Mount Koltso-gora, Protected mountain in Kislovodsk, Russia.
Mount Koltso-gora is a protected mountain in the resort town of Kislovodsk, in southern Russia. It is best known for a natural arch, a round hole carved through the rock by wind and rain, which gives the mountain its name.
The Kislovodsk area grew as a mineral springs destination in the early 1800s, and the mountain became one of the spots visitors made a point of seeing. Writers and artists who came to take the waters also wrote about and painted the rock arch.
The name Koltso-gora means Ring Mountain in Russian, after the large hole worn through the rock by wind and rain over a very long time. Visitors walk through this natural opening and look out toward the surrounding hills, which gives the spot a kind of gateway feeling.
The mountain is within walking distance of central Kislovodsk, though the path rises steadily and has some rocky sections. Sturdy footwear makes the walk more comfortable, and the view from the arch is clearest on days without haze.
On a clear day, Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, is visible through the hole of the arch as if framed by the rock. This turns the arch into a natural window pointing toward the most distant part of the Caucasus range.
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