Krasnodar region > Sochi

Sochi

The climatic conditions of Sochi are very special. It is situated on the same latitude as Nice, but here a subtropical climate is com-bined with a mountain climate. You can swim in the warm Black Sea from April to the end of October, while the Alpine skiing season runs for a full eight months - from October to May. In this way, in both fall and spring you can swim in the sea, and within a couple of hours also manage to do some skiing in the mountains. In Sochi, there is practically never fog or heavy frost. The mountains protect the city from currents of cold air. Pure air, a gentle sea, mineral water and curative mud attract hundreds of thousands of tourists here each year.

The territory of Sochi forms part of the Caucasus biosphere nature preserve.Sochi's Khostinsky district has the only yew-box- wood grove of its kind; no similar forests have been preserved elsewhere on the globe. The local 30-metre tall, 2000 year old yew and 400-year old giant beech tree produce a great impression on visitors. Beautiful waterfalls, mysterious caves, the majestic mountains of the Caucasus: all together show us that nature was not stingy 1 setting out breathtaking panoramas.

The popular Alpine skiing resort linked to Sochi, Krasnaya Polyana, is located 40 km away from the coast in the picturesque valley of the Mzymta River. The crests of the surrounding majestic mountains - Achishkho, Aibga, Chugush, Pseashkho - reach an elevation of 2500-3000 m.

Sochi has always welcomed friends from the whole world with warm hospitality. And now the organisers of the Olympic Games are keen to make the town as comfortable as possible for guests attending the main sporting event of the planet.

Fans will find accommodation in dozens of world-class hotels, while the athletes will be housed in the Olympic Village. The main site is being built on the territory of the Olympic Park. A mountain Olympic Village in typical Alpine style is situated in immediate proximity to the skiing centre, the free-style centre and the snowboard park. The walking time from the most distant sports building will take no more than 10 minutes. Members of the World Olympics Committee and of the international sporting federations will be accommodated in 4- and 5-star hotels next to the main Olympic Village. Special media campuses will be built for journalists at Krasnaya Polyana and in the Imeretinskaya Valley.