Sochi

Sochi, city and resort area of Krasnodar kray (territory), southwestern Russia. The city stretches along the Black Sea coast at the foot of the western part of the main Caucasus mountain range.

Sochi 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 warm (humid subtropical) climate have made Sochi a large and popular holiday and health resort for Russian vacationers. Sochi has dozens of hotels, tourist centres, and campsites and more than 50 sanatoriums. The primary industry is food processing, though few of the city’s workers are employed in industry. Sochi’s 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.

Kavkazsky Nature Reserve, established in 1924 and occupying 1,017 square miles (2,633 square km), lies approximately 45 miles (72 km) northeast of the city. A major recreation site of the Russian government is located northwest along the Black Sea coast at nearby Dagomys. The city hosted the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, for which sports and lodging venues were constructed in the city and in the Krasnaya Polyana mountain area of the Caucasus to the east of Sochi. Pop. (2010) 343,334; (2013 est.) 368,011.