February 17, 2024

Natural wonders of Russia: Belalakaya Mountain

Belalakaya Mountain is one of the most beautiful mountain peaks of Dombai. Translated from the Karachai language, its name means "girded with light". The slopes of Belalakai consist of alternating layers of light quartz and pearl-gray granite. The height of the mountain is 3861 meters.

There are mountain rivers and waterfalls on Belalakai, and at the foot there are beautiful lakes with turquoise water.

The lower part of the slopes is covered with deciduous and coniferous forests, and above it are alpine and subalpine meadows with thickets of rhododendrons. In spring and summer, anemones, bluebells, and crocuses bloom in the meadows.

Wild boars, deer, roe deer, lynxes, bears, martens are found in the mountain forest. At the foot you can see the Ulars and the Caucasian tour. Trout are found in the rivers.

Belalakaya has long attracted tourists and climbers with its beauty. The first officially recorded ascent to its peak was made in 1904 by an expedition of the Russian Mining Society. Now there are routes of various levels of difficulty along the slopes of the mountain, and several climbing camps are located here.

Calm and peaceful outside, Belalakaya keeps a secret. This mountain is a laccolith - an underformed volcano, and inside it, under layers of granite and quartz, viscous magma slowly shimmers. There is no crater on the top of the laccolith mountains, so you don't have to worry that a dormant or unformed volcano will suddenly wake up.

Belalakaya Mountain is a real natural treasure of our country, several million years old. She is the most famous symbol of Dombai resorts.

 

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