The territory of Sochi became part of Russia at the end of the Caucasian War. Officially founded in 1898, Sochi was set-aside as a resort area. It's fate was decided when salubrious sulphuretted hydrogen springs were discovered throughout the area. Since then it has been developed as a health resort and is now the best in Russia. The first hotel complex, Kavkaz Riviera, was opened in 1909. As the area became popular before the revolution many wealthy people from St. Petersburg and Moscow came down and built splendid summer homes. Several still stand and are considered to be excellent examples of Russia's Art Nouveau.

The major attraction to Sochi is natural beauty. Pristine rivers and streams run out of the forest covered foothills of the Caucasus. The beaches stretch as far as the eye can see. If you want to see a candy tree, a fig, an iron tree, a soapberry tree, a tulip tree, a strawberry tree, a sakura in bloom or a Magonia Billa, you must visit the Dendrary Botanical Garden. Dendrary extends over 30 acres with more than 1,600 trees and bushes from all around the world. This subtropical park, the largest in Russia, was founded in 1892 by Khudekov.

Not far from Dendrary is the Friendship Park with its Trees of Friendship and museum. Since 1940 when the Arctic explorer O.Y. Shmidt made the first graft, many famous people and world leaders and representatives from over 167 countries have come here to graft a branch onto one of the trees of friendship. An adjacent museum exhibits letters and souvenirs sent here from around the world extending peoples' wishes of good will.