Kadargavan Canyon

Kadargavan Canyon is one of the most interesting natural attractions of the Kurtatinsky gorge. The Fiagdon River, flowing from the glaciers of the Greater Caucasus Range, has broken through a huge gorge 50 kilometers long. In some places, the width of the Kurtatinsky gorge reaches 3 kilometers. However, in Kadargavan Canyon, the Fiagdon River flows in a canyon 5 meters wide.

In many wide gorges there are such canyons. For example, in the largest Daryal Gorge in the Caucasus (170 km) there is a section called the Alan Gate (near the Upper Lars checkpoint). There the mountains close to a width of about 100 meters. Also in the wide Chegem gorge there is a Chegem canyon 30 meters wide. 

However, in comparison with other gorges, the 5-meter Kadargavan Canyon is really very narrow. Moreover, the height of the mountain range, where the Fiagdon River broke through the passage, reaches 60 meters. This section is very short, no more than 200 meters, but it is very beautiful.  

A "Miracle Trail" is laid next to the Kadargavan Canyon. This trail is small and the entrance to it is paid, however, you have to walk there to see the canyon from different points. There are other viewing points on the road near Kadargavan Canyon. There are also paths that allow you to go down to the river to see the narrow gorge from below.  

The most famous attraction of Kadargavan Canyon is a huge stone that fell from the mountain and got stuck between the walls of a narrow canyon. A sculpture of a "mirror leopard" is installed on this stone. This is the figure of a beast covered with mirror plates. The snow leopard is a symbol of North Ossetia. It can be seen on the coat of arms of the republic.