North Ossetia is one of the most beautiful mountain regions of the Central Caucasus. The Great Caucasian Ridge has a maximum height in this area, so the beauty of the routes through the mountain gorges of North Ossetia will not leave you indifferent. Historical monuments have also been preserved in many gorges of North Ossetia.
Many tourists visit Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia. In the center of the city there is a beautiful Khetagurov Park, a Sunni Mosque (Mukhtarov Mosque). However, most tourists tend to go to the mountains. The most famous destinations are the Tsey Gorge, as well as the Kurtatinsky Gorge, from where there is access to other gorges in the region. In the western regions of North Ossetia there is the Alania National Park, which includes the Digoria gorges.
History of North Ossetia
In ancient times, the lands of North Ossetia were inhabited by tribes of Alans. They had no written language, so it is difficult to trace the history of the Alan people. In 1221, the Mongol-Tatar army led by the military commanders Jebe and Sudebey came to the lands of the North Caucasus from the south. They agreed with the Khan of Derbent to pass peacefully through the impregnable Narynkala Fortress. However, in the North Caucasus they started a war with Georgians and Alans.
The Alans defended themselves very bravely. In the first battle they defeated the Mongols, but they bribed the Polovtsians. At the decisive moment of the second battle, the Polovtsians left the Alan army, and they were defeated. The surviving Alans were forced to move from the plains to the mountain gorges. One of the Alan tribes gave rise to the Ossetian people.
Ossetians settled the Kurtatinsky gorge in the Middle Ages. A narrow entrance in the site of the Dzivgis Fortress allowed defending the gorge with small forces, and a wide valley in the depths of the gorge allowed farming and cattle breeding. Therefore, in the Kurtatinsky gorge, and in other gorges adjacent to it, there are many ruins of ancient buildings.
From the Kurtatinsky gorge there are convenient passages to the Dargavsky, Karmadonsky and Midagrabinsky gorges. The Alans also settled in the long Ardon Gorge, which is adjacent to several side gorges, including the Tsey Gorge. The Alans adopted Christianity in the 10th century, so the Ossetians are Christians, but in the gorge of the Urukh River (Digoria) they profess Islam.
Sights of North Ossetia
If you want to see the beauty of the mountainous regions of North Ossetia, as well as get acquainted with the history of North Ossetia, you have to start with a trip to the Kurtatinsky gorge. It is the most easily accessible, and it has many natural and historical attractions. From Vladikavkaz to the village of Dzuarikau is only 25 kilometers. This village is located at the entrance to the Kurtatinsky gorge. The length of the gorge itself is 50 kilometers.
The sights of the Kurtatinsky gorge are located on a small stretch of 10 kilometers between the Kadargavan canyon and the village of Hidikus. The most interesting places of the Kurtatinsky gorge are: Kadargavan Canyon, Dzivgis Fortress, the ancient Village of Tsmiti, the Alan monastery, the Female Sanctuary of Mada Mairam.
In the Kurtatinsky gorge, it is most convenient to live in the Village of Verkhny Fiagdon, there are many hotels and guest houses there. Near the Upper Fiagdon, the road to the Dargavs Gorge begins. The City of the Dead Dargavs is 15 km from Upper Fiagdon. From Dargavs, 7 km to the south are the Midagrabinsky waterfalls – the highest in Russia. The Karmadon Gorge is located 9 kilometers east of Dargavs. This is a very beautiful place, but it is also associated with the tragic events of the descending of the Kolka glacier in 2002.
To the west of the Kurtatinsky gorge in North Ossetia is the long Ardon gorge. There is the Mineral Lake. The composition of its water is similar to the water from Essentuki. A side branch of the Ardon Gorge, the Tsey Gorge, is widely known in the country. It is one of the most beautiful not only in North Ossetia, but also in the entire Caucasus region.
The length of the Tsey Gorge reaches 15 kilometers. This is an all-season resort of North Ossetia. In winter, you can go skiing here, and in summer climbers and trekking fans come to Tsey’s mountain routes. In Soviet times, the Tsey Alpine Camp was one of the most famous mountain resorts in the country. The famous singer Yuri Vizbor dedicated more than one song to the Tsey Gorge. In addition to the natural beauty, it gave the Tsey Gorge an aura of romance, which attracted thousands of young people.
Of great interest is the Alania National Park, which is located in the western part of North Ossetia. Its territory is located south of the village of Kora-Ursdon. The gorge of the Urukh River, where the famous Digoria is located, is also partially included to the Alanya National Park. The most famous sights of Digoria are: Ahsinta Canyon, Three Sisters Waterfall, Pearl Waterfall, Tana Glacier, Khanaz Castle, Donifars City of the Dead.
The road leading from Vladikavkaz to the south passes through the Darial Gorge to Georgia. This is the only gorge that crosses through the Great Caucasian Ridge. There are no sights in this gorge from North Ossetia, but after crossing the border you can see many interesting places: Mount Kazbek, the Cross Pass, the Gergeti mountain monastery and much more. The distance from Vladikavkaz to these places is only 40 kilometers, but it is unknown how long you will have stay at the Upper Lars checkpoint.
