Moonstone Lazarevskoe. Svir Gorge
Good afternoon friends!
If you are vacationing in Lazarevskoye or somewhere nearby, then the Svir Gorge will be the best option for a nature walk among the forest, waterfalls and other natural beauties of the Caucasus. Moreover, all this splendor is located almost within the city limits!
The Svir Gorge in Lazarevskoye, as well as Mamedovo Gorge or - these are the places that any tourist should visit who is vacationing in the vicinity of Lazarevskoye and does not want to devote his entire vacation just to warming his belly under the gentle sun of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.
For me, as an ardent admirer of outdoor recreation and a lover of waterfalls, a walk along the Svirsky Gorge was a must! So I got up early and headed there. But first things first…
Svir Gorge, how to get there?
It's actually very simple! In Lazarevskoye there is Svirskaya Street, which runs from the beach itself and deep into the village. So, you need to get to this street, and then drive along it (or walk 800 meters) to the very end. Where the street ends is where the entrance to the Svir Gorge actually begins. You can easily find your way around using numerous signs.
Entrance fee for adults is 100 rubles. However, there are no fences or gates here. So if you arrive early before the ticket office opens, you can save money. I won’t say exactly what time the cash register opens. I arrived at 6:45 and calmly walked in for free.
Closed ticket office at the entrance to the Svir Gorge:
The route along the Svirsky Gorge is not extreme, but still not suitable for everyone. Its length is about 4.5 kilometers - this is if you go straight all the time to the end of the route to the Adam and Eve waterfall. However, if you examine all the beauties of the gorge, you can add another 500 meters. These are, of course, little things, but pensioners and tourists with small children should think about whether they should go to the very end. Moreover, in some places the trail will go quite steeply uphill. By the way, don't forget to bring comfortable shoes!
The beginning of the trail looks like an easy walk:
Albeit with very beautiful views:
After walking only 400 meters, you come out into a clearing for rest. Here you can sit, relax, and also fry a shish kebab with cognac. For all this, there are recreation areas with benches and tables. The main thing is not to leave trash behind!
Here in the clearing you can see a sign for the further route:
To the right of the main route is the Svirsky waterfall. In my opinion, this is the most stunningly beautiful waterfall among all in the vicinity of Lazarevsky!
The road to the waterfall passes along a bridge across a narrow gorge:
The photo cannot convey all the splendor of nature that surrounds you in this place! This must be seen and felt!
The waterfall is located in a narrow gorge in an atmosphere of twilight. Unfortunately, the photo turned out not so exciting:
You can swim in the cool water, which is great in the heat!
Having enjoyed the beauty of the Svirsky waterfall, I returned to the main trail.
To get to the waterfall, you need to turn off the main path again. In order not to go astray, follow the red marks on the stones and trees, especially since the road to the waterfall in some places passes through the following thickets:
The waterfall itself is certainly not as impressive as Svirsky, but it’s still beautiful!
We return to the main path and the next interesting thing on our way is the “Glory” dolmen:
The plaque contains detailed information about dolmens:
Beauty all around!
Almost at the finish of the route, the trail bifurcates again. On the left is the so-called “Moonstone”:
This is a stone structure about five meters high, which was erected several centuries ago. Who did it and for what purposes, historians know practically nothing.
If you go to the right, you will reach the end of the route. A few more tens of meters through large boulders...
And here it is, a small, but in its own way very beautiful waterfall “Adam and Eve”:
Against the backdrop of the waterfall, I made a short video where I told about the entire route of the Svir Gorge:
On the way back I came across these cute boletus mushrooms:
Here in the Urals in mid-June this is rare. And in the Caucasus it’s already mushroom season!
In conclusion, I would like to advise everyone to visit the Svir Gorge, like me, early in the morning. And the point here is not even about saving 100 rubles. It’s just that at this time you can really fully enjoy the beauty of nature without extraneous tourists, who become more and more numerous here after ten o’clock.
That's all I have for today. See you!
Not far from Sochi there is a stunningly beautiful gorge, which is ideal for those who adore nature and love hiking.
The miraculous landmark is incredibly popular among tourists, because here you can not only enjoy the amazing landscapes, but also touch history.
How to get there, where it is:
How to get to this natural masterpiece? A magical place, whose wonderful views make you forget about everything, will help a person restore energy and give positive emotions.
Where is the Svir Gorge, which is considered the most beautiful pearl of the Sochi National Park?
It is located on the outskirts of the Lazarevsky district, higher up the Svirsky stream. Getting there on your own will not be a problem - signs will point you in the right direction. Vacationers in the village of Lazarevskoye walk along Pobedy Street towards Tuapse, cross the small Svirka River, turn right, and then follow the information signs installed specifically for tourists.
You can get to the Minutka cafe by city buses, from there turn onto Svirskaya Street and walk along the stream for no more than 800 meters.
As experienced travelers say, there is only one road leading into the canyon, so it is simply impossible to get lost.
The cost of visiting this unique creation of nature is one hundred rubles. At the checkout you can also purchase a map on which the route for hikers heading to the Svir Gorge is marked.
There is a special parking lot for motorists, the distance from which to the valley is no more than 500 meters.
Waterfall "Svirsky"
So, from the green meadow, intended for relaxation and equipped with places for preparing barbecue, tourists set off along the path leading to the Svir Gorge, where everyone is greeted by a majestic waterfall about seven meters high. This wonderful place will give you many pleasant moments, and no one wants to leave here quickly.
The water temperature in the lake does not exceed 14 degrees, but there are no fewer people wanting to swim in the natural bowl. Tourists feel a real surge of strength and are charged with energy that they lack.
The purest water washes away all of a person’s fears and sins, which is why local residents have long considered the Svir Gorge (Lazarevskoye) a sacred corner with a special atmosphere.
After viewing the waterfall, those who wish can take a walk along the canyon of the Svirka River and admire the picturesque rocky rapids.
Moon rock .jpg)
Charging with positive emotions, the Svir Gorge (Lazarevskoye) is famous for its unique artifact, about which scientists know little. Here is a mysterious moonstone of a peculiar shape, about five meters high - a structure erected several centuries ago and is under state protection.
Ancient legends say that on a full moon, a huge block gains strength, and if you touch it, the stone will fulfill your most cherished desire.
Dolmen "Glory"
All history buffs who find themselves in the Svir Gorge will be attracted by the unique “Glory” dolmen, which belongs to the structures of the prehistoric era. It is a trough-shaped structure covered with earth. If you touch the rough walls of a dolmen, you can feel the convex signs carved by distant ancestors.
The roof of the structure cracked in half over time, and a tree grew in the very center of the ancient slab. Residents call the stone monolith a place of power, and tourists touch a unique object, the true purpose of which is still unknown.
It is believed that dolmens served as tombs for primitive people, from where the souls of the dead began their journey to another life. Perhaps these are structures through which communication with space was carried out, but so far none of the versions has been confirmed.
"Adam and Eve"
The natural masterpiece, whose total length is three kilometers, ends in a secluded place crowned with the Adam and Eve waterfall. This is a corner hidden from prying eyes, where you can feel like the only people on Earth.
Not a single guest of the Krasnodar region remains disappointed with a trip to the Svir Gorge. Reviews from tourists are full of positive emotions, and one of the easiest routes in the village of Lazarevskoye is deservedly popular.
The gorge is almost everywhere equipped with strong bridges and stairs with railings, which greatly facilitate movement around the local attraction. Tourists note the care taken for the guests, because there are not many interesting corners equipped with special places to relax, where you can have a snack, take a breath and enjoy the amazing views of the nature of the Caucasus.
Travelers who have already visited the canyon recommend stocking up on comfortable sports shoes and swimwear, which will definitely come in handy. The Svir Gorge is a stunning place that delights with its unusual beauty and special atmosphere. An attraction charging with positive emotions, created by nature and not by human hands, awaits tourists who will never be able to forget the delights they saw. .jpg)
TRIP TO THE SVIR GORGE
WHAT IS THE SVIR GORGE?
At the very beginning of the gorge there are several information signs stating that you cannot collect Red Book plants, that this place can only be visited in sports shoes, and that pigging in nature is not good. 300 meters from the entrance there is a picnic area with benches. When a tourist finds himself in this clearing, he feels like an epic hero, because there are two roads in front of him. Left and right. Which option is better? So, where will you go, left or right?
RIGHT
Great choice. If you go to the right from the clearing, you can get to the most interesting place in the gorge - the Svirsky waterfall. It’s not far to go and there’s nothing else in this direction
SVIRSKY WATERFALL
A small seven-meter waterfall, for example, is of the same height in the Prokhladny canyon, and the Sochi Polikarya, 10 times higher, carries its waters to a lake with blue water. In summer, the natural bowl warms up to a maximum of 14 degrees, but there are still plenty of people wanting to swim here. Many residents of Lazarevskoye consider this particular waterfall to be special. There is something calming about this place.
LEFT
The choice of brave people. The fact is that you have to walk about 3 km to get to really interesting places, sometimes through streams and not very convenient passages. This is where our sports shoes come in handy. But a real hero will go, because this is where you can see those very Mother-in-Law’s Tears. In addition to Tears, the river Adam and Eve live here, as well as the Moon Stone and the Slava dolmen.
MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TEARS .jpg)
According to statistics, married men reach this place 27% faster than unmarried men. Mother-in-law's tears are a fairly high waterfall of an unusual shape. It flows into a small lake, where you can also swim. It is “Mother-in-Law’s Tears” that will be the first to meet us on the way
ADAM AND EVE
If the Svir Gorge begins with Mother-in-Law's Tears, it will end with the Adam and Eve waterfall. It is called that because few people reach it, and those who reach it can feel like the last (as well as the first) people on earth, because there is no one around.
MOON ROCK
Somewhere between the two waterfalls there is a pointed five-meter stone. It is only known that it has been here for at least several centuries, but scientists have studied little of it. The stone is protected by the state.
DOLMEN GLORY
The structure of the prehistoric era is similar in shape to a trough, with a hole. There are either writings or just some signs engraved on the dolmen. Scientists have not established the purpose of the dolmen, but there are assumptions that it either has a religious purpose or is an ancient tomb. Scientists could not prove any of the assumptions. Time has not been kind to the dolmen and its top slab has cracked and now a tree is growing through it. Now let's check if you answered the question correctly whether it is better to go left or right. The correct answer is: first in one direction, and then in the other. But keep in mind that if you go left first, you’ll hardly want to go anywhere later
The Svir Gorge is a magnificent canyon within the Sochi National Park, a real pearl of southern Russia. There are several waterfalls and dolmens in the canyon, and the nature here is very good. The Svir Gorge is quite large and a walk along it does not last half an hour or an hour. The gorge is located near the village of Lazarevskoye.
Where is that place?
In Sochi, near the village of Lazarevskoye.
How to get to the Svir Gorge?
If you are not in Lazarevskoye, then first of all get to the village. If you are far from it (for example, in the center of Sochi), then it is faster to get there by train. If you are nearby, it is better to use public transport. From the western outskirts of the village you need to climb up the Svirsky stream. Further signs will show you the way - it is impossible to get lost.
You need to walk along Pobeda Street towards Tuapse, cross the Svirka River and turn right. The road will go along the Svirsky stream, and the right path will be indicated by signs - it is impossible to get lost.
Also, if you travel on your own, you can take a bus to the Minutka cafe and walk along Svirskaya Street for about 800 meters. With such a route it is impossible to get lost - there are simply no turns or other roads
If you want to get there by car, there is a parking lot near the gorge.
Svirsoke Gorge on the map
Is there a fee to enter the gorge?
Yes. 100 rubles per person. The ticket office also sells maps with hiking routes.
What is the Svir Gorge like?
At the very beginning of the gorge there are several information signs stating that you cannot collect Red Book plants, that this place can only be visited in sports shoes, and that pigging in nature is not good.
300 meters from the entrance there is a picnic area with benches. When a tourist finds himself in this clearing, he feels like an epic hero, because there are two roads in front of him. Left and right. Which option is better? So, where will you go, left or right?
Right
Great choice. If you go to the right from the clearing, you can get to the most interesting place in the gorge - the Svirsky waterfall. It’s not far to go and there’s nothing else in this direction
Svirsky waterfall
A small seven-meter waterfall, for example, is of the same height as the waterfalls in the canyon, and the Sochi one, 10 times higher, carries its waters to a lake with blue water. In summer, the natural bowl warms up to a maximum of 14 degrees, but there are still plenty of people wanting to swim here.
Many residents of Lazarevskoye consider this particular waterfall to be special. There is something calming about this place.
Left
The choice of brave people. The fact is that you have to walk about 3 km to get to really interesting places, sometimes through streams and not very convenient passages. This is where our sports shoes come in handy. But a real hero will go, because this is where you can see those very Mother-in-Law’s Tears. In addition to Tears, the river Adam and Eve live here, as well as the Moon Stone and the Slava dolmen.
Mother-in-law's tears
According to statistics, married men reach this place 27% faster than unmarried men. Mother-in-law's tears are a fairly high waterfall of an unusual shape. It flows into a small lake, where you can also swim.
It is “Mother-in-Law’s Tears” that will be the first to meet us on the way
Adam and Eve
If the Svir Gorge begins with Mother-in-Law's Tears, it will end with the Adam and Eve waterfall. It is called that because few people reach it, and those who reach it can feel like the last (as well as the first) people on earth, because there is no one around.
Moon rock
Somewhere between the two waterfalls there is a pointed five-meter stone. It is only known that it has been here for at least several centuries, but scientists have studied little of it. The stone is protected by the state.
Dolmen Glory
The structure of the prehistoric era is similar in shape to a trough, with a hole. There are either writings or just some signs engraved on the dolmen. Scientists have not established the purpose of the dolmen, but there are assumptions that it either has a religious purpose or is an ancient tomb. Scientists could not prove any of the assumptions.
Time has not been kind to the dolmen and its top slab has cracked and now a tree is growing through it.
Now let's check if you answered the question correctly whether it is better to go left or right. The correct answer is: first in one direction, and then in the other. But keep in mind that if you go left first, you’ll hardly want to go anywhere later
Hello, dear reader!
I continue the story on the topic. Next up is a story about the Svir Gorge. The funny thing was that it was literally “under our noses”, and we had not heard anything about it. We took a boat ride along the coast. The wife was making small talk with a fellow traveler and found out that you can walk to a beautiful gorge with waterfalls. The woman expressed her delight at what she saw very emotionally and, of course, “infected” us. We decided that we will go tomorrow!
Svir Gorge
The preparations were short-lived. Having received a couple of instructions, we realized that since we were going to the mountains, we needed appropriate shoes. You understand, we didn’t prepare much, we put on the strongest “shoes” that were available. Swimming suits, photo and video equipment were also taken.
Finding the road to the gorge in Lazarevskoye is not difficult at all. Ask for the Minutka cafe on Pobeda Street. It is behind this building that the path to the gorge begins. 15-20 minutes and we approached the entrance. The cost of visiting is only 100 rubles per person.
Immediately after the entrance there is the first dolmen (stone table). I won’t describe in detail what it is. In a nutshell, these are very ancient funeral and religious structures made of stone.
Since there are no particular dangers along the route, the entire excursion is self-guided and consists of five attractions:
- Svirsky waterfall
- Waterfall "Mother-in-Law's Tears"
- Dolmen
- Waterfall "Adam and Eve"
- Moon rock
There is a route map and signs.
We decided not to go high, and to be honest, we were advised to look at the first two places with waterfalls. Above there is another dolmen and some kind of “moon stone”, which is 4 km uphill.
We walked along picturesque paths and bridges to the first fork, where there are wooden gazebos for travelers. A short smoke break with a photo shoot, and some 300-400 meters remain until the first waterfall.
Svirsky waterfall
We walk this distance almost exclusively along bridges that are attached to the walls of a gradually narrowing small gorge.
The dense crowns of trees growing above hide the sunlight and add mystery to this place. The closer we get to the waterfall, the higher the gorge becomes.
The colors are, of course, unusual, I would say, even gloomy. The walls are covered with moss, the poisonous greenery from the hanging vines and the grayness of the stones give the place a fabulous feel. It reminded me of the entrance to the land of trolls, or something like that.
The crowning achievement of the path to the Svirsky waterfall was an almost closed cave, where a stream flows through a stone chute carved by water. Of course, you can’t call it a waterfall, but still.
The temperature here is much lower, the coolness and dampness are refreshing after the scorching sun. A few pictures inside the cave, we rinsed our hands and washed ourselves. Once again we carefully examined everything around us, remembering and storing in our memory what we saw with greedy delight.
We return back along the same fabulous bridges of the Svirsky waterfall to the fork.
Waterfall "Mother-in-Law's Tears"
To get to this place it was necessary to walk uphill along a stone path, and sometimes along the flat open terrain of the gorge. This path was about 2 km.
Before the last climb, we once again cross the Svirka River, it often crosses the trail. A short stop with a smoke break.
Having overcome the last climb, we find ourselves in the forest, where the “Mother-in-Law’s Tears” waterfall is located. In fact, it looks like a large ravine overgrown with trees, and at the very bottom there is a river among stones.
The rather steep descent makes it a certain difficulty, but together we can do everything!
The most unusual and beautiful is the stone bowl into which “Mother-in-Law’s Tears” flow. Here you can swim and take pictures, or just enjoy the beautiful view.
The water is cool and invigorating. No wonder, it’s a mountain stream.
The way back was much easier. Firstly, we are going downhill, and secondly, we received such vivid and unforgettable impressions.
Waterfalls of the Svir Gorge in Lazarevskoye
The picturesque gorges of the Sochi National Park near the village. Lazarevsky are accessible and suitable for short walks. Unfortunately, during the summer months many riverbeds dry up and it is difficult to find a good waterfall for swimming.
But the stone labyrinths, carved by streams of water in layered rocks under the canopy of a beech forest, do not leave guests of the seaside village indifferent.
The Svir Gorge contains rocky landscapes, historical monuments, and natural mysteries. There is a waterfall, the bowl of which is suitable for swimming even in summer.
Geographical location and history
The Svirka River begins on the slopes of Mount Boz-Tepe, where it collects water from two large tributaries, runs for about 6 km along a fairly flat bed, and crosses the village. Lazarevskoe and flows into the Black Sea in a narrow ribbon. Local residents claim that you can catch fish at the mouth, and freshwater crabs are found in the middle reaches. The Svirka riverbed in the upper reaches is composed of sandstones and petrified clays, where powerful waterfalls form in winter and spring.
In the summer of 1991, part of the village of Lazarevskoye was washed away by a flood caused by a strong overflow of the river. Psezuapse and Svirki. A beautiful and peaceful river instantly turned Svirskaya Street into a dirty stream. This is explained by the structure of narrow mountain gorges, where the water quickly rises and gains speed.
In peacetime, in places you can sail along the Svirka riverbed in a light boat, and walk through the picturesque canyons without getting your clothes wet. Since the 90s, an excursion route with a total length of about 7 km has been equipped here.
Attractions
Svirsky waterfall is a narrow stream of water falling almost vertically from a height of 7 meters. The wall, composed of layered rock, crumpled into folds, closes the 170-meter canyon through which tourists reach the waterfall. The view of the overhanging rocks, the narrow strip of sky between the high canyon walls and the shaded blue-green bowl is stunning. You can clearly see how the river cuts a bed in the soft rocks. In a few centuries, the waterfall will disappear or move upstream. The water does not warm up above 14 degrees, but swimming in it leaves a pleasant impression.
The Mother-in-Law's Tears and Adam and Eve waterfalls are located higher on the river bed and are smaller in size. The first is so nicknamed for its meager flow, but the width of the bed indicates a more picturesque waterfall that can be observed in winter. Unfortunately, traveling through the Svirki Canyon in winter without risk is impossible. The second waterfall, “Adam and Eve,” is the last point of the route, 3.5 km from the start. It is a cascade of two small waterfalls of different heights, which apparently served as the excursion name for the object.
Waterfall "Mother-in-Law's Tears"
The “Glory” dolmen fits organically into the landscape of a light beech forest, decorated with outcrops of solid sandstone. The structure was carved entirely from stone, with a separate roof attached. Due to time or human impact, the slab split in half and a beech tree grew through it. The inner chamber is half filled with soil. The trough-shaped dolmens are considered “younger” in age, only about 2000 BC. On the surface of “Glory” you can see cup-shaped designs. Petroglyphs on dolmens are characteristic of this area. Higher on the mountain, in the Chernomorka tract, there are several more dilapidated tombs with interesting ornaments and images.
The names of dolmens are usually given by their fans - “Anastasievites”. People sensitive to “energies” claim that the Slava dolmen has the power to develop creative abilities.
Moonstone is a free-standing sandstone block 5 meters high. What makes it unusual is its sharp edges (usually natural boulders become rounded from time to time) and the shape of a high “throne”. Assuming that the stone bears traces of ancient processing, scientists put it under protection as an ancient monument. Photographers nicknamed it “Moonlight”, claiming that a man in light clothes, photographed against the background of a stone, is surrounded by a thin halo of light.
The wildlife of the gorge is represented by a significant number of frogs, fish fry, legless lizards that look like small snakes, and families of raccoons that occasionally appear. The animals are accustomed to people and take food by coming quite close. They love to pose. Vegetation is typical for damp gorges: mosses, ivy. A monument of ancient eras, the fern reaches a height of 1 m and covers sunny lawns.
Svir Gorge - how to get there on your own
If you are coming from Sochi or Tuapse, then first you need to get to the village of Lazarevskoye. Next, take city bus No. 69 or No. 70 to the stop - the Minutka cafe. From here on foot or by car along the street. Svirskaya move towards the mountains 1 km. to the ticket office at the beginning of the route. There are signs, signs on the trail, descriptions of protected plants and monuments. The route is equipped with wooden bridges, which are periodically washed away by the spring river and restored again by the National Park workers.
