Suburbs of Novorossiysk
Novorossiysk is an industrial city but around it there are
several wonderful resort places. They are the Southern Ozerevka, Shirokaya
Balka, Abrao-Dyurso. These coastal settlements have a very ancient history.
In XIII-XIV centuries Genoeses from Kalos Limen
(modern Novorossiysk) preferred to rest and take a sun-bath on the beaches,
hidden from the northern winds behind cape Miskhakoin Shirokaya Balka.
In our days neither cement kiln dust nor oil
patches never reach these places. A shore belt with a narrow, very cozy pebble
beach stretches from Shirokaya Balka to Southern Ozereevka. Buses come here
regularly from the city bus station.
Local natives are sure that sea water on the lot
from Shirokaya Balka to Southern Ozereevka, has healing power, because mineral
springs spur into the sea right out of the ground. It is quite possible that it
is the truth because it’s not by chance that a coast lot from Viskhako to Maliy
Utrish is chosen by pregnant women, who come here, overpassed thousands
kilometers in order to give birth to their child right in the sea water. Abrau-Dyurso
Suburbs nature secrets. If you travel by car and
move from the side of Anapa or Krasnodar in the direction of Novorossiysk,
having entered settlement Tsemdolina, you will see a sign to the right to
Abrau-Dyurso. Turn and move according to direction signs.
Abrau-Dyurso is a so-called
settlement and a lake, which lie on the way from Anapa to Novorossiysk. The name
of the lake is originated from Abkhazian word “Abgarra” (hole, hollow) and
Turkish “Dyurso” (four springs). It means that the name can be translated as
“hole or hollow of four springs”). There is another version. In the Adygei
language the lake is called Abragjo, which means “large”, “huge”. Adygeis called
the lake by this name not by chance because Abrao-Dyurso is really the largest
one in the Western Caucasus.
The lake is situated at height of 85 m above sea
level on the mountainous peninsula in 14 km from Novorossiysk. Coming to the
lake you are dodging between hills like in the green labyrinth. Suddenly below,
in the mountain basin from behind trees a scrap of emerald glassy surface
appears near the white-stone buildings of a plant of Champaign wines.
Wooded mountains reflect proudly in the green
mirror of water. The landscape makes the lake resembling Ritsa lake. However
though these two lakes are equal to each other by seize, by position above sea
level they sharply differ from each other. The Ritsa is situated almost 850 m
higher. Climate and water here are far warmer therefore many people swim in
summer in the lake, which warms up to 28ºC.
Abrau is a mysterious reservoir.
The main secret is origination of the basin. There are at least several
hypothesizes. The first hypothesis is based on etymology of word Abrau (hole).
One of them is the lake shores are formed of sandstone and marl and there no
signs of caverns.
According to the second one the Abrau is a
remainder of an ancient freshwater sea, which existed millions years ago. This
hypothesis is confirmed by composite of its dwellers. Carps, sazans, perches and
other modern species of fishes are found in the lake. But besides them there are
surviving ones, for example, river sprat.
By other scientists’ opinion Abrau was formed in
time of the Flood. Then the strongest earthquakes shook the coast of the Black
sea. Before the earthquake the Abrau river flew into the sea. After it mountains
drew together, locked the mouth and formed the lake.
Until now it is not clear where the lake water
flew out. A river flows into it. Several springs spur out of the bottom, and the
lake has no drain. Apparently the major part of the water evaporates. The lake
entraps all substances, brought by the water, and the process of purification is
carried out slowly therefore the Abrau is not very clear. You may see the depth
of only 1 m. May be formerly there was a connection of the lake with the sea
hidden from men. At least some old guidebooks informed that the lake depth is
about 30 m.
Legends of the lake
The lake has another secret – the famous “Path of
Adygei”. In a moony night one can see a strange strip, appearing white on the
dark glassy surface of the lake. In winter this strip freezes the last. Why did
this path appear? What are mechanisms of its existence? What makes the lake
waters to behave so mysterious? Scientists have no particular answers on these
questions. One people explain its origination by winds and water effects.
Only the ancient legends have answers. Formerly a
rich Adygei tribe dwelled in the place of the lake. An Abrau, a daughter of a
rich man lived in the aul. She fell in love with a poor herder Dyurso. The
girl’s parents prohibited the young men to meet. During holiday plays rich men,
having satiated with meal, began to throw bread flat cooks instead of clay
plates into the river. The God decided to punish them. The only person, whom he
decided to spare, was the girl, whom he sent into the forest to a herder Dyurso
during the punishment. When she returned, on the place of the aul there was a
hole, full of water.
Standing on the shore, the girl bewailed the death
of the whole aul. Her tears formed a brook which exists till now. Despairingly
the Adygei wanted to drown herself but water didn’t accept her and she went on
the glassy surface of the water from one shore to the other where she met her
lover. Sunny rays warmed her up, the wind consoled her by its tender songs and
she forgot her grief. Since that time and for ever footsteps of the wonderful
Adygei have remained on the glassy surface of the lake.
After the hole absorbed the flourishing aul,
people didn’t settle down on the shores of Abrau lake. Centuries passed. The
Caucasian wars finished and gradually the lake shores began to be inhabited with
Russians. One can come to the sea from Abrau-Dyurso. A small freshwater lake
with name Limanchik is situated at the very shore. A narrow small earth road to
Maliy Utrish begins from the Limanchik. It dodges along the pebble beach. The
place is very quiet and clear.
Origin of champagne on the shores of
«Abrau-Dyurs» lake
And there is another interesting moment. At the
end of 19 century local agronomists made a surprising discovery. It turned out
that solution of the soil and conditions of vine vegetation on the mountain
slopes round Abrau lake similar to the conditions of French province Champagne.
It was impossible not to use such unique chance, gifted by the nature. The first
drawing of champagne in amount of 16 thousand bottles was put out in 1896 and in
a year the first lot of the Russian champagne with brand “Abrau” was put out.
Birth of the world-known sparkling wine
“Abrau-brut” begins with preparing of wine tirage mixture. The mixture is
prepared of dry wine, made of special sorts of grapes. Wines are kept in the
plant for many years and only real experts can make a mixture which is bottled
then. It is impossible to confuse taste of “Abrau” with something else. It is
much softer than taste of classical French champagne.
Besides that in Abrau the process of
champagnization is carried out in such way that there are as many blebs in the
bottle as it is required. You can appreciate taste and play of the unique drink
in the very plant where there is a museum and a tasting room. In 2000
wine-makers put out two new brands: white champagne “Ah, Abrau!” and red
sparkling wine “Barkhatniy sezon” (“”Velvet” season”).
Wide Balka
Geographic and natural data
Tract Wide balka is situated on the Black Sea
coast of Caucasus in Abrau peninsula which is a part of the mountain massif of
the north-west islands of the Main Caucasian ridge, in 17 km to the north-east
from Novorossiysk. Relief of the peninsula is represented by medium-altitude
fold mountains. The highest point of the ridge is Mountain Orel – 548.5 m. In
antiquity here there was a residence of the ancient Greek empress and
archaeologists find interesting data about this wonderful place till now.
Wide balka resembles the southern flora, a forest
part of Crimea very much. Pubescent oak, hawthorn, barberry, red juniper are
founded in the lowest belt of the southern slope of Abraussky ridge, higher
there are juniper sparse growth of trees, mountain ash and others. Tract Wide
balka is situated in the surprisingly ecologically clean nook of the Black Sea
coast. Steams, forming above the sea surface, rise by the mountain slopes and,
stretching through juniper, growing on the mountain slopes, makes large density
of positive ions.
Everything for rest
Huge beaches, both “civilized” and “wild”, calm,
warm and pure sea, rich flora, magnificence of local mountains, bars, discos and
numerous other opportunities for rest and entertainments – all these make Wide
balka a very attractive place for rest of the whole family or in circle of
friends. For example, right at the wild beach there is a good place for camping.
A spring, out of which cold drinking water flows, is situated to the right from
the camp place, in the very center of the wild beach. In this small settlement
there are many places for rest which it is really worth to visit, as positive
impression remains in memory for long.
A disaster came into the small
nook
Unfortunately, a waterspout from Crimea to the
Black sea happened on the 8th of August of 2002. There were many victims, water
tears off bridges, destroyed houses. Right after the tragedy people began to
pump out water. Several bridges were built. Works in restoring of defective
electrical substations and water-pumping stations, water-supply system of the
city. In August from the first days of going down of water, obstructions were
removed, large debris, silt, felled trees were brought away, disinfection of the
territory and spared constructions was carried out, power supply was renewed,
beaches were tidied.
Tourists come here now, stay in already rebuilt
rest houses or settle as non-official holiday-makers. There are many places on
the beach, where you can set up a tent, swim, acquire a tan. On the shore and
above mentioned places there are cafes, saunas, billiard parlours, variety
shows, discos right on the beach. A large advantage of Balka is a large (over 2
km) offshore with pebbles of various sizes. Though much remains unrestored but
inhabitants try not to lose heart and make all efforts to restore their
settlement.
The «South Ozerovka»
It is one more comfortable place for «wild» rest.
Here is a warm sea, which stay warm all day. You may swim at night and get
pleasure form trees darkness. At this village you can buy house – made vine,
milk, vegetables and fruits.
Pure sea, mountain air, thick forests are
attracted a lot of tourist to this place.
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