Mukhina Gully, Nature reserve in Aksay, Russia
Mukhina Gully is a 48-hectare protected nature reserve featuring steep ravines with dense forest cover and wetlands at the valley floor. Beneath the surface runs an extensive network of tunnels and bunkers dating from the Soviet era.
The site was named after the Mukhin merchant family, who owned approximately 79 hectares here in the 19th century while conducting timber trade. During the Soviet era, the area became a military installation with command centers built for the North Caucasus Military District.
The area takes its name from the Mukhin merchant family, who traded timber in the 19th century and shaped the region's identity. Visitors can still sense this historical connection while walking through the landscape today.
Access to the underground facilities is available only through guided tours that explore the multi-level bunkers built in the 1960s. Sturdy footwear is advisable as the terrain is uneven and conditions below ground remain cool and damp.
The underground network contains abandoned command posts from the North Caucasus Military District that remained operational until the 1990s. These Soviet-era military installations stand as a rare Cold War artifact that visitors can now explore as a museum.
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