Swimming in a volcano. Swimming in the crater of a volcano: people in Baku don’t understand that a nightmare can begin at any moment Cost of an excursion to the Shugo volcano

But my husband, who had already been to some Taman volcanoes, convinced me that for the first visit it is better to choose the most comfortable mud volcano “Tizdar”. There are platforms and ladders there, and it’s easy to climb on and off yourself, and it’s easier to bathe a child.

Many people go to mud volcanoes to improve their health, because they have a number of healing properties. Immersion in the mud of the Tizdar volcano helps with a number of diseases:

Chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems;
Metabolic disorders;
Diseases of peripheral blood vessels.

But there are also contraindications.

Heart disease, malignant and benign tumors, early pregnancy and others

We didn’t go for the purpose of treatment, but simply for fun, it’s always interesting to try something new. And my son, having watched enough cartoons where characters wallow in mud (not at all therapeutic), also wanted to imitate them.

We got to the volcano by car using a navigator. We drove from Anapa for about 1.5 hours. The road is good, asphalt everywhere.

I could have gone on one of the excursions that are offered at every turn in Anapa, but I didn’t want to depend on other people at all. And when the next excursion group arrives, too many people simultaneously plunge into the bowl of the volcano.

The volcano is located on the territory of the tourist complex "Tizdar":

Entrance to the tourist complex "Tizdar"

Entry (entrance) to the territory is paid, the cost is

700 rub. per person*
*Price 2017.

I didn’t have to pay for my four-year-old son (children under 5 years old are free, they don’t ask for a birth certificate). We were not given any receipts, tickets or other documents confirming payment, only an advertisement with a list of services included in this price.

The cost of entry and entry to the “health island” includes:
stay on the territory;
use of a parking lot;
visit to the zoo "Ark" (ostriches, wolves, peacocks, various types of birds and ornamental animals);
gazebos for relaxation;
playground;
travel on the “Merry Rainbow” train along the route Embankment - Living Corner;
use of storage rooms, showers, toilets;

Operating mode:

May-September (seasonal) from 09.00 to 20.00, without breaks and weekends

The car can be parked near the entrance. A little further there is another parking lot, but it is only for those staying at the hotel on the territory of the complex.

There is a volcano right across the road from the parking lot. It is fenced on all sides; you can go down to its crater, filled with mud (blue clay), only by one staircase; there is another for ascent. The security guard at the entrance strictly ensures that the stairs are not confused.

Things can be hung under the mushroom canopies at the entrance. It is better to put everything valuable in the storage room, it is located a little further from the volcano. In the storage room, you put a plastic bracelet with a number on your hand, so you can safely swim with it. When you receive your items, the bracelet is cut off.

Around the thicket of the volcano there is a wooden platform with several ladders going down. There are rubber mats on the platform, but they are all smeared with mud, as are the handrails around the crater. You have to go down carefully. In general, as long as you don’t get dirty yourself, it’s not difficult. It’s much more difficult to get out, it’s not really slippery. Nobody monitors the cleanliness.

When descending to the volcano, you can clearly smell the smell of hydrogen sulfide, it is moderate, but it will stay with you for a long time, it is simply absorbed into the skin.

It’s convenient to go down the stairs directly into the mud; the steps go far down, that is, when they end, you will be completely immersed in the dark gray slurry. Mud is much denser than water, so it pushes the body harder, so you won’t be able to fall down into a bottomless bowl (they say it’s 25 meters deep). The lack of a bottom didn't bother me at all.

It seemed to me that maintaining balance and turning over was not difficult, but some other visitors (elderly, overweight) found it a bit difficult. Swimming is a little more difficult, but there is not much room there, you just need to move a little away from the ladder so as not to disturb other swimmers. It is better not to make sudden movements, otherwise everyone around will be splashed.

The consistency of the mud resembles liquid sour cream, it is heterogeneous, and there are small, relatively hard lumps. Sometimes it seemed to me that my feet were touching algae, but these were also particles of dirt.

The temperature in different parts of the crater is different. Along the edges the mud is heated by the sun and is very warm. In the center, where the volcano erupts new portions of healing liquid, it is colder.

It gurgles and bubbles not much; a very small column of dirt rises above the surface and spreads out in circles. The mud masses rising from below, from the crater of the volcano, are very cold.

The constant gurgling of the volcano demonstrates its naturalness, although perhaps it can be faked. I have read more than once that the volcano has gone out and the dirt is brought in from outside. But we are unlikely to know how true this is.

According to official information:

The Tizdar volcano has been active since the Miocene era, i.e. at least 10 million years. The mud is renewable; the daily flow rate of fresh outflows is 2.5 m3 per day.
According to scientists, it is fed by mud through the central trunk from the depths of the volcano, the mouth of which descends into the depths of the Cimmerian rocks, which lie at a depth of 40 to 300 m.

I was inside for 15 minutes. At first it was interesting, the sensations were unusual, but I quickly got bored. In addition, my husband and I took turns swimming so that we could take photos. You can’t get inside with a phone or camera; there’s a high chance of dropping it and 100% getting it dirty.

My husband brought the child to the crater when I was already swimming. The son, who most wanted to go to the volcano, categorically refused to swim in the mud. It was enough for him to go into it up to his knees. I think it's the bad smell. With difficulty, we persuaded the son to go into his father's arms, and thus dipped the child to the waist, causing crying and demands to immediately return to the shore. The husband tried to turn around to face the stairs, but it was not easy to maintain balance with a child in his arms. A fountain of splashes, and our faces and hair are covered in mud. In my opinion, it’s better not to get your hair dirty with dirt, because it will be difficult to wash it later, and it’s not very pleasant to be in the wind with a wet head, and the winds there can be strong.

By the way, not only my son did not want to swim in the mud, other kids also cried, but the older children had more fun.

Having slid along the platform and climbed up, we went to wash our hands. Near the exit there are several taps equipped only for washing hands; you can completely wash off the dirt in the sea. It is very close, you just need to walk a little and go down the stairs to the beach.

My son and I did not go to the sea once, remaining to wait for my husband, who did not have time to swim. During these few minutes we were completely chilled by the wind. The body, completely covered with wet mud, was very cold. We ran to the sea.

But how warm the sea water seemed. Simply hot! It was one of the most enjoyable swims of the entire vacation. In sea waves, dirt easily comes off the body, but still remains in the folds of the swimsuit. Of course, it is better to take an old or dark swimsuit with you, as it will get even more dirty than your body. On me it was half light, nothing, after several washes it completely washed out.

We were on a fairly warm sunny day and still froze. I can’t imagine what would happen if you come to Tizdar in cooler weather.

Then we went up the stairs to the showers to finish washing (the water there is also sea water and also warm, heated by the sun). The showers are divided into men's and women's; there are many cubicles, but all of them have no doors.

Next to the showers there is a toilet, it looks clean enough, you can wash your hands with soap, but the smell is...

After washing and changing clothes, we went to the Living Corner “Ark”.

It is a small zoo. All animals are kept in small cages and you can’t touch anything. Immediately upon entering, you can smell the smell, but not of volcanic mud, but of animals. At the entrance, guests are greeted by a large figure of Shrek. Everyone takes pictures with her, but my son was scared.

The zoo begins with enclosures with large flightless birds - ostriches. The zoo features rhea and emu ostriches. There are peacocks next to them. We were unlucky; none of the peacocks showed a beautiful tail.

Then we moved on to the steppe wolf cages. I felt very sorry for them. The wolf cages are very small, communicating with each other, and both wolves constantly run in circles around them. To prevent visitors from getting too close to predators, the cages are behind additional fencing.

A raccoon and a porcupine were located next to the wolves.

There are also poultry in the living area: several types of chickens, ducks, turkeys. The pigeons amazed us with their size, a couple of times larger than the usual ones living in the city.

There was also one monkey in the zoo, which for some reason was not allowed to be photographed, like the parrots opposite.

We also saw a squirrel, a chinchilla and a ferret (but these animals are probably in any petting zoo in any city).

The free space between the enclosures is decorated with flowers and garden sculptures.

I can’t say that I was very interested in visiting the “Living Corner”, but taking a walk for a change is not bad, especially since you don’t have to pay extra for it. But the zoo made no impression on the child at all. But he doesn’t particularly like such places, only the Moscow Zoo was interesting for his son.

In addition to the zoo, there are other entertainments for children:

playground, Pretty big. Slides, swings, rocking chairs, there is room for the child to run and play. But in general, nothing special, similar sites (only smaller) are in every second yard in my city.
paid entertainment: The Giant's House, The Upside Down House and others, we didn't go
little train. This is what my son liked most about this trip.

The locomotive consists of three carriages. It runs from the living corner to the embankment (down to the sea) almost constantly (there are two short breaks) and without additional charge. The ride is not long at all, you can walk, but it’s much more interesting on a train. We rode it twice.

At the final stops there are gazebos where you can relax in the shade.

For adults, there are also additional paid activities: fishing in the picturesque pond on the territory. The pond is fenced, there are announcements everywhere that visiting the gazebos is paid.

Price:

500 rub. 1 hour. (the price includes 1 fishing rod, bait (corn), gazebo, barbecue).
3000 rub. all day (the price includes 1 fishing rod, bait (corn), gazebo, barbecue).
coal + ignition - 300 rub.
skewers 5 pcs. - 200 rub.

* Each additional fishing rod is paid separately
* Caught fish up to 3 kilograms - free, over 3 kg. paid 250 rubles. per kg.
* Restaurant chefs can cook caught fish, cost 200 rubles. per kg.

You can dine on site either in the restaurant or in the kebab shop, cheburechka and pancake shop. We chose a pancake house.

Our order consisted of three types of pancakes: with cheese, with chicken and cheese and with ham cheese, as well as shawarma. For drinks, we took a liter of mojito lemonade; you could choose kvass, beer or juice. The pancakes are baked right in front of you. The size is large. The price is reasonable (about 100 rubles per pancake).

I tried all three types. All turned out to be delicious, but most of all I liked the chicken and cheese filling (which I initially chose for myself). The lemonade was also very good.

There are numerous souvenir stalls located near catering establishments. The assortment is extensive, but quite ordinary. I only bought a pack of volcanic mud in memory of Tizdar, the cost is 250 rubles. per kg.

Having eaten and rested, we decided to swim again in the waves of the Azov Sea, but this time away from those washing off the dirt. We went down to the beach along another staircase.

On the beach, accessible to all visitors, only wooden umbrellas and canopies are installed. Sunbeds are only on the next beach and are intended for hotel guests. but we were by car, so we brought beach mats with us and settled down perfectly on the sandy shore. I didn’t really like the entrance to the sea; the strip of shells was too wide. The water is quite muddy and very shallow. But once we arrived, we shopped to our hearts’ content.

Overall, I liked the trip to the Tizdar mud volcano and the visit to the tourist complex. Now I know what these volcanoes are like, and maybe next time I’ll go to a less developed one. The additional services provided by the complex did not let the child get bored, but still there were some shortcomings.

Everyone knows the volcanoes Vesuvius, Krakatoa, Kilimanjaro... But did you know that there are also mud volcanoes? One of these unusual natural phenomena is located in the Krasnodar region. In order to see this volcano and appreciate the beauty of swimming in its healing mud, come to the village of Za Rodinu, Temryuk district, located on the Sea of Azov. Let's find out more about the Tizdar mud volcano, whose second name is Blue Balka.

Tizdar is a volcanic mountain 230 m high. About a hundred years ago, when the last eruption of this volcano occurred, it lost its conical peak, and in its place a mud lake 15-20 m wide formed. Tizdar produces about 2.5 cubic meters of mud, which is therapeutic: regular immersion in it improves the condition of the skin, acting as a peeling. The mud - also known as gray-blue clay - has a unique composition that combines iodine, bromine and hydrogen sulfide. It is also believed that mud can heal many diseases - although this hypothesis has not yet been scientifically confirmed.

As for the exact depth of the Tizdar volcano, it is paradoxical, but it is still not reliably known and is supposed to be about 25 m. The thing is that diving to the depth is simply impossible due to the high density of the mud - it simply pushes out a person whose body density is much higher less. Thanks to this, it is impossible to drown in a mud volcano! Plunging into the mud of a volcano, you will experience an incomparable feeling of weightlessness. For this alone, it’s worth coming to the Krasnodar Territory to the Tizdar volcano!

Rest on the Tizdar volcano

Swimming in the mud of the Tizdar volcano goes well with, which is located just 50 m from Tizdar. The volcano itself is located on the territory of a private complex called “Island of Health.” Entry here is paid, and vacationers have a cozy sandy beach, a small cafe with traditional Russian cuisine, a market, a parking lot, tasting rooms (wine and tea), showers and even an ostrich farm.

In addition, in the vicinity of the “Island of Health” you can find several attractions. These archaeological antiquities are traces of human presence here more than a thousand years ago. For example, the Taman Tholos, the ruins of which are in the ground, was a majestic architectural structure where priests treated the islanders from Taman with healing volcanic mud. Also, not far from Sinaya Balka, traces of prehistoric people were found who hunted mammoths, driving them into the lake silt.

It is strictly prohibited to remove healing mud from the territory of the complex. Therefore, many people carry it directly on themselves, instead of plunging into the Azov Sea after swimming in the mud. Tourists claim that in this way you can get 1.5-2 kg of clay, which should then be used as a home peeling.

Where is Tizdar Volcano located?

There are two ways to get to the Tizdar volcano: as part of a group excursion trip or on your own, by personal vehicle.

A comfortable excursion bus is a very convenient option. Tourists are taken from Anapa to the Tizdar mud volcano and back, and the excursion is quite long; vacationers are given time for swimming and visiting local attractions.

It is better to get to the Tizdar mud volcano on your own, as a rule, along the Krasnodar-Temryuk highway, past the village of Peresyp. This way you can quickly get to your destination - the village of Za Rodinu, where, by the way, there are private hotels for family holidays.

It would seem, “how to swim in a volcano?” - this is an absolutely stupid question! A question that makes no sense. You can't swim in volcanoes! This is mortally dangerous and therefore impossible in principle! However... if you wish, you can still do this!
How? We need to find a suitable volcano! :) And the main thing is that this volcano turns out to be... mud! :)

There are several mud volcanoes in the Krasnodar region. But, in my opinion, the mud volcano, with the “sugar” name Shugo, which is located near the village of Varenikovskaya, is the most interesting of all.

Firstly, because it is not overrun by tourists. For example, in the mud volcano near the village of Golubitskaya, on the shores of the Sea of Azov, in the summer season there is literally nowhere for an apple to fall. And sometimes it’s really difficult to swim there, not because of the danger of diving, but because of the number of people. And, secondly, Shugo is a classic mud volcano, and not an ordinary hole with mud. And from it you can get an idea of what kind of wonderful natural phenomenon this is - a mud volcano.

Shugo, or as the Circassians call it “Shygo uashkh” (a mound with a flat top), is the largest mud volcano on the Taman Peninsula - its crater reaches a diameter of 450 meters. And perhaps the most famous! Since many local legends are dedicated to him. There is a Circassian story that on the site of the current Shugo volcano (in Circassian “Iezheuasa”, which means “ash mountain”) there was an aul that, for the sins of its inhabitants, fell through the ground, and only one righteous widow was saved.

Now widows, married couples and even children with their parents come to this volcano themselves, so that they themselves, without the help of natural disasters, “fall through the earth.” :) And they are not at all upset about this. Quite the contrary. :)
The only thing is that neither these photos nor videos will convey the full scale of this natural miracle, which everyone is so delighted with.
Therefore, I will try to briefly describe what awaits everyone who wants to visit this place.

Imagine a hilly, wooded area and as you walk through it you suddenly come across a vast open space (below the rest of the forest) filled with a dried, cracked, light gray mass. Among this mass, as far as the eye can see, not a sprout, not a green twig, or anything living is visible. In some places, craters of small volcanoes stick out on this lunar surface. And from their vents, pulsating and gurgling, a rather thick, dark gray liquid with a bluish tint flows out, spreading to the sides. Impressive, isn't it?

But what is even more impressive (especially for those who come here for the first time) is that in the most “liquid” part of this entire landscape there are two pools for “swimming”!

In which, there is no other way to put it, some slimy, gray humanoid creatures are frolicking, but in fact they turn out to be really human. :)

At the same time, there is such a blissful and at the same time joyful expression on their faces that it is simply impossible not to join the “pigs” already floundering in the gray slurry. :)

From the highest vent of one of the mini-volcanoes (which provides the mud for the baths), the entire Shugo complex looks like in this photo - simple, laconic and not very presentable. But what’s on the outside is not the main thing here. The main thing here is the bowels of the earth - a. simply put, dirt. For which, in fact, they come here. And in which the people go crazy with such enthusiasm.

By the way, for those who want to do more than just swim in the mud (which is impossible due to the high density of the substance), two ramps have been made into the recesses of the pools. We decided to go extreme, slide down and plop down - we take a bucket, scoop up the slurry from the crater and water the slide so that it slides. And then to the fifth point, bang, and we open our eyes. :) Water park, pure water! :) More precisely, a mud park.

“Bul-tykh”, “gulk” and “gul” on Shugo volcano are very common sounds. For example, the main vent makes its “gurgle” every few minutes.

Releasing a new portion of bluish, heated clay to the surface.

And watching this “eruption” is very interesting.
However, when you realize that there are several kilometers of liquid mud underneath you, going somewhere into the bowels of the earth, you become a little uneasy. It may be a mud volcano, but it is still a volcano. And sometimes (once every hundred years, approximately) he makes his big “gurgle”. I really don’t want to be present at one (let alone in a crater).

But let’s not think about the bad, but rather get to know the volcano better.
When all the dirt in the area has been collected, all the slides have been run in, and the “pig” sensations have dulled a little, you can go for a walk, absorb the healing mud and look at the rest, the non-swimming part of Ash Mountain.

If it were not for the trees in the distance, the Shugo volcano would look like a real lunar landscape. Some even say that the cunning Americans filmed the imitation of the moon landing in some similar place. :) Why not. Looking at all this, I just want to say: “This is a small step for a person, but a huge leap for humanity.” :)

The moon, the real moon. There are potholes, some holes, cracks and other bizarre mini-formations all around. Moreover, unlike the Earth’s satellite, this entire surface on the Shugo volcano is also alive - the earth “breathes” underfoot in places, sighs, gurgling, and hissing are heard. Sometimes literally under your feet! Which is both interesting and scary at the same time.

There are also completely independent volcanoes on the Krasnodar “moon”. Some of which look old, dried out and inactive.

And others, on the contrary, are young and very active. These hiss, gurgle and throw viscous drops of liquid mud up a couple of centimeters.

Which, flowing with lava along their base, turns into short but very colorful mud rivers.

By the way, Shugo mud is considered useful - the “product” of the volcano was once used in Anapa resorts for medical procedures. And we can admit in practice that the sensations after smearing with Shug mud are really pleasant: the skin becomes more elastic and at the same time soft. Personally, I look five years younger. :)

But, however (which also applies to any other natural healing factor), the best principle for taking mud is not to overuse it! It is believed that this procedure should not exceed 15 minutes. And besides, there are contraindications for a number of people. You never know - they will hold the dirt on themselves - and, in terms of age, they will go into minus. :) So, we took a swim and shower.

But I note that the local mud is so oily and ubiquitous that you can’t just get rid of it. The process of washing off the gray slurry for me, and for everyone who was nearby, took, perhaps, no less time than the bathing itself. You wash and wash, but nothing happens - either the shit remains there, or a piece of it gets stuck in your ear. :) But it's useful. :)

So, if you are in the Krasnodar region in the summer and decide (perhaps) to try the mud on yourself, be sure to stop by the Shugo volcano. You will get new impressions, see an extraordinary natural monument, and improve your health. So to speak, three in one. :)

And, most importantly, after visiting this healing mud, you can honestly and without a twinge of conscience tell everyone (of course, without explaining the details) - You know, I swam in a volcano! :)

P.S.
Bonus - a short video of Shug's mud.

Shugo Volcano Excursion from Gelendzhik. The most unique and healing place on the Taman Peninsula is the Shugo mud volcano. The volcano is located at an altitude of 163 meters and is the highest point of the entire peninsula and the largest mud volcano.

The bowl of the volcano is about 7 meters, and its color has a bluish tint. Near the volcanoes there are small craters of volcanoes, from which dirt gurgles and pulsates.

In 1903, there was a strong volcanic eruption, the sound spread throughout the entire area, and there was so much mud that it destroyed all the vegetation near it. Now there is no vegetation near the volcano.

The healing properties of the volcano.

Vulcan has a beneficial effect on the entire body. The mud is highly mineralized with a high content of boron, bromine, zinc and iodine. In the volcano, the mud is constantly renewed in a natural way.

The road to Shugo Volcano is 2 hours. Duration of the excursion 8 ocloc'k. You are given three hours to spend on the volcano. Tourists have 3 mud pools and the coolest and most unusual mud slides at their disposal. Tourists can use showers, there are about a hundred of them, sun loungers and a toilet. There is a cafe on site where you can have a tasty and inexpensive meal. The program includes a free wine tasting and 2 pancakes with herbal tea.

Cost of excursion to Shugo volcano

Cost of a bus excursion for adults - 850 rub., children's - 650 rub.. (from 6 to 11 years inclusive)
Children under 5 years old without a seat on the bus are free, admission to the volcano is free.
The duration of the excursion is 8 ocloc'k.
Additional costs: 350 rub. entrance to the volcano, pdrive to the volcano 100 rub.
Additional expenses upon request: honey tasting – 200 rub. (3 grades), purchase of 1.5 liters of dirt – 150 rubles.

Excursion schedule to Shugo volcano

How to book a tour

Information by phone: 8-918-918-91-84 Tatiana.
Opening hours: 9:00 to 19:00.
The ticket can be purchased at the address: Gelendzhik st. Kurzalnaya 8.

Departure point

Gelendzhik, bus stops on the street. Lunacharsky and Kirov, the stop is specified when booking.
Pre-book excursion for 1-2 days.
Boarding the bus is only with a ticket.

What to take with you on an excursion

Towel, swimming clothes, shower accessories, water for the trip.

Excursion to the Holy Places of the Caucasus

Shugo Volcano Excursion from Gelendzhik photos:

BAKU, June 6 – Sputnik, Zarina Orudzhalieva. In Azerbaijan, along with the swimming season, the season for swimming in mud volcanoes opens. As reported by Sputnik Azerbaijan, today the only permitted territory where people can plunge directly into the mouth of a mud volcano is the town of Dashgil in the Garadagh district of Baku.

Every summer hundreds of people come here to smear themselves with the mud that comes straight from the depths of the earth, hoping for its healing properties. And after wallowing in the mud to their heart's content, people go for a swim in the sea, which is located quite close.

However, the question inevitably arises: is it really safe to be in the crater of a volcano, even a dormant one? Doctor of Sciences at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Adil Aliyev, gave an unequivocal answer to this question.

According to him, the Dashgil volcanoes are completely safe, and the mud has healing properties. However, he did not specify exactly what medicinal properties he was talking about, noting that the volcano is dormant and does not have the ability to erupt.

But, having not received a comprehensive answer, the editors turned to another specialist. A representative of the institute, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that there are currently 365 mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan. Of these, 200 are on land. Most volcanoes are active. And only 43 volcanoes are directly under the protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan. For security reasons, people are not allowed there. However, the Dashgil volcanoes are not protected by the ministry and therefore people, including tourists, come there. The absence of a razor fence does not mean that volcanoes are safe.

They can come to life at any moment. And so far no one can give accurate seismic forecasts, the source assures. Therefore, it is impossible to categorically insist that volcanoes will no longer erupt.

“Climbing blindly into a mud volcano and taking a bath there is a mistake. First of all, because no one has studied the composition of the mud. In addition, you can fall into the crater of the volcano, after which no one will be able to find the person. Thirdly, it is impractical, since no one knows whether staying in a volcano will be beneficial for human health,” the expert said.

In addition, the source noted that no one can know the width of the cracks inside the volcanoes from which the dirt erupts. Therefore, people risk their lives while inside them.

In this regard, in order not to expose human lives to senseless risks, the source proposed transferring all volcanoes in Azerbaijan to the supervision of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Azerbaijan Republic.