The Ural Mountains are located on the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan and are unique geographical object, dividing the continent of Eurasia into two parts.
Direction and extent of the Ural Mountains.
The length of the Ural Mountains is more than 2500 km, they originate from the shores ofArctic Ocean and end in the sultry deserts of Kazakhstan. Due to the fact that the Ural Mountains cross Russian territory from north to south, they pass along five geographical areas. They include the expanses of the Orenburg, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Aktobe, Tyumen and Kustanai regions, as well as the territories of the Perm Territory, the Komi Republic and Bashkortostan.
Minerals of the Ural Mountains.
In the depths of the Urals are hidden countless riches known to the whole world. This includes the famous malachite, and semi-precious stones, colorfully described by Bazhov in his fairy tales, asbestos, platinum, gold and other minerals.
Nature of the Ural Mountains.
This region is famous for its incredible natural beauty. People come here to look at the amazing mountains, plunge into clear waters numerous lakes, go down into caves or raft along the stormy rivers of the Ural Mountains. You can travel through colorful places either by walking across the expanses of the Urals with a backpack on your back, or in the comfortable conditions of a sightseeing bus or your own car.
Ural Mountains in the Sverdlovsk region.
The beauty of these mountains is best seen in natural parks and reserves. Once in the Sverdlovsk region, you definitely need to visit Oleniye Ruchyi. Tourists come here to see the drawings painted on the surface of the Pisanitsa rock. ancient man, visit the caves and descend into the Big Gap, marveling at the strength of the river that has carved a path through Holey Stone. For visitors, there are special trails throughout the park, observation decks, cable crossings and places for recreation.
Park "Bazhovskie places".
There is a natural park in the Urals called “Bazhov Places”, where you can go walking, horseback riding and cycling. Specially designed routes allow you to explore picturesque landscapes, visit Lake Talkov Kamen and climb Mount Markov Kamen. In winter you can travel here on snowmobiles, and in summer you can go down the mountain rivers in kayaks or paddle boards.
Rezhevsky reserve.
Connoisseurs of the natural beauty of semi-precious stones should definitely visit the Rezhevskaya reserve of the Ural Mountains, which includes several unique deposits of semi-precious, precious and semi-precious stones. Traveling to the mining sites is only possible if accompanied by a reserve employee. The Rezh River flows through its territory, formed by the confluence of the Ayat and Bolshoi Sap rivers. These rivers originate in the Ural Mountains. On the right bank of the Rezh River rises the famous Shaitan stone. Local residents consider it a repository of mystical power.
Caves of the Urals.
Fans of extreme tourism will be happy to visit the numerous caves of the Urals. The most famous of them are Kungur Ice and Shulgan-Tash (Kapova). The Kungur Ice Cave stretches for 5.7 km, although only 1.5 km of it is accessible to tourists. On its territory there are about 50 grottoes, more than 60 lakes and many stalactites and stalagmites made of ice. The temperature here is always below freezing, so you need to dress appropriately to visit it. To enhance the visual effect, special lighting is used in the cave.
In the Kapova Cave, scientists discovered rock paintings that are more than 14 thousand years old. In total, about 200 works by ancient artists were found in its vastness. In addition, you can visit numerous halls, grottoes and galleries, located on three levels, and admire the underground lakes, in one of which an inattentive visitor risks swimming at the entrance.
Some attractions of the Ural Mountains are best visited in winter. One of these places is located in the Zyuratkul National Park. This is an ice fountain that arose thanks to geologists who once drilled a well in this place. Now a fountain comes out of it groundwater. IN winter time it turns into a bizarrely shaped icicle, reaching a height of 14 m.
Thermal springs of the Urals.
The Urals are rich and thermal springs, therefore, to undergo healing procedures there is no need to fly abroad, just come to Tyumen. Local thermal springs are rich in microelements that are beneficial to human health, and the water temperature in the source ranges from +36 to +45 0 C, regardless of the time of year. Recreation centers have been built on these waters.
Ust-Kachka, Perm.
Not far from Perm there is the Ust-Kachka health complex, unique in the composition of its mineral waters. IN summer time Here you can ride catamarans or boats. In winter, ski slopes, ice skating rinks and slides are available to vacationers.
Waterfalls of the Urals.
For the Ural Mountains, waterfalls are not a common occurrence, which makes it all the more interesting to visit such a natural miracle. One of them is the Plakun waterfall, located on the right bank of the Sylva River. Fresh water falls from a height of more than 7 m. Local residents and visitors consider this source holy and gave it the name Ilyinsky.
There is also a man-made waterfall near Yekaterinburg, nicknamed “Rokhotun” for the roar of the water. Its waters fall down from a height of more than 5 m. On a hot summer day, it is pleasant to stand under its streams, cooling off and receiving a free hydromassage.
In the Perm region there is a unique place called the Stone City. This name was given to it by tourists, although among the local population this miracle of nature is called “Devil’s Settlement”. The stones in this complex are arranged in such a way that the illusion of a real city with streets, squares and avenues is created. You can walk through its labyrinths for hours, and beginners can even get lost. Each stone has its own name, given for its resemblance to some animal. Some tourists climb to the tops of the rocks to see the beauty of the greenery surrounding the City.
Ridges and cliffs of the Ural Mountains.
Many cliffs of the Ural ridge also have their own names, for example, Bear Stone, which from afar resembles the gray back of a bear glimpsed among the green trees. Climbers use the hundred-meter steep cliff for their training. Unfortunately, it is gradually being destroyed. In the rock, archaeologists discovered a grotto in which there was a site for ancient people.
Not far from Yekaterinburg in the Visimsky Nature Reserve there is an outcrop of rocks. An attentive eye will immediately discern in it the outlines of a man whose head is covered with a cap. They call him Old Man Stone. If you climb to its top, you can admire the panorama of Nizhny Tagil.
Lakes of the Urals.
Among the numerous lakes of the Ural Mountains, there is one that is not inferior in glory to Lake Baikal. This is Lake Turgoyak, fed by radon springs. Contains almost no water mineral salts. Soft water has healing properties. People from all over Russia come here to improve their health.
If you appreciate the virgin beauty of mountain landscapes, untouched by civilization, come to the Urals, to the Ural Mountains: this region will definitely give you a piece of its amazing atmosphere.
The Ural Mountains are a mountain system located between the West Siberian and East European plains, and represent a kind of border separating Europe from Asia. They were formed by the collision of the African and Eurasian lithospheric plates, as a result of which one of them literally crushed the other. From the point of view of geologists, these mountains arose in a complicated way, since they consist of rocks of different ages and type.
With a length of more than 2000 km, the Ural Mountains form the Southern, Northern, Subpolar, Polar and Middle Urals. Because of their length, they were called the Earth Belt in the first mentions of the 11th century. Everywhere you can see crystal clear mountain streams and rivers, which then flow into larger bodies of water. The following large rivers flow there: Kama, Ural, Belaya, Chusovaya and Pechora.
The height of the Ural Mountains does not exceed 1895 meters. Thus, it is medium in level (600-800 m) and the narrowest in width of the ridge. This part is characterized by peaked and sharp shapes with steep slopes and deep valleys. The peak of Pai-Er has the greatest rise (1500 m).
The circumpolar zone expands slightly and is considered the highest part ridge. The following peaks are located here: Mount Narodnaya (1894 m), which is the highest, Karpinsky (1795 m), Sablya (1425 m) and many other Ural mountains, the average rise of which ranges from 1300 to 1400 meters.
They are also characterized acute forms relief and large valleys. This part is also notable for the fact that there are several glaciers here, the largest of which stretches almost 1 km in length.
In the northern part, the Ural Mountains, whose height does not exceed 600 meters, are characterized by smoothed and rounded shapes. Some of them, made of crystalline rocks, take on funny shapes under the influence of rain and wind. Closer to the south they become even lower, and in the middle part they take the form of a gentle arc, where the most significant mark (886 m) is occupied by the Kachkanar peak. The relief here is smoothed and more flat.
In the southern zone, the Ural Mountains rise noticeably, forming many parallel ridges. Among the highest points we can note (1638 m) Yamantau and (1586 m) Iremel, the rest are slightly lower (Big Sholom, Nurgush, etc.).
In addition to beautiful mountains and caves, the Urals has a very picturesque, diverse nature, as well as many other attractions. And that is why it is so attractive to many tourists. Here you can choose routes for people of different levels of training - both for beginners and for lovers of extreme travel. In addition to all other advantages, the Ural Mountains are a storehouse of minerals, which include the following: ores of copper, chromium, nickel, titanium; placers of gold, platinum, silver; deposits of coal, gas, oil; precious malachite, diamonds, yam, crystal, amethyst, etc.).
As they say, the only things better than mountains are mountains. And this is true, because their indescribable atmosphere, beauty, harmony, grandeur and clean air inspire and charge with positive, energy and vivid impressions on for a long time.
Basic moments
This mountain system itself, which not only separates both continents, but is also an officially delineated cordon between them, belongs to Europe: the border is usually drawn along the eastern base of the mountains. Formed as a result of the collision of the Eurasian and African lithospheric plates, the Ural Mountains cover a vast territory. It includes the expanses of the Sverdlovsk, Orenburg and Tyumen regions, the Perm Territory, Bashkortostan and the Komi Republic, as well as the Aktobe and Kustanai regions of Kazakhstan.
In terms of its height, which does not exceed 1895 meters, the mountain system is significantly inferior to such giants as the Himalayas and Pamirs. For example, the peaks of the polar Urals are average in level - 600-800 meters, not to mention the fact that they are also the narrowest in terms of the width of the ridge. However, such geological characteristics have an undoubted advantage: they remain accessible to humans. And this is not so much about scientific research, how much about the tourist attractiveness of the places through which they lie. The landscape of the Ural Mountains is truly unique. Here crystal clear mountain streams and rivers begin their run, growing into larger bodies of water. Such large rivers as the Ural, Kama, Pechora, Chusovaya and Belaya also flow here.
A wide variety of recreational opportunities open up for tourists here: both for real extreme sports enthusiasts and for beginners. And the Ural Mountains are a true treasure trove of minerals. In addition to deposits of coal, natural gas and oil, mines are developed here that produce copper, nickel, chromium, titanium, gold, silver, and platinum. If we recall the tales of Pavel Bazhov, the Urals zone is also rich in malachite. And also emerald, diamond, crystal, amethyst, jasper and other precious stones.
The atmosphere of the Ural Mountains, regardless of whether you visit the Northern or Southern Urals, the Subpolar or Middle Urals, is indescribable. And their greatness, beauty, harmony and clean air charge with energy and positivity, inspire and, of course, leave vivid impressions for the rest of my life.
History of the Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains have been known since ancient times. In sources that have survived to this day, they are associated with the Hyperborean and Riphean mountains. Thus, Ptolemy pointed out that this mountain system consists of the Rimnus mountains (this is the current Middle Urals), Norosa (Southern Urals) and the northern part - the Hyperborean mountains themselves. Firstly written sources Due to its great length, it was called the “Earth Belt” in the 11th century AD.
In the first Russian chronicle, “The Tale of Bygone Years,” which dates back to the same 11th century, the mountains of the Urals were called by our compatriots Siberian, Poyasov or Big Stone. Under the name “Big Stone” they were also applied to the first map of the Russian state, also known as the “Big Drawing”, published in the second half of the 16th century. Cartographers of those years depicted the Urals as a mountain belt, from where many rivers originate.
There are many versions of the origin of the name of this mountain system. E. K. Hoffman, who developed the so-called Mansi version of this toponym, compares the name “Ural” with the Mansi word “ur”, which is translated as “mountain”. The second point of view, also very common, is the borrowing of the name from the Bashkir language. She, according to many scientists, seems the most convincing. After all, if you take the language, legends and traditions of this people - for example, the famous epic "Ural-Batyr" - then it is not difficult to see that in them this toponym has not only existed since ancient times, but is also maintained from generation to generation.
Nature and climate
The natural landscape of the Ural Mountains is incredibly beautiful and multifaceted. Here you can not only look at the mountains themselves, but also go down into numerous caves, swim in the waters of local lakes, and get a dose of thrill while rafting down wild rivers. Moreover, each tourist chooses for himself how exactly to travel. Some people like to go on independent hikes with a backpack on their shoulders, while others prefer the more comfortable conditions of a tour bus or the inside of a personal car.
No less varied is the animal world"Earth Belt". A predominant position in the local fauna is occupied by forest animals, whose habitat is coniferous, broad-leaved or mixed forests. Thus, squirrels live in coniferous forests, the main diet of which is spruce seeds, and in winter these cute animals with a fluffy tail feed on previously stored pine nuts and dried mushrooms. The marten is widespread in local forests, the existence of which is difficult to imagine without the already mentioned squirrel, which this predator hunts.
But the real wealth of these places is the fur-bearing game animals, the fame of which extends far beyond the region, for example, the sable, which lives in the forests of the Northern Urals. It, however, differs from the dark Siberian sable in its less beautiful skin of a reddish color. Uncontrolled hunting for valuable furry animals is prohibited by law. Without this ban, it would probably have been completely destroyed by now.
The taiga forests of the Ural Mountains are also home to the traditional Russian wolf, bear and elk. Roe deer are found in mixed forests. On the plains adjacent to the mountain ranges, the brown hare and fox feel at ease. We did not make a reservation: they live precisely on flat terrain, and for them the forest is just a shelter. And, of course, the tree crowns are well inhabited by many species of birds.
As for the climate of the Ural Mountains, then geographical position plays a significant role in this regard. In the north, this mountain system extends beyond the Arctic Circle, but most of the mountains are located in temperate climatic zone. If you move from north to south along the perimeter of the mountain system, you will notice how the temperature gradually increases, which is especially noticeable in the summer. If in the north during the warm period of the year the thermometer shows from +10 to +12 degrees, then in the south - from 20 to 22 degrees above zero. However, in winter the temperature between north and south does not differ so sharply. The average monthly temperature in January in the north is 20 degrees minus, in the south it is 16-18 degrees below zero.
Air masses moving from Atlantic Ocean, also has a noticeable impact on the climate of the Urals. And although as atmospheric flows move from the west towards the Urals, the air becomes less humid, it cannot be called 100% dry either. As a result, more precipitation - 600-800 millimeters per year - falls on the western slope, while on the eastern slope this figure varies between 400-500 mm. But the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains in winter fall under the power of a powerful Siberian anticyclone, while in the south during the cold period of the year, partly cloudy and cold weather sets in.
A factor such as the relief of the mountain system also has a noticeable influence on fluctuations in the local climate. As you climb the mountain, you will feel the weather getting harsher. Different temperature can be felt even on different slopes, including those located nearby. Different parts of the Ural Mountains are characterized by unequal amounts of precipitation.
Sights of the Ural Mountains
One of the most famous protected areas of the Ural Mountains is the Oleniy Ruchi Park, located in Sverdlovsk region. Curious tourists, especially interested ancient history, make a “pilgrimage” to the Pisanitsa rock located here, on the surface of which are painted drawings made by ancient artists. The caves and the Great Failure are of considerable interest. “Oleniye Ruchiki” has a fairly developed tourist infrastructure: special trails are equipped in the park, there are observation decks, not to mention places for recreation. There are also cable crossings.
If you are familiar with the work of the writer Pavel Bazhov, his famous “Malachite Box,” then you will probably be interested in visiting the “Bazhov Places” natural park. Opportunities for good rest and the relaxation here is simply magnificent. You can take walks, bike rides or horseback rides. Walking along specially designed and thought-out routes, you will take in the picturesque landscapes, climb Mount Markov Kamen and visit Lake Talkov Kamen. Extreme sports enthusiasts usually flock here in the summer to go kayaking and kayaking down mountain rivers. Travelers also come here in winter, enjoying snowmobiling.
If you appreciate natural beauty semi-precious stones - natural, not subject to processing - be sure to visit the Rezhevskaya reserve, which combines deposits of not only precious, but also semi-precious and ornamental stones. Traveling to the mining sites on your own is prohibited - you must be accompanied by a reserve employee, but this in no way affects the impressions of what you see. The Rezh River flows through the territory of Rezhevsky; it was formed as a result of the confluence of the Bolshoy Sapa and Ayati - rivers originating in the Ural Mountains. The Shaitan Stone, popular among travelers, is located on the right bank of the Rezhi. The Urals consider this stone to be the center of mystical natural forces, helping in various life situations. You can believe it or not, but the stream of tourists coming to the stone with various requests to higher powers, does not run out.
Of course, the Urals are a magnet for lovers of extreme tourism, who enjoy visiting its caves, which are here great amount. The most famous are Shulgan-Tash, or Kapova, and the Kungur Ice Cave. The length of the latter is almost 6 km, of which only one and a half kilometers are accessible to tourists. On the territory of the Kungur ice cave there are 50 grottoes, over 60 lakes and countless stalactites and stalagmites. The temperature in the cave is always below freezing, so when visiting here, dress as if you were going for a winter walk. The visual effect of the splendor of its interior decoration is enhanced by special lighting. But in the Kapova Cave, researchers discovered rock paintings, the age of which is estimated at 14 thousand years or more. Approximately 200 works by ancient masters of the brush have become the property of our time, although there were probably more. Travelers can also admire the underground lakes and visit grottoes, galleries and numerous halls located on three levels.
If the caves of the Ural Mountains create a winter atmosphere at any time of the year, then some attractions are best visited in winter. One of them is the ice fountain, which is located in national park“Zyuratkul” arose thanks to the efforts of geologists who drilled a well in this place. Moreover, this is not just a fountain in our usual “urban” sense, but a fountain of underground water. With the onset of winter, it freezes and turns into a voluminous icicle of a bizarre shape, also impressive with its 14-meter height.
Many Russians, in order to improve their health, go to foreign thermal springs, for example, to the Czech Karlovy Vary or the Gellert Baths in Budapest. But why rush beyond the border if our native Urals are also rich in thermal springs? To undergo a full course of healing procedures, all you need to do is come to Tyumen. The hot springs here are rich in microelements beneficial for human health, and the water temperature ranges from +36 to +45 degrees Celsius depending on the season. Let us add that modern recreation centers have been built on these sources. Mineral waters are also treated in the Ust-Kachka health complex, located near Perm and unique in its chemical composition their waters. Summer recreation here can be combined with boating and catamarans; in winter, ice slides, skating rinks and full-fledged ski slopes are available to vacationers.
Despite the fact that waterfalls are not so typical for the Ural Mountains, they are present here and attract the attention of tourists. Among them we can highlight the Plakun waterfall, located on the right bank of the Sylva River. He overthrows fresh water from a height exceeding 7 m. Its other name is Ilyinsky, it was given by local residents and visitors who consider this source holy. There is also a waterfall near Yekaterinburg, named Rokhotun for its roaring “temper”. Its peculiarity is that it is man-made. It throws its waters down from a height of more than 5 meters. When the summer heat sets in, visitors enjoy standing under its jets, cooling off and receiving hydromassage, completely free of charge.
Video: Southern Ural
Large cities of the Urals
The millionaire Yekaterinburg, the administrative center of the Sverdlovsk region, is called the capital of the Urals. It is also, unofficially, the third capital of Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg and the third capital of Russian rock. This is a large industrial metropolis, especially charming in winter. He is generously covered with snow, under the cover of which he resembles a giant asleep deep sleep, and you never know exactly when he will wake up. But when he gets enough sleep, then, no doubt, he will definitely unfold to his full potential.
Yekaterinburg usually makes a strong impression on its guests - first of all, with many architectural attractions. Among them we can highlight the famous Church on the Blood, erected on the site of the execution of the last Russian Emperor and his family, the Sverdlovsk rock club, the building of the former District Court, museums of various subjects and even an unusual monument... to an ordinary computer keyboard. The capital of the Urals is also famous for its shortest metro in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records: 7 stations account for only 9 km.
Chelyabinsk and Nizhny Tagil also became widely known in Russia, primarily thanks to the popular comedy show “Our Russia”. The characters of the program, beloved by viewers, are, of course, fictional, but tourists are still interested in where to find Ivan Dulin, the world’s first milling machine operator of non-traditional sexual orientation, and Vovan and Gena, hapless and drinking-loving Russian tourists who constantly find themselves in frankly tragicomic situations. One of the business cards of Chelyabinsk are two monuments: Love, made in the form of an iron tree, and Lefty with a shod flea. The city’s panorama of local factories located above the Miass River is also impressive. But in the Nizhny Tagil Museum of Fine Arts you can see a painting by Raphael - the only one in our country that can be found outside the Hermitage.
Another Ural city that has become famous thanks to television is Perm. This is where the “real boys” who became the heroes of the series of the same name live. Perm claims to be the next cultural capital of Russia, and this idea is actively lobbied by designer Artemy Lebedev, who is working on the external appearance of the city, and gallery owner Marat Gelman, specializing in contemporary art.
Orenburg, which is called the land of endless steppes, is also a real historical treasury of the Urals and all of Russia. At one time, it survived the siege of Emelyan Pugachev’s army; its streets and walls remember the visits of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko and the wedding of the first cosmonaut of the Earth, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.
In Ufa, another Ural city, there is a symbolic “Kilometer Zero” sign. The local post office is the very point from which the distance to other points on our planet is measured. Another famous landmark of the capital of Bashkortostan is the Ufa bronze sign, which is a disk with a one and a half meter diameter and weighs a whole ton. And in this city - at least, as local residents assure, is the tallest equestrian statue on the European continent. This is a monument to Salavat Yulaev, who is also called the Bashkir Bronze Horseman. The horse on which this associate of Emelyan Pugachev sits rises above the Belaya River.
Ski resorts of the Urals
The most important ski resorts in the Urals are concentrated in three regions of our country: the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as in Bashkortostan. Zavyalikha, Bannoye and Abzakovo are the most famous of them. The first is located near the city of Trekhgorny, the last two are near Magnitogorsk. Based on the results of the competition, which is held as part of International Congress ski industry, Abzakovo was recognized as the best ski resort in the Russian Federation in the 2005-2006 season.
A whole scattering ski resorts concentrated in the regions of the Middle and Southern Urals. Thrill-seekers and simply curious tourists who want to try themselves in such an “adrenaline” sport as alpine skiing come here almost all year round. Travelers here will find good trails for skis, sleds and snowboards.
Besides alpine skiing, descents along mountain rivers are very popular among travelers. Fans of such alloys, which also increase adrenaline levels, go for thrills to Miass, Magnitogorsk, Asha or Kropchaevo. True, you won’t be able to get to your destination quickly, since you will have to travel by train or car.
The holiday season in the Urals lasts on average from October-November to April. During this period, another popular entertainment is snowmobiling and ATV riding. In Zavyalikha, which has become one of the most popular tourist spots, they even installed a special trampoline. Experienced athletes practice on it complex elements and tricks.
How to get there
Getting to all the major Ural cities will not be difficult, so the region of this majestic mountain system is one of the most convenient for domestic tourists. The flight from Moscow will take only three hours, and if you prefer to travel by train, then the route via railway will take a little more than a day.
The main Ural city, as we have already said, is Yekaterinburg, located in the Middle Urals. Due to the fact that the Ural Mountains themselves are low, it was possible to build several transport routes leading to Siberia from Central Russia. In particular, you can travel through the territory of this region along the famous railway artery – the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The Ural is a unique mountain system, one of the most ancient and picturesque in the world. They are old, very old, dating back to the Devonian period (about 40 million years ago). This massif is like a complex mosaic in which hundreds of types of rocks are mixed. From the time of Soviet Union More than 50 types of minerals and hundreds of minerals, precious and semi-precious stones were mined here.
But ancient mountains are rarely high. Years wear away their tops, grind rocks, and build up a layer of soil. Therefore, the highest point of the Ural Mountains cannot compete with the Alpine and Tibetan peaks. But still, for the sake of interest, we will compile this list.
The Ural Mountains stretch almost across the entire border of Eurasia, separating two parts of the world from each other. The Ural belt is more than 2,500 kilometers long, and it is conventionally divided into 5 zones:
- Southern Urals.
- Middle Urals.
- Northern Urals.
- Subpolar Urals.
- Polar Urals.
Some researchers believe that Mugodzhary on the southern side and Pai-Khoi on the northern side should also be added to the system, but still, officially these five zones are considered the Ural Mountains. And each of them has its own highest point.
In fact, this mountain can hardly be called high: only 1640 meters in height. However, all other peaks of the Southern Urals do not even reach this value. It is worth noting that 1640 meters is the height of Big Yamantau. The second peak, Maly Yamantau, is even lower - only 1510 meters.
It is a low, gently sloping mountain, covered with a thick layer of soil, enough for a real forest to grow on it. But the top of the mountain is covered with snow and ice suitable for skiers.
Yamantau is an amazingly beautiful and picturesque mountain that attracts thousands of tourists from all over Russia and even other countries. To travel along it, basic training and equipment is enough. True, the pleasure is spoiled by the fact that local residents have long considered Yamantau a bad mountain, which is even reflected in its name. Adding fuel to the fire of doubt are rumors that Vladimir Putin’s secret bunker was built here. Nobody knows how true they are, but before going here, it’s better to think carefully: “Is it worth it?” Moreover, this is not the only big mountain Southern Urals, deserving your attention.
The mountain with such a dissonant name is the highest point of the Middle Urals. True, the numbers are not too impressive: 1119 meters. Previously, we talked about the peaks of the Alps and Tibet, high, sharp, rocky, covered with glaciers. Oslyanka is completely different from them: low, gently sloping, softly rounded... From a distance. Up close, it turns out that the slopes are quite steep, and there are places where the rocky base comes to the surface. Most of The mountain is covered with meadows and forests; in the cold season it is densely covered with snow.
It is perfect for hiking and hiking routes in the warm season, but in winter it is a haven for skiers and snowboarders. In summer, you can supplement your tourist routes with river rafting.
By the way, this mountain has nothing to do with donkeys. The origin of its name is not known for certain. Most likely, it is based on the word “donkey, touchstone,” that is, a stone on which knives are sharpened. The second version is “oslyad” – a log. There is a third one, which claims that the name of the mountain is connected with the nearby Oslyanka River, but here the connection may be the opposite.
It is always extremely interesting to understand where the names of geographical objects come from, because there are whole stories behind them. Sometimes the connection can be traced immediately, but often you have to figure it out. But in the case of Mount Telposis, it is not immediately clear where it came from and what it means. The truth lies quite deep. Its original name was Tel-Poz-Iz, which in the Komi language means “mountain of the nest of the winds.”
According to legend, the local god of the winds lives on this mountain, so it’s better once again don't go there. True, this does not at all prevent tourists from all over Russia from climbing Telposis in pursuit of beautiful scenery and thrills. Its height is 1617 meters. Enough to become the first in the Northern Urals.
This peak is the highest point not only in the Subpolar part of the Urals, but also in the entire mountain range. Of course, in the same Alps, a peak of 1895 meters would never be on such a list, but for the Ural Mountains this is more than enough.
It officially received its name in 1927 during the exploration of this part of the Urals. The subtlety is that the geologist Aleshkov did not specify in his notes where exactly the emphasis should be placed: NARODNAYA or Narodnaya. Both versions are found in the literature. The second looks quite logical, because at that time many objects received similar names. The first one also has the right to life, because the Naroda River flows next to it. And this word from the Komi language has nothing to do with the people.
The first peak of the northernmost, Polar part of the Urals is Payer. This rock formation stands out sharply against the surrounding landscape. There are several more peaks nearby - Western and Eastern Payer, 1330 and 1217 meters, respectively.
total length The Ural belt is more than 2500 kilometers long. Just imagine: 2500 kilometers of picturesque mountains, which have everything: rocks, glaciers, snowfields, caves, forests, meadows, rivers... These are incredibly picturesque and rich mountains, you can spend your whole life here and not see even a small part of their wonders. But that doesn't mean it's not worth trying.
Mount Narodnaya (emphasis on the first syllable) is the highest point of the Ural Mountains. The mountain, almost two thousand meters above sea level, is located in a remote area in the Subpolar Urals. The story of the origin of the name of this key Ural landmark is not a simple one. There has been serious debate among scientists for a long time about the name of the mountain. According to one version, the peak, opened just on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the revolution, was named in honor of the Soviet people - NarOdnaya (with emphasis on the second syllable).According to another version, it was named after the Naroda River flowing at the foot of the mountain (the emphasis in the name of the peak in this case falls on the first syllable).
Apparently, the discoverer of the mountain, Aleshkov, still connected it with the people and called it Narodnaya, although he started from the name of the river. Professor P.L. Gorchakovsky wrote in his article in 1963: “As the late Professor B.N. explained to us in his time. Gorodkov, the name of Mount Narodnaya was derived from the Russian word for “people”. A.N. Aleshkov believed that this word is in harmony with the idea of highest peak mountainous country; The name came to him only by association with the name of the Peoples River...” However, now it is officially customary to put the emphasis on the first syllable - NARODNAYA. This is such a contradiction.Meanwhile, scientists have found out that the old, original Mansi name of the mountain is Poengurr.
The history of the surroundings of Mount Narodnaya due to the inaccessibility of this area (hundreds of kilometers from settlements) is very poor. The first scientific expedition visited these parts in 1843-45. It was led by the Hungarian researcher Antal Reguli. Here Reguli studied the life and language of the Mansi, their legends and beliefs. It was Antal Reguli who first proved the kinship of the Hungarian, Finnish, Mansi and Khanty languages! Then, in 1847-50, a complex geographical expedition led by geologist E.K. worked in these mountains. Hoffman.Mount Narodnaya itself was first explored and described only in 1927. That summer, the Ural Mountains were studied by the North-Ural expedition of the USSR Academy of Sciences and Uralplan under the leadership of Professor B.N. Gorodkova. The expedition consisted of several detachments.
It is curious that before this expedition it was believed that the highest point of the Ural Mountains was Mount Telposis (Mount Sablya also claimed primacy in height). But the team of geologist-graduate student A.N. Aleshkova during the 1927 expedition proved that the most high mountains The Urals are located in the subpolar region. It was Aleshkov who gave the mountain the name Narodnaya and for the first time in history measured its height, which he determined to be 1870 meters. Later, more accurate measurements showed that Aleshkov slightly “underestimated” the height of the mountain. It is currently known that its height is 1895 meters above sea level. Nowhere does the Urals reach greater heights than on this Mount Narodnaya.
Mount Narodnaya and its surroundings became a popular tourist route only in the late 1950s and early 1960s. At the same time, the appearance of the main peak of the Ural Mountains began to change. Signs, memorial signs began to appear here, and even a bust of Lenin appeared. Also among tourists, the custom of leaving notes at the top of the mountain has taken root. In 1998, a worship cross with the inscription “Save and Preserve” was installed here. A year later, the Orthodox went even further - they organized a religious procession to the highest point of the Urals.
Mount Narodnaya is surrounded by peaks named after the geologists Karpinsky and Didkovsky. Among the truly grandiose mountains of this part of the Urals, Mount Narodnaya stands out only in its height and dark breed. On the slopes of the mountain there are many caves - natural bowl-shaped depressions filled with clean transparent water and ice. There are glaciers and snowfields here. The slopes of the mountain are covered with large boulders.
The relief in this part of the Urals is mountainous, with steep slopes and deep gorges. To avoid injury you need to be very careful. Moreover, it is very far from housing.
You can climb to the highest point of the Ural Mountains along the ridge from the west, but rocky steep slopes and pits make the climb difficult. The easiest way to climb is from the north – along the spurs of the mountain. The eastern slope of Mount Narodnaya, on the contrary, ends in steep walls and gorges.
No climbing equipment is required to climb the highest point of the Ural Mountains. Nevertheless, to make a hike in this wild and mountainous area, you should be in good sports shape, and if you do not have enough tourist experience, it is better to use the services of an experienced guide. Keep in mind that the climate in the Subpolar Urals is harsh. Even in summer the weather is cold and changeable.Most favorable period for hiking - from July to mid-August. The trek will take about a week. There is no housing here and you can only spend the night in tents.Geographically, Mount Narodnaya belongs to the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.Relatively close to Narodnaya there is a less high, but very beautiful mountain Manaraga.
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