Cheget Mountain
Cheget Mountain is one of the most popular places in Kabardino-Balkaria. Here is located the center of alpine skiing. More than 200,000 tourists from different countries visit Cheget every year. Among them are intrepid fans of active sports, lovers of breathtaking landscapes, new impressions and real wonders of nature.
Video: Cheget Mountain
Contents- General information
- History of Cheget
- Climate and weather
- Plant life
- Animal life
What to do on Cheget Mountain - Sightseeing
- Where to eat
- Shopping
- Where to stay
- How to get there
General Information
Mount Cheget, with the peaks Azau-Gitche-Cheget-Kabashi (3461 m) and Donguz-Orunbashi (3769 m), is located in the Elbrus region and is part of the Main Caucasus Range. The height of the mountain elevation is 3,700 m above sea level.
.5 km north of Cheget is the highest mountain peak in Russia – the majestic Elbrus stratovolcano. It is probably the famous neighborhood that explains one of the versions of the origin of the full name of the mountain. Cheget means “located in the shade”. The second translation variant is “wooded slope.”
History of Chegeta
Unfortunately, there are travelers who ignore safety requirements, leading to their imminent death. One of the most recent tragic cases occurred at the north end of the mountain in 2017, when seven freeriders died as a result of skiing in a restricted area due to drifting snow. In 2021, a man died after triggering an avalanche.
.The snow cover at the top of Cheget Mountain does not disappear even in summer, while at the foot of the massif, as a rule, it is quite hot and windless. But at an altitude of 2500-3000 meters in summer there is often a mix of cold and heat. The mountains are covered with fresh green grass and flowers, which are covered with snow. It’s a mesmerizing sight!
.As for winter, the average temperature varies between -20…-6 0C. The snow remains longest in the lowland areas. Only in May does it begin to melt. It completely disappears in the first days of June. .Plant life
The flora of Elbrus is unique and incredibly diverse. First of all, we would like to note the endless alpine meadows, creating delightful natural views. Suddenly appearing thickets of raspberries, juniper, currants and mountain ash add a special charm to the landscape.
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Conifers grow in the lowlands. The hollows and gorges are famous for rare plants preserved from remote times. These are delicate pink Dinnik’s stonecrop, blue-purple Nefedov’s bellflower, Albanian prostrel, wolf berries and other species.
.In addition to the above ornamental plants, on Cheget there are groups with medicinal properties. These are fennel, rose hips, mint, celandine, sea buckthorn.
Animal life
The territory around the mountain is a real protected area with a lot of wild animals. On Cheget tourists can see marten, ibex, auroch, auroch, chamois, fox, lynx and badger.
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There are also birds in the mountains: mountain eagle, kite, clean-cut scavenger, white-headed vulture, as well as black vulture, which is included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
.At the Donguz-Orun River, which originates on the mountainside, you can try your luck and catch brook trout. At altitude, travelers will find a special miracle – hovering moths brought by the wind from the endless alpine meadows.
.What to do on Cheget Mountain
Of course, mainly Cheget Mountain is a place of attraction for all skiing fans who come here from November to March. A large number of tracks are laid here, some of which are not even marked on maps. The number of official roads is 15.
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A favorable moment to visit the site is early morning, preferably no later than 11.00. Later the sky is filled with clouds that interfere with the view. For a comfortable stay at the site, which is open to cold winds, you should bring warm clothes.
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Sights
Visiting Cheget, it is impossible to leave out the amazing corners of nature hidden in the mountains.
.Blue Lakes
Upper Eastern and Western, Secret (Lower), Tserik-Kel and Dry – five karst reservoirs and a real mystery of nature. Blue lakes were formed in the hollows of the Earth’s crust. They change color depending on climatic conditions and time of year.
.For many years in a row, the lakes attract a huge number of tourists. Was here and the famous explorer Jacques Yves Cousteau. The age of the reservoirs remains a mystery, and their origin is covered with legends.
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According to one legend, Lake Tserik-Kel appeared after the ancient monster – dragon was defeated. The mighty serpent was defeated by the fearless warrior Bataraz. Having fallen, the dragon formed a cavity, which soon filled with the tears of the monstrous beast and turned into a lake. To this day, the flying monster lies at the bottom of the body of water.
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Chegemskie Falls
The group of the Main, two Big and one Small Chegem waterfalls is a unique natural phenomenon that keeps its secrets.
.According to one of the stories, a brave knight once lived here. And one day he decided to test the power of his horse. With a blow of his hoof, the horse punched a hole in the ground, from where water immediately poured out. And then the knight exclaimed: “Chegem!”
.Unofficially, the Chegem waterfalls are called Weeping. And all – because of the existence of a rather sad legend. It is said that in one of the villages high up in the mountains lived magnificent beauties. Their black braids were amazingly thick, blue eyes penetrated into the heart, and the tenderness of the blush on their cheeks conquered at first sight.
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But one day disaster struck – the village was attacked by enemies to steal the girls and make them their slaves. Too shameful seemed to the beauties their future fate. They did not want to be slaves, so they ran to the rocks and threw themselves down. Their luxurious hair got caught on the ledges and turned into streams of water of the Chegem waterfalls.
Narzan Valley
Along the Khasaut River stretches an area surrounded by mountain ranges. This is the Valley of Narzans, which has about 20 mineral springs. The water in them is healing, rich in various elements beneficial to the human body. Of course, there is also a beautiful and life-affirming legend associated with this place.
.Many centuries ago there was a terrible monster in the mountains, which was impossible to defeat. From time to time there was a daredevil who decided to enter into battle with a terrible beast, but each battle ended in defeat of people.
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And one day a poor young man named Nart, which means “rich man”, appeared to the monster. The opponents fought for a long time, but the beast got the upper hand and chained Nart to a rock. Terrible torments awaited the hero. The frost mercilessly pinched his skin, the sun burned him with fire, and his liver was eaten by a regularly flying eagle.
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The captive’s liver quickly overgrew, and so the suffering continued indefinitely. The beast took great pleasure in this torment. It flew to Nart every spring and reveled in the joy of seeing the fruits of its atrocities.
To “prick” the captive more painfully, the monster spoke of living mountaineers, grazing herds and green grass in the valleys, reminding him that Nart would never again see what he loved so much. Feeling helpless, the young man was unable to hold back his tears.
Semerka Glacier
Talking about the glacier, locals are sure to recall the events that took place here during the Great Patriotic War. To please Hitler, a group of Nazis of the special division “Edelweiss” decided to blow up the glacier. In doing so, it was supposed to change the seven to the Reich’s highest symbol, the swastika.
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Fortunately, the German army’s plans failed. They were thwarted by Soviet soldiers who chased away the hated enemy.
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Glacial Lake
Lake Donguz-Orun-Kel is a natural body of water located at an altitude of 2,515 meters. It is fed by the Medvezhy and Donguzorun streams, as well as mineral streams from glaciers.
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Due to the diverse composition of lake water, the reservoir changes its color depending on the season and location. In the fall the lake is steel, in the summer – azure. Along its shores runs rock, giving the water a red-green color. The edges are swampy and viscous, and therefore it is very dangerous to approach directly to the reservoir!
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Where to eat
Between the first and second lines is one of the most popular snack bars of Cheget Mountain. This is the “Pirozhkova”, where visitors can warm themselves with tea on fir cones, taste a veal roll, oyster mushroom cream-soup and, of course, pies with various fillings: meat, berries, mushrooms, potatoes, cheese. Prices in the canteen start from 76 rubles.
.At an altitude of 2700 meters is the most famous cafe Cheget – “Ai”, which means “moon” in Russian. The round institution with panoramic windows attracts not only aromatic coffee, tea with sea buckthorn and hot dishes. Tourists are interested in the history associated with this place.
.The fact is that it was in this cafe that the picture “Breakfast overlooking Elbrus” was filmed. Also in the diner came Vladimir Vysotsky, when he starred in the movie “Height”. The interior of the cafe is decorated in the style of the 60s of the XX century. The walls are decorated with memorable photographs. Prices for dishes start from 100 rubles.
.Fans of night rest will be able to visit several establishments of Cheget Mountain. These are the Deep Purple cafe and the bar “Captain Pit”.
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Shopping
Local markets are counted among the peculiar attractions of Prielbrusie. Here tourists will be able to buy:
- mountain honey;
- spices, mixtures, seasonings for shashlik, soup and other dishes;
- Caucasian adzhika;
- handmade items – papakhi, wool mittens, sweaters; .
- jam from thuja, sea buckthorn, walnuts and pine cones;
- souvenirs;
- all sorts of herbal brews.
Where to stay
In the area of Mount Cheget there is a large number of accommodation, both budget and premium. Only on the “Cheget Glade” there are 15 hotels, which, in addition to the standard package of services, offer to use swimming pools, billiard rooms, baths, tennis halls. At the same time, tourists staying in those hotels feel the inexpressible atmosphere of the mountains.
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Also travelers can stay at the foot of Cheget, renting a room in a guest house, hotel or at a campground. For those who dream of recovery, there are sanatoriums with mineral water.
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