Description of the attraction
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 falls was fed to a brick factory, a sawmill and a laundry. A stone two-story mill and a bakery were built on the dam.
Currently, the artificial waterfall is the main decoration of the central part of New Athos. Until recently, he represented the remains of a former hydroelectric power plant, which for many years did not provide electricity. Today the building is abandoned and empty, as it was completely plundered during 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, souvenir shops, a small cafe where you can taste the best Abkhaz wines.
Description added:
faith 2014-19-02
The artificial waterfall and Lake Psyrtskha were formed during the construction of an arched dam by the New Athos monks at the beginning of the last century.
The monks used the waterfall for a variety of purposes.
For example, behind the wall of water there were special chambers, which were used by the brethren as refrigerators.
Show full text The artificial waterfall and Lake Psyrtskha were formed during the construction of an arched dam by the New Athos monks at the beginning of the last century.
The monks used the waterfall for a variety of purposes.
For example, behind the wall of water there were special chambers, which were used by the brothers as a refrigerator.
Channels from the dam and lake irrigated gardens and vegetable gardens that were terraced down the hill.
Later, one of the first hydroelectric power plants in the Russian Empire was built here, but today its building is empty and abandoned, since during the period of the Soviets it was completely destroyed, right down to the wires and various mechanisms.
Nowadays, the artificial waterfall and Lake Psyrtskha is a local landmark that attracts both residents of the city of New Athos and tourists with its picturesque beauty and harmony of human labor with nature.
All excursion routes most often pass through an artificial waterfall and Lake Psyrtskha, a visit to which is planned immediately after visiting the New Athos Monastery.
This stimulates the growth of trade on the shores of the lake, and therefore many shops with souvenirs, stalls with drinks and Abkhaz wines, a recently opened restaurant, photographers with animals are always at your service.
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