Derbent

Derbent is one of the most ancient cities in the world.
A home of three confessions, Derbent is famous for its religious tolerance. Here you'll find the most ancient Christian temple, the oldest mosque and the most ancient synagogue in Russia.

Derbent had long been a bone of contention among such ancient civilizations as Roman Empire, Byzantium, Iran, the Khazar, the Ottoman Empire and the Golden Horde. Fierce battles to control it were fought by such conquerors as Alexander the Great, the Seljuks, Iranian Nadirshah, Timur the Lame and many others. In 2003, UNESCO inscribed the ancient part of Derbent, with its traditional buildings, on the World Heritage List.

Of a great historical and cultural significance, Naryn-Kala fortress is on the UNESCO list of World's heritage and is also considered as a cultural heritage site of Russia. Initially built to protect Derbent and West Asia lands against raids of nomadic tribes from the North, the citadel later served as an important defensive outpost in the Caucasian region.

Ekranoplan (hovercraft) Loon also known as Caspian Monster is a Soviet-time striking missile carrier. To successfully move the craft from the city of Kaspiysk to Derbent, almost all the Caspian-See Fleet ships were deployed: part of the ships was engaged to slowly tow the craft, while the other ships made sure of the mission's safety. The craft's hull is 19 meters high and 73 meters long, its wing span is 44 meters and it weighs 243 tons. It is powered by 8 engines. You definitely have to visit the Caspian Sea sandy shores just to comprehend the enormous power and incredible enormousness of such flying ship.

Makhachkala

The capital of the Republic of Dagestan, where luxurious mansions, wrought iron gates of which herald their owners' wealth, neighbor on illegal balconies as large as a full-size apartment.

Snow-white Jum'a Mosque in the very center of Makhachkala is seen from afar, that's why it is known as one of the biggest in Europe. The temple's building is capable to admit up to 17 thousand worshippers at a time.

Natural objects of Dagestan

The Go'or towers represent Dagestan's significant landmarks located in the village of Go'or. In old times, this was a defensive complex comprising seven towers with adjacent two-story residential houses. The buildings rested atop a mountain, on the brink of a bottomless abyss. Four towers including the tallest one (25 m high) have failed to survive. In XX century, the locals borrowed the remnants to build houses at some distance from the fortress thus having moved the village to a new place. However, everyone had ever since used to call the nearby towers and buildings as Old Go'or.

Chokh terraces represent an architectural and engineering masterpiece resting in Dagestan on the slopes of the Chokh mountain. Created far back in the Middle Ages, they had served as irrigation, land farming and unique terrace fields systems. Rich landscape of the Chokh mountain slopes lying as high as 1,000 meters above sea level strikes visitors with its beauty and harmony with nature.