Russkaya Lesnaya Dacha Travertine Spring

The travertine spring lies south-east within the “Russky Les” reserve, on the left bank of the Buchinskaya Gremuchka stream on Stavropol’s western edge. The monument covers 2.62 ha. Water emerges where Middle Sarmatian sands meet underlying clays. Travertine up to 8 m thick fills the gully; a tongue reaches the stream with a 5 m cliff and a cascade. Karst voids include wells, niches and small caves with stalactites and stalagmites. A karst pool ~0.5 m deep holds water at about +8 °C year-round. Neogene relict plants include thick-leaved toadflax and hart’s-tongue fern. It suits geologists, botanists and anyone wanting karst scenery without high mountains.