Cherek gorge

Cherek Gorge is the pride and pearl of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic in which there are many picturesque places that cannot be seen all in one day. For example, of the seven peaks with a height of more than five thousand meters located in the Caucasus, five are located in the Cherek district of Kabardino-Balkaria. Chereksky district of the CBD is also one of the highest mountainous areas on the territory of the Russian Federation.

This tour is for the whole day. We leave in the morning and come back in the evening. During the tour we stop in six places:

(1) Upper Balkaria;

(2) The Cherek plough;

3) Blue lakes (three stops);

(4) Bathing in the Aushiger thermal springs;

First we go to the most picturesque place of the Cherek gorge - Cherekskaya cliff. Here you will walk along the old Balkar wheel road, built in the late XIX century. Then we will go to the village of Upper Balkaria, to see the remains of the former village of Kunlum, in which the Abai-Kala Tower has survived to this day.

On the way back we go to the blue lakes. There are five lakes of karst origin. Until recently, we could only get into one of them - the lower blue lake. But thanks to the authorities of Kabardino-Balkaria, which in recent years has been very active in developing tourism in the region, it is now possible to drive along the new asphalt road, laid at the end of 2016, up to three more lakes - the two upper communicating and the secret lake. You will be able to visit four of the five blue lakes.

The most beautiful of the five lakes is the lower blue lake. It has a greenish-blue color and a constant water temperature of 9.3 ° C, regardless of the time of year. It is located at an altitude of 809 m above sea level and reaches a depth of 365 m. By the way, the lower blue lake is considered the second deepest lake in Russia after Lake Baikal. The water is crystal clear, transparent, the walls of the lake are visible to a depth of 22 m. The color of the water changes. At different times of the year, it has different shades from soft blue to azure.

The last place of our excursion is the Aushiger thermal springs.

Aushiger thermal springs were discovered during geological exploration in the valley of the Cherek River, when the search for oil deposits was conducted. Geologists and oil workers were very surprised when the drilled wells began to beat a hot spring instead of oil. Learning about the healing properties of water from the spring, the locals began to dig and equip pools here. The fame of them quickly spread throughout the Caucasus, and then throughout Russia.

In the middle of the XX century, the Research Institute of Physiotherapy and Spa (Pyatigorsk) conducted research on water and blue clay from the source. The results showed that water can be used as balneological for therapeutic baths and mineral for oral administration.

Hot springs of Auschiger are rich in various organic compounds that do not react with the release of toxic substances. Water is used to treat:

- the gastrointestinal tract;

- skin diseases;

- circulatory and nervous system;

- joints and connective tissues.

Its healing properties have a beneficial effect on the body as a whole, providing a restorative and healing effect.

Sodium chloride water has low mineralization, weak alkaline reaction, high temperature. According to the level of gas saturation, it is referred to as nitrogen-carbon dioxide water. There's no radioactivity. In the drinking version refers to the therapeutic and dining room.

Indications for baths:

Functional and chronic gynecological diseases during remission;

- chronic diseases of blood vessels;

- neurodermatitis and psoriasis;

- porous skin, pimples, acne, scars and scars;

- spine and joints;

spondylitis, spondylosis (except for tuberculosis);

osteochondrosis; neuromyositis (all forms).

Also Aushiger thermal springs, in addition to water, are famous for their blue clay. Its deposits are very close to the source.

Indications for use of clay:

- diseases of the spine;

diseases of joints and connective tissues;

- diseases of the ENT organs and the tooth and jaw system;

- urological problems (cystitis, pyelocystitis);

- prostatitis, epididymitis;

- gynecological diseases;

- gastrointestinal diseases;

- cellulite, overweight.

Clay smoothes and reduces wrinkles, removes pimples and acne, cleanses and whitens the skin. Clay can be purchased at the store near the source.

The entrance to the thermal spring is paid. The cost is 100p per person.

Be sure to bring warm clothes with you. In Cherek gorge is usually quite windy and cold. I also recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes.

This long-distance excursion is almost not affected by the weather. Even if there is bad, rainy weather, fog, we will still see everything. Unlike long-distance excursions, such as Elbrus, Dombai, Arkhyz. Where good weather is very important due to the availability of a cable car.

The cost of the tour - 13000r per car

P.S. From the long (all day) excursions, this excursion has the best reviews of the explorers.

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