Dendrarium of Sochi, Sochi, Russian Cities, Travel

Dendrarium - A Haven in Sochi

The remote southern shores of Russia have become steadily characterized by the beauty of the Black Sea lapping the shore combined with the majesty of the Caucasus and the impressive array of exotic plants that can be found here. Such features have become synonymous with Sochi – a part of the country which enjoys a mild subtropical climate. Many of the trees and palms which now characterize this resort area would never have existed in the country were it not for Sochi’s Dendrarium. The Dendrarium is a park-like area wherein exotic plants are tested and introduced to the area under the studious and expert guidance of educated researchers.

The Dendrarium Park began in 1889 when SN khudekov, a well-known journalist and writer, bought a two-kilometer lot from the Sochi center. He immediately set about planning a 15-hectare decorative park where he planned to plant a variety of foreign plants. He also started collecting plants for his project, including foreign wood trees and frutescent plants in the more than 200 species that he gathered. The initial planting of the park was completed in 1892, just three years after the project was begun. 1892 is now considered to be the founding date of the Sochi Dendrarium and it originally features both a French-Italian terraced park and a landscaped English garden.

A major change for the park occurred in 1944 when the Dendrarium was used as a basis for the establishment of a scientific research and experimental station for subtropical forestry. The size of the park was increased to as many as 50 hectares and many new plants were planted. Another monumental date in the history of the Dendrarium is 1974. It was in this year that the park became a national monument. Today the Sochi Dendrarium still enjoys this prestigious title and it still continues to conduct business. It is currently being looked after by the Mountain Siviculture and Forest Ecology Research Institute and it enjoys a high level of compliance and affiliation with other botany and forestry centers both in Russia and abroad. The Dendrarium Park currently has more than 1,630 species of trees and plants. The Dendrarium is the only place in Russia where many of these species can be found.

The park is also home to a small variety of animals such as squirrels, ostriches, waterfowl and peacocks. There is a small sea aquarium as well as a number of open-air cages. Regardless of what season you choose to visit, the Dendrarium is always a treat. So make sure that you visit this great park the next time you visit Sochi.