| Mzymta River | |
|---|---|
Mzymta from Maidens' Eyewater waterfall |
|
| Origin | Greater Caucasus |
| Mouth | Black Sea |
| Basin countries | Russia |
| Length | 89 km |
| Source elevation | 2980 m |
| Avg. discharge | 45.6 m³/s (near mouth) |
| Basin area | 885 km² |
Mzymta (Russian: Мзы́мта, Adyghe: Мэзмытӏэ, Mezmytha; 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.
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, Sochi with a big talus train, dividing to branches and dodging by the floodplains. 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.
Mzymta is a floatable river, and the popular attraction is a rafting. Krasnopolyanskaya hydroelectric power station has a reservoir with a daily streamflow regulation.