The Sulak Canyon in Dagestan is one of the most picturesque and impressive places in the region, literally the pearl of the republic and a unique natural attraction at the same time. The beauty of the area attracts not only numerous tourists, but also locals who love active recreation. The depth of the Sulak Canyon really surprises. It is equal to 1920 meters, which is more than the depth of Lake Baikal (1642 meters) and the famous Grand Canyon in Colorado (1600 meters).
A bit of history
The Sulak Canyon was named after the Sulak River, which is formed by the confluence of several rivers and snowmelt. The Sulak begins in the Caucasus Mountains and flows into the Caspian Sea. It was its powerful waters that created these high sheer cliffs, not earthquakes or other natural phenomena.
The history of the Sulak Canyon dates back millions of years. Many eras have left their traces here, so scientists even consider this place a geological museum of the planet. Even traces of the Ice Age are still found in this area, and ancient fossils show that the canyon has survived the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Tertiary periods.
Interesting facts and legends
The Sulak canyon is located 100 km from the capital Makhachkala, it stretches from the Gimrinsky ridge to the Chiryurt reservoir. The Sulak looks like a thin thread when seen from above, but this does not detract from the strength and power of its waters, which are impressive in their beauty and wild-bright turquoise color. Many tourists note that only after seeing Sulak in person, they believed in the reality of such a color of water. Previously, they thought that the photos of the river were edited for greater attractiveness.
In the narrowest places the river was “curbed” by hydroelectric power plants, organizing reservoirs. The most powerful hydroelectric power station in the North Caucasus is located on the Sulak. It is the Chirkeyskaya hydroelectric power plant, which is only 10 meters behind the Sayano-Shushenskaya dam.
An even more interesting fact about the Sulak Canyon is related to the Chirkey reservoir, thanks to which the Sulak Canyon has its own “Atlantis”, not mythical, but quite real. It was the ancient village of Chirkey, which sank in the waters of the Sulak.
Of course, everything happened gradually, as the reservoir filled up since the launch of the first hydroelectric power plant unit in 1974. A whole layer of centuries-old culture and architecture went under water, which remained only on old photographs and in the Soviet movie “Adam and Heva”, filmed in that ancient village, which disappeared from the face of the earth forever. The inhabitants were resettled on the plateau in the village of Novy Chirkey.
Sulak Canyon is often mentioned in works of fiction, in particular, it is dedicated to the story “The Prisoner of the Caucasus” by Leo Tolstoy. In this work it is easy to recognize the entourage and local landscapes, but, of course, you should see them with your own eyes first.
The most beautiful views of the river valley
The Sulak Canyon is interesting not only for the beauty of nature itself, but also for the fact that here it is practically untouched. The area does not yet have the usual tourist infrastructure, so here you can really feel unity and harmony with nature. If you are really tired of the city and its bustle, then the Sulak Canyon is what you need.
To see the canyon from the most picturesque points and enjoy the inexpressible beauty, pay attention to the following viewing platforms:
- Site 1 with coordinates 43.021189, 46.825338. It is located practically in Dubki village, at a small distance from the private sector.
- Site 2 with coordinates 43.016593, 46.832421. It is located further behind the village Dubki, there are a lot of cafes and souvenir shops.
- Site 1 on the Chirkey reservoir - 42.981750, 46.914548. It is located on the bank of the Chirkey reservoir, tourist buses usually stop here.
- Troll's Tongue” site with coordinates 42.983548, 46.868957. Not equipped for tourists, but with the most beautiful views of the canyon. Since the site is wild, it's important to be extra careful here. Externally, it is a piece of white rock protruding above the canyon chasm.
The nature of the Sulak Canyon: why you should definitely visit Zubutli
If you have seen the Sulak Canyon once, you will definitely want to come again, because the terrain here is unforgettable. Breathtaking mountain scenery and a river of incredible color are waiting for you. It is very difficult to take your eyes off the turquoise surface of the Sulak - it is so mesmerizing.
In the vicinity of the Sulak Canyon there are little-known and even endangered representatives of flora and fauna. For example, horny sainfoin, a perennial honey plant of amazing violet color. Rare species of vulture birds, which nest here, often circle in the sky above Sulak.
Nothing beckons more than a ride on the Sulak canyon, or rather along the river valley itself from the inside. Such a walk allows you to see with your own eyes the high steep cliffs that have been created by nature for centuries, to look at the sprawling waterfalls falling into the canyon, and to visit the most beautiful underground grottoes.
And, of course, it is when riding through the canyon itself that you will be able to breathe truly clean air and absorb the incredible natural atmosphere, almost untouched by civilization. If you wish, you can also get a particularly thrilling experience. In Zubutli there is a ziplane located at an altitude of 250 meters, allowing you to fly a kilometer directly over the canyon.
How to get to the Sulak Canyon
Special attention should be paid to the question of how to get to the Sulak Canyon from Vladikavkaz. It is difficult to do it by public transportation. The only possibility is to take a bus to Makhachkala (it will take about 6 hours), and from there to Dubki village, where there is a shuttle bus (it will take another 1.5 hours). The marshrutka does not depart according to the exact schedule, but after filling up, but judging by the reviews, it takes about 12 hours. In the opposite direction there is not even an approximate time, so many people get there by cab.
It will be more convenient to go either on your own or on a rented car. The total distance is 236 kilometers. Taking into account the nature of the road closer to the canyon, where not every passenger car will pass, it is better to rent a car, taking some SUV like “Suzuki Jimny”. You can calmly drive to Dubki, drive to the Chirkei reservoir and visit Zubutli on the opposite side of the valley, where you can ride the Sulak canyon.
How to visit Zubutli village
By car you will have time to visit everywhere and see all the neighborhoods of the canyon. But take into account one nuance. If you want to get to the Sulak Canyon on your own and see it from inside, which can be done only in Zubutli village, you need to know the following.
Here is a very problematic road (narrow serpentine), which lies through the Miatlinskaya HPP. This is a regime object, and there is information that they pass mainly organized tourist groups and those who go in escort with locals. You should have your passport with you, as everyone is registered at the HPP checkpoint. You can try to pass on your own, and if you can't, at the checkpoint locals offer to take you there for money in a UAZik.
You can also take an excursion from Glavryba in the village of Miatli, but be sure to specify that it includes a descent to Zubutli and a boat ride on the Sulak, because this is what gives the most unforgettable impressions of the canyon. As you can see, the Caucasus is truly amazing, so it is worth coming here at least once. We invite everyone to visit our region and see unique picturesque places. Rent a car from us and you will be able to get to any point of the Caucasus!
