinsky waterfalls - Khanaz - Mineralnye Vody

In mountainous Digoria you will be greeted by clean soft air, silence broken only by the eternal splash of the waters of the Hares River, the blessed sun that becomes closer to you by as much as 2000 meters, the endless blue ocean of the sky, ice cliffs, indescribable beauty and grandeur of mountain peaks and, of course, an indescribable feeling of the infinity of the universe and a living connection with it. Active walks to glaciers and waterfalls are the main part of the program, and a visit will enhance it local residents, a touch of the history of this ancient land.

Suitable for active tourists, does not require special physical training, but normal health. The tour is contraindicated for people with heart disease, hypertension, obesity and phlebological pathologies. Recommended age up to 65 years.
According to the number of seats, one group can consist of 6 - 10 people.

Transport: Bus/minibus.

Accommodation

"Tana Park Hotel" 3* comfortably located in the farthest picturesque corner of the Digor Gorge on the left bank of the Khares River in the “horseshoe” of natural attractions: Metelaska Falls, Mount Kubus, spurs of Laboda and Sugansky ridge. The hotel, which opened in October 2015, is the only boutique hotel in the gorge, designed to pleasantly surprise its guests with high standards of service, good cuisine, tastefully decorated interiors, a good location with beautiful views and much more. In the protected area of ​​the complex there is a hotel building and a bar-restaurant. The hotel's room capacity includes 17 rooms.
Standard rooms (22 sq. m.): two single beds or one shared double bed, combined bathroom with bathtub, hairdryer, minibar, bathrobes, slippers, TV, telephone (intercom), internet (for a fee).

Tour program

Arrival in the morning at the airport (train station) of Mineralnye Vody.
Group transfer at 11.30 to the Digor Gorge of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania(the journey to the border is 3 hours).
Lunch on your own. In the national cafe in the village of Chikola you will be offered dishes of Ossetian cuisine.
In the company of a guide, you will drive to the main gate of mountain Digoria - the Akhsinta canyon. It is in this place that the canyon narrows so much that it turns into a stone trench, and it becomes visible how the Urukh River beats at a depth of seventy meters among the rocks. The canyon amazes with its grandeur. Its steep walls are formed by cliffs of gray layered Jurassic limestone. Several karst springs spectacularly fall into the abyss.
Along the way, you will be met and escorted on a good journey by a sculpture of the most revered saint in Ossetia - St. George (Ossetian: Uastirdzhi). You will also visit the village of Matsuta, located at the confluence of the Aygomugidon and Urukh rivers. “There is no further way” - this is how its name is translated.
Arrival at the Tana Park hotel, which is comfortably located in the farthest picturesque corner of the Digora gorge on the left bank of the Khares River in the “horseshoe” of natural attractions: Metelaska Falls, Mount Kubus, spurs of Laboda and Sugansky ridge. In the evening, introduction of the group, discussion of the tour program.
Dinner on your own in the hotel restaurant.

Cities: Mineralnye Vody, Matsuta

Attractions: Akhsinta Canyon

Reservoirs: Hares River

2nd day

Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with the guide, departure by SUV for an auto-walking program in the Karaugom Gorge(the length of the round trip walk is 10-12 km).
Before leaving on the route, you will issue passes to the border zone. Hike to the Karaugom glacier. Karaugomdon flows from the glacier. The name “Karaugom” itself translated from Ossetian means “blind gorge” or “gorge with no exit.” It received this name due to the fact that you can only get into the gorge through a high icefall. The length of the Karaugom glacier in North Ossetia is just over 13 kilometers, its area is 27 square kilometers, the glacier descends to a height of 1820 meters. The glacier has two icefalls. The upper one, the most powerful, breaks out through the narrow “gate” of the Karaugomsky ridge and flows out from a height of 3500 meters; the tongue of the glacier reaches a length of 800 meters. The lower icefall is smaller, about 500 meters. Lunch on the way (packed rations).
Return to the hotel, rest. Dinner on your own in the hotel restaurant.

Attractions: Karaugom Gorge

3rd day

Breakfast in the hotel. Today awaits you climb to the top of Mount Kubus and walk to the Taymazinsky waterfalls. The waterfalls look especially spectacular from afar. Three snow-white streams fall at a distance of 150-200 meters from each other. The waterfalls originate on the Taymazi glacier, in the Khares Gorge. Below, the streams break against stepped stone pyramids. Over the years, water has carved out many depressions in the pyramids, which are a real decoration of each of the waterfalls. Water falling into these depressions splashes out of them in fountains. Lunch (on your own).
After lunch, return to the hotel, rest. Dinner on your own. Free time.

Reservoirs: Taymazinsky waterfalls

4th day

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you will go to travel through the medieval Ossetian villages of Kumbulta (visiting the Bagayt castle), Lezgor, Donifars.
The route runs along the spur of the Rocky Range, or more precisely, along the spur of the Uazakhokh massif. Here is the most high point The rocky ridge in North Ossetia is the mythological peak Uazakhokh, whose outlines resemble a dilapidated fortress (3,529 m).
Moving to the villages of Lezgor and Donifars, which in the Middle Ages were communities independent of anyone, where a democratic form of self-government was preserved, which differed from governance in other societies of Digoria. Today these villages are abandoned by people and represent an ancient ethnographic museum under open air with numerous remains of mountain architectural monuments: towers, crypts, castles, sanctuaries... Lunch (packed rations).
In a huge clearing between the villages of Lezgor and Donifars, the second largest in North Ossetia, after Dargavsky, is located the unique early medieval Lezgor-Donifars crypt burial ground. 64 tombs are concentrated here different types and 7 tsyrts - memorial pillars. The Satayi-Obau temple is also located here (second half of the 15th – early 16th centuries). You will devote most of the program to getting to know the necropolis and the remaining monuments of mountain medieval architecture.
You will stop by the medieval settlement of Zadalesk, where you will visit the museum of the mother - the savior of Alan children - Nana Zadalesk.
After which you will go to the settlement of Khanaz, in the past one of the most large settlements mountain Digoria. The settlement is famous for the castle of the Tsallaev family, which is called “Frigate”. There is no other such architectural building in the entire North Caucasus. Indeed, it is not clear to a person who comes here for the first time what rises on a high rocky ledge at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. m. - sailing frigate or medieval castle, cutting the air waves with a sharp stone nose. This unique example of medieval mountain architecture dates back to the 14th-16th centuries. After the excursion, you will visit an Ossetian house, where the hospitable hosts will treat you to homemade Ossetian pies and tea with herbs collected in the mountains. During the meeting you will learn about the lifestyle and customs of the local residents.
Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own in the hotel restaurant.

Attractions: Uazakhoh massif, medieval settlement Zadalesk

5th day

Breakfast in the hotel. Group gathering in the hotel lobby. Exit to the route.
Today you have to hike along the Tana-dona gorge to the Tana-tsete glaciers. The length of the round trip walk is 10-12 km. During your walk, you will find yourself captivated by unique, intricate vegetation: juniper, dwarf perennial deciduous trees. Once you leave the vegetation zone, you will find yourself in an amphitheater of mountains. From left to right look down Taymazi Main, Chashura, Tsiteli, Digoria Peak, the tops of the Western and Main towers of Laboda. At the end of the path you will see the Tana-tsete glacier. Lunch on the way (packed rations).
Return to the hotel. Dinner on your own in the hotel restaurant.

Attractions: Tana-dona gorge

6th day

Breakfast in the hotel. It’s not for nothing that Digoria is often called “the valley of a thousand waterfalls and rainbows.” There are really a lot of waterfalls here.
Today, under the guidance of an experienced guide, you will go to hike along the Khares River gorge to the Nakhashbita clearing(the length of the walking part at both ends is 10-12 km). During the walk you will see three waterfalls. Inspection picturesque canyon, waterfalls and peaks of the Sugansky ridge.
Lunch on the way (packed rations). Return to the hotel.
In the evening, there will be a festive group dinner, during which you will share your impressions of meeting Digoria.

Attractions: Nakhashbita glade

Reservoirs: Hares River

7th day

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out from the hotel until 12.00. Free time at the resort.
If you wish, you can take an excursion to the village of Galiat (additional fee).
The village of Galiat is located in the Uallagkom Gorge. This is a unique medieval architectural complex Houses here were previously built in tiers. The roof of one house served as a yard for another, so the Galianians could easily visit each other without leaving their own yard. Typical Ossetian towers, consisting of four floors, have also been preserved in Galiat.
Lunch on your own.
At 14:00 departure from the gorge to Mineralnye Vody airport (5 hours travel time) for evening flights after 20:00.

Cities: Mineral water

Tour conditions

and glasses, sun hat, comfortable walking shoes (sneakers with non-slip soles or boots for light trekking), comfortable clothing for the season (insulated jacket, sweater, light hat, gloves), waterproof windproof jacket (raincoat), swimwear , a towel, individual medications for chronic diseases, a polyurethane foam seat, trekking poles, a headlamp with spare batteries, a flask or plastic bottle for drinking water. Documents for the trip: Tourist voucher, REMINDER

The famous conqueror of the Alpine peaks N.V. Poggenpohl wrote: “Why is Digoria so good, why in other places did I not feel the same pleasure as here, among the green meadows washed by Urukh and the magnificent coniferous forests, into the dark greenery of which white ribbons of glaciers descend ? Individual elements of the mountain landscape are combined in Digoria in an amazingly soft and picturesque way, there is nothing gloomy and gloomy, and the fresh emerald green of the meadows, the noble, architectural lines of finely carved peaks with a shiny firn cover at their feet caress the eye with a happy combination of colors...”

We found a lot of positive reviews on the Internet, for example:

If I say this place is BEAUTY! This is an understatement. I have been involved in rock climbing and hiking for many years and more beautiful places I haven't seen it anywhere. These are 3 glaciers, waterfalls, caves, mineral spring, horseback riding, fresh air and memories for the rest of your life. This is cooler than Turkey and many times cooler than any other holiday destination. if you are active, full of energy and extreme sports, this is the place for you, if you are calm and sensitive to nature, tired of the bustle of the city, you will be welcome here. I have never heard a negative reaction in so many years. Everyone from Moscow to France is delighted with these places. My advice to you: grab your children and loved ones and go ahead.

When entering the gorge, the main thing is not to overshoot the Urukh Akhsinta Canyon (also called the Digorskaya Gorge), a major road bridge is laid across it (in common parlance, the Devil's Bridge), from which a stunning view opens; from a height of 80 meters, the Urukh River looks like a stream, in fact it is a mighty a river that over the centuries has carved a narrow canyon, in some places no more than 2 meters wide. Akhsinta Canyon is the main gate of mountain Digoria

Swimming pool in a bathhouse with ice-cold spring water

We steamed in the next one, but taking pictures was simply unrealistic due to the high temperature of 110 degrees. That's why it's a nearby steam room.

Number for 1500 thousand. There is also a TV, many channels, a coffee table and a shower with toilet.

Dining room, food is delicious, breakfast is not included in the price.

Hotel building

Separate houses that can be rented for a family.

The building where the sauna and swimming pool are located

In the morning we went to the Three Sisters waterfalls. The Three Sisters waterfalls look especially spectacular from afar. Three snow-white streams fall at a distance of 150-200 meters from each other. "Three Sisters" originate on the Taymazi glacier. Their official name is “Taymazinsky waterfalls”. They make an unforgettable impression with their fall height and beauty. Below, the streams break against stepped stone pyramids. Over the years, water has carved out many depressions in the pyramids, which are a real decoration of each of the waterfalls. Water falling into these depressions splashes out of them in fountains. Somewhere at the foot of one of them there is a source of carbon dioxide mineral water, which we never found. There is an excellent walking trail leading to them. But the waterfalls unfortunately froze ((. But the walk was not in vain, the weather was beautiful, warm and sunny. Beautiful river.

An attempt to cross :) Only I failed, Zhenya passed, and my slippery boots just wanted to plunge into the invigorating stormy river.

Then we went to another waterfall, deeper into the gorge, I’m not entirely sure of its name, but it seems to be “Small Taymazinsky Waterfall”. They looked at him from the road and did not get up. Further, the passage was blocked by a tensioned cable and a sign “Danger, collapse for 2 km.” But as it turned out, the danger of a collapse was not closed with a cable, but the passage to the border zone, which was kindly told to us by a detachment of “border guards” descending from the mountains.