Krasnodar Region to have world class ski resort - governor

KRASNODAR, August 15 (Itar-Tass) -- A new world class ski resort,
Lagonaki, will be constructed in the Krasnodar Region. It will be a part
of the North Caucasus Resorts project. The idea was supported by Russia's
President Dmitry Medvedev over the International economic forum in St.
Petersburg earlier this year, Region's Governor Alexander Tkachev said.
"I believe that in three years we shall see thousands and dozens of
thousands tourists there, like in the Krasnaya Polyana in Sochi /famous
ski resort/," he said.
Together with the working group, Tkachev went to the site of the
future tourist ski cluster, which will be partially located in the
Apsheron district of the Krasnodar Region. The governor came there by a
helicopter. The first landing was at the hight of 2,369 metres at the
Abadzesh Mountain, from where the delegation could see both sides of the
future resort complex.
Scientists make their research there, too. The governor spoke to
them and wanted to learn about nature's specific features of the cluster.
He asked when the snow layer becomes stable there. First frosts happen in
August, and the snow remains there for over six months, he was told.
"The plateau is so beautiful, and besides, even non-professional
tourists and children will pass comfortably the passes here, so it is just
the time to develop tourist facilities and infrastructures here," one of
the scientists said.
The Lagonaki project occupies the territory from the Azish-Tay
tourist complex at the Molochnaya River, the mountain complex Abadzesh
from the Adygeya Republic and the Lagonaka mountain ridge at the Apsheron
District. Totally, the project will occupy over one thousand hectares.
At the main peak of the future resort, the governor stated the vital
tasks to be carried out there. Over the coming year, a new road connecting
Krasnodar and Apsheronsk will be constructed and the design project of the
ski tourist cluster will be made. All the works at the site will be
approved by ecologists.
There will be new cableways and downhill routes. The project is
planned to attract about 450 billion roubles of private and state
investments.
Lagonaki is a plateau in Western Caucasus, at the height of up to
2,200 metres (average height is about 2,000 metres). The plateau is famous
for its wonderful alpine meadows.

-0-kar