In Apsheronskiy District, striking gorges, rock formations and protected landscapes abound. The natural monument “Guamskoye ushchelye” is 3 km long and about 400 m deep. Its lower reaches are 15–30 m wide, while its upper reaches are 100–200 m wide; the walls are steep and vertical in places. Inside, the Kurdzhips rushes over rapids and small waterfalls. The amplitude within the gorge is 95 m.
Gorges, plants and train rides
The natural landscape of Guamskoye ushchelye also includes five state-protected plant species: tis yagodnyy, samshit kolkhidskiy, klekachka peristaya, klekachka kolkhidskaya and petrokoma Geffta. The landscape information thus ranges from the gorge’s dimensions to the named plant species.
A narrow-gauge railway runs along the left bank of the Kurdzhips in Guamskoye ushchelye. A ride through the gorge on a rail vehicle is offered daily. As departure times may change, check the current timetable before making plans.
Another natural monument with a narrow-gauge railway is “Volchi vorota.” The limestone ridge, divided by the Pshekha, is 50 m long and 60–70 m deep; its walls are steep and partly vertical. A railway runs through the monument between Chernigovskoye and Otdalennyy, with trains operating regularly. Memorials to people who died in the Great Patriotic War stand at both entrances. When planning, it is worth distinguishing this rail connection from the ride offered through Guamskoye ushchelye.
Rock formations, a lake and a waterfall
The rock formation “Skala Sobor” reaches 1,205 m above sea level at its summit. It extends for 1.3 km, is 150–200 m wide and has southern walls up to 300–350 m high. Different landscape features take center stage at “Samurskoye ozero”: this karst-tectonic lake lies on the Pastbishchnyy khrebet, on the watershed between the Kurdzhips and Belaya rivers, at 328 m above sea level.
The Universitetskiy Waterfall can also be described with specific measurements: it is 46 m high, and its watercourse is 4–6.5 m wide. The water flow varies with hydrological conditions. The places described thus differ not only in their forms, but also in whether the focus is a summit, a lake on a watershed or a waterfall.
Protected landscapes and access
The “Kamyshanova Polyana” protected area encompasses clearings, beech, fir-beech and aspen forests, waterfalls, vauclusian springs, the Mezmay River and its tributaries, and caves. The access road from Mezmay is a rough gravel road that requires an off-road vehicle. Road conditions and vehicle suitability may change, so check both before setting out.
The “Chernogorye” landscape reserve is a mountain massif in the Lagonakskoye nagorye system, between the Pshekha and Serebryachka rivers. The karst lake Cheshe is also located there. These differences offer practical guidance for planning your overnight stay: for a trip through Guamskoye ushchelye, take the railway service into account; for a visit to Kamyshanova Polyana, consider the access requirements. First decide which landscapes interest you, then choose your holiday rental with the necessary plans in mind.
Discover more destinations: Apsheronsk, Lesogorskaya, Otdalennyy, Kalinina, Vyselkovsky District, Otradnenskiy District, Krasnodar, Labinsky District.
Go to the broader travel overview: Krasnodar Krai.
