The southern resort town of Mineralnye Vody is located in the Stavropol Territory. The easiest way to get to it from Moscow is by plane, since the largest airport in the North Caucasus Federal District is located here. Traveling to Mineralnye Vody by rail will be cheaper, but will take longer. It will take about 30 hours. The cost of a train ticket starts from two thousand rubles.
Despite the fact that the city is not very large, and about 80 thousand people live in it, there is something to see here.
I want to go to Mineralnye Vody!
In front of the railway station there is a sculpture “Eagle”, which personifies the manifestation of spirit and willpower (on the map). The bronze bird holds a snake tightly in its claws, which symbolizes the victory of health over illness and disease. In addition, the eagle is the official symbol of the entire Caucasus. Therefore, similar monuments can be found in almost all popular southern resorts.
The main architectural landmark of Mineralnye Vody is the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin (on the map). During the construction of the temple, an icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God was discovered quite by accident under a tree. Local residents perceive this find as a sign from above: since then the icon has been kept within the walls of the cathedral, and one of the church chapels was consecrated in its honor. Near the temple there are belfries with eight bells and outbuildings.
Near the aircraft repair plant, right in the open air, there is a small aviation museum (on the map),
where helicopters and airplanes that once conquered the skies are collected. Here you can see the Mi-8 helicopter and its “grandfather” Mi-1, the Li-2 military transport aircraft, the Yak-40 passenger aircraft and some other exhibits.
The eternal flame, as a symbol of Victory, is in many Russian cities. Mineralnye Vody is no exception. The Fire of Eternal Glory memorial was opened in 1976 (on the map). If you look at it from the outside, its contours resemble a large fire pit. It is curious that from above the monument has a regular pentagonal shape.
On the territory of the complex there are 13 urns with earth that was brought from the hero cities, as well as five pylons, which consist of two pillars with a stone sandwiched between them – they are a symbol of the inaccessible rocky Caucasus Mountains. In Mineralnye Vody, there is a custom of organizing a solemn procession to the memorial on May 8 to lay flowers and wreaths in honor of the heroes who fought and died defending their homeland.
The city is located at the foot of Mount Snake (on the map). This natural monument is under state protection. The name of the mountain comes from the Turkic phrase “zhlak-tau”, which translated into Russian means “mountain of snakes”. According to one version, once upon a time on the slopes of this mountain, among the rich and lush vegetation, there were huge numbers of snakes. According to another assumption, the name is associated not with the inhabitants of the mountain, but with the ravines that furrow its slopes, whose outlines resemble spreading snakes.
The height of the Snake reaches one kilometer. Most of it is covered with deciduous forests. Many plants and trees are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book.
Guests of Mineralnye Vody often come up with the idea of climbing to the top of Zmeika to look at the surroundings from above. However, this comes with a number of difficulties. Firstly, it is quite difficult to get to the top. Secondly, climbing the mountain involves serious risks. You will have to overcome quarries, rock falls and climb very steep slopes. It is best to make this climb in an organized group with an experienced guide.
At the foot of the Zmeyka there is the Terek stud farm (on the map),
which was built in the 1880s by Count Stroganov. Since the 70s of the last century, horses from the Terek plant began to be sold abroad. Horses bred at this stud have received and continue to receive the highest awards at international exhibitions and competitions. Currently, buyers compete for the right to own a horse at special auctions. The cost of some pets reaches several million dollars.
Special excursions are organized for tourists at the Tersky Stud Farm. During which all visitors will be able to appreciate the beauty and power of purebred Arabian horses with impeccable pedigree. In addition to excursions, the factory sometimes hosts exciting horse shows and sports competitions.
Holidays in Mineralnye Vody are strongly associated with healing, so tourists usually take with them something healing as a souvenir, for example, bottles of mineral water from nearby springs. In addition, city guests often buy Tambukan mud, which is used in cosmetology and to treat skin diseases.
