Sukhumi

SUKHUMI, a port city and seaside climatic health resort of the Abkhazian SSR on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus at 43°00' N and 41°01' E, situated in a picturesque area among gardens and parks with subtropical vegetation. Sukhumi is the best winter climatic station for tuberculosis patients, with a mild, warm, and humid climate. The average annual temperature is +14.9°, autumn +16.8°, winter +7.1°, and summer +22.6°. The proximity of the mountains and their arrangement protect Sukhumi from strong winds. The uniformity of the temperature throughout the year, the extremely insignificant difference between the minimum amounts of precipitation, the degree of absolute and relative air humidity, the periodicity of quiet winds, the average annual temperature, and especially the number of sunny days in the year (217) constitute the features of Sukhumi as a climatic station.

The mountains protecting Sukhumi and its surroundings from cold and sharp winds, which represent the foothills of the Greater Caucasus Range, are covered almost entirely with rich vegetation. The mountain closest to the city, Trapeztsiya, and almost all the city land are dotted with fruit and decorative gardens, vineyards, and plantations. The so-called Chernyavskaya Mountain represents one vast park, especially its southern part. The best sanatoriums of Sukhumi are located 10 km from Sukhumi, in the area of Gulripsh, at an altitude of 100 m above sea level—the Lenin Sanatorium for tuberculosis patients; some sanatoriums are located in Sukhumi itself and its surroundings. The therapeutic means of Sukhumi are: aero- and heliotherapy and sea bathing (the bathing season is from mid-April to November).

As a climatic station, Sukhumi functions from October to May. During the summer months, tuberculosis sanatoriums are closed. In the summer, mainly rest homes are open, and sea bathing and sun therapy are conducted. In the summer and autumn, Sukhumi attracts a large number of tourists and excursionists. The base of the Society of Proletarian Tourism and Excursions (OPTE) is located here (in Sinop). Communication with Sukhumi is by steamship across the Black Sea, as well as by railway to Adler or Sochi and from there by automobile along the Sukhumi Highway. L. Goldfail.