Novorossiysk - is the largest port city in Russia. The city is situated on the shores of ever non-freezing Tsemess Bay - one of the most comfortable at the Black Sea. The port of Novorossiysk provides foreign sea trade of Russia with the regions of Asia, Middle East, Africa, Mediterranean and South America.

The climate here is subtropical, Mediterranean. The waves from middle latitudes dominate in winter season, while tropical air masses prevail in summertime. Every year, most often from November till March, gale-strength winds blow in Novorossiysk region and it is called nord-ost or Bora. It appears due to intrusion of cold air from the North-Caucasian plateau upon the Black Sea coast. During two or three days (and sometimes even few weeks) the bay of Novorossiysk becomes innavigable, as the nord-ost makes the sea choppy. The wind speed reaches the level of 40-60 meters per second. There were accidents when such a wind teared ocean liners off the anchors and threw them at the coastal rocks. That's why during this period ships are obliged to take to the open sea.

"Little land" - is a legendary beachhead of Novorossiysk. In February of 1943 the landing forces of soldiers and sailors reconquered from superior in quantity enemies a 30km² patch of land, called "Little Land". Three hundreds of warriors stood against the twenty-four-hour squall of fire and iron. On September 16^th, 1943, together with attacking soviet forces, the beachhead's defenders set Novorossiysk completely free. In memory of the feat a Memorial was created on the shore where the troops landed.

On August 31^st, 1986, 7 miles from Novorossiysk, the passenger liner "Admiral Nahimov" wrecked. 423 people died in that catastrophe.

The area of Novorossiysk is one of Russia's main wine-growing regions.

The environs of Novorossiysk are famous for its picturesque nature, which is popular among holiday-makers. There are sea resort areas (Wide Gully, Dry Chap, Ozerevka (Lakety)), where numerous recreation and health centers are situated. Abrau Lake is without doubt an adornment to the region - the biggest, cleanest and most beautiful in the North Caucases. There's the "Abrau-Dyurso" wine factory close to the lake, where Russia-famous champagne is produced. Ancient constructions kept intact in the suburbs: dolmens (ancient, made of big stones, erections), the memorials of Circassian culture.

Novorossiysk if not the official resort city of Kuban', but this fact doesn't prevent it from hosting thousands of vacationists from different regions of Russia. From year to year the city becomes more and more beautiful and attractive...

See more: Wikipedia,
Old Soviet topographic map 1:100,000,
"Myskhako" winery,
Weather Report from Intellicast.com