The answer is obviously , Sochi Russia , and with the Winter Olympics well under way , we are getting a chance to see some of the telling scenery that exists in these remote villages in the western Caucasus ’ . peculiarly in the modest village of Krasnaya Polyana , where most of the snowboard issue are held . Knows to Russians , for both skiing and summertime hike , few outside of the country have ever had a chance to visit , and explore these point and vale so rich in flora . As I observe the snowboard issue today , with those breathless range of a function of icy rivers and footage of inspiring blow capped tip in the NBC bumpers and interstitials , I ca n’t avail but marvel about the enliven adventures we could have there soon – explore for flora coinage as we hike up and explore a region which , until recently , was hard if not impossible to visit as an American .
by from the natural lulu and favorable people of this mountainous area , where the Caucasus sincerely become worthful is with its botanic treasures , many specie which are unique to this field , are link up to the forests along the same latitude ( primarily maples , beech tree and spruce ) , but in the high tidy sum meadows , and gamey mountain forests , the veridical treasure lie . Hellebores , Trolius , Delphinium and a few choice Galanthus ( Snowdrop ) mintage only found on these slopes , yet tragically , one the five live sites of an endangered snowdrop , Panjutin ’s snowdrop(Galanthus panjutini ) , which was just recognized in 2012 , was reportedly destroyed by construction crews prepare the area for these very Olympian games . The specie is now moot to be Endangered according to IUCN Red List measure , as it is known from only five fix , and its only country of occupancy ( AOO ) is judge to be 20 straight kilometers , with a major part of that now destroyed due to the new Olympic facilities .
On a lightheaded note , the Olympic Snowboard consequence are held in the modest refuge townspeople of Krasnaya Poliana , a name which in English read roughly into Red Meadow . The alpine plant authority Vojtech Holubec mentioned in his leger THE CAUCASUS AND IT ’S bloom ( Loxia 2006 ) states that the name may come from bright red autumn leaf of a large Rumex species which is abundant on these side .
Most mountainous areas share the same genus are certain raising , like Pulsatilla , Anemone Trollius and Gentiana , these are the Pasque Flowers , Buttercups and Gentians we all see on piazza mats at ski resorts , but the same genus here are alone . Pulsatilla aurea instead of the coinage vernacular in the Swiss Alps , Pulsatilla alpina for instance . Of course , there are over 33 species of Pulstatila worldwide , each specific to a different mountain scope , but without getting too geeky , those coinage of most alpine plants in the Caucasus are perhaps the most unexplored , and when it comes to botanizing – hike up to see plant and then identifing them , shoot them and yes , Instagraming them , the Caucasus are going to proffer us a whole unexampled domain to discover soon .
Other plant you may make love , but which have rarefied relative which hail the Caucasus include many species of Peony such as Paeonia mlokosewitschii ( yeah , Molly - the - Witch ) , the ferny leaved alpine peony , P. tenuifolia , P caucasicam , P. wittmanniana and P. lagodechiana . Now , add to this many coinage of Corydalis , Saxifraga , many rare Primroses not in polish ( Primula ) , and many campanula specie and you may depart to see how copious this area is with plants – and I have n’t even name bulbs . If you are concerned in hiking and exploring the Krasnaya Polyana area , you may require to visit the websiteRusskie Prostori , which presents many of the salary increase and trails in the area which is also acknowledge as the Switzerland of Russia .
I hope the events go well , for both the athletes and for the people who live in this once distant area of Russia , for now that there are hotel and ski resorts here , and many sporting events plan for the future , that the area will also be subject for tramp and trekkers looking for new places to botanise . Ski areas with modern rhytidoplasty offer a petty benefit of summertime high elevation sightseeing and sports , but before the mountain rockers take to the trail , it ’s common for hikers and plant lovers to take gondola and lifts up to the highest peaks , to not only preserve metre in trek up the mountain , but to save 1 knees and legs .
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