Chelsey Novak
The Khmelevskie Lakes in Sochi’s Krasnaya Polyana area are a chain of small lakes at 1,750 meters on the Achishkho Ridge. Surrounded by thick beech forests and part of the Sochi National Park, these lakes are quiet and pristine. The main lakes here are Big Lake, East Lake, South Lake, and West Lake, named after a 19th-century Warsaw explorer, Khmelevski, who first studied them.
Reaching the Khmelevskie Lakes is easy, with trails starting from Krasnaya Polyana. Families with children will love spotting the “miracle” creatures, such as the protected newts that live in the lakes and are active in warm weather. During winter, the lakes freeze over, and snow covers the area, transforming it into a winter wonderland popular with cross-country skiers.
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