Abkhazia is an incredibly picturesque corner of the Western Caucasus. Having once seen her beauty - the bright colors of the world of flora, the transparency of mountain streams and rivers, the majestic mountains, you remember them all your life. Abkhazia is rich in mountain lakes, among which the Rizza lake is particularly fascinating. Every year almost tens of thousands of tourists send their footsteps to see this unforgettable natural creation with their own eyes. It is about him will be discussed.
Where is Lake Ritsa?
The famous lake is in the Gudauta district of Abkhazia - in the northwestern part of the region. This pearl of Abkhazia, surrounded on all sides by peaks of mountains with a height of more than 3000 m, is located in the basin of the Bzyb River. Rizza Lake rises at an altitude of 950 m above sea level. Near it lay dense, seemingly wild, forests, rugged mountain rivers, deep mountain gorges. The depth of Lake Ritsa averages 63 m, but in some places it reaches 131 m. The pond stretches for 2000 m in the valley of the Lachsse River. In addition to this river, another five rivers flow into Ritsa Lake in Abkhazia, but only one - Yupshara - flows. The water of Lake Ritsa never freezes in winter, only under the harshest climatic conditions its surface is covered by a layer of ice up to a maximum of 3-5 cm. The average water temperature in winter is + 3 + 4 ° C. In the summer, exceeds + 17 ° C, rarely warms up to +20 ° C.
This reservoir appeared due to the tectonic lowering of the part of the river valley about 250 thousand years ago. The local population has a legend about Lake Ritsa, its origin. According to it, on the place of the lake, a valley stretched along which a smooth river flowed. Ritsa's beautiful girl grazed sheep there, and her three brothers (Agyepsta, Pshegishka, Acetuk) were hunting. Once Ritsa, waiting for the brothers, burned a fire near the river bank and sang songs. Her beautiful voice was heard by two brothers: the robbers of Gegh and Yupshara. The latter decided to steal a beauty and take him away on his horse. Ritsa loudly called her brothers. Hearing her call, Pshegisha threw a shield toward the thieves, but missed. The shield blocked the river, the water spilled, a lake formed. Ritsa decided to take the opportunity and escape from the villains, but fell, fell into the lake and drowned. In a fit of desperation, the brothers threw the robbers into the water, and they themselves became petrified with grief and turned into mountains.
Rest on Lake Ritsa, Abkhazia
It is thanks to its magnificent views that Lake Ritsa is considered the main attraction of the region. In the last few years, the infrastructure around the reservoir has begun to develop actively. First of all, it should be mentioned that excursions to Lake Ritsa from the Black Sea resorts are arranged for those who wish. The obligatory point of walking along the picturesque banks of the reservoir recently included the nearby famous summer residence of Stalin on Lake Ritsa. It is a two-storey green building, connected by a transition. It is noteworthy that in the situation of the dacha there is the same furniture as with the great leader. Unfortunately, recently access to it has been closed, since the object became the residence of the president of Abkhazia.
Regarding how to get to Lake Ritsa on your own, you should get to the seaside route M-27, from which the road leads to the pond. Moving from Gagra, you need to turn off at 1 km from the traffic police post, from Sukhumi 1 km, passing the bridge across the Bzyb River.