The highest sand dune in Eurasia: the Republic of Dagestan’s sandy treasure

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The exposition "Region-2030. Platform of the Future" has opened at the National Centre RUSSIA. From 2 to 7 September, the Republic of Dagestan is hosting its dedicated Days, during which visitors can attend presentations, take part in workshops and culinary programmes, and enjoy performances by creative groups.

Every region of Russia has its own landmarks, achievements, and treasures. The largest sand dune in Europe — Sarykum — is rightfully considered one of Dagestan’s most popular tourist sites. It is located in the Kumtorkalinsky district of the republic, 30 km from Makhachkala.

The first researcher to draw attention to this unique sand massif in the foothills of the Eastern Caucasus was Otto Wilhelm Hermann von Abich, a professor of geology at the University of Dorpat (now Tartu), in 1847. However, the wider public, especially in Europe, only learned about the Kumtorkala sands in the second half of the 19th century thanks to French novelist Alexandre Dumas (père), who visited Dagestan in 1858. A year later, he described and illustrated (with the help of his assistant, artist Jean-Pierre Moynet) this natural phenomenon in his work "The Caucasus".

"Sarykum is the highest single sand massif in Eurasia, with an absolute height of 240 metres above sea level. It lies just 20 km from the regional capital, Makhachkala. Local residents gave it its name: ‘sari’ means yellow, ‘kum’ means sand. And this is instantly visible when you leave the city — against the green carpet of the Narat-Tyube ridge and the snow-capped Salatau, the ‘mountain of gold’ cannot be missed. But the gold here is not metal — it is the abundance of diverse animal and plant species," said Gadzhimurad Khabiev, specialist at the Environmental Education Department of the Dagestan Nature Reserve, in a comment to the press office of the National Centre RUSSIA.

To protect the dune’s flora and fauna, a federal nature reserve was established in the last century. Its territory covers more than 500 hectares and is home to over a dozen species of bats, 150 species of spiders, more than 200 species of butterflies, and 500 species of beetles.

The surroundings of the Sarykum dune are rich in archaeological monuments from different historical periods — from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages. These include settlements, burial sites, petroglyphs, and locations of individual finds. The abundance of sites here is linked to favourable living conditions: water sources (primarily the Shura-Ozen river), fertile farmland, and, of course, a strategically advantageous position. One of the breaks in the Narat-Tyube ridge is located here, dividing the plains and foothills of Dagestan and historically serving as a route linking these areas.

"Sarykum is the most ‘poisonous’ place in Dagestan. Among the non-lethal species are the colourful scorpion, scolia wasp, predatory bug, dice snake, cat snake, and over 150 types of spiders. But there are also deadly species here — the karakurt, the most venomous spider in Russia, and the Levant viper, the most venomous snake in our country. An encounter with them can be fatal," added Gadzhimurad Khabiev.

The sand has been on the territory of Sarykum for more than 10,000 years. It is also the hottest place in Dagestan: some scientists note that in summer months the sand heats up to 65°C.

Visitors can explore more of Dagestan’s attractions during tours of the exposition "Region-2030. Platform of the Future". Registration is available on the website of the National Centre RUSSIA russia.ru in the "Events" section.