Digorskoe Gorge, Ossetia: description, sights, interesting facts

This article will tell you about the amazingly beautiful mountain places, famous for their numerous historical monuments and magnificent natural landscapes.

This unique natural monument is located in North Ossetia. What is the Digor Gorge? On the terrain, attractions and many interesting things will be discussed in this article.

North Ossetia: general information

Alania (North Ossetia), belonging to the Russian Federation, is located in the north of the Caucasus Mountains. The whole territory has an area of about 8 thousand square meters. Km, and it is inhabited by more than 670 thousand people. Most of Ossetians (about 53%) and Russians (30%) live here. There are also Ingush and Armenians in the Republic. The administrative center of the Republic is the city of Vladikavkaz.

The largest cities in the region are Beslan, Mozdok and Alagir. Since 1991, North Ossetia has the status of the Republic, part of the Russian Southern Federal District.

Forests occupy the fifth part of the territory, and mostly they are broad-leaved (hornbeam, beech, linden, ash, alder, oak, maple).

Mountain range of the region

Let's briefly review the mountain range of these places before we find out what it is - Digor Gorge.

North Ossetia in the west has a border with Kabardino-Balkaria, with the Stavropol Territory - in the north, and in the east - with the Chechen Republic and Ingushetia. Its southern territory borders on Georgia.

The whole republic was located in the foothills of the Greater Caucasus and on its northern slope. The northern territories are located on the Stavropol plain, the southern - on the Sunzhensky and Tersky ranges. In the southern part of the region there are the Lateral and Main Ranges of the Greater Caucasus. The highest point is the peak of Jimar (height 4780 m). The Ossetian plain stretches in the central part of the North Caucasus. From it rise the low-mountain ranges mentioned above, and behind them is the Mozdok Plain.

In the Ossetian mountains there are eternal glaciers, the largest of which are Tseisky and Karaug. The high mountains are intersected by numerous canyons: the Daryalsky, Kasarsky, Dargavsky, Kurtatinsky, Alagirsky, Kobansky, and Tseysky. This includes the Digorsk Gorge. On them and their lateral branches pass the riverbeds of mountain rivers having a glacial-snow origin and connecting at the exit from the mountains with deep-water large rivers: Terek, Ardon, Urukh, Kambileevka.

Features of climatic conditions

The climate in these places is moderately continental. On average, January temperatures reach -4 ° C, and in the middle of summer - up to +22 ° C. In a year, about 800 mm of precipitation falls.

The zone of North Ossetia is marked by increased seismicity. Also in the mountains there are quite frequent gatherings of powerful avalanches, numerous mudflows and rock falls occur. Often a strong hail falls on the foothill plain. It causes great harm to the agricultural lands of the republic.

In any case, North Ossetia (Alania) enjoys wide popularity among tourists and holidaymakers.

Digor Gorge

The most beautiful and remote from the city of Vladikavkaz (120 km) is the gorge of Digorskoe, located in the west of North Ossetia.

It is located in the basin of the river Urukh (Iraf), whose tributaries originate in the kingdom of huge centuries-old glaciers and ancient snows. The rocky ridge in which the gorge formed was located parallel to the main ridge.

In Digoria there is a wonderful national nature park "Alania". Depending on the heights above sea level, here you can meet the wet forests, the magnificent meadows of the Alpine. There is also a forest-steppe zone, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, streams.

Like the whole of the North Caucasus, the Digor Gorge also abounds with amazing historical and cultural monuments.

Facts from history

The narrowest point of the gorge is Ahsinta, which is a natural fortress. It should be noted that its walls have been saved many times by the enemies of the local highlanders.

There is another interesting point. On the site of the villages of Lezgor, Doniphars, Nar and Zalalesk there was the 2nd defense line (the center of Matsuta). On the watchtowers, on the hills, in case of any danger, raw straw was ignited. Thanks to the formed smoke, the news of the threat quickly spread throughout Digoria.

Sentry and family towers were preserved in many parts of Digoria. Remained here and some of the ancient dwellings, especially in the villages of Dzinaga, Kamunt, Mosca, Dunta and Odol.

Rest in the Digorsk Gorge: attractions

Typically, a trip to Digoria usually begins with the village of Chikola. Due to the large distance from large settlements and due to the lack of a good road, people come to these places not to rest for 1-2 days.

In general, you can relax in these places only in the summer months, and in winter it is better not to go there, since during this period abundant snowfalls prevail. However, it is worth noting that the landscapes in the gorge are beautiful at any time of the year.

We will spend a short excursion on the way to the gorge. After the first village the road through the plain leads through the village. Ahsarisar. Its name translates as "the top of military valor". It is named after the fact that in ancient times in these places the Alans with the Tatar-Mongols (Timur's troops) fought heroically, trying to penetrate into the depths of the gorge.

Further the road passes by the village of Kalukh and stretches to the very foot of the ridge of the Rocky. In these places not far from the tunnel is the Ahsinta Canyon, through which a concrete bridge was built, nicknamed by tourists "Devils". From this bridge, you can see a magnificent view of the Urukh River, the forest in the western part of the gorge and the streams that flow from the karst springs from the steep walls.

Further behind this canyon the entrance to the gorge opens.

A lot of not only historical monuments, but also natural attractions has North Ossetia. Digor Gorge is famous for one of the most magnificent and large glaciers - Karaugomsky, which is the second largest in the entire North Caucasus.

A little bit about the origin of the name of the gorge

It comes from the name of the Ossetian ethnic group - digortsev (in Ossetian - "digoron" or "duguron").

They are the carriers of the Digor dialect of the Ossetian language and represent the bulk of the population of this republic.