Eagle Rocks in Sochi
Eagle Rocks of white limestone rise above the right bank of the Agura River. According to local legends, Prometheus was chained here on a rocky cliff when Zeus decided to punish him for stealing fire from the god Hephaestus and giving it to people. A sculpture of Prometheus was installed on the top of the Eagle Rocks in 1998.
The Eagle Rocks in Matsesta are a mountain range with an absolutely vertical cliff. The height of this cliff is 125 meters. Of course, there are steep walls higher up on the Central Caucasus Mountain range, but for the coastal area of Sochi, where tourism is massive, this place is a wonderful attraction. There are no other similar rocks in the surrounding areas.
You can climb the Eagle Rocks without a guide, as they are located close to roads with convenient transport links. This excursion should be combined either with a visit to the Matsesta Balneary, or with a visit to the Agura waterfalls. Alternatively, you can visit these three sights of Sochi together, but in this case, you should plan for this all day and be ready for significant loads in hiking.
The path to the Eagle Rocks begins either at the Matsesta hospital or through the Agura Gorge. The most popular among tourists is the combination of climbing the Eagle Rocks and visiting the Agur waterfalls. The length of the route along the Agur gorge is 2.5 kilometers. After that you will reach the glade where a path that rises to the top of the Eagle Rocks. The length of the ascent to the Prometheus Sculpture from the Agur gorge is 800 meters, with a climb of 200 meters.
The height of the Eagle Rocks above sea level is 379 meters. It is impossible to call them mountains, it is more correct to call them "rocky cliff". During the ascent from the Agur Gorge, the trail goes along this cliff. You will have beautiful views of the surrounding area. In the distance, you can see the high mountains of the Krasnaya Polyana resort, and directly opposite the Eagle Rocks is Mount Akhun. Many tourists come to its top to climb the tower and admire the surroundings.
The story of Prometheus, who was chained to the Eagle Rocks, is quite controversial. However, in the ancient legend, the Greeks did not indicate the place where he was chained exactly. They only said that Prometheus was chained to the rock of the Caucasus Mountains.
In addition to the Eagle Rocks, there is another place in Russia, where Prometheus may have been chained - this is Mount Fisht (2867 m). It is one of the highest peaks of the Main Caucasian Ridge in these places. The closest settlement to Fisht Mountain is Solokhaul. It is located 40 kilometers from Fisht. This distance can be overcome by mountain trails as part of a multi-day hike in the Sochi National Park.
There are also two places in Georgia associated with the name of Prometheus. They believe that he was chained either to the mountain of Praise near Kutaisi, or to Mount Kazbek in the Daryal gorge.
Fisht Mountain is visited by a few due to difficult accessibility, and hundreds of tourists climb the Eagle Rocks daily in the summer season. Therefore, the Eagle Rocks are better known as the place of torment of Prometheus. According to legend, an eagle flew to him every day and pecked his liver that is why the rocks are called "Eagle". At the top, you can take a picture next to the Prometheus sculpture, and descend into a small Grotto, which is located 20 meters below the observation deck. There is a restaurant where you can eat delicious food.
Back from the Eagle Rocks, you can go down the same path through the Agur Gorge, or you can go along another path that will take you to the Matsesta Balneary. If you want to visit it, then you have to remember that it is open from 7.45 to 14.15. In Matsesta you can walk along the stone embankment and visit the hydrogen sulfide lake. The atmosphere of the Stalinist era has been preserved here. I was formed when Stalin`s Summer Cottage was built in Matsesta in 1931.
