Sulak Canyon is the deepest in Russia and one of the deepest in the world. To visit it, you need to allocate a whole day. There are several viewing platforms on the side of the village of Dubki. If you want to see the canyon from the south side, as well as ride a boat along the rapid flow of the Sulak River, then you need to go there with an excursion.
Sulak Canyon is located between the Salatau mountain ridge and the Gimrinsky ridge. The maximum depth of the canyon reaches 1920 meters, and on average its depth ranges from 1300 meters. Sulak Canyon is one of the Top10 deepest canyons in the world. Since Dagestan geographically belongs to Europe, the canyon can be called the deepest in Europe. Sometimes the deepest canyon in Europe is called the Tara River Canyon in Montenegro. However, its maximum depth is only 1300 meters.
The length of the canyon, which the Sulak River has pierced through the sandstone and limestone, reaches 53 kilometers, which makes it one of the longest canyons in the world. At this distance, the Sulak Canyon consists of three separate canyons, with extensions between them.
On average, the width of the Sulak Canyon is 3.5 kilometers, but in some places it narrows to several hundred meters. In the narrowest place of the Sulak Canyon, the Chirkeyskaya hydroelectric power station was built in 1963. It is the highest and most powerful hydroelectric power station in the Sulak cascade of hydroelectric power plants. At the top of the dam, its width is 300 meters. The Chirkeyskaya HPP is the second highest dam of the HPP after the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP. After the construction of the hydroelectric power station, the Chirkeyskoye water reservoir was formed, which also became a landmark of Dagestan.
Sulak Canyon is located 75 kilometers from Makhachkala. If you want to go boating in the canyon, then it is better to go to the canyon from the side of city of Buinaksk. First, make a stop near the Chirkeyskoye water reservoir, and then visit the main viewing platforms near the hydroelectric power station and in the village of Dubki. After that, you can go to the Glavryba restaurant. There you need to contact the guides who will take you to the village of Zubutli, where you can ride a boat on the Sulak River.
Observation deck at Chirkeyskaya HPP
On the observation deck at the Chirkeyskaya HPP, you can see the narrowest part of the Sulak Canyon, as well as the dam of the Chirkeyskaya HPP. It is located 5 kilometers from the village of Dubki. Many tourists visit only the observation decks in the Dubki and do not come here, but it must be done.
Observation deck in Dubki
The observation deck in the village of Dubki is the most equipped. Most tourists who do not want to walk along the paths along the canyon come here, and a few photos taken at the main sites of the canyon are quite enough for them.
The western side of the Sulak Canyon
If you want to take a boat ride on the rapid waters of the Sulak River, as well as see the Western side of the Sulak Canyon, then you should contact the guides near the Glavryba restaurant. There is a bridge over the Sulak River in this place.
Trout farm Glavryba
In the village of Novo-Zubutli near the Miatlinskaya HPP there is a trout farm and a huge Glavryba restaurant. It is a great addition to visiting the canyon, and even a local attraction. After visiting the Sulak Canyon, you definitely need to have dinner here.
