5 impressive cable cars in Russia that take your breath away

5 impressive cable cars in Russia that take your breath away

Collected locations where you can enjoy the beauty of nature from above.

President of Pro-Vision, author of the Vinogradov.story community

“Cable cars are not only a comfortable way to get to the top of a mountain or to the opposite bank of a river, but also an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views. There are many cable cars in Russia, each of which has its own unique history and peculiarities. I will tell you about five of the most interesting ones below”.

Nizhny Novgorod – Bor

The Nizhny Novgorod – Bor cable car connecting the two banks of the Volga River was opened in 2012 and became the first cable car in Russia to be used for regular passenger service. Its length is 3661 meters, and the height of ascent reaches 94 meters. To get from Nizhny to Bor, you will have to spend about 13 minutes at this height. It is much faster than on the ground. And the views from the ropeway are amazing: if you get into the cabin at the “golden hour”, you can easily understand why Nizhny Novgorod is called “the capital of sunsets”.

Nizhny Novgorod – Bor cable car

Pyatigorsk – Mashuk

One of the oldest pendulum cable cars in the country rises to the top of Mashuk Mountain from its foot: two cars with a capacity of 20 people each. In three minutes they take passengers to the most romantic and popular place in Pyatigorsk – the observation deck, from where a breathtaking panorama of the city opens up.

For more than 50 years since the first flight in 1971 the cable car has taken an honorable place in the list of attractions of the Kavminvod, keeping company with Lake Proval, the place of Lermontov’s duel, narzan baths and mineral baths. And the most important location of the Caucasus, Elbrus, in good weather can be seen from the top point of the cable car – and this is one more reason not to miss the trip.

Pyatigorsk-Mashuk cable car

“The Milky Way in Arkhyz

The gondola cable car “Milky Way” is located in the village of Romantic in the Zelenchuksky district of Karachay-Cherkessia. It is part of the Arkhyz ski resort and consists of two stages. The first stage is 1798 meters long and leads from the lower station to the middle one. The second stage is 552 meters long and connects the middle and upper stations. “The Milky Way leads tourists to the top and down all year round: in winter it serves the ski slopes, and in summer it takes passengers to the observation platforms and terrenekurs.

“Milky Way” in Arkhyz

Krasnaya Polyana cable cars

Speaking about the cable cars of Krasnaya Polyana, it is worth specifying which ones are in mind. This popular Sochi location combines three mountain resorts, Rosa Khutor, Gazprom Alpika and Krasnaya Polyana, each of which has its own infrastructure. At the same time, all the cable cars ascend to the same Aibga Ridge, at a height of 2200-2300 meters above sea level.

“Krasnaya Polyana” offers three lines of gondola cable car, as well as several chairlifts. Rosa Khutor has put together a similar set. But at “Gazprom Alpika” operates three types of cable cars: chairlift, gondola for eight seats and 3S with huge cabins, which can accommodate 30 people at a time.

What to choose, everyone decides for himself. In winter you should be guided by the level of skiing and appropriate slopes, in summer – by the accessibility of natural objects: the park of waterfalls “Mendelija”, gorges, alpine meadows and rhododendron thickets. A special pleasure is to ride an open chairlift in the golden autumn, during the velvet season, and appreciate the stunning variety and brightness of natural colors from the heights.

Krasnaya Polyana

Miskhor – Ai-Petri

The three-kilometer cable car from the coastal Miskhor to the top of Ai-Petri lifts passengers to the height of 1153 meters. The uniqueness of this road is that between the middle and upper stations there is not a single support tower – by the length of unsupported span it is included in the Guinness Book of Records. And the angle of ascent is so steep that unprepared passengers may get earache on the way. However, this inconvenience is compensated by inspiring views of the southern coast of Crimea – pine forests of the Yalta Mountain Forest Reserve and Yalta itself.

Mount Ai-Petri