Artificial waterfall and lake Psyrtskha description and photo - Abkhazia: New Athos (Topic)

Artificial waterfall and lake Psyrtskha description and photos - Abkhazia: New Athos. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

An artificial waterfall and Lake Psyrtskha is one of the main attractions of the city of New Athos. The history of the artificial waterfall located in the city center is directly related to the New Athos Monastery, founded by Russian monks in 1875. Today it is the largest religious building in the Caucasus.

The waterfall was formed in 1882 during the construction of an arched dam by local monks. At the same time, Lake Psyrtskha was also formed, which is a small reservoir. The PSyrtskhinskaya hydroelectric power station was one of the very first hydroelectric power plants on the territory of tsarist Russia. The monks used the waterfall for various needs and purposes. For example, behind its water wall, special cellars and chambers were made similar to refrigerators.

The monks' canals from the lake and the dam irrigated vegetable gardens and orchards with olive, orange, tangerine and lemon trees, which spread out on terraces down the hill, and water from the waterfall was supplied to a brick factory, a sawmill and a laundry. A stone two-story mill and a bakery were built on the dam.

Currently, an artificial waterfall is the main decoration of the central part of New Athos. Until recently, he represented the remains of a former hydroelectric power station, which for many years did not provide electricity. Today, the building is abandoned and empty, as it was completely looted in Soviet times. It was possible to restore the hydroelectric power plant only in 2012, and then it works only for the needs of the New Athos Monastery.

But despite this, the artificial waterfall attracts not only local residents, but also guests of the city. And all this is due to the picturesque beauty and harmony of human labor with nature. The total height of the waterfall is 8.6 m, and the length is 21 m.

A stone staircase located to the right of the artificial waterfall will lead to the beautiful Lake Psyrtskha. Not far from the waterfall there is the famous temple of Simon the Kananit, shops with souvenirs, a small cafe where you can taste the best Abkhaz wines.

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Topic: Artificial waterfall and lake Psyrtskha description and photo - Abkhazia: New Athos.