Dante gorge description and photos - Russia - South: Goryachiy Klyuch (Topic)

Dante Gorge description and photos - Russia - South: Goryachiy Klyuch. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

Dantovo Gorge is an unusual natural monument located on the southern outskirts of the town of Goryachy Klyuch, in the Healing Park, at the foot of the Abadzekh mountain. This is one of the most beautiful and frequently visited places in this resort.

The Dante Gorge was created by people and nature itself. The gorge was cut through by the Cossacks in 1875-1878 to ventilate the swampy area of the Goryachy Klyuch resort. But further the work started by man was continued by nature. Snows and rains widened and deepened the gorge, and today it has a length of about 100 m, and the height of the rocks is up to 10-15 m.

Nature divided the mountain slopes with this narrow rocky gap. In the 70s. XIX century people cut down a stone staircase at the bottom of the gorge, consisting of 49 steps, after which they ennobled the clearing in front of the entrance. The sandstone cliffs overgrown with moss give a special flavor to the Dante staircase. The Klyuchevaya stream flows not far from the stairs. According to folk legends, the beautiful mistress of the gorge bathes in this stream every morning.

The Dante Gorge got its name thanks to the poem "Divine Comedy" by the famous Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Oddly enough, the entrance to the gloomy, cool and damp Dante gorge is very much like the entrance to the underworld described in the poem. This name was given to the gorge by the officers who were on treatment in the local area, later it became official.

Many people believe that climbing the local Abadzekh mountain is to some extent similar to purgatory. Therefore, having visited the gorge, they visit the Iverskaya chapel located at the foot of the mountain.

Topic: Dante gorge description and photos - Russia - South: Goryachiy Klyuch.