Mongols translate "Altai" as "golden". It is believed that in this place are golden mountains and blue waters. Because Mountain Altai is a real find for travelers. Tourists dream to visit here, as this region is rich in its natural attractions, incredible landscapes, smells, and culture.
Therefore, today we decided to show you some interesting and one of the most beautiful sights of the Altai Mountains.
Kucherlinskoe lake
This is a picturesque natural reservoir, which is located at the source of the river of the same name.
The lake is famous for its incredibly beautiful color of water, namely - turquoise, sheer cliffs, slopes that are covered with vegetation. Kucherlinskoe lake attracts not only tourists from different countries, but also wild animals of Siberia, which very often can be seen in the “alpine” meadows not far from here.
Uchar
Bolshoi Chulchinsky waterfall (also called “flying”) is the largest cascading waterfall in the Republic. There are not many places of the Altai State Reserve that are allowed to be shown to tourists.
However, Uchar does not apply to them. And it is located less than 10 km from the reserve. Uchar is a relatively young landmark in Russia, as it was formed only about two hundred years ago after the earthquake.
Unfortunately, Uchar is quite inaccessible. You can go there by car or go on foot along the mountain road, but it is better to go by boat and enjoy the beauty of nature. The map can help overcome barriers regarding the location of Uchar. But even despite this, it is almost impossible to admire the waterfall from a close distance.
Kamyshlinsky waterfall
Kamyshlinsky waterfall - located on the Kamyshla River. The height of the fall is 12 meters, it consists of two cascades. This waterfall, unlike Uchar, is easily accessible and quite popular among tourists.
In 1996, he acquired the status of a natural monument. Earlier it could be reached with a suspension bridge, but in 2014 it was destroyed due to bad weather conditions. Now you can sail to the Kamyshlinsky waterfall by boat, having crossed the Katun River, or go along the path in the mountains to the Kamyshla River.
Ukok Plateau
Ukok Highlands - located in the southern part of Altai, at the intersection of Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China. The height of the plateau is almost 3000 m. On the opposite sides of the plateau, spiky mountains are majestically located. The height of the highest of them is 4374 m. For some Mongols, the plateau is sacred.
Archaeological excavations were carried out here, during which many burials of different times were found. In particular, a mummy of a young woman was found, which the people nicknamed the "Altai Princess". This burial is unique for many reasons.
The mummy was taken out of the Republic, and many local residents are unhappy with this, believing that the spirit of the mummy is angry and sends disaster to its people. For example, severe floods and earthquakes in the region, according to many Altai people, were the result of the anger of the “princess”. Recently in the press there was information that the mummy of the Altai princess does not contain the remains of a woman, but a young man mistakenly mistaken for a girl. How true this is, time will tell.
Martian landscapes
Near the village of Chagan-Uzun, in the Kosh-Agach region, there is an interesting natural attraction. And it is called "Martian landscapes."
It is said that these places should strongly resemble the standard landscape of the Red Planet. The lack of green vegetation and the reddish hues of the soil evoke the imagination of many space science fiction writers.
Look at the photos. Indeed, the landscape is rather unusual.
Valley of the Seven Lakes
The valley of seven lakes is located near Lake Akkem. It features unique landscapes that you need to see only live. It can only be reached by helicopter or hiking and horseback riding.
Climbing on foot takes about one week. It consists of three steps. At the same time, with each of them you can enjoy unsurpassed views of mountain meadows, completely covered by green spaces. Rocks, seething waterfalls and "smooth" ponds, each of which is beautiful in its own way. They differ in color (black, turquoise, green, blue-green, yellow and various shades of blue), water temperature, as well as depth and colors that adorn the coast.
The average height of the valley is about 2000 m above sea level, but some lakes are located at an altitude of 2600 m.
Mount Belukha
Mount Belukha - the highest peak in Siberia (4509 m.), Is always covered with snow.
Unfortunately, earthquakes here are not uncommon. Due to tectonic instability, avalanches often occur here. Only trained people with special equipment can climb to the top.
Another feature of the mountain is its location. Surprisingly, it is equally distant from the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Due to this, some call Belukha the “Axis of Peace”.
Akkem Lake
Akkem Lake, silent and cold, is located at the very foot of Belukha Mountain. Its length reaches 1350 m. It feeds on meltwater of the Akkem glacier, therefore, even in summer, the water in Akkem remains icy.
The waters of the lake have a muddy white-gray color, which they acquired due to the presence of sediment of mountain dust in them. Hence the name of the reservoir, translated from the Altai Ak-by whom it is translated as "white water".
Edelweiss Valley
The Edelweiss Valley is one of the most picturesque parts of the Altai Mountains. It features fantastic natural scenery. In addition, flowers of extraordinary beauty grow here - edelweiss, which are listed in the Red Book.
In the Yarlu Valley (this is its second name) there are so-called "places of power" - a stone fortress. It was built by ordinary people, they took stones from a river that flows nearby, and built various figures from stones inside the fortress.
You can see even more beautiful photos of this extraordinary valley here.
Patmos Island
Patmos Island is a small stone island that is surrounded by a river. To get to it you need to overcome the suspension bridge. However, it has its own peculiarity. It can withstand a maximum of six people at a time.
A temple of St. John the Evangelist was built on Patmos, where the newlyweds come to undergo the wedding ceremony.
But many tourists go to this temple not for religious purposes, but only in order to get their share of adrenaline by crossing the suspension bridge. Someone is having fun, someone is taking pictures of themselves over the abyss, some tourists, clutching the railing in fear, slowly move to the island. That is why, in order to go to Patmos, as a rule, you have to stand in line from several minutes to 1-2 hours.
Kurai steppe
The Kurai steppe is the bottom of the deepest intermountain basin. Its width reaches 20 km, and its height is 1500 m above sea level. The climate in this region is sharply continental. Blizzards and blizzards can change dramatically in summer heat.
Such a change in air temperature and soil surface can be explained by the altitude of the steppe and severe cooling in the absence of clouds in the sky. The steppe is rich in numerous monuments of archeology. Mounds, “stone women”, the oldest irrigation systems have been preserved here.
Ancient Petroglyphs
The Kalbak-Tash tract is located on the banks of the Chuya River. Translated as "flat hanging stone."
The tract is named so for good reason, because this rock seems to hang over the road. The complex consists of five thousand drawings on the rocks, which were made from the 5th millennium BC.
According to scientists, this land was sacred to local residents. They beat out on the plates the images of people, animals, inscriptions and hunting scenes.
Denisova cave
Denisova Cave is located at an altitude of almost 700 m. Above sea level. In local it is called "bear stone." The entrance to the cave is quite wide (over 100 meters long), with an area of about 240 m², and it is located very close to the Anuy River. Thanks to this, for many years she served people and animals as a reliable shelter.
The cave gained great world fame in 2008, when a phalanx of a finger was found in it, which belonged to a little girl who lived about 50 thousand years ago. Scientists were able to take DNA from this sample and made a sensational discovery. The girl belonged to a previously unknown species of Homo, which was different from modern man and Neanderthal.
To date, the version is such that the Denisovites and Neanderthals shared a common ancestor that separated from the Homo sapiens line about 700 thousand years ago. But the Denisovans separated separated from Neanderthals about 500 thousand years ago.
Teletskoye Lake
Teletskoye Lake covers an area of 233 km² and has a depth of 325 m, which explains its status as the largest lake in Altai. The climate here is very peculiar. Weather tends to change several times a day.
Water here has a unique transparency. In winter, clearing the ice from the snow, you can see the bottom. By the way, the surface of the reservoir is covered with ice only once every 10 years.
Karatyurek pass
Karatyurek translated from Altai means "black heart". It is located near the city of Belukha. Climbing to the top of Karatyurek, you can see how the vegetation gradually ends and black stones begin. The height of the pass is 3060 m., From where an incredible view of the beautiful mountains of Altai.
However, climbing the pass is quite an interesting event. Since the rises alternate with the plains and open more and more landscapes.
Tavdinsky caves
An excursion to the Tavdinsky caves is very popular among tourists. The caves are located in an accessible place for people, not far from the Turquoise Katun recreation area.
Tavdinsky caves have more than 30 entry and exit systems. They are located in rocks, cliffs, interconnected in various ways. But excursions are carried out only on one equipped route.
Not far from the caves there is the Desire Arch, not a single tourist passes by. The height of the arch reaches 5 meters and the width is 13 meters.
Conclusion
In the Altai mountains, you can have a good time and enjoy various types of recreation - from tourism by car to the deployment of tents at recreation centers. All this can be done in incredibly beautiful natural conditions, as the Altai Mountains can boast of many natural wonders that will appeal to everyone.
The territory of the Republic is huge, surpassing in size such countries as the Czech Republic and Belgium. Everyone will be able to find something special for themselves here. In addition, the main artery of the Altai Mountains - Chuysky tract is one of the most beautiful roads in the world. A trip along it alone on a fine day, for example from Biysk to Tashanta, will leave a lot of unforgettable impressions.
If you find yourself in this beautiful region, we do not recommend spending all your time in such popular places as Turquoise Katun, Lake Aya and other places. These locations are certainly good, but try to set aside a few days to travel deep into Altai.
And what other beautiful places of the Altai Mountains should be on our list? Perhaps you know some other interesting places to stay in the Altai Mountains? We are waiting for your comments.