Lake Abrau. Sights of the Krasnodar region

The clear, emerald waters of Abrau reflect the oaks, maples and linden trees that cover the coastal hills. Translated from the Abkhaz language, the name sounds like “failed.” Legendary and mysterious Lake Abrau-Durso is located 14 kilometers west of Novorossiysk.

This is the largest freshwater reservoir in the Krasnodar region. Its length exceeds 2.5 kilometers and its width is 600 meters.

There are many hypotheses and legends associated with the origin of the lake.

Lake Abrau on the map

Geographic coordinates 44.699436, 37.592508
The distance from the capital of Russia is about 1250 km in a straight line
Anapa or Gelendzhik airports are approximately 40 km away from each

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The lake stretches from north to south. The left coast has a smooth, curved shape, but on the right there are three small bays, in which the width of the lake reaches 965 meters.

Lake Abrau is mainly fed by the waters of the river of the same name, as well as springs gushing at the bottom and small mountain streams.

The water in the lake is saturated with dissolved limestone, so the transparency here is low, no more than 1 meter, and the color of the reservoir is from emerald to white-blue.

Features of the lake

Lake Abrau resembles a large mirror located in a mountain range. The clouds are reflected in this blue surface of the water. Many peoples use the word Abrau. In our opinion, a successful translation would be the interpretation of the ancient Iranian language. The translation is interpreted as “sky”. And frankly, the translation is true. It was as if part of the sky in the form of a blue surface sank into a depression. The reservoir follows the contours of the mountain ranges, which are covered with forest caps on top.

The size of the lake is impressive - 190 hectares. The length is more than 2600 meters, the width is 600 meters. The depth reaches 11 meters. Because of its size, it is rightfully the largest fresh water lake in the North-West Caucasus.

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Sights of Abrau-Durso

Theories of the formation of Lake Abrau

Scientists put forward several versions of the birth of the lake. According to one of them, the lake is a failure of karst layers, which was gradually filled with the waters of the Abrau River and streams from the nearby mountains. But such a theory is unlikely, since such failures usually have a round shape. For example, like the Well of Souls in Argentina.

According to the second version, Lake Abrau is the remains of a prehistoric freshwater reservoir of the Cimmerian period.

There is a theory according to which the lake was formed as a result of landslides that blocked the bed of the Abrau River. But this version also loses, since there are no high peaks in the lower part of the lake, and accordingly nature had nothing to block the river’s path.

The most plausible version is that in ancient times there was an earthquake that changed the mountainous terrain in the area of the dam. That is, the layers of the earth's surface rose here and blocked the flow of the river, as a result of which this lake was formed.

Lake Abrau is drainless. This means that it has no surface runoff. Some of the water simply evaporates from the surface, while the other part is absorbed into the ground in the southern part of the lake. In fact, there is no direct connection with the Black Sea. But there are suggestions that Abrau is connected by groundwater to Lake Maly Liman, located right on the seashore one and a half kilometers to the south.

Small Estuary and Abrau Beach

Speaking about attractions and entertainment in Abrau-Durso, one cannot fail to mention the lake called Maly Liman, which locals and vacationers sometimes call “Sweet Limanchik”. This body of water is separated from the sea by a rather narrow stone spit.

On the shore of the estuary lies the magnificent Abrau Beach, which is intended only for visitors to a number of hotels. But, frankly speaking, anyone can get here for a fee.

Climate of Lake Abrau

The climatic conditions here are close to mild Mediterranean. The maximum water level is recorded from late autumn to early spring. Low water (minimum level) is typical for summer. The surface of the lake does not completely freeze even in winter. The minimum temperature on the water surface in January reached +0.2°C. From April the water temperature begins to rise and reaches its maximum at the end of July. In 1954, the water temperature was recorded at +29.8°C. In general, the average monthly water temperature in summer is about 25°C, which is quite comfortable for swimming.

Lake in Abrau-Durso: recreation for tourists

It acquired a beautiful name thanks to the factory located on the first of its banks: a large enterprise produces Abrau-Durso champagne, the name of which has long become synonymous with a quality mark. The depth of the reservoir is 11 km; quite recently the figure was much greater; unfortunately, it is becoming shallower due to siltation processes, which have not yet been stopped, despite all the attempts of the administration.

On the shore of Abrau there is a city of the same name, where you can easily choose a hotel, and the student camp “Liman”. It is surrounded by a full-fledged road around its perimeter, which will make traveling to it easier. And the walk will be pleasant: mountain air mixed with the smell of resin, dogwood trees, landscapes that would be an honor for any major artist to paint. You should start adding to your traveler’s album right from the car: you don’t need to have any special skills to capture the beauty in the photo; the lake in the village of Abrau-Durso is perfection itself.

It is allowed to set up tents on the shore; it is better to go down to the Liman camp for clean water. The beach is pebble, with large stones, the water, as often happens in such areas, is clean. It’s not difficult to see all the inhabitants, of which there are plenty here. The important thing is that you can and even need to swim here.

Fishing is another reason to visit the lake. Its temperature rarely drops below +28 degrees; it does not freeze completely even in winter. Here you can catch carp and ram, carp and bream. Local crayfish are also famous for their size and quality. Fishing is allowed both from the shore and from a boat.

Recreation opportunities on Lake Abrau:

Excursion to the Abrau-Durso plant. Seeing how a traditional New Year's drink is made is interesting and educational. Here you can also buy a couple of bottles of products for souvenirs.
Rent tents and fishing rods. It is no longer necessary to bring everything with you; the most necessary things can be obtained here for a reasonable price.
Well-maintained walking routes 3 and 9 km long. A true delight for hikers.
Renting boats and SUVs will help you explore the most inaccessible corners.
The Church of St. Xenia of Petersburg stands white on one of the shores of the lake. The Golden-Domed Church has a rich history and beautiful decoration.
Fountains over the water surface. Appearing in 2015, they became a real decoration of a small locality. Everyone who comes here does not pass by this reminder.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to visit this natural monument; everyone will be satisfied after visiting here at least once.

Historical reference

The name of the lake comes from the Adyghe “Abragio”, which means “big” or “huge”. From Abkhazian Abrau can be translated as a depression or cliff.

According to legend, there was once a large and very rich village here. So rich that its inhabitants, wanting to show off their treasures, decided to pave a road to the sea and line it with gold and silver coins. But the gods did not appreciate such enthusiasm and punished the mountaineers for their pride - the village sank into the ground, and a lake appeared in its place.

There is another legend (of course, tragic like most legends). In a mountain village lived a poor shepherd and the daughter of a rich and noble man. They fell in love with each other, but the girl's parents were against it. One day, in order not to let her go on a date with the shepherd, they closed the doors in front of her with the words “It is better that the entire village goes underground and is flooded by the river than that you ever meet again.” As they say, be afraid of your wishes - they may come true. And so it happened, it didn’t take long to beg the gods, the village collapsed and was covered with water.

In 1870, at the direction of Emperor Alexander II, “an appanage estate called Abrau-Durso” was formed in the vicinity of the lake. This name can be translated as “the basin of four springs.”

Since 1872, on the advice of winemakers from France, vineyards were planted near the lake. In 1890, the first wines appeared under the Abrau-Durso brand: Bordeaux, Sauternes, Lafite and Burgundy. Since then, these regions have been famous for their winemaking traditions.

In 1891, the first batches of Abrau-Durso champagne went on sale.

Since 1988, Lake Abrau has had the honorary title “Nature Monument”.

Immersion in art at the Abrau Light Gallery

We move from nature to indoors. “Gallery of Light Abrau” is a unique place, and you definitely shouldn’t miss the chance to visit it. What happens here can easily be called immersive art. This is where video, sound, light and dance come together. The visitor does not just look at the exhibited works - he becomes their protagonist.

The gallery features seven Kuflex installations. The show “I Am the Vine” reveals the connection between winemaking and art. Advanced multimedia technologies immerse you in the history of the origins of viticulture so deeply that it becomes indistinguishable: where reality ends and exposition begins.

Prices and opening hours

An adult ticket to the exhibition costs 500 rubles. For children six to seven years old, the tariff is reduced - 300 rubles. The youngest visitors can visit the gallery for free.

“Gallery of Light Abrau” is open daily, but at different hours. From Monday to Thursday the exhibition can be accessed from 09:30 to 18:30. From Friday to Saturday the gallery is open from 10:00 to 20:00.

Interesting Facts

The maximum depth in the southern part of the lake reached 30 meters, but in recent decades, as a result of silting of the bottom, it has decreased to 11 meters
In the summer, every day from 9 to 10 pm here you can see the mesmerizing show of Singing Fountains. For a whole hour you will be delighted by colored jets flowing directly from the lake to the beat of various musical compositions, from classics to modern times.
There is a cozy park on the shore of the lake where you can take a quiet walk and enjoy beautiful views of the lake and mountains
Like many resort villages in the Krasnodar Territory, Abrau-Durso can boast an abundance of tents with souvenirs, cafes, well-groomed grounds and a great mood among vacationers
Here you can find interesting and photogenic places for photography. For example, a bottle of champagne or the “Shepherd Boy” figure, which is dedicated to the hero of the film “Jolly Fellows” Kostya Potekhin. His role was then played by the legendary Leonid Utesov. This sculpture is located near a small stage, behind which are the Singing Fountains
The heart sculpture in the park, one of the popular tourist attractions, symbolizes love (what else)
There is a remarkable shop in Abrau-Durso called “Grotto”, carved into the rock. If you're in these places, be sure to check it out