Mzymta River

Mzymta River
Mzymta from Maidens' Eyewater waterfall
Country	Russia
Basin features
Main source	Greater Caucasus 2,980 m (9,780 ft)
River mouth	Black Sea 0 m (0 ft)
Basin size	885 km2 (342 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	89 km (55 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 45.6 m3/s (1,610 cu ft/s) (near mouth)

Coordinates: 43°24′57″N 39°55′25″E / 43.41583°N 39.92361°E / 43.41583; 39.92361

Mzymta (Russian: Мзы́мта, Adyghe: Мэзмытӏэ, Mezmytha; Ubykh for "frantic") is a river in Western Caucasus, Russia, flowing through Mostovsky District and the city of Sochi (Adlersky City District) of Krasnodar Krai, Russia. 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). All the venues of the 2014 Winter Olympics were in the Mzymta Valley.

The source of the Mzymta is in Lake Verkhny Kardyvach in Western 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. 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.