Caucasian resort district Mineralnye Vody celebrates anniversary

On Saturday the specially protected ecological resort district Kavkazskiye Mineralnye Vody /Caucasian Mineral Waters/, North Caucasus, started celebrating its 200th anniversary. Guests from Moscow and other cities of Russia, from the neighbouring republics in the North Caucasus and foreign countries began arriving the day before.

First Russian President Boris Yeltsin with his spouse was one of the first to come for a vacation in Kislovodsk and was met at the Mineralnye Vody airport. His decree of February 27, 1992, "On Specially Protected Ecological Resort District of the Russian Federation, Kavkazskiye Mineralnye Vody" played a significant part in further development of the all-Russian resort.

The legislative basis of the resort was laid by the decree of Russian Emperor Alexander I that was signed two centuries ago and granted the resort the status of the sanatorium area of national importance. Later unique springs of mineral waters were found there, which gave rise to balneological facilities, and universally known resort cities of Zheleznovodsk, Yessentuki, Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk.

During the celebration that will continue till May 24th security measures will be increased. Special control has already been taken over transport communications, such as the Mineralnye Vody international airport, railway stations, bus terminals, as well as places of recreation in all resort cities.

The authorities have strengthened the passport-visa regime, toughened control over motor vehicle movement in resort areas, and set tasks for preventing acts of terror, illegal arms and explosives trade, and discovering criminals.