New Athos (Afon Tshyts, Novyy Afon) is a town in the Gudauta raion of Abkhazia, situated some 22 km from Sukhumi by the shores of the Black Sea. The town was previously known under the names Nikopol, Acheisos, Anakopia, Nikopia, Nikofia, Nikopsis, Absara, Psyrtskha. New Athos Cave is one of the tourist attractions of Abkhazia.
The basic medical means of a resort New Athos – a heat-damp climate and sea bathings.
Fluctuations of temperature within days in New Athos do not exceed moderate norms that, undoubtedly, is of great importance for patients, especially with diseases of cardiovascular system.
Climate is damp, Mediterranean subtropical, mid-annual temperature 16,3 °C, in summer +30 °C — +32 °C, in winter +9 °C - +11 °C. Water gets warm upto 26 °C — 28 °C.
On a lay of land the resort territory is devided in three zones: the first zone - coastal, upto 5 m above sea level; the second zone - foothill, upto 80 m above sea level and the third zone - mountain, upto 600 m above sea level. At the North the resort is surrounded by spurs of the Caucasian ridge which protect it from cold northern, winds. All territory of the resort is turned to the south that provides long solar radiation of this district. New Athos is known for its extremely beautiful landscapes and rich subtropical vegetation. Hills on which the resort, mainly, is located, represent itself continuous lemon, orange, tangerine and olive trees groves. Cypress avenues last on all territory of a resort. The coastal zone is rich with decorative plantings: palm trees, laurels, magnolias, bananas, oleanders, eucalyptus and others. Here the ponds surrounded with weeping willows are located. Slopes of mountains are covered by deciduous vegetation (hornbeam, beech, oak and others.)
In New Athos there is a set of sights, nature sanctuaries and history:
* the New Athos monastery and a monastic complex - the Orthodox monastery in New Athos was founded in 1875 by Russian monks from St Panteleimon monastery from sacred mountain Athos in Greece. The monastery has been constructed at an ancient temple of apostle Simon the Canaanite where its sacred hallows under a bushel rest! Nearby the temple there is a cave in which, according to the legend, Simon the Canaanite retired and prayed.
* the Grotto and a temple of apostle Simon the Canaanite in river Psyrtshi gorge
* Ruins of an ancient temple and the Anakopijsky fortress (citadel) at top of Iversky mountain
* Under Iversky mountain and in vicinities of New Athos there is a number of karstic caves, including opened
In 1961 New Athos cave
* Seaside park with system of the ponds fed by the waters of the river Psyrtshi (the well-known lake with swans)
* the Falls and the power station constructed in 1902
* the Genoa tower — a fragment of fortress of Anakopii XI—XIII centuries (Anakopijsky mountain - one of sights of New Athos. Tourists are attracted by watchtowers and grey-haired ruins of capital of the Abkhazian kingdom which have reflected in VIII century AD intrusion of Arabs)
* Intercession church