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Natural | Engineering | Sports | Histiorical | Mystical

Natural

Engineering | Sports | Histiorical | Mystical

Stone mushrooms | Akkorum, Altai

Akkurum Tract is a lake, located a few kilometers below the mouth of the river Chulcha on the right bank of Chulyshman in the gorge of Karasu, home to an amazing scenery - the stone mushrooms. These high stone blocks are incredibly beautiful and unusual, as though dressed in stone hats. Now there are large mushrooms here, up to eight meters, and small ones, only one or two meters high. If you touch the base, you will notice that it is somewhat porous, scabrous, with rounded pebbles emerging onto the surface; and the "cap" is a monolithic and imposing lump.If you touch the base, you will notice that it is somewhat porous, scabrous, with rounded pebbles emerging onto the surface; and the "cap" is a monolithic and imposing lump.

By the way, to get to this gorge is not easy. It is necessary at least to go up the mountain trail to a height of about 120 meters, on a fairly steep slope. However, all is compensated by the fact that on this rise you can enjoy a spectacular panorama of the gorge of Karasu.

Akkorum is translated from the Altai as "white stones." This is a unique monument of nature. They formed the "mushrooms" as a result of weathering of rocks.

Chara Sands | Transbaikalia

An exceptional place, located in Transbaikalia, resembles a real desert. It is Chara Sands, and a place like this can't be found anywhere else. This is a real wilderness where an incandescent sand lays close to the cold icing.

Alatau in Turkic means "motley mountains". This name accurately reflects the first impression of the bright colors of the Kuznetsk Alatau. White flecks of snow lie near the colorful sub-alpine meadows, blue sky reflected in the mirror of lakes, and the clouds are creeping so low that often cling to the sharp gray top of rocks. Ridges are unassailable and are covered with snow all the year round, so they were given the name - Belogorie.

Sands are surrounded by mountains covered with snow all year round, and sands go to the marshes and lakes. And there are no palm trees in the oases, but northern larches. Lakes are completely dead because of a permafrost ground, their bottom is fruitless for any organisms.

The strip of dunes that look just like in the deserts of Central Asia, stretched for dozens of kilometers, looks under the conditions of permafrost like absurd paradox, if even a miracle.

To get to these places by car is not easy, but possible. And it is absolutely possible for all travelers to enjoy harsh grandeur of these places through the windows of the plane along the route Novosibirsk - Khabarovsk.

Putoran Plateau | Krasnoyarsk region

Only 50 km of swamps and tundra between Norilsk and magnificent, charming with its pristine beauty, mountainous country, pearl of Taimyr Arctic Circle - Putorana plateau. Putorana Plateau - the largest monolithic mountain mass of Siberia, is almost entirely situated in the north of the Arctic Circle.

The name Putoran in Evenki means "lakes with steep banks." The area of the plateau is 250 thousand km. (Comparable to territory of the UK). On the territory of the plateau there is Putorana State Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage of humanity.

Green tectonic lakes and monumental basalt canyons, rock formations, resembling medieval castles, dissected by valleys of impetuous rivers full of rapids with lots of waterfalls and mountain peaks dotted with stone fields, and covered with snow, are fancifully intertwined here. In this corner of the world more than thirty thousand waterfalls turn to ice falls in winter.

Panorama of the surrounding mountain landscape is grandiose. In this amazing beautiful corner of the world, the symphony of life paradoxically merges with the silence of nothingness, chaos and harmony of the world around us!

Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve | Krasnoyarsk region

The Reserve is organized in 1976 for the preservation and study of typical and unique natural complexes of the Western Sayan. The reserve is one of the few places in Russia where a rare animal snow leopard lives. Since 1985, in terms of location The Reserve is in Ermakovsky and Shusha districts of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It consists of a plot of 390.400 hectares, the area of protected territory is 106.200 hectares. The eastern boundary of the reserve abuts with the biosphere polygon "Grey Sayan." The protected territory includes the axial part of the Sayan Ridge, slopes of Khemchiksky and Aradansky, and eastern branches of Kantegirsky. The height of their peaks range from 2400 to 2772 meters.

The natural border of the Sayan Mountains and the main ridge of the reserve is the Sayan, it divides the territory into two parts, diametrically different in climatic and geographical conditions. First, the northern, is characterized by an abundance of pine trees, taiga, and occupies about 1,000 square kilometers; the second, southern part, is a bald plateau. Forests occupy 59% of the land, mountain steppes settled at 9.6%, 19.4% went to the tundra, and the remaining 11.9% in the power of rock masses.

In addition to the snow leopard, the protected area is a habitat of many other species, listed in the Red Book - ibex, saker falcon, peregrine falcon, Altai ular, black stork and other wildlife. The espaecially large populations are of red deer, bears and earlier mentioned ibex. Up to 200 reindeer live in the mountain tundra, they represent the southernmost mountain taiga kind of this species.

In the reserve there are thousands of species of plants, many of which can be found on the pages of the Red Book.

The reserve is part of the international system of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.

Stone Forest on the Lena River | Yakutia

Stone Forest on the Lena River is a set of vertically elongated rocks stretching for many kilometers along the shores of the Lena River in Yakutia. These geological formations were added into the system of extra protected areas as a National Park. In addition to the stone pillars, inside the park there are such remarkable objects as fluttering sands-tukulans with individual sectors of cold northern sandy desert and the site of ancient people at the mouth of the creek Deering Yuryakh, during its excavations stone tools have been found. On the rocks along the river banks of the Lena and Blue numerous petroglyphs have been found - rock carvings made with yellow mineral paint by the ancient inhabitants of these places. The stylized images are preserved here in varying conditions, depicting animals, fragments of inscriptions in Old Turkic runic alphabet, and compositions with the image of a human.

At all times, this natural formation makes people stand in awe. This place has long been sacred for the Yakut and Evenki.The way here has been closed for ordinary people. They feared the wrath of the spirits of the rocks. Many people believed that the pillars were the frozen statues of people created by unknown otherworldly forces. Only the elected, elders or omnipotent shamans were on the edge of drawing these mysterious rocks.

Stone Forest on the Lena River is an amazing testament to the development of Earth over millions of years. Many fossils of ancient organisms were found there as the unique evidence of a very important stage in the history of the organic world and many species of the Cambrian era. Here were found the remains of mammoths, bison, rhinos and many other animals. Lena Pillars is a true treasure trove for scientists and researchers.

Stone Forest on the Lena River was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2006 as one of the most amazing places on the planet with perfect ecosystem untouched.

Baikal Lake | Irkutsk region

Baikal Lake - is the deepest lake on the planet, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. The lake lies in a deep tectonic basin surrounded by mountain ranges up to 2,000 meters and more above its water surface. The basin of the lake is located almost in the middle of Baikal rift system. Age of the lake is about 25 million years.

Baikal water is unique and surprising, as well as the lake itself. It is unusually transparent, pure and saturated with oxygen. At all times it was considered curative, it can help treat the disease. In the spring the transparency of Baikal water is as much as 40 meters! This is due to the fact that the Baikal water, thanks to the activity of living organisms inhabiting it, is very weakly mineralized and is close to distilled.

The area of water surface of the lake is 31,470 square kilometers. The maximum depth is 1,637 m., аverage - 730 m.

For the local peoples Lake Baikal is a sacred place where spirits dwell. About the lake, dozens of fascinating legends are composed.

Taimyr Peninsula | Krasnoyarsk region

Taimyr – a peninsula in Siberia, the northernmost mainland of Eurasian continent – is located between the Yenisei Gulf of the Kara Sea and the Khatanga Gulf of the Laptev Sea. The name of the peninsula comes from an ancient Tungus word "Tamura" ("precious, expensive, rich") – at first Evenki called the river Taimyr, repleting with fish. In the 19th century this name has spread throughout the peninsula.

Taimyr is an amazingly beautiful and harsh land. Its coast is indented, and the terrain is diverse. The peninsula has always been steeped in mystery. Although the shores of this vast peninsula were mapped in the 18th century by participants of the Great Northern Expedition, its interior hold many mysteries. A study of the Taimyr Peninsula was attended by a lot of expeditions. One of the first expedition was in 1928. Scientists have reached the Lake Taimyr and found that its images on maps poorly represent the facts. However, they provided some valuable information about the mysterious mountains of Byrranga. In 1943-1944, a new expedition on reindeer was arranged through the tundra of Taimyr, that has brought a lot of new information about the Siberian region to the world.

Taimyr is characterized by long cold winters with temperatures to - 62C and short cool summers. A frequent phenomenon is a blizzard, sometimes lasting up to several weeks. Strong winds blow almost all the time. The area of Taimyr is among the permafrost territory. In Taimyr many Atlantic cyclones end their life, so the region is often called the graveyard of cyclones.

In 1979, a natural reserve was founded on the Taimyr Peninsula.

Baikal-Lena Reserve | Irkutsk region

The State Baikal-Lena Reserve was established in 1986 in the Irkutsk region. The main idea of the creation of the reserve was to preserve the amazing natural complexes in northwest of the Baikal region. The length of the reserve is 120 kilometers, the width is 65 kilometers, and the area is equal to 659.919 thousand hectares. The Baikal-Lena Reserve stretches along the western shore of Lake Baikal from south to north.

The reserve is located in the northern part of the powerful complex, called "Mountains of southern Siberia." It includes the northwestern region of the Sayan-Baikal ridge. The present relief of the area was influenced by neotectonics processes, and also because of ancient glaciation during the Late Pleistocene epoch. Because of the movements of the earth's crust, atmospheric phenomena and glacial processes impact the line of the ridge axis is severely broken. At an altitude of 1500-2000 meters above sea level strongly marked alpines can be seen clearly – firs, kurums (stone runs), tarns (glacial lakes), circuses.

The Baikal-Lena Reserve is included in the World Natural Heritage site "Lake Baikal". A part of the reserve is "Coast of brown bears", a unique place in the world - absolutely wild part of the reserve, which stretches for a couple of hundred kilometers to the north from the Small Sea. There are no roads, no settlements, and almost never tourists, but, as you might guess from the title, a lot of bears.

The Baikal-Lena Reserve is located within the taiga zone with wild pine forests. But on the territory of the Baikal-Lena Reserve there are seven types of vegetation: steppe, meadow, forest, tundra, water, scrub and swamp. The predominant type is the forest area. The reserve is a home to hundreds of species of birds and animals, as well as invertebrates and zooplankton.

Tavdinsky caves | Altai region

Tavdinsky caves are located on the left bank of the Katun river in the Altai. On the opposite bank is the Arjan-Suu source. Tavdinsky caves are known by the fact that in different times they served as a shelter for people. During the excavations, pottery and other archaeological finds were found here; these items are dating back to the early iron and bronze ages. At the beginning of the XIX century old ritualists – «Lathridiidae» lived there. There are many legends about treasures, stories about hidden Kolchak’s gold. In the seventies, treasure hunters often visited the area to find it.

The whole cave complex has dozens of caves, many of them have several entrances and are connected to each other, forming a large interconnected system in which it is easy to get lost. The most visited is the Big Tavdinsky cave. The length of its passages is more than two hundred meters. The cave has electric lighting; there are stairs in hard-to-reach places. A drop from the lowest to the highest entry is twenty-three meters. In the last section, just before the entrance, the gallery is towering, forming coils.

Some of the cave routes pass a viewing point, which height offers a magnificent panorama of the valley of the river Katun.

Slightly downstream, at a height of eighty meters there is another popular tourist destination – Tavdinsky Arch.

More interesting facts with Hiddensiberia Journal

Ergaki | Krasnoyarsk region

Ridge Ergaki is called Siberian Switzerland. This is fabulous world of waterfalls, mountain lakes, flower seas, bizarre rocks, and other natural wonders.

One of the most striking sights of this region is the Artists’ Lake. The problem is that getting to this miracle-lake is not so easy. The path runs through the mountain passes. No quad bike or horse can help you to get there - you can only walk. You should be physically fit. The lake is named like this not because of its incredible beauty. Just in the middle of the last century the lake was found by the Krasnoyarsk artists. It is in their honor the lake and pass are named. Seeing pictures of these artists, people found out about the fabulous place. However, artists aren’t missing now. Amazing nature inspires! The lake water is clean and very tasty. In summer, you can see ice in the water - and that is quite an ordinary miracle here.

Another famous sight is close to the Artists’ Lake - the so-called Parabola. This strange U-shaped rock has no analogues in the world.

From the Artists’ Lake it’s convenient to go to interesting tourist travels: to the lakes of the Valley of dreams, to Parabola, to Mountain Spirits Lake, to the Colored lakes, to Malachite bath, to Harmony and to passes.

Vasyugan swamp | Novosibirsk region, Tomsk region

Vasyugan swamp - the largest swamp in the world - is located in Western Siberia, between the rivers Ob and Irtysh. In terms of area, It is larger than most European countries. Deserted Vasyugan swamp is a natural symbol of the north of the Tomsk region, which in ancient times was called Narym region. Historically, it was the place of exile for political prisoners. Indigenous people - Khanty and Selkups, whose ancestors, as evidenced by archaeological findings in the form of bronze articles, hunting weapons and religious artifacts, lived in the elevated areas of these places at least three thousand years. But Narymsky region - the edge of swamp - was always associated in the Slavic folklore with demons and evil spirits.

Vasyugan swamp arose about 10,000 years ago, and since then constantly grows. The swamp is the main source of fresh water in the region, about 800 thousand small lakes are located here, many rivers originate from the swamp.

Vasyugan swamp is a home to numerous local wildlife, including rare. Rare animal species inhabit the swamp, in particular, reindeer, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, osprey, the gray shrike, peregrine falcon.There are large quantities of squirrels, elks, sables, cocks of the wood, white partridges, grouses, blackcock, a lot of furry animals. Flora also includes rare and endangered species of plants and plant communities. Now the fauna and flora of the swamp are under threat due to the development of the territory for the exporation and exploitation of oil and gas fields. In addition, the environmental danger is caused by the falling second steps of booster rockets, launched from the cosmodrome "Baikonur", which pollute this wild territory.

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Engineering

Natural | Sports | Histiorical | Mystical

Bratsk hydro-power plant | Irkutsk Region

Bratsk hydro-power plant located on the Angara River in the town of Bratsk in Irkutsk region. Above the construction hydro-power plant several thousand volunteers work from all over the country. Bratsk HPP is the second in the world in dimension of the reservoir; the first is the Sayano-Shushenskaya, and the third in power in Russia, conceding the gold again to the Sayano-Shushenskaya and silver - Krasnoyarsk. But first of all, Bratsk hydro-power plant - a monument to the heroic work of the postwar generation, and the monument is very efficient. So, Bratsk hydro-power plant is still the largest producer of hydroelectric power in the continent.

The dam of hydro-power plant has long been a tourist attraction. The length of the dam is more than five kilometers and a height is more than 120 meters. The railway lines and highway laid on the dam, what is more the transportation routes is two-tier, the top tier is for trains and the ground – for cars. Wall that can hold 170 million tons of water, it is able to capture the attention and surprise in itself. On the right bank of the Angara installed an observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of the dam. Here, all of the local newlyweds are photographed in their wedding clothes. Unfortunately, photographers and tourists mainly photograph beautiful views and tower of hydro-power plant and completely forget about the bas-reliefs adorning the dam in the ancient Egyptian style. Only instead of the pharaohs peasants and workers are depicted, and instead of sphinxes - swans. Only there aren’t such photos across the web. Even more rarely you can see photos of main generator hall, along the front of which a half-kilometer inscription stretches: "Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country."

On the other side of the dam is the Bratsk reservoir, which the locals call affectionately "Bratsk Sea". Year-round desperate fishing enthusiasts gather here, who are not afraid of any frost, nor the intense heat.

The Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro-power plant | Khakasia

The Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro-power plant is also called "Pearl of Sayan." It is the largest hydro-power plant in Russia, and the sixth among the world's existing hydro-power plants. It is situated on the Yenisei River, near the Cheryomushki village, near Sayanogorsk. The Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro-power plant - is the upper stage of the Yenisei HPP cascade. Its unique arch-gravity dam has a height about 245 meters and extends over 110 meters, the length of its crest is 1066 meters. It is the highest dam in Russia. Construction of the hydro-power plant began in 1963 and officially ended only in the end of 2000.

The dam of the hydro-power plant generates a large-scale reservoir, whose area is 621 square kilometers. The water is constantly renewed, thanks to near-station of the huge reservoir that makes it much better and clean. Even trout, know a lot about this kind of water, prefers to live near the hydro-power plant, where the trout farms are organized.

On the basis of HPP museum is organized, and next to a biosphere reserve situated. Because of the special regime you can visit the museum only previously inform the management of HPP. The museum contains more than 600 exhibits illustrating the history and phases of construction of the power plant. Among other photographs and documentation. One aspect of the exhibition is "Gagarin’s shovel " exactly with it the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin laid the first concrete in the construction of the Krasnoyarsk HPP. Considerable interest is produced by voiced card of electrification dating back to time of Soviet Union.

Excursion to the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro-power plant is like an adventure in beauty and harmony of the landscape-scale engineering. Equipped with an observatory, which offers stunning views of the station. On the right bank of the Yenisei River, opposite Cheryomushky, mountain Borus is towering, crowned five peaks. Khakas people honor Borus and consider it their shrine. In the summer a lot of tourists come here, to see with their own eyes sweeping views of the Sayan Mountains, a dark veil of taiga and amazing panorama of the hydro-power plant. From the observation deck on the left bank direct eyes to a dazzling white rock, reaching 200 meters in height - is the source of marble deposit, which extends along the river banks for kilometers. Sayan marble, dowered with a palette of 20 colors - high quality, will give odds the best world standards. The site of track "Sayanogorsk - Cheryomushki" lies directly on the marble vein - one of the most expensive roads in the world, among the offshoots of "precious" rocks.

More of interesting facts

Bugrinsky bridge | Novosibirsk Region

Bugrinsky Bridge in Novosibirsk - the third in a row bridge across the Ob in the city, and the longest bridge in Siberia. Construction of Bugrinsky Bridge in Novosibirsk began in 2010, ended in 2014. The total length of the bridge with passages is 5.48 km, of which the total length of the bridge across the Ob River - 2,091 km. The length of the channel arch span of the bridge is 380 m, the arch height is 70 meters, which makes the bridge unique in the world bridge construction. Deliveries of materials for the construction of the bridge was carried out five factories of the production of steel structures, nine research institutes from all the country took part in the engineering process.

Bugrinsky Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges not only in Siberia, but also in Russia as a whole. Its construction caused a sensation among the engineers and planners all over the world because of its unique design and construction solutions. The bridge has become one of the place of interest of the city of Novosibirsk. He makes an indelible impression on visitors. Photos of bridge in Novosibirsk in different angles was taken in the guidebooks for tourists.

The total weight of bridge is 27,000 tons. A scarlet arch of the bridge weighs more than 3,500 tons. The total length of the stretched steel shrouds - more than 9 kilometers.

Chemal hydro-power plant | Altai

Chemal hydro-power plant is located near the confluence of the river with the same name Katun. Every year it attracts hundreds of tourists, and therefore currently not regarded as a source of energy, as well as the entertainment center and open-air museum. HPP is notable for being the first in the Altai region, and one of the few extant operational. HPP is located in the village of Chemal. Construction of hydro-power plant was carried out by the more than a thousand prisoners, more than half of whom live directly on the construction site. The construction was not without the help of civilian workers.

By modern standards, this hydro-power plant is negligible - only 400 kW / h, which corresponds to 500 horsepower. It feeds only one resort and a couple of neighboring houses, but in the past it provided a few Altai villages.

Nearby there is Chemal reservoir. It exists thanks to the HPP dam. Altai Mountains reflected in a picturesque artificial reservoir, which is especially beautiful in the summer - at the busy tourist season. In addition to an excursion to the HPP building tourists are offered a bungee jump. Wishing are fixed to inclined rope, and have time to set up and jump over a raging stream. The extreme tourists can choose whether to meet with the refreshing water of it or get rid of a spray.

Chemal HPP is favorite place for walking not only visitors, but also local residents, because here you can admire the beautiful view, ride horses or bikes, as well as to climb the mountain Camel and enjoy the wonderful view of the village and HPP. Holidays in the Altai aren’t complete without a trip to Chemal HPP.

Peace Diamond quarry | Yakutia

The town of Mirny is called the diamond heart of Russia. This is because near the town of Mirny, in Yakutia there is the world's largest diamond mine – the kimberlite pipe "Mir" ("Peace").

As befits every miracle, there are many legends about diamond career "Mir". It is said that at the bottom, one feels dizzy, but when the top is raised, he is experiencing the euphoria. Similar to the bottomless abyss, a mine attracts, hypnotizing. Some people dream of jumping of the pit with a parachute. There is a legend about the origin of the Yakut deposits. Once God was flying over Yakutia, but at -70 ° C. his hands were rfozen, and he dropped all the treasures of the earth. Among them were gold, semiprecious stones and diamonds.

Over a diamond mine helicopters do not fly: a giant crater depth of 525 meters and a diameter more than 1 kilometer, initiating updrafts sucks down aircrafts.

The largest diamond ever mined in Russia is found in kimberlite pipe "Mir" on the eve of 1981. It weighs 342.5 carats (68.5 grams) and is the name of the party - "26th Central Committee of Soviet Union Communist Party."

Surgut bridge | Khanty-Mansiysk region

Surgut Bridge - a suspension bridge across the Ob River. This bridge is deservedly considered one of the largest bridges in Siberia. The length of the bridge is about 2110 meters, and the total length is about fifteen kilometers. Surgut Bridge is considered the largest project of the twentieth century in the world's transport industry. The central span of the bridge is about four hundred and eight meters and is supported by only one pylon height of one hundred and fifty meters. This bridge has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Surgut Bridge plays an important role in Siberia, including transport bridges, it stands at the intersection of transport corridors like Tomsk, Nizhnevartovsk, Surgut, Nefteyugansk and Tyumen, Surgut, Novy Urengoy, Salekhard.

The bridge across the Ob River deservedly occupies in the ranking of the most beautiful and large bridges leading position. At night, the bridge because of its design and lighting looks very impressive. It is somewhat similar to cable-stayed bridge in the United States.

An advice, if you are in Surgut, will ride on this road bridge, in addition to it, you will impress the endless expanses of the Ob River.

The village of Oymyakon | Yakutia

The coldest places on Earth are called the “Cold Poles”. In the Northern hemisphere such place is the village of Oymyakon in Yakutia, in Siberia, which recorded the lowest temperature of all settlements on the planet - minus 67.7 centigrade degree (1933). Undocumented data indicate that the temperature here can drop even lower - as low as minus 80 centigrade degree. Here, nothing grows, and the planes fly only in the summer, and then only once a week. The length of the day varies from 3 hours in December to 21 hours in the summer, there are white nights in summer and it is daylight round the clock.

In the coldest city in the world live only 512 people (2012). Oimyakon valley in which the city Oymyakon is, on a number of parameters is the most severe climate place on the Earth, home to a permanent population. The ink freeze here and there isn’t mobile communication: even if there is a covering, cell towers, mobile phones will not be able to operate at such temperatures. Nobody shut down the engine here, as a chance to start them again is small. Another local problem - the burial of the dead. Due to the frozen soil digging graves here can last for three days. Workers heat the soil with coals and dig a few centimeters deep.

Ironically, the name of the city Oymyakon translated from the Evenki language as a "non-freezing water" because of the existence of hot spring in the middle of the permafrost. The freezing of the soil is the maximum on the planet - up to 1500 meters. When the layers of soil around underground lakes freeze more, they increase in volumes and the "squeeze" water on the surface.

Novosibirsk metro bridge | Novosibirsk Region

Another record for the length of the bridge is in Novosibirsk - is the longest covered metro bridge in the world! The common length of seven spans metro bridge across the Ob River, which connects the station "Student Station " and " Riverside Station" of Novosibirsk subway Lenin line is 2,145 kilometers, including the overwater part - 896 meters. The height of the bridge is 25 meters.

Metro bridge stretches and shrinks due to harsh Siberian weather fluctuations, fluctuations of the length is 50 centimeters. To enable the metal to "breathe", special spots were provided on the pillars on which the bridge is moving.

The bridge was tested under load 19 December 1985. Four trains, loaded with sandbags, passed across the bridge. The total weight of the load was 1.3 tons. The bridge withstood this load, and was put into operation on Jan. 7, 1986, with five underground stations.

During the construction of the bridge a technology of sliding spans was used, gradually from one side to the other by means of giant jacks. Up to the present moment this method has not analogues in subway construction practice.

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Sports

Natural | Engineering | Histiorical | Mystical

Sheregesh Ski resort | Kemerovo region

Sheregesh - the largest and perspective ski resort of the Kemerovo region, located 26 km from the city Tashtagol on four mountaintops of the Mountain Shoria massif. About 15 years ago, Sheregesh received a new breath and in a short time became a popular resort with a variety of runs and good quality service. Today Sheregesh deservedly considered one of the best ski resorts in Siberia. On the slopes of Sheregesh various ski events and snowboarding competitions take place, including the Russian Championships.

Ski season in Sheregesh lasts from mid-November to early May. The average temperature is -10 - -15 ° C. The thickness of snow cover - 1.2 m, in some places up to 4 m. The snow falling here almost always soft and fluffy.

In Sheregesh you will find 15 runs with a total length of 23 km. Due to its diverse topography, slopes in Sheregesh will be interesting for beginners, only start skiing, and for the experienced skiers. Sheregesh is divided into two main sections - A and E. Each sector has its own runs, ski lifts and infrastructure. The complex of runs represented 4 level of slopes: green (simple), blue (medium difficulty), red (difficult) and black (very difficult). The length of the detached slopes in Sheregesh is between 700 - 3900 m. The width of the runs is 50 - 200 m. The minimum vertical drop - 300 m, the maximum - 700 m.

It is worth noting the slalom course length of 2000 m. It is characterized by a variable slope: the steepest part of the slope is in the middle of the descent. Experienced riders will be interested in two downhill skiing, located in section A. Their length is 2500 m and the slope in some places reaches 45 °. For free ride lovers there are many possibilities to satisfy "the hunger" - make a couple of steps away from the groomed slopes, and you will find yourself in the world of snow virgin soil.

All the run in Sheregesh are regularly serviced by snowcat. Some slopes have a system of artificial shape.

Aktru Glacier | Altai

Aktru Glacier - the main climbing attraction, one of the most developed centers of sport climbing in Altai. At the bottom and on the slopes of the mountain there is a large number of mountaineering camps, located at different heights. For example, a mountaineering camp "Aktru" is based on an altitude of 2150 meters.

At the top of the mountains of Altai, there are five glaciers with different sizes. The highest of them – Big Aktru, that stretches for 10 square kilometers around the mountain Aktru. He consists of several massives at an altitude of 4075 meters. Ice glacier mass reaches the widest area of 350 meters, which makes it unique.

On the slopes of the mountain, from the foot to the top, there is a lot of routes of varying difficulty from 1A to 5B, that attracts fans of mountain tourism varying degrees of preparation. In addition, along the glacier the mountain route is paved to the Blue Lake - mountain crater filled with glacial waters.

Aktru is very interesting from the standpoint of eco-tourism and communication with nature. Amazing beauty of the Altai forest at the foot of the mountain, the sparkling cleanliness of glaciers, majestic mountain peaks will not leave anyone indifferent.

Ob Sea | Novosibirsk region

The Ob Sea is considered one of the best places in the world for winter kiting, because there are no the windless days all year round. Because of its geographical position the ice on the Ob Sea is quickly covered with a thick layer of snow and riding is smooth and safe. Kiting is comfortable to -25 degrees. During the winter, ice thickness becomes 1.5-2 meters, so when the ski season is already closed, kiters still ride - winter season lasts until May. In April and May you can ski on the snow in shorts and bathing suits. The Ob Sea water area is more than a thousand square kilometers. The length of the reservoir from the city of Novosibirsk to the city of Kamen-na-Obi - 220 kilometers, which allows active snowserfers to make long journeys.

Every year the world championships are held in Novosibirsk "Cup of Siberia". The program includes 5 route races, each is 15 km and a 50-kilometers marathon.

Because of the windy weather on the Ob Sea in the summer, the kiting is developed here, windsurfing and yachting. In winter - snowmobiling on the limitless picturesque open space of the winter sea.

On the shore of the Ob Sea, there are space for changing and relaxing with beautiful views of the Siberian expanse, large and comfortable cabins with special dressing rooms, warm room for tea, there is an opportunity to work with competent coaches, instructors, or just hire the kite and ride. In the neighborhood, there is the yacht club, rental snowmobiles, Russian sauna, restaurant and hotel.

Samarovsky Chugas Biathlon center | Khanty-Mansiysk

Biathlon Center - a world-class facility, one of the best court for winter sports in Siberia. The major sport summer and winter biathlon competitions, skiing races and many other sports take place here. Biathlon center has a favorable geographical position, as it is located in the central part of the city. Since 2005, large, world, significant competitions were held here, where famous athletes participate from around the world. Biathlon center was built in the 60s, but since that time, it is constantly evolving. Today, biathlon center is the largest sports facility, which is open all year round.

In 2000, the stadium received a license "A" category from the International Biathlon Union, which gives the right to organize the most prestigious biathlon competitions.

Stadium center can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators at a time. Stands viewers are located in the immediate vicinity of the shooting range, next to which there are two demo screens, the size of a volleyball court, and an information board - 32 square meters. Trails of the center run through the most picturesque places in Khanty-Mansiysk - the hillsides of natural park, covered with centuries-old cedars.

Pearl of Siberia | Tyumen

Winter Sports Centre "Pearl of Siberia" - a competition and training center for athletes from all Russian regions. Its equipment allows organizing a preparation of the athletes of all skill levels year-round. On the basis of the center regional, national and international competitions take place. Currently, the "Pearl of Siberia" is ready to have skiing races, biathlon, orienteering, cycling competitions in the highest level.

Infrastructure and the ski runs respond to the requirements of FIS and they are made for television broadcasting. In 2012, the center received a license of category "A» IBU.

During the year, the "Pearl of Siberia" there are over a dozen traditional ski races and biathlon competitions. In addition, the summer the center accepts road-cycling competitions. In the center competitions of various levels take place- from regional to international competitions with the participation of world stars.

If you go in for winter sports, runs of "Pearl of Siberia" are ready to test you, fans of beauty of this sport will appreciate the range of convenient facilities, the grandstands and huge screens!

The Sayan Oka River | Buryatia

In Siberia, one of the most attractive rivers for rafting is Sayan Oka. This mountain-taiga river flowing in the Eastern Sayan Mountains, attracts many adventurers from all over Russia and abroad. For the space of Orha-Bom canyon it is only surrounded by virgin taiga, and in some places the river is clamped by high steep cliffs and it left to wonder how it could get to such undercover places!

The Sayan Oka River is more than 630 km. It springs from a mountain lake Urunge-Nur. The name of the river comes from the Buryat word aha - "Senior", and due to the fact that it is the largest of the rivers flowing down from the Eastern Sayan in Angara. The indigenous people of this mountainous region call it the Oak-Hem - "boom-river", "fast as an arrow."

Travelers, during the rafting, a cult and dangerous canyon Orha Baume expects - 60 kilometers of the famous gorge, surrounded by peaks of the Sayan Mountains, is full of spectacular rapids, deep pools and majestic cliffs. The river is gaining strength in the heart of the Eastern Sayan, but further flows evenly into the canyon walls of lava in the wild lands, leading to the spectacular rocky gorge of the goal. Rafting down the Sayan Oka River, make the heart beat faster, even experienced adventurers.

Taiga landscapes, an abundance of mountain rivers, waterfalls and lakes strike in their beauty. A variety of water tourist routes, the complexity and diversity of the rapids, a small population of this region attract the growing number of outdoor enthusiasts to raft down the Sayan Oka River.

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Histiorical

Natural | Engineering | Sports | Mystical

The Por-Bajin fortress | Tyva

In the Tyva Republic, the mountain shallow lake Tere-Khol with several small islands spread near the Mongolian border. On one of these islands, there is a medieval monument – the fortress Por-Bajin (from Tuvan - "clay house"). It was built in the VIII century AD. The fortress has a shape of a regular rectangle 211x158 meters, is located at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level, the height of the fortress walls up to 10 meters, the width of the wall - more than a meter. Inside the fortress, the palace buildings are located, connections between them are massive covered walkways, on the east side gates and towers still exist. In addition, inside the fortress a maze of buildings and ancillary facilities are preserved.

The most striking thing is that until the present no human remains were found in the fortress. People for some reason left the fortress. The reason for the construction of such huge fortress by ancient nomads, who didn’t stay long in one area, isn’t also clear.

Among the local population the legends of countless treasures, hidden under the fortress are preserved. In XX century, scientists organized the space Tere-Khol Lake monitoring and found on its bottom an ancient stone road that raised new questions about the origin of the fortress.

Salbyksky large mound | Khakassia

Salbyksky Large Mound is the largest archaeological monument of Khakassia is located in the steppe, 5 km from the highway Abakan - Sorsk, 60 km to the north from Abakan. In ancient times, the height of this earthen pyramid reached 40 meters. By the beginning of excavation of the mound was very washed, but in this way the height of the hill reached 14 meters.

The area where the Salbyksky mound is located called the Valley of the Kings, there is the "Spirits’ way" that led the souls of the dead across the ridge of the hills to the sunset in the "upper" heavenly peace. Except the Salbyksky large mound, in an area of a few tens kilometers, there are other no less grandiose tombs of the leaders of the prehistoric kingdoms. In total, there are more than 50 large mounds. However, the greatest of these is exactly Salbyksky large, built in the IV-V centuries BC.

The mound is a stone square (an area of 70 * 70 m) of huge slabs of Devonian sandstone (weighing 50-70 tons), brought hundreds kilometers away from the banks of the Yenisei. Afar it looks like a stone forest. It is believed that it was also an ancient temple and an astronomical observatory (showing the path of the Sun and the Moon). It is still a mystery what contrivances were used for the importation and installation of these stones. In the corners and the sides of this stone fence the large menhirs were planted, 23 stones up to 6 meters. Before the construction of a giant earthen mound, inside the stone fence, the crypt of logs was constructed in the form of a truncated pyramid. The whole crypt inside and outside was covered with a thick layer of birch bark. The crypt had a height of 2.5 m and covered a two-meter pit. The log corridor led to the tomb. In this little house, one elder was buried.

Around the burial area for a long time there are strong anomalies. Note that the reason is two big menhirs (upright slabs dug up to 3 m. and a width of 1.5 m., carved out of the rock of Devonian sandstone), known as the "Great Gate". "Gates" are located in six km. from the Salbyksky large mound. People come to the menhirs, they believe in their healing power, you can see that in some places the stones are polished by touches of hands. The Valley of the Kings is popular not only among tourists and shamans come here for a cleansing ritual, renewing energy of the person.

Burial mounds | Altai, Tyva, Khakassia

Time from VII to II century BC historians associate with the culture explosion of the nomadic tribes in the Altai, in Tuva, Khakassia and in Eastern Siberia. Numerous burials dated this time, their distinctive feature is the shape of the mound.

First of all, the burials reflect the greatness of Scythian culture. They are frozen burial tombs. The permafrost help them to kept a large amount of organic material, which in other circumstances simply could not survive for more than 2,5 thousand years. This style of burial was only for the most noble of the Scythians. First, they dug a big hole in the ground, put a frame of larch with the floor and ceiling into it. In the center of frame they set a funerary sarcophagus, placed next to it the items required by the rules of the mortuary rite. On top they constructed stone embankments that formed huge mounds. With this technology, a frost appeared into a mound, which has nothing with permafrost and created artificially.

The size of the sarcophagus could reach seven meters. It is made of larch, much less - from stone. Outside the sarcophagus was covered with felt, decorated with appliques (grinning lions, roosters, converging in a fight), which were located around the product.

Every burial touch is unique, of its monumentality says at least mummy’s headdress witch reached one meter. If we draw a parallel, the mounds are very similar to the Egyptian graves. But if there was the need to preserve the body in the desert led to the emergence of embalming, then in Siberia, they carried out appropriate procedures to put out the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, filled the empty spaces with wool and herbs, took out the brain, shaved head, wearing wigs. Burial was carried out in October, and before that all the dead were stored in special rooms in a sort of inhibited condition. When mounds were opened, the eyes of experts got the body perfectly preserved skin and muscles, even drawings of tattoos could be distinguished without difficulty.

Altai Princess | Altai

In 1993 the Novosibirsk archeologists explored the mound on the Ukok Plateau in the Altai. The mound was put to the sack long ago and was in a dilapidated state, and nothing sensational, scientists did not expect. They first came to the ruined Iron Age burial ground, but surprisingly found underneath another, more ancient. The interment was untouched, its interior space was filled with ice. Under a layer of ice, scientists have discovered six horses with saddles and harness, and a wooden sarcophagus, inside which there was a well-preserved mummy. It was a young woman of about 25 years. The body was lying on its side, legs bent. The deceased’s clothes were kept: shirt of Chinese silk, wool skirt, fur coat and stockings- boots made of felt. The girl’s arms and shoulders covered with numerous tattoos, especially on the left shoulder a fantastic deer with griffin’s beak and ibex’s horns was depicted- a sacred symbol of Altai. All signs point to the burial belongs to the Scythian culture spread in the Altai two and a half thousand years ago.

Of course, the finding aroused considerable public outcry. The news of the discovery immediately spread through the world: soon scientists from Switzerland, Belgium, Japan and the USA, as well as journalists of "National Geographic" arrived at the site. Media dubbed a woman "Altai Princess". However, apparently it was the owner of some "secret knowledge" - for example, a healer and witch. The mummy was taken for research in Novosibirsk Akademgorodok.

Altai shamans said they have long known about this sacred burial for them. Dead is their legendary ancestor of Kydyn (another name - Ochy Bala). The body is, therefore, necessary to return from Novosibirsk to Altai and do not worry, as it will be a misfortune. In fact, a powerful earthquake was in 2003 in the Altai. Scientists did not agree with the opinion of the shamans, but the decision to return the princess back home been taken. Now the sarcophagus with the Altai Princess is kept in the National Museum in Gorno-Altaisk, where a separate annex was built for her.

Altai pyramid | Altai

In 2012, a group of researchers discovered in the Altai a mountain with smooth edges and symmetrical proportions, is clearly analogous to a quadrangular pyramid, which puts a big question about its natural origin. For many years it has been hidden from the eyes of the human eye because of the inaccessibility of the area in which it is located.

The pyramid is in Turochak district, 10 km from the Teletskoye Lake. The Teletskoye Lake is one of the largest fresh water basin not only in Russia but also in the whole planet. His length of 77.7 km, the maximum width of up to 5 km. Its area is relatively small - 223 km , but thanks to a great depth (average depth of the lake 175 m, maximum 325 m - in front of a waterfall Corbu) it contains a huge number of excellent fresh water, transparent to a depth of 12-15 meters.

Finding a pyramid near a large lake indirectly confirms the teachings of Roerich. In accordance with his works, the humanity will find salvation in the holy place at the mountain near a large lake.

Tarhata | Altai

The mysterious man-made structure, consisting of boulders reaching a height of 5 meters, is situated among the wilderness, where there is nothing but the wind. Who and why brought these blocks, because it was necessary to drag so far, because that the nearest exit of rocks is more than 20 kilometers from the installation. Maybe the stones were brought by the glacier and the man placed them in a certain sequence, but the adjacent glacial moraines have a completely different character than the megalithic stones of the object, then all the stones were brought to the place by the old man.

The approximate age of the structures is 3-4 thousand years. Stones are arranged in multiple concentric circles, with huge megaliths in the heart and smaller stones - further away from the center circle. The astronomical purpose of complex is clear, nearly the exact orientation (with an accuracy of one degree) of the construction of the cardinal points, the astronomically significant directions of the Sun and the Moon was marked by stone "paths" or individual stones. A twelve parties structure of the complex not only confirms his calendar and the astronomical sense, but is similar to other phenomena of the ancient cosmological architecture.

On a number of large and small stones images of different animals and riders were recorded, belonging to different chronological periods. Because of some similarities Tarhata is also called Altai Stonehenge. This can be explained by the fact that scientists believe that is an ancient astrological observatory, to measure time, and calendaring. But, of course, this megalithic complex - another mystery of the Altai land.

According to legend of locals, the spirit of a little girl lives in Tarhata and so you can always find offerings of toys, dolls and decorations.

Megalithic wall | Kemerovo region

The mysterious stone structure consisting of giant stone megaliths located in Mountain Shoria - a mountainous region located in the south of the Kemerovo region at the junction of Altai, Sayan and Kuznetsk Alatau.

The most famous part of this building is a wall built of huge granite blocks, some of which reach 20 meters in length and 6 meters in height. Interestingly, the megalithic laying interchanges with polygonal laying in places. At the top of the wall there are traces of ancient rock fusion that gives grounds to assume that the buildings were destroyed by powerful explosions or other exposure of high temperatures. This is also evidenced by the huge granite blocks bricks scattered over a large distance on the top and slopes of the mountain.

However, the megalithic wall is not the only mysterious artifact of the place - near the wall there is a strange cyclopean construction of blocks set vertically standing on the giant foundation. These vertical megaliths are partially blocked by powerful horizontal blocks.

Shalobolinskaya pisanitsa | Krasnoyarsk region

Shalobolinskaya pisanitsa - a world-famous historical and cultural monument and is a unique gallery of petroglyphs. Pisanitsa is the largest monument of ancient cave art, located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. This place is located 35 kilometers to the west of the Kuragino village. Scientists say that a man appeared in these parts about the Neolithic period, probably in the fifth millennium BC. By chronological frames, petroglyphs are just in time for the period from the Neolithic to the ethnographic present.

Petroglyphs were cased over with variety of ways: the contour and a solid knockout, painted with ocher of different shades and engraving. These creations are like a time machine. Plunge only into the cave art and you can see how people lived six thousand years ago. Petroglyphs of Shalobolinskaya pisanitsa are for magical, mythological, aesthetic and memorial purpose. Historians believe that the ancient pisanitsa was a huge temple in the open air, where the sacred rituals took place. These pictures are kind of icons that depicted the sacred animals.

For about 2 km of rocky massif, archaeologists allocated 8 seats of accumulations of drawings, which are located at different heights. This gallery of Neolithic art is on a high, steep coastal rock massif, on the right bank of the Tuba river. Some pictures are visible only after the stone will pour water, stone becomes dry - figures disappear.

Rocks inscribed with petroglyphs are interesting too. The fact that many of the rock surface are accurately polished to perfectly smooth condition, it’s prompted suggestions that the surfaces are artificially polished. The complexity of such a stone processing is not comparable to the technical capabilities of the ancient people who lived in the area 6,000 years ago and applied to drawings with primitive tools.

Altai sphinx | Altai

In 2000, researchers at Mount Seleutas opened a new compound natural anthropogenic complex of objects. If you look at Mount Seleutas from the west side, at some distance, you can see that its northern half retained its original shape of a pyramidal mountain slope, composed of granite stratums, and now covered with gray-greenish lichen. The South half of the mountain looks dilapidated and has "anthropic zoomorphic" form, researchers conventionally called it "Sphinx" for common shapes with the famous Egyptian monument.

Granite "Sphinx" from Seleutas as mysterious to researchers as well as the Egyptian. Its height - 50 m, and the length - not less than 100 m. It is almost twice as big as the Egyptian sphinx. Everyone looking from different angles at the "Altai Sphinx", sees different images: a horse, a camel, a bear, a dog, a dinosaur. From a close distance, if you stand on the west side, "Sphinx" is more massive and resembles a lion or a bear. At some distance, on the west and southeast there is a view of the whole of his face, with a horizontal torso and slightly protruding paw.

"Sphinx" is located on the east by a huge stone slab, which suggests the possibility of monitoring in the past of the sunrise over the "Sphinx", if you stand on the surface of the stone. On the upper surface of the stone is found an stamped circle by people, 30 cm in diameter, towers over the main surface of 4-5 cm. Around the circle, vertical and horizontal depth strips are knocked, forming geometric shapes.

Particularly noteworthy are three huge slabs at the foot of "Altai sphinx": their size and weight are amazing for our time - their length is 15 meters and width is 6.5 meters and weight up to 500 tons. Also an interesting object is a nearby quarry.

Shor megaliths | Kemerovo region

In Mountain Shoria in Southern Siberia super-megaliths were found, origin and destination of which is not established. They were found and photographed by George Sidorov during a recent expedition to the mountains of southern Siberia. Measurement of megaliths is not carried out, but on the basis of the neighbour human figures, they are much (2-3 times) larger than the largest megaliths in the world. For example, one of Trilithons of the temple in Baalbek, Lebanon, weighs about 1,260 tons. But some of Shor megaliths can weigh up to 4,000 tons.

Scientists don’t comment the find for now, so there isn’t much information about it. At the moment every explorer of ancient artefacts traveling across Siberia has an opportunity to explore these fantastic objects and put forward their version about their origin.

Today, more and more researchers are heading to the mountains of the Kemerovo region to make conclusions about the origin of these stones. This discovery is also of interest to the ufologists. Various scientific expeditions and research are organized to study the stones.

The unusual rectangular shape of megaliths is officially explained by natural geological processes of rock formation.

The Kings Valley | Tyva

Valley of the Kings - the name of the complex Scythian burial found in the Republic of Tyva. The uniqueness of the findings lies in its preservation - archaeologists found mounds before "black diggers" or farm equipment been there.

One of the mounds with a diameter of 100 meters was discovered in 2008 and today it is the largest burial of the Scythian period in Eastern Siberia. At present time, there are excavations of burial, with a preserving of cultural layers.

Most found in the burial objects are made of gold. In addition, many objects of bronze were found. Of equal interest are articles cut from the skin, rarely preserved to our days.

Valley of the Kings is located forty kilometers from Kyzyl. In connection with the increased interest to historical monuments, Valley of the Kings gradually transformed into a major tourist center with a developed infrastructure.

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Mystical

Natural | Engineering | Sports | Histiorical

Uch-Sumer | Altai

There are many names of this mountain: Russian dubbed it Belukha for the abundance of snow, Ak-Syumer (white head), Kadyny-Bashi (The top of the Katun) and Ak-Su Ryu (White Water), Kyrgyz in Southern Altai called it Mousse-Doo-Tau (Ice Mountain), but Altai people gave the most important name - Uch-Sumer - " Uch"- three, " Meru" - the main peak in the Buddhist philosophy. Buddhists believe that the Belukha is the "heart" of the entire universe, and Old Believers believe that at the foot of the mountain is Belovodye – a blessed land of the gods, in which all feel happy and peaceful.

Belukha (Uch-Sumer) is located in the heart of Eurasia, in the Altai, on the border of four states at the same distance from the four oceans - the Arctic, Indian, Pacific and Atlantic – in the exact center. It is the highest mountain in Siberia. Its height is more than four and a half thousand meters. It consists of two pyramidal and one sloping tops. These major tops together with the nearest mountain ranges form a monumental and almost vertical Akkem wall. This is the kingdom of ice, snow, threatening avalanches and beautiful sparkling waterfalls.

All the space on the slopes and foothills of Uch-Sumer for the locals - the sacred temple. This place is mysterious and unpredictable, and climb the great mountain you can only in awe. This place is fanned by a powerful aura of mystery and legends: here is the entrance to the mysterious Shambala; It is a home to the main goddess of the Turks - Umai; Here there is the center of concentration of the maximum pressure of air masses of Eurasia; wind fluxes, twisting in a clockwise direction, form miraculously a spiral, resembling a sacred Buddhist sign – power of light and sky; there are three world religions here - Christianity, Buddhism and Islam; Indian legends tell that Buddha came to India from here; ufologists have information that in this area there is a UFO base!

Uch-Sumer is not just a symbol of Altai, is a place where you can charge positive energy. Mountain attracts travelers and climbers, thinkers and yogis, writers and painters. Its beauty awards people an explosion emotions and feelings.

The Edelweiss Valley | Altai

To the left of the Akkem Lake at an altitude of 2000 meters there is the Jarl gorge; it is called the Valley of edelweiss.

Many esoteric and mediums say that here are the strongest power places and the famous philosopher and artist Roerich believed that somewhere, on one of the slopes of Mount Belukha, is the entrance to Shambhala. During his trip to the Altai Mountains, he tried to get into this valley and it is here, he made his camp. Until now, the followers of the great artist and philosopher rush to the magnificent Belukha and located near the Jarl valley. Around the stone monolith located in the center of the gorge, buried in the ground 70 meters, which is called the "Stone of Wisdom," a city of stones is built. According to the stories of shamans, a lump comes a few centimeters out of the ground every year.

In the upper part of the Jarl valley there is a mountain range known as the "Mother of the World" for its resemblance to the profile of the lying woman’s body. This similarity is especially noticeable from the pass of Kara-Turek - reclining woman, though without arms, with a strong profile of the head. Directly from the Jarl valley only the outline of the head is visible.

The second title of the gorge - "Edelweiss Valley" due to the huge number of these mysterious flowers, found nowhere else in Siberia. Edelweiss - a beautiful flower that grows in the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. Russian name of the flower means "noble" and "white."

Mountain range around the Jarl valley is often called "blue mountains" because of the continuities- conglomerates, reaching a height of 600 meters, located in the valley and is almost entirely composed of blue clay, so in the daytime slopes of the valley are painted in light blue color, and at sunset - passing in soft pink tones. Colours are especially bright after rain. From the peaks surrounding the origins of Jarl, scenic views of the peaks of Jarl, Kara Oyuk, Ak-Oyuk and Crown of Altai. The valley is very well visible during the descent or ascent to the Kara-Turek pass.

Ukok Plateau | Altai

Ukok Plateau has always been surrounded by an aura of sacredness, scream here is considered a sacrilege and an insult to the spirits. For the locals Ukok means "the end of everything," according to their popular beliefs Ukok pastures lie on the eve of the sky. The ancient people trusted to this land the bodies of their ancestors, sending their to the last journey with great honor; with great sacrifices asked the gods for mercy. There is always waiting for the messengers of heaven, signaling them to the place of arrival with the giant figures, pointing to the sky.

In the south of Siberia, on the border of Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia, among the rocky mountains Ukok Plateau was lost. Plateau has become particularly famous when Scythian mounds with frozen burials were discovered here. Ukok is severe. The height more than 2000 meters above sea level, harsh daily temperature changes, daily rain with the wind and sometimes snow even in July. The area is deserted - only occasionally can find stay or stockkeeper or a flock of sheep - the plateau has long attracted the herdsmen leading nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyle. Despite the harsh conditions, Ukok - excellent winter pasture. Plateau belongs to the territory of Siberia, which have been changed in a less degree since ancient times and preserved the less changed landscape structure of glacial epoch.

Here large Siberian rivers originate, which flows into the Irtysh River and the Katun. Ukok is rich in animal and fish. Here you can find not only bears and wolves, foxes and marmots, deer and roe deer, and exotic snow leopard, Siberian ibex and black vulture.

In Ukok hundreds of different types of cultures and archaeological sites were discovered, including burial, religious, complexes of settlements, petroglyphs, stone geometric constructions, deer stones and ancient Turkic statues. The most famous are probably the mounds of Pazyryk culture. They remained great unique items and plastic arts - arts and crafts made of wood, felt, fabric and leather, which are more than 2.5 thousand years.

Olkhon Island | Irkutsk region

Baikal Lake contains only one inhabited island - Olkhon. It covers an area of forests and steppes. Olkhon is the largest island of Lake Baikal. It is located in the middle of the lake, near the west coast. The island stretches along the shore of Baikal Lake, Olkhon’s length is 73 km (between forelands Khoboy and Umysh- Tame), width up to 15 km. The island Olkhon is about 700 square kilometers, the coastline is about 210 km. Today there are about 1,500 people who had settled in small towns.

The Olkhon Island is the main sacred point of the holy Baikal, the geographic center of the ethnic territory of Buryats living in Predbaikal'e and Tansbaikalia. It abounds in sacred objects of national significance. The inexplicable magic of this place is wordless, but absolutely all who comes to this sacred place feel it. The Olkhon Island is surrounded by many ancient myths and legends that the locals will gladly tell you.

In addition to the places of power, positively charged, there are places on the island, the entrance to - is dangerous. Scientists can not solve the mysteries of the island, but the locals know well the sinister places. For example, the mountain opposite the deepest place of the Baykal since ancient times was considered a gateway to another world. To Izhimei nobody can walk. Because just idle interest then creates a lot of diseases.

At the same time, the island abounds in places to visit that are not just possible, but necessary. In these mysterious corners of the nature people gain peace of mind, harmony and universal wisdom.

There are cases when tourists come to visit, stay in these places for life.

Mountain Spirits Lake | Altai

Mountain Spirits Lake is located at an altitude of 2500 meters in the southeast branch of hanging valley Kara Oyuk (from Altai "kara" - black "Oyuk" - valley). On this lake, where there is neither beast nor bird, and on the left bank - even grass does not grow on local beliefs mountain spirits live.

With Mountain Spirits Lake (Altai name - Dena-Der) is associated a lot of legends. According to one of them the old people looking for a lake located in the Altai Mountains, which beauty was unearthly, and it was inhabited by the souls of evil people. According to legend, the hero who found the lake, will be able to defeat these spirits and gain unprecedented strength. Once a strong and handsome man Taryn went in search of the lake. At the bottom of a deep ravine he found lakes of unprecedented beauty, but only one of them beckoned him. The water were getting detachment and cold. Taryn suddenly noticed blood-red lights on the rocks, and blue-green shades of people. The hero tried to hit the ghosts, but felt a terrible weakness, then the vision disappeared. The young man went home away from that fatal place, but a death had overtaken a strong young man near the proximate yurt.

The route to "Lake of Mountain Spirits" takes several hours, including 40 minutes of quite steep vertical lift through large stones. There is no separate pathway to the lake. Climbing up - you get to the lake with turquoise-green, sparkling in the sunshine water. The lake is very deep and cold. High on the hillside is a waterfall that feeds the lake. Rising here, you can independently determine how real or not the legend about the lake: dead silence is around, and only slightly heard the remote sound of a small waterfall, falling on top of the hill. Generally, even people don’t speak there, a strange aura and strong energy of this place make everyone shut up.

The lake is considered to be so sacred that Altai people don’t muster up courage to rise here. The guides tell that this lake is located in close proximity to the apex of Beluga in geographical terms, also very close to the entrance to the spirit world. In this place of power you can only go up in excellent physical condition and good spirit, otherwise it is better to refrain from climbing here.

Ryty Cape | Irkutsk region

In the central part of Baikal Lake on the west bank, opposite the widest place of the Baikal is Ryty Cape. There are no settlements, solitary boats, are not taking ground, float past, any roads do not reach this point, and there isn’t a trail along the coast. Local people diligently avoid visiting the cape, calling it a cursed place, but falling into talk can tell a lot of sinister and mysterious stories related to this area.

According to legend of local people in this place in very ancient times was a city whose existence was not reported in any of the existing sources. This unknown town has captivated the imagination of its magnificence. Local researchers have found here the remains of the artificial stone walls and structures. The wall built of giant stones, its length is more than 800 meters. Also according to the ancient Buryat legends Ryty Cape a "terrible and holy place" where angry gods live, sons of the deity Uher, sending strong winds.

Cape "Ryty" - is an entire anomalous zone, which records the curvature of space, machinery brakes for no reason, equipment is naughty and machines fall through the ice. The lightning often hits and expedition members regularly sick serious illnesses. The bright inside glowing balls were repeatedly recorded here; slowly swim deep into the gorge, and the mysterious wandering lights.

Rita Valley, located not far from the Cape, is considered among the Buryat sacred and forbidden to visit. Locals implicitly follow the ancient rules: women don’t visit it, the men after visiting the valley leave the insole of the shoes. If the cattle wander in the valley, no one have the heart to drive him out, as they become the property of the gods.

Black Devil cave | Khakassia

Siberia has long been considered the center of shamanism, which is associated with many legends and stories. One of the mystical shaman spots where many incredible things take place is world famous Kashkulakskaya cave. The locals call it the Black Devil Cave or the Cave of the White Shaman.

Kashkulakskaya cave is located in the north of Khakassia and is recognized as one of the most fearful places on the planet. This place is quite notorious, and the locals warn tourists against visiting the cave, which is said to have been a cult place of the ancient Khakas. Many mystical rituals were performed here, and quite often with human sacrifices involved. It is believed that the cave has absorbed the dark energy of the ancient shamans. And protecting its secrets, this energy spills occasionally onto inquisitive guests. Nevertheless, Kashkulakskaya cave is rarely empty – psychic mediums run their sessions here, all kinds of sects gather here for their ceremonies, and, of course, it attracts the Khakass shamans, scholars interested in all sorts of anomalies, and regular thrill-seekers.

The cave visitors very often have severe hallucinations, complete confusion; they also fall into a subdued state, depression, and anxiety which may develop into panic uncontrolled terror. Multiple cases are registered that people committed suicide after visiting the cave.

In 1980-ies the inexplicable phenomena of Kashkulakskaya cave draw the attention of the scientists from the Novosibirsk Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine. Several members of the expedition witnessed the strange phenomenon, they saw a shaman who beckoned them. Having their fear and consternation overcome, they ran away and only several hours later were they able to calm down a little. Each of them was telling about a man with glowing eyes, wearing a shaggy horned cap.

A special laboratory was deployed in one of the caverns of the Black Devil Cave. Various measurements and experiments were carried out by the researchers. As a result, a geomagnetic anomaly was registered. The electromagnetic field is constantly fluctuating inside the cave. In the very beginning of the research, the scientists have noticed a steady low-frequency impulse among the other signals. The origin source of the impulse has never been determined.

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