The city is situated along the Tsemesk harbor, one of the most convenient harbors in the Black Sea. The harbor is 15 km long, 2-9 km wide, very deep and any ocean-going vessel can enter it. Novorossiysk founded in 1838 is at present the largest commercial seaport in the south of Russia.

The city is surrounded by mountain range from its northwestern and southwestern sides. The harbor separates the western and the eastern parts of the city, which makes the city look really unusual and fascinating. The first settlements on the picturesque shores of the harbor were created by different nations. The favored land keeps memories of the Ancient Greek town of Bata, Genoese colony Calos Limen, Turkish fortress Sudguk-Kale and, finally, Russian fortress Tsemesskoe, which received the name of Novorossiysk in 1939.

There are many wonderful places not far from Novorossiysk: numerous piers, Abrau-Dyurso - the place where the famous Russian champagne is produced, seaside camping Shirokaya Balka, etc. In summer thousands of visitors from northern parts of Russia gather on the beaches of Novorossiysk for sunbathing and swimming.

For a long time the city suffered from the lack of fresh water (the shores of the Tsemesk harbor don’t abound many water springs), until new plumbing was installed. Before that the water supplies had been maintained by tank vessels, and every morning housewives had stood a long line to get fresh water. The new water pipe was a long-expected solution of the problem. The citizens commemorated this event with a fountain, in the centre of which you could see a statue of a girl on her knees, holding out hands full of water. Unfortunately, the fountain didn’t live to the present time. The high quality of water carried by the plumbing made Novorossiysk the first city in the USSR, where Pepsico Company built a plant to produce Pepsi-Cola.

People established vineyards in the outskirts of the city. Today anyone can taste locally produced wine and grapes.

The central part of the city stands on the rocky ground, therefore, to plant the trees the specialists had to crash the rock and replace it with good soil. However, the trees were looked after long after that due to “Bora” – a severe north-eastern wind. It comes from the mountains, when the cold air accumulating on their tops reaches the breaking point and goes down the slopes like a snow slip. Bora can decrease temperature of the air by 10 or more degrees, tear trees out of the ground and blow roofs off houses. If the scientists could solve the Bora’s problem, the climate of Novorossiysk would be almost equal to that of Sochi.

About a hundred years ago the famous Russian geographer Wrangell suggested excavating a tunnel through the Markhot Ridge so that the cold air could gradually slide to the sea. The modern scientists say the works would take many years, but it is possible.

Despite all this, Novorossiysk is a green city with lots of gardens and parks and a beautiful quay. although the city is more likely to be called industrial, it has got a well-equipped beach.