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The Mzymta (Russian: Мзы́мта, Adyghe: Мэзмытӏэ, Mezmytha) is a river in Northwestern Caucasus, flowing through Mostovsky District and the city of Sochi (Adlersky City District) of Krasnodar Krai, Russia. The Mzymta is the largest river in Russia emptying into the Black Sea. It is 89 kilometres (55 mi) long with a watershed of 885 square kilometres (342 sq mi).[1] All the venues of the 2014 Winter Olympics were in the Mzymta Valley.
| Mzymta River | |
|---|---|
Mzymta from Maidens' Eyewater waterfall
| |
 
 Show map of Caucasus mountains  Show map of European Russia | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Russia |
| Federal subject |  Krasnodar Krai
|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Greater Caucasus |
| • elevation | 2,980 m (9,780 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Black Sea |
• coordinates | 43°24′57″N 39°55′25″E / 43.41583°N 39.92361°E / 43.41583; 39.92361 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 89 km (55 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 885 km2 (342 sq mi)[1] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 45.6 m3/s (1,610 cu ft/s) (near mouth) |
The source of the Mzymta is in Lake Verkhny KardyvachinWestern Caucasus, at the height of 2,980 metres (9,780 ft). The upper course of the river is located within the Caucasus Zapovednik. The Mzymta flows in a narrow valley through Lake Kardyvach and forms several waterfalls, the biggest of which is Izumrudny (Emerald), 15 metres (49 ft). Downstream of Lake Kardyvach, the river flows west and enters Sochi National Park. The banks are covered with beech forests and chestnuts, and also ancient Ubykh gardens with wild pear, walnut and chestnut. In Esto-Sadok and Krasnaya Polyana the Mzymta flows through the first urban area, where some of the events of the 2014 Winter Olympics took place. Downstream it turns south. The Mzymta comes through Akhshtyr and Dzykhra gorges, popular tourist attractions. The Mzymta enters the Black Sea in Adler, where the rest of the Winter Olympics took place. At the mouth, there is a big talus train, dividing into branches across the floodplains. Mzymta carries out to sea large amounts of silt. Mineral springs are also found in the catchment basin. The river is fed by spring tides and rain freshets.
The Mzymta is a floatable river, and the popular attraction is rafting. Krasnopolyanskaya hydroelectric power station has a reservoir with a daily streamflow regulation.