Rufabgo Falls. Adygea rivers, gorges and waterfalls.

Near the village of Kamennomostsky are Rufabgo waterfalls. We visited them in June.

They are a natural monument of republican significance.

They are named for the stream on which they are located. The stream stretches along the ridge Azish-Tau, is the left tributary of the Belaya River.

View of the White River from the bridge upstream

Up to the fifth waterfall, the Maiden Spit runs an equipped route. It starts at the bridge over White. Access to the bridge is paid. At the entrance - cash.

View of the White River from the bridge downstream

The first waterfall Three Brothers is visible from the bridge.

View of the White River from the bridge. Waterfalls on the right are Three Brothers

Three water streams parallel to each other of the Bolshaya Rufabgo creek fall from a small cliff into the Belaya River.

Rufabgo Falls. Three brothers

The second waterfall is 250 meters from the bridge. Called Noise, which reflects his character.

Waterfall Noise

Down to it leads a metal staircase.

Staircase to the Noise Falls

The height of the waterfall is 6 meters, under it is a bowl. Probably at other times there is a lot of bathing here. But after the rain the water is cloudy, there were no people willing to climb into it.

I'm at the Noise Falls

Excursion equipped route less than 1.5 kilometers one way. To walk this distance through the gorge is not so easy, especially after rain. Along the way - many obstacles in the form of puddles, roots on the road, slippery natural stone stairs and narrow passages, in which visitors crowd.

Rufabgo creek is quiet. With a profile of a lion on a stone 🙂

in some places it turns into turbulent streams of turbid water.

Rufabgo Creek is stormy

They also saw a large stone frog sitting near a burdock glade.

Stone frog

We walked along the bridges over the stream.

Through the glade, covered with root carpets.

Along the stone walls, as if made of bricks.

Along the stream along the paved path.

Cascade Falls

That gorge is amazing. Giant stones, narrow passages between them.

Steep stony trails ...

Legend of the Heart of Rufabgo

Reached the falls Heart of Rufabgo. From the bridge - 1,270 meters.

A stream of water bends around a huge stone block, resembling the outline of a heart. About the stone folded legend.

Waterfall Heart of Rufabgo

Once upon a time in these parts people lived happily. But in the deep gorge the evil giant Rufabgo settled and began to oppress the inhabitants of the village. Picked up half the crop and offspring from livestock and poultry. Then he became impudent, he demanded local girls to become slaves.

The men decided to kill the giant. But he was immortal. Even if his heart was pierced with an arrow, he did not die.

The young men went to the wise man who lives on Mount Fisht. He said: "You can kill a giant only by blinding him and tearing out his heart." And he gave a miraculous powder that should be thrown into the eyes of the villain.

A brave hunter named Khadzhokh went to battle with the giant. Trapped and threw a handful of powder in Rufabgo’s face. Then he cut his chest, tore out his heart and threw it into the gorge. A warm heart hissed, but the water of the stream quickly cooled it and it turned to stone.

Go past the kissing stones.

True, it seems that the stones kiss?

Again, up the stone steps.

At the top of the stairs is the petrified face of a giant, see?

Closes the excursion-equipped route waterfall Girl's Spit (Lace).

To him from the bridge over the White River - 1 420 meters.

Rufabgo Falls. Girlish braid. He - Lace

This waterfall is high, about 15 meters.

Beneath it is a huge bowl of water, like a small lake.

Our children at Rufabgo Falls Maiden Spit

We came after a heavy rain. The water was brown and muddy.

Impressions of Rufabgo Falls

After the trekking trail ends, a wild trail is further trodden on. The fact is that there are several waterfalls and rapids on the stream, including the large ones - Sukhoi (20 meters high) and Grandiose (15 meters). But the path already at the very beginning is so steep and slippery that after the rain we and the children did not dare to climb it.

The route left a double impression. On the one hand, nature is always beautiful, and we are great lovers. On the other hand, one should not walk here after the rains. Yet much nicer to admire the clear water than the muddy muddy streams.

I did not like the fact that in many places after the rain the stones are incredibly slippery and not that there is no railing - even any wire or rope to hold onto is missing. Taking into account the fact that there are a lot of people, it takes time to let everyone pass, and to have time to slip through all this dirt, rocks and slippery places ...

There is no longer just pleasure from a walk, but simply the constant forcing of obstacles. We passed quite easily, although sometimes the husband gave a hand to the children so that they would not fall on slippery stones. And it was a pity to look at elderly people and parents with small children.

Travel TipsBe sure to wear comfortable athletic shoes. Desirable sneakers. Watch out for the kids! In dangerous places, hold your hand. Do not let go to the edge of the cliffs.

How to find waterfalls Rufabgo.Located south of the village. If you go in the direction of Dakhovskaya, the waterfalls will be right along the road to the right, a couple of kilometers from the village. Keep in mind, parking is small. If you arrive not early in the morning, you will have to leave the car on the side of a narrow road.

Coordinates: N 44 ° 15’39.1 ″, E 40 ° 12’3.9 ″.

How much is: a ticket for an adult - 300 rubles, children under 14 years old - 150 rubles, children under 5 years old - for free.

Rufabgo Falls, prices of summer 2015

You can get there for free if you walk from the Kamennomostsky down the left Belaya River from the Khadzhokhskaya gorge. We did not go on this route. They say there is a very steep descent. Yes, and just had no time to look. So if someone went - sign off where the beginning of the trail and how cool it is. Better with the coordinates.

I would like to take a walk to these waterfalls, but not to give 900 rubles each time for the entrance ...

Do you like Rufabgo Falls?

Were there? What did you think of it?

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After a good sleep in a new place, we get up early and go to Verkhniy Baksan for border posts. In some areas they are needed.

Ordered them in advance, they were ready in about a week from my online message. It was very pleasant to talk with the workers of the Nalchikovsk border detachment: by phone, everything was explained to me in great detail how to write, asked where it would be more convenient for me to pick up, etc. Knowing this procedure in the local performance, we were pleasantly surprised by such courtesy and efficiency. They called the post in Baksan, it turned out that you can get ready passes at any time of the day or night.

3. View of the valley of the Baksan River from the village of Upper Baksan.

Returned on a ride to Cheget, collected light backpacks and went to Terskol. The beginning of the route to the observatory approximately from the middle of the village, is the road going right up from the road going towards Azau through the village Terskol. The road is dirt, it was made in Soviet times for the construction of an observatory. Dzhipping, familiar to us, Sochi residents, is not common here: the road is quite decent for an SUV, but tourists do not carry here. For acclimatization go all feet. Or, as we were told, this is not accepted here, “in the mountains you need to listen to silence.”

Initially, the road goes along the right bank of the river, but then goes around the bend upwards. There is no need to cross the river across the bridge.

4. We pass sheds with every living creature. Below - the village Terskol.

The road serpentine smoothly climbs up the pine forest and soon goes to the alpine.

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We rise along the meadows of alpine raznotravya.

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Opposite us, below, in the valley of the Baksan river we see strange “pyramids” of obviously modern origin. It turned out that anti-avalanche structures appeared after a large avalanche blocked the road to Azau and the flow of the river. “Pyramids” cut the avalanche tongue, crush it and the falling avalanches no longer carry strong damage.

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Cool avalanche couloirs look from afar like that.

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Below the Azau Glade and the sources of the Baksan River.

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Donguzorun glacier "Seven" is visible from here "in full growth".

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On the stones, on the sheer walls grow flowers.

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Elbrus is a rather young volcano, the eruptions of which took place over the last 1.5 million years. Its gentle cone is divided into two peaks with a height of 5,642 m and 5,621 m. The mountain massif comprising Elbrus is composed of deep crystalline rocks — granites, gneisses, and also rocks of volcanic origin — tuffs and diabases. We came to the exit of such volcanic formations.

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Memorial plaque to our soldiers. Here, during the Great Patriotic War, serious battles were fought with the German Edelweiss - well-trained teams of mountain-riders.

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Elbrus is a favorite vacation spot of our director Stanislav Govorukhin. Here, at the waterfall, he filmed the scenes of the base camp of the film “Vertical”: the artists bathe in the waterfall, stand in the grotto behind its jets and Vysotsky’s tent - a radio operator and a doctor, are also standing here.

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At the turn of the road we saw a strange trap door: I remembered the TV series “Lost”, they also had bunkers with hatches in the most inappropriate places :) It’s at an altitude of 3,100 meters there is a trap door in a dirt mountain road :)))
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We also climb a little higher along the road and enter the territory of the observatory. Observatory Peak Terskol is an international astronomical observatory founded in 1980 at Peak Terskol by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 3 km from the top of Elbrus (at the foot, on the southern shoulder, Elbrus), at an altitude of 3150 meters above sea level. Is: branch of the GAO NASU; international observatory; It is part of the International Center for Astronomical and Medico-Ecological Research (MC AEI).

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Peak Terskol with sharp crests of weathered rock.
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In the 1970s, young astronomers of the Main Astronomical Observatory of Ukraine headed by Yaroslav Yatskiv began to build the Observatory. 5 tools of various capacities were installed. But progress demanded larger tools. Therefore, in the second half of the 80s, the Zeiss 2000 telescope was ordered from Carl Zeiss Jena. In 1986-1988 the dome was installed with a diameter of 20 meters; in 1988, the C-2000 telescope was delivered to the peak Terskol through the Novorossiysk sea port. From the autumn of 1990 until 1994, the installation of the telescope was suspended due to a lack of funding and a change in the political situation. In December 1992, the International Center for Astronomical and Medical-Ecological Research was established. Zeiss 2000 was installed in 1995. But now there is desolation, not even security.

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Panorama peak Terskol and horizons with him.

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Sochi, they are everywhere :)
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We came very close to the language of the Terskol glacier.
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It was the highest point of our campaign, the time was already evening. We had a little rest on the 105th picket and hurried down.

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The way back through the forest was cut down a steep path.
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The route turned out with a climb of 1100 m (from the Cheget glade to the 105th picket), a length of about 20 km. Objectively, it is easier to walk in the Elbrus region than on our mountains, despite the height. Mandatory glasses with good protection and sunscreen. That's all for today :) In the next topic I will tell you about the cable car of Cheget and Azau, the summer skating and our way to the top (which we never conquered).

To come to Adygea and not to visit the waterfalls of Rufabgo - this is unlikely to work for you. The pedestrian route is located in close proximity to the popular resort village of Kamennomostsky, and from other popular sights of Adygea to them is a stone's throw away. Along with the Khadzhokhskaya gorge, Lago-Naki and the Azisha cave, these waterfalls are the most popular attraction of the mountainous republic.

Rufabgo Falls

We traveled around Adygea by car, so we got from Kamennomostsky in a matter of minutes. From the village you have to leave in the direction of Lago-Naki and after the pointer to look at the gaps look both ways, because literally after a few kilometers you will see a pointer to the parking lot: “Rufabgo Falls”. As an additional landmark - the site of an ancient man, a former factory, something like a castle. In general, difficult to drive. If you do not have a car, then boldly call a taxi, I do not think that the train will be very expensive.

Rufabgo Falls

What can not be said about the cost of entry. The fact is that you can get to the beginning of the route by a bridge laid over a mountain river, and the passage through it is paid: 400 rubles for adults and 200 rubles for children.

Rufabgo Falls

The bridge is made of metal mesh, everything as I "love" is again a transparent floor.

Rufabgo Falls

I was walking and was a coward, so the first waterfall, which was visible from the bridge, was photographed by chance, it’s good that I got into the frame.

Rufabgo Falls

And the weather, to put it mildly, did not indulge - rain and the coming thunderstorm. There was no way out, because we left the sights closest to the hotel exactly on the last day, and as in the song “we have snow, we are hot, we are pouring rain”, but we have to go.

As soon as you pass the bridge, you will find yourself in a clearing where a cafe with hot food and coffee brewed in the sand (but we pass by), a museum of Adyg life (also not today) and the beginning of the trail are located.

Rufabgo Falls

The route on which you can see four waterfalls is 1,420 meters in one direction. The first waterfall "Noise" - 250 meters, to the "Cascade" - 1150 meters, to the "Heart of Rufabgo" - 1270 meters, to the "Girl's Braid" - 1420 meters. If you wish, you can continue your way up the hill called "Enjoy Your Bath!", See more waterfalls and stroll through the apple orchard. It will help determine the scheme. And on the route there is such a tip-tip, where to go.

Rufabgo Falls

Quite a comfortable road, many went with small children. We go through the forest along the channel of either the river or the mountain stream. But you should not lose vigilance, because ticks live in these places, we even took one of our sweatshirts. Do not forget about spray and closed clothes.

Rufabgo Falls

Almost immediately you will hear the sound of a waterfall, which is called so. Waterfall Noise is quite impressive, although it will have to go down to it by a decent ladder.

Rufabgo Falls

On the route, the trail to four waterfalls is equipped with bridges, ladders, so the walk is not particularly intense. Although, of course, in rainy and snowy weather, you must hold tight to the railing and watch where you step on your foot.

Rufabgo Falls

We did not reach the remaining waterfalls, because the rain had intensified, and the thunder made it clear that it was time to turn back.

But thanks to friends of our site, I can show you photos and other waterfalls. And also the nature of Adygea on a sunny spring day.

Rufabgo Falls

But these photos of Rufabgo waterfalls were made by our friends in the winter. As you can see, this route is beautiful at any time of the year. And when there is frost and snow, the waterfalls freeze.

Rufabgo Falls

To the parking lot we got out wet and dirty, but pleased with the nature we saw. On this, our journey through Adygea ended, we went to relax in a spa hotel at the junction of Adygea and Krasnodar Territory, which I will definitely tell you about. The place is just beautiful!

The mountains of the North Caucasus have left no tourist indifferent. 200 years ago, Russian poets wrote about the Caucasus - Lermontov, Pushkin and others. Elbrus has become the hallmark of this region. A vacation in the Elbrus region is becoming more popular every year. In the summer, they spend various walks on horseback, some go to live in the mountains for a week or a month, and in winter they go skiing.

There is a fabulous and fascinating corner in the Caucasus - the Waterfall Girlish Braids (Elbrus region). There are many sources in the mountains, but it was this one that was chosen by the Soviet directors Govorukhin and Durov for the filming of the movie “Vertical” in 1967. In this tape, the main role was played by the legendary Vladimir Vysotsky.

Origin of the name of the attraction

The corners of the Caucasus have beautiful names, legends about the origin of these names are no less beautiful. Waterfall Maiden Spit got its name due to the shape and location of the source. The graceful and transparent jets of the thirty-meter stream, which descend along the trenches under pressure from the Gara-Bashi glacier to the basalt grotto, caused the Circassians' braids to be associated with the peoples of the Caucasus.

Talk about the source will not work. So much noise that drowns out all the talk! And in summer the water is so warm that you can take water treatments.

Location of girlish braids

To enjoy the view of the waterfall, you need to go to the Elbrus district of Kabardino-Balkaria. There you need to find the village Terskol in Ono is located just 10 kilometers from Mr. Elbrus. They live in the village just over a thousand people. Not far from it there is an international observatory called “Peak Terskol”. Landscapes open on the slopes of the mountains are stunning and fascinating! By the way, the waterfall Maiden Spit itself is one of

The source you will see on the rocks Lamb foreheads. Those, in turn, are located on the southern peak of Terskol. It has a height of more than three thousand meters.

Hike to the sights

As it becomes more and more popular, then there are more and more excursion routes. They are ennobled, hotels and cafes with affordable prices are opened, and cable cars are being built. Tourists ask about the "Maiden Spit" (waterfall): "How to get there? Is it difficult?"

To see the source, there are two hiking routes from the village of Terskol. These paths lead to the observatory.

The first path runs along the road for tractors in the gorge, the second is easier. You will reach the Maidens braids along the serpentine trail of the southern slope of the peak. Mountain landscapes are very beautiful, but the mountain air is even nicer. It is filled with the scent of coniferous trees. Note that the mountain air is discharged. Particularly sensitive tourists may feel dizzy. The weather is changeable in the mountains. So, walking along the path to the mountain, you can be in the cloud! Visibility is significantly reduced. Be careful.

Features walk to the waterfall

Take warm and spare clothes with you as the weather changes rapidly due to the pressure drop. Shoes should be comfortable and comfortable. You will have to walk a lot, your legs get tired quickly, and the stones are constantly crumbling and create little discomfort while walking.

On the serpentine road to the waterfall Maiden Spit you will climb the mountain, you can take a stick as a support. If the day is sunny, then "arm" with glasses. And around the corner the long-awaited streams of maiden braids. jets down from the glacier. She is clean. Tired travelers drink it, scooping it with their palms. Other travelers take water with them in bottles. Those who drank this water say that it is “alive”. Able to remove fears and fatigue.

The Balkar poet Kaysyn Kuliev wrote in his poem that these waters are able to restore the strength of a weary traveler, and also help to join the age-old wisdom! Such beautiful, fascinating and powerful Caucasian lands.

A walk back and forth takes 5-6 hours. The one and a half kilometer trail is overcome in two hours. Yes Yes! The path to the mountain is not easy, so be patient. For those who want to quickly be at the waterfall, there are different ways to achieve the goal. The range of transport is wide. There are horses, as well as ATVs, cars and mountain bikes. At the tourist peak buses go to the sights in an endless stream.

Conclusion

Waterfall Maiden Spit, Elbrus - the unique places of the Caucasus. The severity and greatness of these places fascinate travelers. Sometimes there are not enough words to describe the delight in which you immerse yourself when visiting the mountains. Unfortunately, the site itself near the source is not equipped. But there is no annoying sellers, garbage and fuss. You should also be wary of people with diseases of the cardiovascular system and asthma. When the air is recharged, it becomes bad, the lack of oxygen immediately makes itself felt with reduced hemoglobin. Headache or dizziness may begin. But even such phenomena can not spoil the unforgettable impressions that you get by visiting these beautiful places!

The gorge of the Rufabgo stream with the famous Rufabgo waterfalls is very popular among tourists. They are located two kilometers from Khadzhokh and about 70 km from Maykop. Hundreds of tourists at the weekend get here to take a break from the bustle of the city, to admire the surrounding beauty.

A walk to the waterfalls of Rufabgo begins with a bridge across the White River. Huge flat stone blocks lie on the edges of the water flow, as if trying to squeeze it into its grip. From the bridge you can see the waterfall "Three Brothers", in the place where Rufabgo (Bachurina) flows into the Belaya River. But this waterfall is not considered the first because of the fact that when there was no this bridge, and the path to the waterfalls led from the Khadzhokhskaya gorge, it went straight to the next waterfall, which was always considered the first.

Once on the other side of the river, you find yourself in a spacious clearing, surrounded by a beech forest.

Rufabgo Creek - the left tributary of the Belaya River, with a length of about 17 km, originates on the northern slope of the Azish Range. The creek valley is an interesting natural monument. Here there are rocks of different geological periods. Along the channel, the stream crosses rocks that are heterogeneous in terms of hardness and occurrence conditions; Rufabgo has one large left tributary - the Bachurin Stream, which flows into Rufabgo 3 km above the mouth. Traces of a Paleolithic and Late Middle Ages settlement were found at the confluence. The most interesting and visited is the lower part of the Rufabgo current. At this point, the river flows in a deep gorge with steep slopes up to 160 meters or more, which at the top end with steep rock walls, so-called - kuestami. When it rains or melts snow, the peaceful sparkling stream can turn into a formidable stream, rolling boulders and trees, that's why they called the Rufabgo creek, which means “mad”, “obstinate” in Adygei.
Behind the far edge of the glade there is a descent to the first waterfall called “Noise.” The descent is equipped with a metal staircase. I must say that about half of the route is well equipped for an easy walk through the valley of the stream - there are laid paths, bridges, platforms and fences.

A special decoration on the day of our visit was the huge fallen trunks, which were overgrown with young mushrooms, forcing avid mushroom pickers to grab onto the heart.

From the waterfall "Noise" to the second under the name "Cascade" or "Kid" about 900 meters. The second waterfall is not great and consists of a cascade of three small waterfalls. It can be passed without noticing. But, having already approached the third waterfall, with the beautiful name "Heart of Rufabgo", you find yourself in the most unique place of the gorge.

This waterfall is almost always gloomy. A huge boulder, forged by nature in the form of a gigantic heart, blocks the river bed. On the right side, a narrow stream of water ends in a picturesque deep gorge.
Rocks of the gorge, folded horizontally overlapping limestone slabs, overgrown with moss and fill the space with a mysterious echo. According to the legend, the brave horseman Khadzhokh, having defeated the cruel giant Rufabgo in wrestling, pulled his heart out of his chest and threw it into the stream. It turned to stone, blocking the stream and forming a waterfall. This part of the Rufabgo Gorge is very similar to the Guam Gorge.
Behind this waterfall the gorge widens and an amazing view opens up. Water falls from the height of a five-story house with a narrow and long ribbon. Under the waterfall is a small lake. This waterfall has two names "Lace" and "Maiden Spit". The left bank of the stream in this place is framed by a huge rock, its wall consists of many layers of rockstone limestone.

Next, the path jumps over the stream and climbs steeply up the steps of an almost sheer wall. After a few minutes of walking after the “Lace” waterfall, the trail leads to the confluence of Rufabgo and Bachurin. Here stands a high rock that separates them. This rock "Sail", covered with a thick soft carpet of Colchian ivy. There is also a path through the passage, which you can then go down to the Rufabgo creek. On three sides of the rock ends with a monolithic wall. On the flat top of the cliff is an ancient fortress. Remains of fortifications allow to judge its inaccessibility.
Many tourists finish the inspection of the waterfalls by visiting the "Lace" waterfall without assuming that the most beautiful cascade of waterfalls lies ahead. The distance between the "Lace" and the subsequent waterfall is about 800 meters. Overcoming the pile-ups and labyrinths of boulders, as well as a rather fresh stone collapse, the trail leads to a two-tier cascade of waterfalls. At first there is a magnificent waterfall "The Chalice of Love". The place at this waterfall is marked by special beauty. The name of the waterfall comes from a drip spring, once falling from a high cliff into an openwork stone bowl, which the spring itself carved into the stone. Unfortunately, there is no longer a spring of this, although in different places the rocks are still falling separate drops from a great height. But the bowl somehow disappeared.
The last waterfall is located literally 50 meters upstream of Rufabgo, it is visible from the "Chalice of Love", but not everyone will dare to reach it - a low, but sheer cliff serves as a serious obstacle for many. To try to climb the cliffs, the tourists themselves installed thick wooden sticks.

At any time of the year, the waterfalls are beautiful and each of them is a unique and uniquely beautiful sculpture of nature. Never repeating, she creates these amazing creations. In the summer, pierced by the rays of the sun, waterfalls shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. In the spring, they are full of water, muddy, their continuous rumble is heard from afar. In the autumn they are quiet, thoughtful, shallow. The lakes near the waterfalls are covered with fallen golden foliage, creating multi-colored amazing drawings of a mirror kaleidoscope. In winter it is the realm of the Snow Queen. Bastions of ice from huge icicles. Crystal giant organ. True connoisseurs of unusual beauty visit this fabulous world every year.
Winter photo by epgapeeva with Yandex, photos, and the rest are mine.