The Greater Akhun Mountain

A landmark visible from all parts of the Sochi area - the road to Mount Akhun starts from the mouth of the Agura River. Like a chameleon, Mount Akhun changes colour according to time of year and day. Depending on your vantage point, Akhun seems to be rocky and covered with forest, or a mountain peak, or a pointed cone. To someone the mountain is reminiscent of a dormant volcano. To this day, the origin of its name remains unknown. More likely that not it is called after the Ubykh god, Akhun, protector of cattle-breeders, who could jump from one mountain to another. Or perhaps it derives from the Abkhazian word "Akhu", which means hill or raised place.

At the highest point of Mt. Akhun (663 metres above the sea level), not far from the ruins of ancient Byzantine church, a 30-metre-high observation tower was built by architect Sergey Vorobyov, out of local limestone, in 1935. It took 108 days to erect it and is built on the model of the Caucasian defence towers. In the same year, a 12-kilometre long, tarmacked road was laid to the mountain summit (this done in 122 days). Today this is the best observation tower in the areas of Sochi, Khosta and Adler. From it one gets an impressive panoramic view of the mountain summits of the main Caucasian range. The slopes of Mount Akhun are covered with thickets of yew - trees, box-trees, oaks, beeches, hornbeams, ash-trees, chestnuts and limes. On the northern slope, there is a forest of beeches where a National Park has been established over an area of 1,116 kilometres. Here one may see the auroch, chamois and the noble deer. On the southern slope is one of the largest landslides on the Black Sea Coast. Inside the observation tower is a section of the Museum of the Flora and Fauna of the Caucasian National Park.

There are two routes to the top of Mount Akhun. You can either drive one of them: excursions buses depart from Sochi Riviera Park, or one can take a car along the snaking road that runs up the mountain's southern slope; or one can walk up the Mount Akhun along the path through the Agura gorge. On the square, under the tower, there are several cafes and restaurants offering Caucasian dishes.

Today an open-air theatre for one thousand is being built here. Sochi's new stage will open with performance, by the Krasnodar Yuri Grigorovich Theatre of Ballet, of Romeo and Juliet, in the choreographer's version. And this open-air theatre will be given the name Romeo and Juliet. here William Shakespeare's legendary characters, as celebrated in Sergey Prokofiev's music, will be closer to the stars.

Matsesta

Grown of the stone a beautiful woman is looking round the sea from the bench terrace close to viaduct. She gives her power to the balneary that springs from the hill. There is no need to read the superscription to realize that this woman is an embodiment of Matsesta. The sculpture is not very old, but it seems that such an image has been always hidden soaring.
The name of Matsesta is determined by several meanings. This is the name of mountain river, running from the Western Caucasus to the Black Sea. It is also the name of the emerald green valley stretched along that river. Mineral water that springs all over the valley is named Matsesta too. A healing complex where the local balneary is used is named Matsesta. And finally, this name is given to the small community that spread over the hill.
The name "Matsesta" is inherited form the aboriginal dwellers of Caucasian coast - Adygs, also named Cherkessians. Translated from Adygian "Matsesta" means "Flame hot water". Why is it "hot" when it springs cold on the surface? In 1915 doctor Grigory Sorohtin who analysed Matsesta water answered this question. "If you dip any part of the body into Matsesta water some minutes later it becomes red. The longer the time of immersion the more intensive redness you get." So Adygs meant this unique feature of local water not its temperature.
The scientific researches of this water confirmed content of hydrogen sulphide, carbonic acid, nitrogen, methane, sodium chloride, ions of calcium and magnesium, trace elements of lithium, barium and gold in it. Penetrating through one's skin and hay fever hydrogen sulphide makes dilator action on blood-vessels, activates nerve endings, improves circulation, normalizes blood pressure, improves metabolism and so on.
In 1934 in Moscow they worked out a plan of development of Sochi as Matsesta resort and invested 1.5 billion rubbles. Such an attention was paid to Matsesta because of the fact that General Secretary of Communist Party Stalin suffered illness of joints. Especially for him the new chalet "Zelenaya Roscha" was built on the top of the neighbour hill. Now it is one of the sightseeings to visit. There was a special secret road from the chalet to Matsesta bathes.
In 1950's a famous scientist Vassily Kukanov worked in Matsesta Valley and led the unique very deep test boring. Drilled-out depth achieved 2000 meters. Thanks to this works Matsesta healing complex was supplied enough balneary for long time.
1970's for Matsesta inhabitants are associated with sculptor Iraida Gusleva, who worked for 3 years to create image of that beautiful woman which became the present symbol of Matsesta.
1980's are the pick years of Matsesta. Viacheslav Kuznetsov and Valentin Kibzun, the former directors of Matsesta healing complex, made the great contribution into development of enterprise. Annually 5 million tourists visited our city and they needed more than 18000 Matsesta bathes daily.
There are some 40 resorts with hydrogen sulphide water like Matsesta in Russia. They are Piatigorsk, Goriachy Kliuch, Sernovodsk. The concentration of Matsesta water exceeds any Russian and foreign water even those in Brusse (Turkey), Chalet (France), Stabilo (Italy), Gerrogete (England) and achieves 46 - 484 milligrams per litre depending to each bore.
Physiotherapeutic balneological complex of Matsesta is Russia's the greatest one. There are more than 600 of common bathes, 100 of 4-chamber bathes, 100 atmiatry units and other medical equipment. The most significant building for water treatment is hydropathical establishment No 9 that allow to provide 6000 bath procedures every day.
Matsesta healing complex is surrounded by park which connects Matsesta valley with the green zone of Sochi. Also there is a road connecting complex with all hotels, sanatoria and pensions of the city. You may take a walk here along Cheltenham's maple lane, dedicated to twin city in UK. One may stand at karsts cave gate looking at healing water flow or the unique building of hydropathical establishment No 4, known as one of the most beautiful buildings of our country.
Matsesta could be called "Natural Masterpiece of the greatest country", because mental and manual efforts of a man made this masterpiece a real miracle. Its springs, guarded by the beautiful women bring health and strength to millions of people.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14