GORYAKY KEY IS A MODERN RESORT, A REAL ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENT AND ONE OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEAN CITIES IN EUROPE
THE RESORT TOWN IS LOCATED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS, BETWEEN TWO RANGE AND AT THE SAME TIME 60 KM. FROM THE BLACK SEA COAST - A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF MOUNTAIN AIR, WASHING BLACK SEA BREEZE, DENSE FORESTS WITH MURMING SPRINGS AND FLOWING WATERFALLS.
Goryachy Klyuch is a small, provincial, colorful and well-kept city, at the same time with a new and modern infrastructure, located in the Krasnodar region, in the Greater Caucasus mountains, in the valley of the mountain river Psekups. The city is surrounded by mountain peaks on almost all sides. And forests stretch for several tens of kilometers around. Every person who comes to this resort will be gifted with fresh healing air, tranquility and serenity of green expanse.
Since ancient times, Goryachy Klyuch has been famous as a drinking and balneological resort. Tourists come here not only to relax, but also to undergo examinations and improve their health. The city's sanatoriums offer their guests a variety of treatment and recovery programs year-round.
In the sanatoriums of Goryachy Klyuch, 6 types of mineral waters from 17 wells in the city are used for drinking treatment and baths. The uniqueness of the resort lies in the fact that it ideally combines waters whose temperature is +37-60°C: hydrogen sulfide, chloride-bicarbonate, thermal, as well as sodium and alkaline waters. They perfectly help with skin diseases, cardiovascular and nervous systems, digestive organs, as well as musculoskeletal and gynecological diseases. Every year more than eighty thousand guests come to this famous Kuban region. For tourists, such famous sanatoriums as:
- "Sanatorium Foothills of the Caucasus",
- "Sanatorium Goryachiy Klyuch"
- "Sanatorium Izumrudny"
- "Rus sanatorium",
- "Sanatorium Gorny".
In the city there are so-called “health routes”, or, in scientific terms, health paths. A healing walking trail, half a kilometer long, runs through the very center of the famous resort - a park area and the picturesque Dante Gorge.
During the “journey for health” you have to climb to a low altitude and overcome comfortable steps, but at the height, amazing beauties will open up in front of you, which you can admire without stopping on professionally equipped observation platforms.
General information and history
Goryachy Klyuch is a resort in the Krasnodar region. Located in the foothills of the Caucasus range. Near Adygea, Krasnodar (60 km), the Black Sea city of Dzhubga (65 km). The distance to the capital is one and a half thousand km. And all along the well-maintained M-4 Don highway. There is a railway line through the city, and trains heading to and from Adler stop here.
View of Goryachiy Klyuch
The city began its history with the construction of a military hospital. Special taps with mineral water were installed, and buildings for the infirmary and service personnel were built. The lighting of the mineral springs and the hospital took place on July 15, 1864. And when the priest’s voice echoed into the gorge, a ray of sunshine broke through the rainy sky, covered with gray clouds, illuminating the clearing and the people who were there. Eyewitnesses took this as a sign from above and God's blessing.
July 15 is traditionally considered the city's birthday. The resort got its name thanks to underground springs of mineral water, the temperature of which reaches 62 degrees.
Hot key. Hydropathic clinic. Photo of Anastasia (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/n2309/)
Thermal wealth
Psyfab is not an abbreviation, but the name of an Adyghe village, which at the beginning of the 19th century was located in the place where the city blocks are now located. It is translated into Russian as “hot water”. This name was inherited by the Russian settlement, which was founded in 1868.
Shortly before this, the Caucasian War ended, and most of the local population was deported. Soon a military hospital and bathhouse were built at the Psekup thermal springs. Then it was decided to create a park. This is how a new balneological resort appeared in the Caucasus. The main medicine here was local mineral water and clean air.
Previously, on the site of the city stood the village of Psyfab, named after the hot spring
At first the settlement was called Alekseevsky Goryachiy Klyuch. Administratively, it had the status of a “town”. At the beginning of the 20th century, its status was upgraded to a village. It became a regional center in the 60s. Now he controls 30 settlements - farms, villages, villages and towns. Currently, the city's population is just over 37 thousand people.
Ecology and climate of Goryachy Klyuch
Goryachy Klyuch is on the list of the cleanest cities in the world. Forests occupy more than 66% of the region's territory. There are no industrial production facilities in the immediate area. The main source of pollution is cars. But cars are prohibited from entering the resort part of the city. The road in front of the park ends with a barrier, where a vigilant security guard filters incoming cars, allowing only special vehicles and food products serving the sanatoriums into the territory.
Winter also happens in Goryachy Klyuch. Photo of Anastasia (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/n2309/)
The climate is relatively mild, so sometimes the stories of the local population about cold winters seem exaggerated, especially for people who came, for example, from the Urals.
Hot summer! In July-August it is truly scorching here, outside it is about 35-45 degrees in the shade. If you are not constantly in the sun, then this heat can be tolerated quite easily. By the end of October, autumn begins. The leaves are turning yellow, the days are warm and sunny, much like Indian summer in the middle zone. Spring starts early. Already in February, the daytime temperature remains consistently above zero.
Psekups River and local landmark - Cockerel Rock
On the banks of the Psekups River
The city of Goryachy Klyuch is located almost in the center of the Krasnodar region. It is only 50 kilometers away from the regional capital, and 65 kilometers away from the Black Sea coast. It is located on the banks of the Psekups River between the Pshaf and Kotkh ridges. Despite the surrounding mountainous landscape, the maximum altitude within the populated area does not exceed 50 meters. It was given city status in 1965. In this regard, he is still very young.
The unusual name of the river in the valley of which Goryachiy Klyuch is located is of Adyghe origin. The length of the river reaches 146 kilometers. Water flow is 20 cubic meters per second. The source is located on the slope of Mount Lysaya, and the mouth is in the Krasnodar reservoir. In the mountainous part the river is quite narrow, but before Goryachiy Klyuch it widens. From a bird's eye view, it resembles a snake with numerous sharp bends. The river receives a large number of small tributaries - streams and rivulets.
Neighborhood of Goryachiy Klyuch
Since there are no glaciers nearby, Psekups feeds on rain, snow and springs. During floods, water flow can increase 50 times and amount to a thousand cubic meters per second! Of course, a critical rise in water is observed not along the entire length of the river, but in its individual sections. In winter, the ice does not last long, no more than two months. Some years it doesn't happen at all.
In some places the water is dirty green in color and smells foul. It's OK! This is not a breakthrough in the city sewer system, but the result of the activity of sulfur sources. However, this does not allow us to call the river a decoration of the city. But its shores in the immediate vicinity of Goryachiy Klyuch are very picturesque. In summer, Psekups becomes the property of rafting enthusiasts.
In summer, the river becomes the property of rafting enthusiasts
The proximity to the sea and mountains determines the characteristics of the local climate, which falls into the category of transitional from humid subtropical to temperate continental. What does this mean? Neither hot nor cold! At the height of winter, the average temperature fluctuates around +2 degrees. In mid-July it is +23 degrees. Maximum precipitation occurs in November, December and January. Among the summer months, June is the rainiest. In total, the city receives 895 mm of precipitation per year. This is not a very big number.
Population of Goryachy Klyuch
The indigenous population as of 2022 is about 38,972 city dwellers. The birth rate has decreased over the past ten years, and the mortality rate exceeds it by about 10%. The main population growth is due to migrants. According to official sources, 700-800 people come here every year. According to local residents, this figure is much higher. For example, two years ago it was not difficult to rent a house even during the high season, but now even in winter it is not always possible to quickly find an option.
Panorama of Goryachiy Klyuch. Photo by https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/vkruglyj/
More than 85% of the indigenous population is Russian, mostly coming from Siberia and the Far East: some during Soviet times, and some later. The attitude towards visitors is warm and hospitable. Perhaps migrants are not accepted in other cities, but this does not apply to Goryachiy Klyuch. The Kuban people are like this in everything: unobtrusively, lightly and with humor. Long conversations are not in fashion here. Many people live on private farms, so there is a lot of work to do, everything needs to be done - to get offspring from poultry, to harvest a couple of crops from a small plot and to make preparations for the winter.
Summer in the city. Photo by https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/tat-shapovaliuk/
A culture of communication, sincerity, kindness and empathy are qualities that characterize the majority of residents of Goryachy Klyuch. Human attitude towards people is held in high esteem here. They will always help, give advice, explain the way and even show you around. Kubans are no strangers to the problems of strangers; they care about everyone. Nice!
There are few young people in the city. In search of work, most townspeople leave for Krasnodar, or even Moscow, where they settle, start a family, visiting Goryachy Klyuch to stay only during the holiday period. Middle-aged people and retirees live here permanently. Most of the city's guests have the impression that they come here mostly tired of the urban jungle and frosts of the northern regions.
Districts and real estate of Goryachy Klyuch
The city can be divided into several districts. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
“Zarechye” is one of the very first districts of Goryachiy Klyuch. There are still old dilapidated buildings here, interspersed with modern two-story cottages and small country houses. The most unprestigious area of the city, and all because of the distance from the center (half an hour on foot) and the proximity of the railway station with its noise and bustle. The roads are bad, all full of holes and potholes. But there are also advantages.
The biggest plus for many, in particular for dog breeders, is the proximity of the forest and its desolation. It is here, a five-minute walk from home, that you can safely let your pets run around without the risk of meeting an overly impressionable mushroom picker. The steam locomotives and loudspeaker at the station are not particularly disturbing. Former residents of megacities are accustomed to the noise outside their windows, and indigenous residents do not consider the proximity of the station to be a disadvantage of their area. Minibuses run from the station, it takes 5-10 minutes to walk to the stop. The area is gasified, electricity is uninterrupted, a 3G modem provides a stable connection to the Internet, water is from a well in the yard, stove heating - beautiful!
Zarechye district, new bridge over the Psekups river
Prices for land and secondary housing here are the lowest in the city. One hundred square meters of land costs from 90 tr. A hut house (muzanka) with five acres of land and fruit trees will cost about 1.5 million rubles. with bargaining. A two-story brick five-room cottage with a land plot of 6 acres, a bathhouse, a garage and all communications (move in and live) costs 3.5 million.
In the northeast of the city there is an area called "The Fork". Construction is in full swing here, which in a couple of years threatens to result in a modern cottage community with central heating and water supply. Today it’s dirty, uncomfortable and noisy, but what can you do – construction! Gas and sewerage have already been installed, but the roads are only covered with gravel; they promise to lay asphalt when Kamaz trucks stop driving with building materials. There is a forest nearby. It takes 7-8 minutes to get to the center by car, there are minibuses.
"Razvilka" has the most houses for sale. Price per hundred square meters from 150 to 300 tr. Freshly built cottage with a total area of 110 sq. m, with all amenities and a landscaped yard, can be purchased for 4 million.
The area “Chepurkova Gora” does not resemble a mountain at all, it is rather a small hill. Recently, the Gorny sanatorium, owned by the well-known organization ZAO Ochakovo, was built nearby. Apparently, this is why sewerage was installed in the area. There is no gas, but they promise to gasify the area within two to three years. Electricity is supplied steadily. The roads are asphalted, but their condition leaves much to be desired. Heating by stove, water from a well or borehole. The advantage of the area is that even during the spring thaw, it is dry and clean. Elevation though. The center is a 15-20 minute walk away, there are minibuses.
One hundred square meters of land on “Chepurkova Mountain” costs 100-190 rubles. For a one-story brick house (S −140 sq.m.) with European-quality repairs, furniture and household appliances, autonomous water supply and heating, a garage and a gazebo, they are asking 6 million with negotiability. A residential dacha in the same area can be purchased for 990 rubles, and a two-room apartment in a new building for 3.5 million.
"Administration". The center is the center. There are mainly high-rise buildings here - old and new. There are few private houses and land plots, and they are quite expensive. For example, a five-room cottage, which has all the imaginable and inconceivable bells and whistles like a heated floor in the house, a capital basement and a sauna, costs 15 million. Prices for apartments vary greatly: in a new building the price per sq.m. is from 40 thousand rubles, secondary housing cheaper. The center is divided into several microdistricts, which are named depending on the proximity of certain establishments: “Traffic Inspectorate”, “Old Market”, “Hospital” and so on. Heating, water supply and sewerage are central here, the roads are good, and transport runs regularly.
Residential building near the city administration. Photo of Anastasia (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/n2309/)
The “Sanatorium” area, also known as “Resort”, is the most prestigious area of the city. It's quiet, cozy and clean here. The buildings are very diverse. A dilapidated hut may well coexist with a luxurious mansion. There are all communications, many guest houses, mini-hotels and rooms for rent, which are in great demand in the summer. Real estate prices are not just greatly inflated, but, one might say, brutal! One hundred square meters of land here costs around a million; for the same price you can buy land on the seashore. Cottages from 20 million, simpler houses - from 15. The old market is nearby, there is a bus service.
Neighboring villages. Many visitors consider them as an option for permanent residence. Real estate here is much cheaper, the roads are good, regular minibuses run frequently, and it’s quieter, there’s not a large influx of vacationers. Just the thing for permanent residence!
Art. "Saratovskaya" is located 9 km from the city towards Krasnodar. The M-4 highway is a couple of kilometers away. Not very picturesque, but civilized. There is a hospital, shops, a market, schools and three kindergartens. There is a branch of Sberbank, an ATM, and several self-service stores accept plastic cards for payment. The houses are different. Those that are for sale are mostly tour-beams for demolition. The plots are large - from 15 acres and above. The heating is stove, gas is provided. Water on site, stable power supply. Almost all cellular operators receive a signal with confidence. Regular minibuses run frequently.
The village of Bezymyanoye is located south of the city. Forest, river, paved roads. There is a school and kindergarten, shops, and a recently built church. The only negative that disturbs the silence and charm of the area is the nearby Goryachiy Klyuch - Tuapse railway line. The border of the Caucasian Nature Reserve is not far away, so there are many tourists and vacationers in the village in the summer.
The villages of “Pyatigorsky” and “Mirny” are located very close to each other, the boundaries between them are rather conditional. Drive from Goryachiy Klyuch to the villages for about 7 km along the M-4 highway towards the sea. It is very beautiful in here. Mountains, a river and its own special microclimate. There are few shops, there is a school and a kindergarten. Mostly dachas and quiet family houses are located here. The road surface is asphalt in the center, primer closer to the outskirts. There is electricity, gas is in the plans, amenities are on the street.
The average price per hundred square meters of land in the nearest suburb of Goryachiy Klyuch is 60 thousand rubles. In villages located further away it’s cheaper.
When buying or renting real estate, it is better, of course, to contact the owner, although this is not easy to do. Even the advertisements, handwritten and glued to poles and bus stops, contain the intermediary's telephone numbers. And this brotherhood takes decent interest for services. Housing for rent - 100%! It’s better to travel yourself and ask around. Many owners announce the sale of their home with a sign on the gate indicating their phone number.
Historical sites and museums
City Historical Museum
Address: st. Lenina, 34 Phone: 8(6159) 3-52-43 Website: museum.ru/M3197 Opening hours: Mon-Sun 09:00-18:00, Thu 09:00-21:00, Fri 09:00 -17:00 Cost: children - 30 rubles, adults - 50 rubles, excursion - 100 rubles.
The decision to create a museum came in 1998, at which time the collection of exhibits began. Two years later the grand opening took place.
Today his collection amounts to 6 thousand items and is housed in three halls:
- “Archaeology”: materials from ancient and medieval times are presented, the history of the region is told.
- “Kuban Life”: the exhibition is dedicated to the Psekupsky mineral waters and their influence on the formation of the settlement.
- “Military History”: the exhibition covers war times, introduces the personality of intelligence officer Alexander Ivanovich Kozlov, a resident of the city, whose story formed the basis of the films “The Path to Saturn” and “The End of Saturn”.
Drinking Gallery
Address: st. Psekupskaya, 2 Opening hours: Mon-Sun 07:00-19:00, break 14:00-15:00
On the territory of the sanatorium in the city center there is a Drinking Gallery. Water is supplied here from three mineral springs.
Water from the 21st spring is useful for patients with gastritis, as it is saturated with hydrogen sulfide. In the other two - 58th and 104th - it is salty and hot (38-45˚С).
It is recommended to drink it here, but if desired, any visitor can take 0.5 liters with them for free.
Psyfabe Fortress
Coordinates: 44.622145, 39.091691 How to get there: to the restaurant “Old Castle” by car or bus to the stop “Sanatorium Goryachiy Klyuch”, then on foot; travel time - 30 minutes.
In the valley of the Psekuls River there were at one time several fortresses, the most famous of which was Psyfabe. This is one of the most ancient buildings in Russia.
The citadel is located on the top of a cliff - the highest point in the area. Once it had a stone fence, observation towers and shelters for people.
Today, only ruins remain of the fortress.
City infrastructure
Since Goryachy Klyuch is a resort town, there is everything for proper treatment and relaxation. Six sanatoriums that meet all modern standards. Here you can find swimming pools with mineral water, spas and massage parlors, fitness and gyms, and sanatoriums offer a wide variety of health treatments. The main specialization is diseases of the digestive system and the musculoskeletal system. You can purchase a sanatorium-resort card for a set of procedures, as well as for each service separately, without staying at the sanatorium. Many city residents take advantage of this, combining leisure time with health improvement.
Entrance to the Mountain Park. Photo by Tatyana Tkachenko (https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/ttp74/)
The main form of transport in the city is minibuses, but these are not the familiar yellow gazelles, but small, neat buses. Those driving around the city are new and beautiful, but those driving around the area are worse. They go quite often, the waiting time at the stop is often no more than five minutes. There are no conductors; the driver himself accepts the fare, which is 10 rubles around the city. There are many taxis, you can call through the dispatcher, or you can go out to the side of the road, raise your hand, and in a minute or two a brand new foreign car with characteristic checkered patterns will certainly stop next to you. Such pleasure costs from 70 rubles in the city.
Railway station GK. Photo https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/vkruglyj/
The roads, compared to the rest of Russia, are good. The main streets of the city are like glass, without a hitch! On the outskirts the situation is more sad. Right down to the roads covered with gravel and not covered with anything at all. It’s not dirty, not slippery, and you can drive everywhere if you’re careful. You won't find any traffic jams in the city even in summer. Lots of auto shops and auto repair shops. There are several gas stations.
There are plenty of schools and kindergartens, but, like everywhere else, there are queues. The salvation is numerous pensioners who are ready to earn extra money while looking after their children. Among them there are professional teachers with higher education. There is an art school and two sports schools. After graduating from school, you can continue your studies at a branch of Kuban State University, a medical college, a PU or a technical school. Or, as many do, leave their hometown in search of a better life.
Like every self-respecting city, Goryachiy Klyuch has its own newspaper, which, without further ado, was called “Hot Key”. There you can find all the city news and gossip, as well as job advertisements and housing rentals and sales. From time to time the newspaper is accused of copyright infringement. They say that this publication is stealing articles from the Internet. What about the newspaper? The dog barks, the caravan moves on... Two more advertising newspapers distributed free of charge: “Showcase” and “Gorodok”. There, among various advertisements, you can also find information about work.
Prices for utilities are as follows: cold water - 33.6 rubles / cubic meter, hot water - 165 rubles / cubic meter, sewerage - 26.60 rubles / cubic meter. Electricity - 3.23, in the pages 2.26. Gas - 50 rubles/month per person, garbage removal - 44 rubles per person. Wired Internet - 850 rub/month.
The city's housing and communal services do not always work perfectly. Photo by https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/vkruglyj/
From Petushka to Dante's Gorge
Goryachiy Klyuch has both man-made and natural attractions. The first one is the “Salvation” rock. People also call it “Cockerel”. It received this name for its resemblance to a cockscomb, which is formed by six teeth at the top. The 28-meter-high rock is located on the slope of Abadzekh Mountain. It owes its appearance to the Psekups River, whose flow has worn down the slope over millions of years, exposing the bedrock.
There are picturesque rocks on the banks of the river
The rock is notable for having two small caves. One is called “Salvation”, the other is called “Ringing”. They are connected by the “Staircase of Life”, the steps of which are carved directly into the stone. It is worth climbing to the top, from where you can see a beautiful view of the river and the Pshaf ridge. “Petushek” is visible from the “Don” highway, so there are always tourists here.
Another natural monument is named “Dante’s Gorge”. It is located on the territory of the Healing Park, so it is easily accessible. This place is unusually picturesque - two mountain slopes here are separated by such a narrow gorge that it looks more like a gap. The height of the ledges reaches 15 meters. In the 70s, it was decided to improve this place, as a result of which a stone staircase and a clearing appeared, where there used to be a swamp. The gorge was named after the Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Obviously, the local rocks and thickets evoked associations with his “Divine Comedy”.
Dante's Gorge
You should definitely visit Mineral Glade. It is also located in the Healing Park right at the entrance to Dante's Gorge. It is bordered on both sides by the slopes of the Kurortnaya and Abadzekh mountains. Already from the name it is clear that there should be outlets of mineral springs in the clearing. Since ancient times, people who lived in these parts dug holes that were filled with hot healing water. It was used to treat various ailments. Then they built a pipeline through which mineral water began to be delivered directly to the resort.
In the clearing you can see a memorial stele. It is called a monument to mineral water, which, as in fairy tales, was considered alive. It appeared here in 1914, when it was 50 years since the beginning of the development of Psekup mineral waters. At the top of the obelisk, a double-headed eagle was strengthened, and the names of the Cossack units that took part in hostilities during the Caucasian War were indicated on the name boards. During the Soviet period, the royal paraphernalia disappeared without a trace and appeared only after restoration in 2007.
In these places, everyone usually stocks up with healing water.
Nearby stands a small sky-blue chapel in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. It was built in the second half of the 19th century at the foot of the Abadzekh Mountain next to the grotto and the Iversky spring. Healing water flowed from underground until the twenties of the last century, and then the source dried up. Every Friday there is a service in the chapel.
The architectural landmark of Goryachiy Klyuch is the arch with golden lions, which was installed on the day of the 50th anniversary of the resort in 1914. It rises in the Healing Park, not far from the Drinking Gallery. Two dates are engraved on the columns - “1864” (foundation year) and “1914” (anniversary year). The uniqueness of the composition is that the lions rest their paws on the fallen boars. This personifies the victory of mineral water over disease. Lions appeared near the arch after the Great Patriotic War.
There is a second arch in the city. It was placed at the entrance to the resort park in honor of the 140th anniversary of the resort. It is stylized as the city coat of arms, which contains an image of a jug from which water flows. But the most impressive is the Arc de Triomphe at the entrance to the Healing Park. The reason for its construction was another anniversary - 145 years since the founding of the resort city. It is located not far from the hydropathic clinic and, undoubtedly, is an adornment not only of the park, but of the entire city.
In summer the city is surrounded by flowers and greenery
There is an unusual monument in Goryachy Klyuch, which is simply called the “Adyghe Pillar”. This is really a small pillar that was made from a Byzantine column. This is confirmed by inscriptions in ancient Arabic. This is a former cenotaph - a tombstone over an empty grave. It was installed in honor of Khapach Lakshuk, the hero of the small Bzhedukh people. Later, an inscription appeared on the pillar that told about the captured Cossack Zolotarev. He taught literacy to Circassian children.
It is also worth mentioning the source of St. Panteleimon. Like most city attractions, it is located on the territory of the Healing Park. It is easily identified by the image of a saint above the source, as well as a stand for candles. People come here to drink ferruginous water. It is believed that it can rejuvenate the body. Every year on August 9, a service is held here, during which the water is blessed.
A typical scene for a resort town
The hanging bridge “Nadezhda” across the Psekups River is elegant and beautiful. Its length is 70 meters! In the Caucasus it ranks fourth in length. There has been a bridge on this site since ancient times, but it was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. A new one, called “Nadezhda”, appeared recently.
Enterprises and work in Goryachy Klyuch
Several large self-service stores (mainly Magnit) and two markets provide city residents with products that are much cheaper than in the middle zone, and also of better quality. In season, vegetables cost pennies. For example, at the end of August, a kilogram of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers can be bought for 10 rubles. Nuts, fruits, honey are freely available. Southerners only accept fresh, chilled meat. No freezing! Pork from 165 rubles per kg, beef from 180.
There is work, vacancies are constantly posted, although locals complain that there is nowhere to work. Salaries, of course, cannot be compared with larger cities, but you can live. Many residents are employed in sanatoriums, boarding houses and hotels as waiters, administrators and other service personnel.
Tourist base Mezhgorye
Unskilled labor is also in demand at two mineral water bottling plants: Goryacheklyuchevskaya and Aroma-Yug. Salary from 8,000 rubles per month with a schedule of three days.
There is a construction organization “Terem”, which is constantly looking for welders, assemblers, laborers and drivers. The average salary at the enterprise is one of the highest - from 18 tr. per month, with an eight-hour working day and a five-day working week. There is an additional charge for processing. Payments are not delayed. Official employment, “white” salary, social package.
You can also get work from private traders, but there are no guarantees. If we get lucky. We need truck drivers, salesmen, cooks, hairdressers, security guards. Students and schoolchildren have the opportunity to earn pocket money from nearby farms. The work is varied - from planting and weeding plants to harvesting. Payment immediately in cash from 500 rubles for eight hours of work.
There is little demand for skilled labor. All managerial and “grain” positions have been occupied for a long time and tightly. Higher education can be useful only in the field of medicine, veterinary medicine, and pedagogy. These specialists have a chance to get a job. But the income is also small.
Many people go to Krasnodar to work. Salaries there are much higher than in Goryachiy Klyuch, and travel expenses are more than compensated for. The only negative is the endless traffic jams that plague Krasnodar roads.
Visitors often do not try to look for work, but immediately open their own business, which brings in a small but stable income. This is what they live by. Mini-bakeries, boutiques, beauty salons, and small farms are in the hands of private entrepreneurs.
Crime
The criminal situation in the city, as in all of Russia, is not great. In 2011, 6 murders were recorded, and in 2012 - already 11. In mid-December 2012, a taxi driver from Adygea was killed. I brought the client to Goryachiy Klyuch, contacted the dispatcher, said that he had problems and never got in touch again. A body with stab wounds was found in the city, not far from a burnt car.
In the summer, what most shocked the public was the murder committed by a 17-year-old young man who found out from a friend that no one would be home at night and broke into the apartment for the purpose of robbery. Unexpectedly, the criminal's friend returned home with his mother and found the thief. He was not taken aback and hit the hostess on the head with a frying pan several times, the woman died. The police were called by the son, who managed to rush out of the house. The criminal was detained; it turned out that the thief, suffering from kleptomania, had already been brought to justice in connection with thefts.
There are few visiting guest performers in the city. This contingent prefers to operate on the coast, where there are more vacationers with money. And what should they do in a quiet provincial town?
Domestic quarrels that lead to crimes, drunken fights, theft - it’s all there. Officials are caught taking bribes. Drug couriers are caught from time to time. Local businessmen steal timber and sell it for firewood - this product is in demand here.
Despite the disappointing statistics, the crime situation in the city is not too worrying. It is rare to see a drunk in the city during the day. Young people are reasonable and do not abuse alcohol or drugs. There is reliable security in nightclubs and restaurants, and you can go home by taxi. If you follow basic safety rules - don't wave a thick wad of bills in front of everyone, don't get drunk and don't wander the streets at night alone - you'll most likely avoid the risk of being robbed or beaten.
