Sochi – the city and resort area of Krasnodar kray (region),
southwestern Russia. The city stretches along the Black Sea coast at
the foot of the western part of the main Caucasus mountain range. It
was established in 1896 on the site of the former Navaginskoye fort
and began developing as a resort area in 1902. The presence of
mineral springs, attractive coastal and mountain scenery, long
beaches, and the warm climate have made Sochi a large and popular
holiday and health resort for Russian and eastern European
vacationers. Sochi has dozens of hotels, tourist centers, and
campsites and more than 50 sanatoriums. Its streets and gardens are
filled with exotic subtropical trees and shrubs. Greater Sochi,
created in 1961, includes resorts stretching for some 90 miles (150
km) along the coast. The Kavkazsky Nature Reserve, established in
1924 and occupying 1,017 square miles (2,633 square km), lies
approximately 45 miles (72 km) east of the city. Pop. 397,500 (2002).
