Mzymta River

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Mzymta (Russian: Мзы́мта; Ubykh for "frantic") is a river in Western Caucasus, Russia, flowing through Krasnodar Krai and the city of Sochi. Mzymta is the biggest river in Russia emptying into the Black Sea. Length: 89 km; watershed area: 885 km².

[edit] Geography

Mzymta springs from Caucasus Major, at a height of 2,980 m and flows in a narrow valley through lakes Kardyvach and Little Kardyvach. Mzymta forms several waterfalls, the biggest being Izumrudny (Emerald), 15 m. The banks are covered with beech forests and chestnuts, and also ancient Ubykh gardens with wild pear, walnut and chestnut. In Grecheskoye (Greek) gorge river comes more rapid. River comes through Akhshtyr and Dzykhra gorges, popular tourist attractions. Mzymta falls into the Black Sea near Adler with a big talus train, dividing to branches and dodging by the flood-lands. Mzymta carries out to sea quantum satis of silt. Mineral springs are also found in the catchment basin. The river has a mixed feeding: spring tides and rain freshets.

[edit] Average intensity of flow

• Krasnaya Polyana: 33,2 c. m/s
• Kepsh: 45,6 c. m/s (max 764 c. m/s)

[edit] Other facts

Mzymta is a floatable river, and the popular attraction is a rafting. Krasnopolyanskaya hydroelectric power station has a reservoir with a daily streamflow regulation.