Cities of Caucasian mineral waters list. Caucasian mineral waters

02.09.2023

CAUCASIAN MINERAL WATERS is the main balneological and mud resort in Russia.

Caucasian Mineral Waters (Kavminvody, KMV) - this is a group of resorts of federal significance in the Stavropol Territory, a specially protected eco-resort region of the Russian Federation. Caucasian Mineral Waters located in the south of the European part of Russia, almost at the same distance from the Black and Caspian Seas, at the junction of the Mineralovodskaya inclined plain and the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Through the territory Kavminvod there is an electrified railway Moscow - Rostov - Baku with a branch to Kislovodsk (and a branch to Zheleznovodsk), as well as an asphalt federal highway Rostov - Baku M29. Mineralnye Vody Airport connects the KMV with direct airlines to all major centers of Russia and neighboring countries, and also operates flights to foreign countries. Regional center of the CMS is a city Essentuki. Previously, this status belonged to the city of Pyatigorsk, and even earlier - Georgievsk.

Caucasian Mineral Waters region occupies the southern part of the Stavropol Territory and is located on the northern slopes of the Main Caucasus Range, just a couple of tens of kilometers from Elbrus. The southern borders of the KMS region are the foothills of Elbrus, the valley of the Khasaut and Malki rivers, in the west - the upper reaches of the Eshkakona and Podkumka rivers, the northern border of the region is the city of Mineralnye Vody, beyond which the steppe expanses of the Ciscaucasia begin.

Mud spa resort Caucasian Mineral Waters was created by decree of Emperor Alexander I at the beginning of the 19th century. At first it was used as a place for rehabilitation and treatment of officers of the tsarist army after injuries during the Caucasian wars and the conquest of Central Asia. Only at the end of the 19th century the resort became a civilian resort; at the beginning of the 20th century the first sanatoriums were built.

Southern position Kavminvody region provide a large amount of solar radiation throughout the year. Winter is short (2-3 months), spring is also short with a sharp transition to summer. In May, hot days are already coming. Summer is warm, with high intensity of solar radiation (especially in Kislovodsk). Autumn is warm, dry and long.

Above all resorts Caucasian Mineral Waters located Kislovodsk(817-1063 m), the remaining resorts are located at approximately the same altitude: Essentuki- along the river Podkumok (600-640 m), Pyatigorsk- at the foot of Mashuk (510-630 m), Zheleznovodsk- in the valley between Beshtau and Zheleznaya, on the slopes at the foot of the latter (600-650 m). The vegetation is represented mainly by massifs of oak-hornbeam forests alternating with meadow steppes; in the foothills there is steppe and forest-steppe vegetation, which in the mountains (at an altitude of 800-1100 m) is replaced by broad-leaved forests (beech, oak, hornbeam).

Relief of the Caucasian Mineral Waters region begins at the foot of Elbrus, where a rocky ridge with a number of peaks clearly stands out. In the western and southern parts of the KMV, the mountains are steep, sometimes with sheer ledges breaking off to the south, and the long northern slopes are slightly inclined and merge with the foothill plain. The dissected relief, which creates a wide variety of landscapes, is explained by the long development and complex geological structure of the territory.

Climate of the KavMinVod region has long been highly valued by balneologists and has been successfully used as a healing factor. The climatic conditions of each resort differ radically, which is largely determined by the nature of the relief and the difference in altitude locations of the Kavminvod resort towns. The main advantages of the local climate are associated with the large number of sunny days - in Kislovodsk only 37-40 days a year are without sun. It is relatively dry here; moist air masses from the Black Sea do not reach here - they are delayed by the Main Caucasus Ridge.

Caucasian Mineral Waters include four world-famous balneological resort cities: Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk, Essentuki and Kislovodsk.

CMS ResortsThey do not have an off-season period, they are accepted for treatment and recreation all year round, which is explained by the southern location of the Kavminvod region and the presence of unique natural healing factors (climate, mineral waters of various types for external and internal use, silt mud of Lake Tambukan).

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In each of cities of Kavminvod There are unique healing factors and sanatoriums that use them and the achievements of modern medicine to treat a wide variety of diseases. Treatment profiles of Kavminvod are divided by city. Each city specializes in the treatment of certain diseases. So sanatoriums of Zheleznovodsk are being treated diseases of the gastrointestinal tract , urological diseases , V sanatoriums of Pyatigorsk are being treated musculoskeletal system, skin and allergic diseases, gynecological and gastrointestinal diseases, For Essentuki sanatoriums, the main treatment profile, as in Zheleznovodsk, is gastrointestinal tract and diseases of the endocrine system, also in Essentuki they treat and gynecological diseases . Sanatoriums Kislovodsk specialize in the treatment of various diseases respiratory system, circulatory system and nervous system. If you want to relax and receive treatment at the CMV, people should be guided by these factors, because in each city, all sanatoriums specialize in the main profile of the city, because the profile of the city is determined by natural factors that contribute to the treatment of a particular disease.

The main natural healing factors at the KMS resorts:

Pyatigorsk - carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide-hydrogen sulfide, radon waters, Essentuki type mineral waters
Essentuki - salt-alkaline waters
Kislovodsk - dolomite and sulfate narzans
Zheleznovodsk - Slavyanovskaya and Smirnovskaya waters

Each of the KMS resorts has its own treatment profile:

Kislovodsk - treatment of diseases of cardio-vascular system , respiratory organs And nervous system
Essentuki - treatment of diseases gastrointestinal tract , including liver and biliary tract, metabolic disorders, endocrine (nutritional obesity, diabetes mellitus), gynecological diseases
Pyatigorsk - treatment of diseases musculoskeletal system , digestive organs, nervous system, skin diseases, peripheral vessels, gynecology and urology
Zheleznovodsk - treatment urological diseases And diseases of the gastrointestinal tract , including urolithiasis and cholelithiasis

Pyatigorsk - the largest balneological and mud resort of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. The treatment here is multidisciplinary and is based on hot hydrogen sulfide and radon waters. The healing mud of Lake Tambukan is widely used. On Mount Mashuk there is a mineral spring, the water of which is a good remedy for diseases of the liver and biliary tract and for diseases of the digestive system.

Essentuki– a balneological resort with one of the most popular table mineral waters in Russia. Mainly "Essentuki" No. 4 and No. 17. "Four" recommended for diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver, gall bladder, and urinary tract. It has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, causing a shift in the acid-base balance to the alkaline side. "№17" - for the same diseases, only with increased mineralization and is not recommended for diseases of the urinary tract.

Zheleznovodsk- the smallest of the balneological resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. There are warm natural springs here.
The most famous - "Slavyanovskaya" And "Smirnovskaya". Both waters are effective in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Kislovodsk- the southernmost balneoclimatic resort of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. The microclimate is added to the sources here. Kislovodsk has a dry and sunny winter (it is protected from the winds by mountains). The main healing factor is the huge resort park, the largest in Europe. The main element of treatment is narzan. Narzans of Kislovodsk are well saturated with carbon dioxide. This is a good drink to quench your thirst. Kislovodsk Narzan enhances the secretory activity of the digestive glands and has a beneficial effect on the activity of the urinary tract.

The diagnostic capabilities of KMV sanatoriums are presented the most modern methods, including ultrasound examinations, determination of biochemical parameters, various functional tests, and allow us to differentiate the diagnosis and prescribe an individual course of treatment, taking into account the identified pathology.

The main methods of treatment in Kavminvod sanatoriums are: climate therapy, diet therapy, dosed walking (health paths), internal and external use of mineral waters, radon therapy, mud therapy, inhalation therapy, massage, physical therapy, a variety of hardware physiotherapy and other traditional and non-traditional methods of treatment.

When choosing a specific health resort, you should proceed from the nature of the existing diseases and the recommendations of the attending physician; only in this case the effect of sanatorium-resort treatment will be optimal.

How to get there

By air . Airplanes fly to Mineralnye Vody airport from the following cities: Aktau, Evkaterinburg (via Sochi), Kazan, Kaliningrad, Krasnoyarsk, Magnitogorsk, Makhachkala, Moscow (Vnukovo, twice a day), Murmansk (via St. Petersburg), Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhnevartovsk, Novosibirsk, Norilsk, Novy Urengoy (via Kazan), Omsk and Perm (via Samara), Samara, St. Petersburg, Surgut, Tyumen, Ufa, Khabarovsk, Chita...
By rail . Trains arrive in Kislovodsk (via Zheleznovodsk (Mashuk station), Pyatigorsk, Essentuki) from Adler (No. 643/644), Moscow (No. 3/4, No. 27/28), St. Petersburg (No. 49/50), Kiev ( No. 295/296), Simferopol (No. 397/398), Samara (No. 235/236), Tynda (No. 97/98), Minsk (No. 145/146), Novokuznetsk (No. 59/60), Chelyabinsk (No. 409 /410).
By road . You can come to Kavminvody by direct bus from Anapa, Astrakhan, Vladikavkaz, Gelendzhik, Derbent, Labinsk, Maikop, Cherkessk, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd, Krasnodar, etc. From Moscow to Kislovodsk (via all resort towns), companies have established regular bus services message.
By personal car in good weather, you can travel from Moscow to Kislovodsk in one daylight. But this is subject to almost continuous driving along the Moscow-Rostov-Baku highway with a minimum of stops.

Distance between cities KMV:

	Kislovodsk	Essentuki	Zheleznovodsk	Pyatigorsk	Minvody	Dombay
Kislovodsk		21 km	30km	38 km	45 km	180 km
Essentuki	21 km		20 km	15 km	34 km	196 km
Zheleznovodsk	30 km	20 km		6 km	15 km	215 km
Pyatigorsk	38 km	15 km

Caucasian Mineral Waters are rightfully known as the pearl of the Caucasus. They have been known as a balneological resort since ancient times. In the 19th century people flocked here from all sides of Russia. Today, Caucasian Mineral Waters of Russia is the largest resort region of federal significance, which has no analogues on the Euro-Asian continent in terms of wealth, diversity, quantity and value of mineral waters and healing mud. In this unique resort corner on our planet one hundred and twenty mineral springs, natural radon And healing mud of Lake Tambukan.
Excellent climate with plenty of sunny days in summer and mild, warm winters, as well as more than a hundred sanatoriums And boarding houses made Caucasian Mineral Waters a fashionable resort, famous throughout Russia. Nature lovers come here again and again to see the picturesque views and get an unforgettable experience. hiking in the mountains, where unique natural objects are found literally at every step.
Caucasian Mineral Waters are also famous for their rivers. What rivers are there without fish? Where there are rivers, there are fishing . Carp, pike perch, catfish, perch, pike, Caucasian chub, North Caucasian gudgeon and many other species, having caught the bait of a gambling fisherman, will give him pleasure!
The cities of the Caucasian Mineral Waters are associated with the name of the wonderful Russian poet M. Yu. Lermontova. There are many memorable places where the poet was and about which he wrote in his works. Now they are called Lermontov places and are protected by the State.

The resort consists of several cities: Mineralnye Vody, Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk . Each resort city offers a majestic panorama of mountains with the double-headed Elbrus seemingly floating in the sky in the distance.

An ecological masterpiece

Caucasian Mineral Waters occupies the southern part of the Stavropol Territory of the Russian Federation and has an area of 5,828 km 2. They are located approximately at the same latitude as the resorts of the French Riviera and the Italian Adriatic. Features of the geographical location of the Caucasian Mineral Waters, such as the proximity of the Caucasus Range, which traps moist air masses from the Black Sea, have a beneficial effect on the climate. Most of the time the weather here is dry and clear. The number of sunny days per year reaches 300. Summers are warm in the south, and winters are moderately mild. Thanks to this climate the resort has no off-season period and can receive holidaymakers all year round.
This region of the North Caucasus is a most picturesque corner. For several tens of kilometers from north to south, the steppe plain smoothly turns into a mountainous landscape. Feather grass steppes give way to luxurious deciduous and pine forests, above which lie alpine meadows.
The green fund of the cities of the Kavminvod resort consists of natural forests and cultural plantings - orchards, parks, public gardens, boulevards, and street plantings. Forests covering the nearby mountains trees and shrubs: ash, oak, hornbeam, beech, maple, birch bark, linden, buckthorn, elderberry, dogwood, hawthorn, rose hip, barberry, rowan, birch, azalea, aspen and others.
The cities of Kavminvod are located at an altitude of 600 x 1000 meters above sea level, which determines one of the main healing factors - the purest mountain air. Although the diversity of the topography also creates differences in the climate of each city.

Mineral water

City Mineral water located in the south-eastern part of the Stavropol Territory, in the valley of the Kuma River, at the foot of Mount Zmeika. This is the largest transport hub, whose railway and air routes from all over the country lead to famous resorts and therefore it is often called the gateway of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. The city is connected by bus service with large villages of the Mineralovodsky district, many cities and districts of the Stavropol Territory, with the capitals of neighboring territories, regions and republics.
New powerful deposits of medicinal water have been explored on the territory of the Mineralovodsk region, the reserves of which significantly exceed the potential of other sources in this region. The construction of mineral water bottling plants is rapidly developing. Several hundred million bottles of “Novoterskaya healing” water have already been produced, which has conquered the tastes of not only Russians, but has also confidently entered the world market. Deposits with unique mineral water such as “Essentuki”, “Slavyanskaya”, “Borjomi” were discovered and began to be exploited in the region.
Mineral water an excellent place for the development of tourism, recreation and treatment, and the creation of new sanatorium and resort complexes here. And this direction is already developing.
Not far from the city unique Kumagor Hospital with healing springs and mud that have no analogues in the world, for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system.

Essentuki

The youngest resort town in the Caucasian Mineral Waters Essentuki. It is rightfully considered the largest and most popular resort. Located at an altitude of 640 meters above sea level in the steppe area, in the valley of the Podkumok River. It is surrounded by greenery and flowers. Flower beds, shady alleys, fountains, decorative gazebos, well-groomed by the caring hands of Essentuki residents, invite you to relax. Unusually clean air and unusual silence for a city dweller.
In the poem “Izmail Bey” Lermontov described familiar places like this:

“A long time ago, by the clear waters, where Podkumok rushes over the rocks,
Where the day rises behind Mashuk, and sets behind steep Beshtau,
Near the border of a foreign land, peaceful villages bloomed"

Here you can observe the underground secret of the formation of springs. In Essentuki the climate is more contrasting than in other cities of this resort: summers are dry and hot, and winters are somewhat colder than in other resorts. You can diversify your stay in the sanatoriums of this city with walks to interesting places:

Upper mineral baths, made in the classical forms of the Russian Empire style;
Mud bath, built from local stone and Kislovodsk dolomite, corresponds to high examples of Roman classics. These "ancient Roman baths" were built specifically for the heir to the Russian throne in 1915;
Museum of Local Lore, where traveling exhibitions are held, there is an exposition of the formation of the Cossacks;
The building of the Tsander Mechanotherapeutic Institute is a wooden structure built in 1902. Now there is a hall in it, which displays unique exercise machines from the beginning of the century;
Gazebo "Oread", built in antique style in 1903.

Zheleznovodsk

Zheleznovodsk the smallest, greenest resort town in the Caucasian Mineral Waters. This wonderful corner of the North Caucasus was loved by many of our famous classics. A. S. Pushkin, M. Yu. Lermontov, L. N. Tolstoy, M. I. Glinka, V. G. Belinsky admired him and praised him in their works. Its climate corresponds to the moderately dry climate of the middle mountains of the Alps. It's sunny here, but the greenery and blowing winds moderate the summer heat. Opened in 1810 by Moscow doctor F.P. Gaaz unique "glandular" waters serve to heal many diseases.
At the foot of the Zmeyka, Razvalka and Zheleznaya mountains, near the city of Zheleznovodsk there is Tersky stud farm, specializing in raising purebred Arabian horses. Once upon a time Count Stroganov, when choosing a place for a stud farm, said that beautiful horses should live in a beautiful place.
For lovers mountain hiking surroundings of the city of Zheleznovodsk: mountains Beshtau, Iron, Sharp, Dull, Honey. But the most winding route Mount Razvalka with its “permafrost”, a cave of an ancient man, a settlement from the times of the Great Silk Road. In the Kavminvod region, many crypt structures have been identified that correlate with similar ones in the necropolises of the Hellenistic cities of Crimea.

Kislovodsk

"Narzan". Familiar name, isn't it? It is assigned to the mineral water drink. The spring of the same name, the largest source of the Kavminvod, brought world fame to Kislovodsk, the “City of the Sun”, as regular vacationers and guests call it.
In Kislovodsk, located higher than other resorts and surrounded by mountains, low atmospheric pressure prevails, and the air is particularly clean. Winters here are dry and sunny, and summers are warm but not hot. This city is the country's leading cardiological resort. Anyone who has visited this picturesque place at least once, where dozens of boarding houses and sanatoriums are scattered among the abundant greenery, will not forget it.
Another pride of Kislovodsk its healing Resort Park multiple winner of international competitions for monuments of landscape gardening art, winner of top prizes for excellent landscape architecture. Park with gorges approaching it Olkhovka rivers And Berezovki wonderful and amazing. The linden trees bent over the stream, which, with noise and foam, falling from slab to slab, cuts its way between the green mountains. Imagine that, while walking along it, you inhale the freshness of the aromatic air, burdened with the fumes of tall southern grasses and white acacia, and your ears are delighted by the soporific sound of icy streams, which, meeting at the end of the valley, run together and finally rush into the river Podkumok. The park has many interesting places that attract the attention of holidaymakers: Red Stones, Blue Stones, “Temple of Air” and Gray Stones.
There are great places near the city. Enjoy constant attention from vacationers Mount Ring , described by M. Yu. Lermontov; rocks Castle of Cunning and Love in the gorge of the Alikonovka River; rocks Battleship, Destroyer , silhouettes reminiscent of warships.
In Kislovodsk you can still visit such historical, cultural and natural monuments How:

Narzan gallery, built in 1848-1853 in the medieval English style. It contains the Boiling Well Narzan spring, drinking pump rooms, and a resort library;
Colonnade the main gate of the Resort Park, built according to the design of the architect N. Semenov in 1912;
Natural monument Mount Ring, a through hole in which with a diameter of 11 meters is formed by weathering;
House-museum of the artist N. A. Yaroshenko “White Villa”, where the largest collection of works by Yaroshenko himself is located, as well as a large collection of works by Peredvizhniki artists;
Museum "Chaliapin's Dacha", opened in 1991. It has preserved the decoration and interiors of the early twentieth century. Today it is a venue for literary and musical evenings.

Pyatigorsk

The pride of the resort Pyatigorsk natural radon and unique mud of Lake Tambukan. The successful combination of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, radon sources and the mud of Lake Tambukan predetermined the fate of what is now the most effective multi-functional resort in Russia.
The city is located on the slopes Mashuk mountains And Hot Mountains at an altitude of 510 x 630 meters above sea level on the left bank of the Podkumok River. It has warm summers and moderately mild, wet winters. The highest mountain, the five-domed Beshtau, gave the city its name: "besh" translated from Tatar into Russian as “five”, “tau” “peaks, mountains”. And again Lermontov’s poetry takes us back to the romantic days of antiquity:

“Between Mashuk and Beshtau, about thirty years ago,
There was an aul, protected from storms by mountains and rich in liberty"

The Pyatigorsk resort invites you for treatment and relaxation. This a corner generously endowed by nature with plenty of sun and warmth source of healing waters of almost all types (there are about 50 of them).
But Pyatigorsk is not only a city of health, but also city-museum. Pyatigorsk and its surroundings are of great interest to vacationers and tourists. It contains about 100 historical, cultural and architectural monuments. One of the most popular holiday destinations Tsvetnik Park . Museum of Local Lore will tell about the history of this region, and State Museum-Reserve of M. Yu. Lermontov , created in 1973, will take you back to the times of a talented poet and writer of Russia.
On the southern slope of Mount Mashuk there is one of the most picturesque places in Pyatigorsk natural karst mine “Proval” 20 meters deep, at the bottom of which there is a small lake. Located on the slopes and at the foot of the Beshtau, Mashuk, Zmeyka, Razvalka, Zheleznaya, Ostraya and Medovaya mountains Beshtaugorsky forest area. It has a protective water protection effect on the regime of mineral springs.

So. If you suddenly have doubts about the need to visit the Caucasian Mineral Waters resort in order to improve your health, discard them immediately! In any case, you should see this wonderful corner of Russia, so warm, so cozy. There is much more here that cannot be described in bright colors. You have to see it with your own eyes, take a deep breath. And only then will you be completely healthy from the feeling of complete happiness and from the realization that, having visited this wonderful place, you have done everything that was necessary for yourself and your loved ones.

Caucasian Mineral Waters– one of the oldest resort regions in Russia. The first written information about its mineral springs is found in the physician G. Schober (1717), who was sent by Peter I to examine the mineral " treasure troves" North Caucasus. The first detailed descriptions of them were made by I.A. Guldenstedt (1773), and then by P.S. Pallas (1793). In 1801, research was carried out on a hot spring in Pyatigorsk, and in 1802 a special commission concluded on the possibility of using mineral waters for medicinal purposes.

The official history of the Caucasian Mineral Waters dates back to April 24, 1803, when Tsar Alexander I signed the famous Rescript “On the recognition of the national significance of the Caucasian Mineral Waters and the need for their construction”:

“The Minister of Internal Affairs will deliver to you the conclusions made by the State Medical College on the action of the Caucasian mineral springs, according to the testimony of the doctors sent to test and describe them. From them you will also find proposals for setting up the establishments you need from the sources.

Based on your report about one of them, located 30 versts from the Konstantinogorsk fortress, I already allowed you on March 7th to build near a small fortification. Now I instruct you to begin setting up all those institutions that are necessary for the convenience of healing. Having made the appropriate local considerations and drawn up an estimate of the work, you will deliver to me a calculation of the amount required to assign it from the treasury.

Meanwhile, from the medical board, one of the most skilled doctors and an assistant will be appointed there.

Between the assumptions, the benefits and convenience of these waters, providing, the idea of settling linear Cossacks near these waters, I especially leave it to your consideration.

The benefits of this proposal are obvious: but putting it into effect on the Kabardian lands depends on the discretion of local conveniences, which you can determine more closely and better and about which in due time I will expect a report from you.”

A specially protected ecological resort region of the Russian Federation – Caucasian Mineral Waters located on the territory of three constituent entities of the Russian Federation:

Stavropol Territory - 58% of the entire area of the region;

Kabardino-Balkaria - 9% (Zolsky district, where Lake Tambukan is located);

Karachay-Cherkessia - 33% of the area of the republic (Malo-Karachay and Prikubansky districts - the zone of formation of mineral springs).

Caucasian Mineral Waters is one of the most densely populated areas of the North Caucasus. The average population density is more than 150 people per 1 km 2.

The Caucasian Mineral Waters includes 7 cities:

- Kislovodsk, located in a small and cozy picturesque valley, surrounded by the slopes of the Main Caucasus Range and formed by the gorges of two merging rivers - Olkhovka and Berezovka, flowing into the Podkumok River at an altitude of 750–1400 m above sea level;
- Essentuki, located along the river. Podkumok at an altitude of 600–640 m above sea level;
- Pyatigorsk, located at the foot of Mashuk at an altitude of 510-630 m above sea level;
- Zheleznovodsk, located in the valley between Beshtau and Zheleznaya, on the slopes at the foot of the latter at an altitude of 600–650 m above sea level;
- Lermontov, located in a valley surrounded by mountains - directly at the foot of Mount Sheludiva and the western (northwestern) slopes of Mount Beshtau;
- Mineral water, located at the foot of Mount Snake at an altitude of 330-350 m above sea level;
- Georgievsk is located on the right bank of the Kuma River at an altitude of 308 m above sea level. Previously, the city was called Gum kala (Gvym kala), which means “sand fortress” (Abazak).
And also 3 districts- Predgorny, Mineralovodsky and Georgievsky.

Caucasian Mineral Waters is the largest and one of the oldest resort regions of the Russian Federation. Over 130 mineral springs and large reserves of silt mud from Lake Tambukan (and Lake Lysogorsk) make the KMS a unique balneological resort. The KMV region is distinguished by picturesque natural landscapes, a healthy mountain climate and is famous for its sanatorium and resort complex enterprises in Russia.

Caucasian Mineral Waters is the largest and unique resort pearl of Russia, which in terms of the composition and quality of its climatic and balneological resources, concentrated in a relatively small area, has no analogues on the Euro-Asian continent. More than 115 health resorts in the region (at the beginning of the 21st century), specializing in the treatment of dozens of various diseases, determine its importance as the main, comprehensive and multidisciplinary health resort of the country. 118 health resorts equipped with the most modern diagnostic and treatment equipment and 26 tourist and hotel complexes of the Caucasian Mineral Waters can accommodate more than 40 thousand people at a time. Their main specialization is the provision of medical and health services, treatment with world-famous waters and mineral mud.

The area of the Caucasian Mineral Waters is more than 500 thousand hectares (5.3 thousand sq. km).

In terms of absolute heights, the territory of the Caucasian Mineral Waters belongs to the middle mountains.

The region is located in the south of the European part of Russia, almost at the same distance from the Black and Caspian Seas, at the junction of the Mineralovodskaya sloping plain and the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus.

The Caucasian Mineral Waters region is located within the junction of the Stavropol Upland and the northern slopes of the Main Caucasus Range. The region is distinguished by its unusualness and variety of relief forms.

The relief of the Caucasian Mineral Waters region begins at the foot of Elbrus, where the Rocky Range with a number of peaks clearly stands out. In the western and southern parts of the KMV, the mountains drop off steeply, in places with sheer ledges to the south (the depth of these cliffs reaches 1000 m), and the long northern slopes are slightly (gently) inclined and merge with the foothill plain.

These are the Pastbishchny and Skalisty ridges. They are divided by river valleys into a number of mountain ranges. The Pastishchny ridge within the KavMinVod is cut by Podkumkom into two parts: the western (Borgustan ridge, Darya heights of the Borgustan ridge) rises to 1200-1300 m, and the eastern (Dzhinalsky ridge) has an absolute elevation of the top of the Upper Dzhinal of 1542 m. It stretches south of Pastbishchnoye Rocky Ridge with peaks Big and Small Bermamyt. Big Bermamyt is actually considered the main peak of the plateau. But this is also a visual illusion. The highest point of Bolshoi Bermamyt is 2592 meters, which is actually 50 meters lower than Maly Bermamyt (2643 meters above sea level). It turns out that in fact Maly Bermamyt is the highest point of the ridge and is considered the highest point of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. Maly received its name due to the smaller area it occupies. It is also the southern border of the Caucasian Mineral Waters region. From Bermamyt to Elbrus 30 km in a straight line. In the early morning on Bermamyt you can sometimes see the so-called Brocken Ghost.

The Rocky Ridge also includes Bermamyt plateau, Zhatmaz ridge(city Shidzhatmaz (Shatjatmaz) 2127 m) and Kichmalkinskoeplateau(Manglay 2055 m).

On Zhatmaz ridge a high-mountain scientific cluster was formed. Organizations operating in various fields of science are located here:

Kislovodsk mountain astronomical station, founded in 1948;

Roshydromet weather station;

Kislovodsk high-mountain scientific station of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics named after A. M. Obukhov;

Caucasian Mountain Observatory of the SAI MSU;

FSUE Research Center named after. M. V. Keldysh";

Between Zhatmaz ridge And Kichmalkinskyplateau in the picturesque valley of the Khasaut River at an altitude of 1300 m above sea level there is the Narzan Valley, where 20 powerful mineral springs of the Narzan type emerge on the surface over a distance of 1 km.

On the Mineralovodskaya inclined plain, in the northern part of the Caucasian Mineral Waters region, a group of isolated remnant igneous mountains forms the Pyatigorye area. The picturesque laccolithic mountains of Pyatigorye, like structural geological elements, also actively participate in the formation of mineral waters.

There are more than 20 mountains in Pyatigorye, of which 18 are recognized as specially protected landscape natural monuments. Among them, the dominant one is Mount Beshtau (from Turk. Besh -5, tau – mountain). Height 1401 meters above sea level. Located in the central part of Pyatigorye. The diameter of the foot is about 8 km. The mountain gave its name to the surrounding area (Pyatigorye) and the city of Pyatigorsk. To the northwest of it rises Mashuk (993 m). To the north is Mount Zheleznaya (851 m). You can also see several other mountains around. Mount Camel (886 m) resembles a camel with its two humps. Mount Razvalka (928 m), when viewed from the road from Mineralnye Vody, looks like a sleeping lion. Previously, it was called “Sleeping Lion”. The phenomenon of “summer permafrost” is associated with the peculiarities of the geological structure of Razvalka. The laccolith mountains Ostraya (881 m), Tupaya (772 m), Byk (817 m), Lysaya (739 m), Sheludivaya (875 m) justify these names with their appearance. The sharp summit ridge of Mount Kinzhal once rose to 507 meters, but when mining the stone, the upper part of the mountain was cut off. In addition, in the KMS region, the Zmeyka (994 m), Yutsa (972 m), Dzhutsa (1189 m), Golden Kurgan (884 m) and Medovaya (721 m) mountains are located almost next to each other.

In the Caucasus, a phenomenon is known when mountain peaks suddenly turn into clouds.

“They left the village on a clear, bright morning., when at the first sun the wholeRidge, bright white and in blue recesses, stood accessible close, visible in every cut, so close, that an unaccustomed person would remember to drive to him in two hours. He rose so big in the world of small human things, so miraculous in the worldmade. For thousands of years, all the people, as long as they lived, carried here with a solution of hands and piled up in plump heaps everything they had worked or even conceived - they would not have erected such a super-imaginable Ridge.

From the village(Saber) beforestationsthis is how the road led them all the time, that the Ridge was right in front of them, they were going to him, they saw it: snowy expanses, bare rocky ledges and shadows of guessed gorges. But from half an hourby half an hour it began to thaw from below, separated from the earth, no longer standing, and hung in a third of the sky and was swaddled, there were no scars and ribs in him, mountain signs, but seemed like huge united white clouds. Then the clouds are already torn to pieces, no longer distinguishable from pure clouds. Then they were washed away. The ridge has completely disappeared, as ifwas a heavenly vision, and ahead, as on all sides, the sky remains grayish, whitish, gathering heat. So, without changing direction, they drove more than fiftyversts, before noon and after noon, - but the giant mountains in front of them were unprecedented, and nearby rounded hills approached:Camel; Bull; baldSnake; curlyIron…»

A. Solzhenitsyn. « August fourteenth», epic« Red wheel»

Therefore, to enjoy the panoramic view of the Caucasus Mountains, it is best to go to the panoramic viewpoints early in the morning before dark. Contemplation of beauty also heals, which is why landscape therapy (aesthetic therapy) always occupies an important place in the overall treatment package of any resort.

The rivers flowing through the territory of the Caucasus Mining Waters originate in the Rocky Range. These are the rivers - Kuma and Podkumok with tributaries Eshkakon, Alikonovka, Berezovka, Bolshoy Essentuchok, Bugunta, Yutsa and other smaller ones. They are shallow and do not provide the area with enough water. The region receives water for domestic, resort and economic needs from Kuban through a special water pipeline. The natural Lysogorsk lakes and Lake Karras are salty.

Medicinal mud is extracted from Lake Tambukan. Silt fine-textured mud contains organic and inorganic acids, gases, and has antiseptic properties. The healing mud of Lake Tambukan also goes to the balneological sanatoriums of Nalchik.

The main wealth of the area is mineral waters. In a relatively small area, about 130 mineral springs of 12 types of complex chemical composition have been identified. The total flow of mineral water reaches 12 million liters per day.

Conventionally, the Kislovodskoye, Essentukskoye, Pyatigorskoye, Zheleznovodskoye, Lysogorskoye, Kumagorskoye, Krasno-Vostochnoye and Nagutskoye fields are distinguished.

The origin, formation and properties of mineral waters are associated with the Pyatigorsk laccoliths and the high mountain regions of the North Caucasus, where groundwater is formed. Atmospheric precipitation that falls in the mountains penetrates into the rock strata to great depths, is mineralized, heated, saturated with gases (they are released when molten magma cools in the earth's crust) and comes to the surface through cracks in river valleys.

Along with mineral waters, the resort resources of the KMS make up the favorable climate of the central and southwestern parts of the region, used for climatotherapy. The climate of the KavMinVod region has long been highly valued by balneologists and has been successfully used as a healing factor. The main advantages of the local climate are associated with the large number of sunny days. It is relatively dry here; moist air masses from the Black Sea do not reach here - they are delayed by the Main Caucasus Ridge. The diversity of the relief creates a difference in the climate of the KMS resorts, and is formed under the influence of a number of factors: the difference in the altitude of cities, protection by mountains determines the characteristics of the microclimate. The foothill nature of the area and the proximity of the snowy peaks of the Main Caucasus Range on the one hand, and on the other, the proximity of arid steppes and semi-deserts of the Caspian coast determine the continental climate features of this region.

KMS resorts have wind conditions favorable for climatic treatment. There are frequent calms here, especially in the Kislovodsk basin in winter (the average annual wind speed in Kislovodsk is 2.4 m/sec).

The air temperature depends on the altitude of the place and the season of the year. The average January temperature in Pyatigorsk is −4.0°C, in Kislovodsk −3.9°. July temperatures are +22° and +19°, respectively.

The amount of precipitation decreases from the mountains to the plains: in Bermamyt - 724 mm, in Kislovodsk - 599 mm, in Pyatigorsk - 472 mm; the least number of them is in Essentuki. More than 85% of all precipitation falls in the form of rain (rain predominates over snowfall in winter). The snow cover is low and unstable, snow falls and melts quickly. In Kislovodsk, snow cover lies continuously for an average of 10 days. More than half of winters pass without any snow cover at all. The greatest cloudiness on the plains is observed in winter; in the mountains (Kislovodsk, Bermamyt, Narzanov Valley), on the contrary, the clearest winter months are. The best time of year for relaxation and travel in Kavminvody is late summer and autumn. It can be sunny, dry, rich in fruits and brightly colored landscapes.

As some of the most worthy and great Russian writers and poets would say: “Whoever did not breathe the Caucasian mountain air did not live...”.

In this article we will talk about Caucasian Mineral Waters. What is good about this resort in the Caucasus and what is unique about Min. waters

The Caucasus is not just mountains, gorgeous nature, springs, springs, eagles over the gorges, vipers on mountain roads between the placers of rhododendrons, the Caucasus is a special spirit, a special culture, this cannot be found anywhere else, harsh, wild, proud, very beautiful, in some places a virgin region.

Caucasian Mineral Waters is a group of resorts of federal significance in the Stavropol Territory, a specially protected ecological resort region of the Russian Federation.

South of the European part of Russia. The resort includes cities and territories:

“The Caucasian Mineral Waters agglomeration region, with an area of more than 500 thousand hectares (5.3 thousand sq. km), is located on the territory of three constituent entities of the Russian Federation within the boundaries of the mountain sanitary protection district:

in the Stavropol Territory - the cities and resort towns of Georgievsk, Mineralnye Vody (including the resort of Kumagorsk and the resort area of Naguta), Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk, Lermontov, Essentuki, Kislovodsk, as well as the actual districts of Georgievsky, Mineralovodsky and Predgorny, - 58% of the total area of the region;

in Kabardino-Balkaria - Zolsky district, - 9% (therapeutic mud of Lake Tambukan, Narzanov Valley and others);

in Karachay-Cherkessia - Malokarachaevsky and Prikubansky districts, - 33% of the territory (zone of formation of mineral springs)."

The location of the resort is, to put it mildly, gorgeous:

“The Caucasian Mineral Waters region occupies the southern part of the Stavropol Territory and is located on the northern slopes of the Main Caucasus Range, just a couple of tens of kilometers from Elbrus. The earth seems different here, the sky seems different to others.

From afar, motionless white clouds are visible, which, when approaching, turn out to be the snowy peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. The southern borders of the region are the foothills of Elbrus, the valley of the Khasaut and Malki rivers; in the west - the upper reaches of the Eshkakona and Podkumka rivers; The northern border of the region is the city of Mineralnye Vody, beyond which the steppe expanses of Ciscaucasia begin.”

Very close to the Stavropol Territory are the famous resorts of the Krasnodar Territory and Sochi:

“In the west and southwest, the Stavropol Territory borders on the Krasnodar Territory, in the northwest on the Rostov Region, in the north and northeast on Kalmykia, on the east on Dagestan, on the southeast on the Chechen Republic, on the south on North Ossetia. Alania, Karachay-Cherkess and Kabardino-Balkarian republics."

About the Caucasian Mineral Waters resorts in the video:

There are many sources of mineral waters in the Caucasian Mineral Waters, because the difficult region is named just that. The name of the main city, Essentuki, appears on bottles of medicinal water, known to everyone for a couple of decades.

And the water actually has medicinal properties, unlike the products that store shelves are filled with.

In addition, there are many springs, waterfalls, salt and mud springs in the region.

The resort has existed since the beginning of the 18th century; more precisely, the first mentions of it date back to this time. All efforts were directed towards developing the region, so in the 20th century the resort became the largest in Russia, and the most healing.

The most famous cities and resorts of Caucasian Mineral Waters:

Kumagorsk

Nagutsk

Zheleznovodsk

Pyatigorsk

Essentuki

Kislovodsk

Kislovodsk the highest mountain resort, it is located at an altitude of 817-1063 m above sea level, the lowest mountain point of Kislovodsk is 750 m above sea level, and the highest is 1409 m (on the Big Saddle in Kislovodsk Park).

“Kislovodsk is located in the south of the Stavropol Territory, practically on the border with Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria, 65 km from Mount Elbrus.

The city is located in a small and cozy picturesque valley, surrounded by the slopes of the Main Caucasus Range and formed by the gorges of two merging rivers - Olkhovka and Berezovka, flowing into the Podkumok River. The length of the valley from southeast to northwest is about 7 km.”

The weather is almost always good here:“The climate of the KavMinVod region has long been highly valued by balneologists and has been successfully used as a healing factor. The main advantages of the local climate are associated with the large number of sunny days - in Kislovodsk only 37-40 days a year are without sun.

It is relatively dry here; moist air masses from the Black Sea do not reach here - they are delayed by the Main Caucasus Ridge.”

« In terms of the number of sunny days, Kislovodsk is not inferior to the best resorts in the world. On average, per year the number of clear days in Kislovodsk is about 150, while in Pyatigorsk - 98, in Zheleznovodsk - 112, and in Essentuki - 117. The number of cloudy days is also small - on average 61 days per year.

The air in Kislovodsk is always clean, mostly dry and invigorating. Kislovodsk stands out among other KavMinVod resorts for its generally quiet weather, without strong winds, and low humidity in winter, which fluctuates during the day from 56 to 70%, which has a beneficial effect on the well-being of resort guests.”

In January it was 18 degrees Celsius, sub-zero temperatures reached 20 degrees, but much more often the temperature at this time of year here is around zero or “slight minus”. The hottest months are July, August; the temperature, depending on the location near or far from mountains and snowy gorges, ranges from 4-5 degrees Celsius to 37 degrees Celsius.

All resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters are primarily therapeutic, but Kislovodsk, Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk - especially. After Sochi, Kislovodsk is the second city in terms of the number of health resorts and sanatoriums.

A third of all medical and preventive institutions in the region are located here. In Kislovodsk there is a source of the famous acidic mineral water - Narzan.

Built on the site of a former fortress, the city is now replete with green spaces and orchards; in terms of population, it is a very small town: 130 thousand people.

Most health resorts in Kislovodsk have a medical profile for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, nervous diseases and respiratory diseases.

In addition to health resorts, mineral springs and other beauties of the city, one of the most striking attractions is the Resort Park, its area is 948 hectares, which is comparable to the huge city parks of Europe and the world.

“The park is located on both sides of the Olkhovka River and contains over 250 species of trees and shrubs, including cedar, fir, birch, pine, spruce, black walnut, Chinese paulownia, cork tree, etc. In the alpine part of the park, more than 800 species of herbaceous plants.

The park contains nurseries for ornamental plants and greenhouses. Over 80 varieties of abundantly blooming roses are planted on the “Rose Square” and in the “Valley of Roses”. Squirrels, trustingly taking food from people’s hands, and various species of birds have acclimatized in the park.

A natural monument is the Red Stones, which appear in several places in the park and are sandstones with a red-brown color and various forms of weathering.”

The park has a route for therapeutic walking - a health path. And in Kislovodsk itself there are several dozen large and popular sanatoriums.

Despite the fact that resorts and cities are located close to each other, the atmosphere in them can be completely different. So, in Zheleznovodsk there is a different air, a slightly different climate - compared to other resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters.

"Zheleznovodsk - the most dynamically developing resort of Kavminvod. In 2003, it was awarded the title “Best City in Russia” among small cities.

The climate here is mountainous and forest, similar to the climate of the Middle Alps. Long-term meteorological observations made it possible to classify it as mountain-forest, mid-mountain alpine, moderately dry.

The air is saturated with oxygen and forest phytoncides. Moderately hot summers with cool nights, a large number of sunny days with weak refreshing winds, winters are not cold.”

The population of Zheleznovodsk is only about 25 thousand people, but despite the small number of inhabitants, the city is truly a pearl not only among the resorts of the Stavropol Territory, but throughout Russia.

Yes, there are few residents, but many times more guests: for example, the health resorts (about two dozen sanatoriums) of Zheleznovodsk can accommodate up to 80 thousand tourists. The main areas of treatment are diseases of the digestive system, kidneys, and metabolic disorders.

Over 20 mineral water sources and several mud springs.

Pyatigorsk more, so to speak, “amazed by industrialization” than the small and remote cities of Stavropol in terms of the number of citizens. Pyatigorsk has about 145 thousand inhabitants, industry, trade, and science are well developed.

“Within the city limits there is Mount Mashuk (993.7 m, with a 112-meter television relay tower installed on it) and its spurs.

The climate in Pyatigorsk is characterized by mild winters and hot summers. Thanks to a large amount of water resources and a mild climate, the city has picturesque ponds, forest belts and parks.

The resort area, rich in underground mineral water sources, is relatively poor in surface water resources.

The tourist infrastructure of the resort city of Pyatigorsk includes:

More than 30 health resorts and sanatorium-resort institutions. Every year they are visited by over 200 thousand people per year (225-250 thousand people per year in 16 sanatoriums and 7 boarding houses - in the second half - the end of the 80s);

43 travel companies and organizations;

17 hotels;

The city and Pyatigorye have enormous tourism potential and have the right to compete with leading European resorts and balneological health resorts.”

Pyatigorsk has many museums, theaters, historical monuments, libraries, and beautiful places. There are parks and fountains in the city.

“The surrounding mountains are decorated with natural forests in which mighty oaks and snow-white birches, honey-bearing maples and lindens grow, and in the fall dogwoods, hawthorns, rose hips, barberries, and rowan trees turn red with berries.

The fauna is not so diverse due to the proximity of the city, but tourists are always delighted by squirrels, which can be found even in small public gardens in the very center of the city. Swans swim on the pond in Kirov Park in the summer.”

Essentuki.“The city is located at an altitude of 640 m above sea level, in the valley of the Podkumok River, at the confluence of the Bugunta River, 17 km from Pyatigorsk.

Distance to the regional center: 200 km.

Climate

The climate is continental, mountain-steppe. The average temperature in July is +27.4 °C.”

The population is about 105 thousand people, many health resorts, more than 20 mineral springs, the main direction of treatment is “diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and metabolism.”

Essentuki hosts festivals, cultural events, and there are many cultural institutions.

Caucasian Mineral Waters resorts have this name for a reason: the main attraction and main treasure of the region are the springs of mineral waters. And if someone was not here, then everyone drank mineral water.

In 2000, almost 500 thousand people rested and improved their health here.

The “Genius of the Place” program tells about the sights of the Caucasian Mineral Waters:

Caucasian Mineral Waters ranks first in popularity among Russians among Russian resorts:

“The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) analyzed the most popular destinations of domestic tourism in the summer of 2014, the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory (Sochi, Anapa, Gelendzhik, Tuapse) were in first place in the rating, Crimea was in second, on the third, fourth and fifth lines are Caucasian Mineral Waters, Golden Ring and Karelia respectively, Baikal took sixth position.”

Caucasian Mineral Waters is a unique natural resort located in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, in the Stavropol Territory. This place has always attracted and attracted vacationers with its beauty, unique historical places, and healthy climate. As in pre-revolutionary times, now the Caucasian Mineral Waters do not lose their highest significance.

After all, it is here that the most healing mineral springs flow, which is why this indescribably wondrous region is glorified. Everything is replete with many memorable historical places, and nature literally amazes the imagination with its pristine beauty!

Every year, more than 700 thousand people are treated and relax at the resorts of Caucasian Mineral Waters.

Kislovodsk is the main cardiological resort in Russia

The city owes its name to the appearance of mineral water - “Narzan” (from the Turkic “Narsan” - sour water). This miraculous water naturally emerged from the bowels of the earth in the city. As a result, a resort of the highest level quickly grew from Kislovodskaya station. Prominent doctors and doctors of Kislovodsk treated all possible range of diseases with the waters of Narzan, using all possible combinations of climate therapy, balneotherapy and modern medical techniques.

Currently, the main profile of Kislovodsk sanatoriums is cardiological. It is believed that Kislovodsk Narzan has a beneficial effect on the heart and vascular system, the climate of Kislovodsk is very favorable, and the altitude of 850 m above sea level is well tolerated by cardiac patients.

In addition to the famous healing resort park, wonderful health resorts, the Mirror Pond, the Narzan Gallery, there are also local attractions: Kislovodsk Fortress, Kislovodsk Kurzal, State Historical and Cultural Museum "Chaliapin's Dacha", Kislovodsk Memorial Museum-Estate of the artist N. A. Yaroshenko, Mount Ring - a natural monument and one of the objects of the State Museum-Reserve of M. Yu. Lermontov.

Pyatigorsk is a multi-profile resort in Russia

There are more than 40 springs in Pyatigorsk - almost all types of mineral waters. The successful combination of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, radon springs and mud from Lake Tambukan, a favorable climate and a wonderful natural landscape predetermined the fate of what is now the most versatile resort in Russia.

Pyatigorsk is located on the left bank of Podkumka, on the slopes of the Goryachaya and Mashuk mountains, at an altitude of about 520-620 m above the level of the Baltic Sea. The name of the city comes from Mount Beshtau, which means “five mountains”.

In addition to the variety of health resorts, offered medical procedures and healing methods, there are also local attractions. Everything around here is connected with the names of outstanding political and cultural figures of the country of the 18th - 20th centuries. Here you can see the place of M.Yu. Lermontov’s duel, visit an interesting natural phenomenon - Lake Proval, for the repair of which the main character of the novel “The Twelve Chairs” Ostap Bender collected money from unlucky visitors.

It will be interesting to walk along Goryachaya Mountain, try mineral water, and admire the panorama of the Pyatigorye mountains and the Central Caucasus mountains from the Eolian Harp gazebo. You can enjoy the panorama of the city of Pyatigorsk from Goryachaya Mountain.

Essentuki - famous healing springs

The unique salt-alkaline springs “Essentuki-4” and “Essentuki-17” are located here. You can enjoy the invigorating cold mineral water and learn many interesting facts about the history of the development of the resort. See with your own eyes the famous mud baths, the historical health resorts of the resort, walk through the shady park where the voices of M. Gorky, S. Rachmaninov and others once sounded.

Zheleznovodsk is a resort at the junction of two mountains

Zheleznovodsk is the smallest, northernmost and very, very green resort. Located in a natural valley between the Beshtau and Zheleznaya mountains. The resort became famous for its hot calcium springs, the water of which is actively used to treat gastrointestinal tract, liver and urological diseases. This is a very beautiful place: there is a stunningly picturesque park, the Pushkin Gallery, the palace of the Emir of Bukhara, the Ostrovsky baths, and pump rooms of the springs.

Nalchik is a resort of all-Union significance

As a resort area, with its wonderful mild climate and healthy mineral springs, Nalchik has been known since the second half of the 19th century. The local population already began to use thermal springs to treat all kinds of diseases. Guests of Nalchik at different times were outstanding representatives of Russian art - composer M.A., Balakirev, F.I. Shalyapin, A.S. Griboyedov, V.A., Gilyarovsky, A.A. Fadeev.

The water here contains hydrogen sulfide and small amounts of minerals. In addition to mineral waters, mud therapy is widely used in the Nalchik resort. The dirt is delivered from the bottom of Lake Tambukan, located right there on the border of the republic and the Stavropol Territory.

Balneological resort - Goryachy Klyuch

In Goryachiy Klyuch you can see many noteworthy attractions. For example, it will be fascinating to visit the beautiful Dante Gorge, where a bas-relief of the Renaissance poet is skillfully carved on a rock, view the surrounding area from the Cockerel rock, drink water from the stunning Iveron spring, to which legends attribute miraculous properties.

Hot Key is a unique natural place that combines the healing properties of both Essentuki mineral waters and hydrogen sulfide baths, similar to the Matsesta resort area in Sochi.

Mineral springs of Caucasian mineral waters

The main treasure at the Caucasian mineral water resorts is, of course, the magnificent mineral springs.

The Caucasus has a whole bunch of amazing mineral springs, there are about 300 of them. 14 water deposits are actively used: Kislovodskoye, Beshtaugorskoye, Pyatigorskoye, Zheleznovodskoye, Batalinskoye, Lysogorskoye, Zmeykinskoye, Nagutskoye, Kumagorskoye, Gergievskoye, Kalaborskoye, Kumskoye, Verkhnepodkumskoye.

The water in them varies in content: carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, radon, calcium-sodium, hydrocarbonate-sulfate. With its help, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, upper respiratory tract, genitourinary, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal systems, and skin diseases are treated. At resorts, water is used not only for drinking treatment, but also for bathing, showering, swimming in pools, rinsing, and inhaling.

However, before you start using it, you should definitely talk to a specialist. He will advise and tell you which source of water would be best to drink, explain the regimen, duration and rules of intake. There are also contraindications, so you need to be extremely careful in these subtle matters.

Mud therapy

Also, a significant healing method is very common in the Caucasian mineral waters - therapeutic mud. Their source is Lake Tambukan. Its reserves amount to 1.4 tons. The lake was first explored in 1910 by I.A. Orlov. Tambukan mud has a huge content of minerals that have a powerful antibacterial effect.

Climatic conditions

The local climate itself has a significant healing effect. In view of this, a whole direction in medicine was created - climate treatment. The territory of the Caucasian mineral waters is divided into two parts: southern and northern. The southern region includes the Kislovodsk region with a temperate continental climate. And Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk and Pyatigorsk belong to the northern part with a predominant steppe climate. The southern zone has the most favorable climatic conditions.

In Kislovodsk there are only 37 days a year without sun, there is almost no wind, and the air is very clean. Walking along special walking routes, you will deeply feel true harmony with nature, improve your mood, and improve your breathing!

Location

Caucasian mineral waters, a resort in the very citadel of the North Caucasus, on the Northern slopes of the Main Caucasus Ridge. Just 90 km from the famous Elbrus and almost the same distance between the Black and Caspian seas.

This area is also located at approximately the same latitude as the famous resorts of the French Riviera and the Italian Adriatic. The resorts of the Caucasian mineral waters unite small cozy cities such as: Kislovodsk, Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk and Pyatigorsk. In size they are very similar to European ones - Karlovy Vary and Baden Baden. All of them are located relatively close to each other, forming as a whole a single array.

How to get there

You can get to any of the cities either by plane, directly to the city of Mineralnye Vody, or by train. Half goes to Mineralnye Vody, part goes further, along the Kislovodsk-Minvody branch to Kislovodsk, bypassing Pyatigorsk.

Caucasian mineral waters have good transport links with almost all regions of Russia. From Moscow and other cities located at a great distance from the south, the most convenient way, of course, is to take an airplane.

The largest international class airport in the region, Mineralnye Vody, is connected by airlines to almost all corners of our vast homeland. Regular flights to Mineralnye Vody are operated by Kavminvodyavia and Aeroflot - Russian Airlines. From Moscow the flight time will be only 1 hour 50 minutes.

You can get to the city of Mineralnye Vody as follows. From the Mineralnye Vody airport to the city of Mineralnye Vody, to the railway station, there are minibuses No. 10, No. 11, travel time is 20-25 minutes. Having taken a minibus to the railway station, you can then take a commuter train to any of the cities of Caucasian Mineral Waters. There are 134 sanatoriums operating on the territory of the Caucasian Mineral Waters.

From the history of Caucasian mineral waters

The healing properties of mineral water have been known since time immemorial. Scientists have discovered ancient stone baths, carved out near Goryachaya Mountain in Pyatigorsk and next to a spring in Kislovodsk. There were many legends among the people associated with miraculous healing through the use of mineral water. In 1377, the famous traveler Ibn Battuta wrote about this fact.

However, the first work on studying the beneficial properties of mineral water and the opening of resorts was associated with the name of Peter I. It was he who sent his physician Schober to the Caucasus and later turned the resort into state property.