Pearl of the Urals - Mount Yamantau

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

There are many interesting places in the world, among which are those created by mother nature herself. The Urals are also famous for their beauties. There are many clean picturesque lakes located among majestic mountains, fast rivers and mysterious caves. One of the most beautiful places is located in the heart of the South Ural Mountains, in the silence of dense and impenetrable forests, guarded by impregnable ridges. This is Mount Yamantau. She is the pearl of the Urals. Its peak is marked on all maps and attracts numerous tourists who appreciate the primordial nature of mountain nature. Only Mount Big Iremel, another South Ural peak, which is only 60 meters lower, can be compared with the giant dome of Yamantau.

Evil Mountain

As mentioned above, one of the mysterious and most beautiful places that the South Urals are famous for is Mount Yamantau. Translated from the Bashkir language, "Yamantau" means "evil mountain". Why was she named that?No one knows. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the slopes of the mountain range are swampy or littered with kurum, and this did not allow cattle to graze here, or because there were many bears in the mountain forests, meeting with which was quite dangerous. But this name of the mountain is determined, most likely, by regular bad weather, because of which Yamantau is often wrapped in fog for a long time.

Legends and beliefs

Among the locals, there are completely different versions of the origin of the name of the mountain, which are shrouded in secrets. They believe that evil maidens live on the top of the mountain, who take away everyone they meet. Many people who went to the Yamantau mountains disappeared without a trace, and horses died for unknown reasons while climbing the mountain.

Besides this, Mount Yamantau is covered with numerous legends and beliefs, many of which are associated with the character of Bashkir mythology - Shulgan. In these stories, this hero was the personification of evil forces. Through Kapava - a cave located on Mount Yamantau, which is also called Shulgan-Tash - he first entered the underworld and became its master. Since then, he has constantly replenished his kingdom with living people who disappeared in the mountains.

But despite the fact that it is still not known exactly why this mountain was named that way, many tourists try to enjoy the beauty of this place from the outside.

Where is Yamantau

If you are interested in this place, it's time to find out where Mount Yamantau is located. This beautiful and mysterious mountain range is spread overterritory of the Beloretsk region in Bashkortostan and belongs to the South Ural reserve. It is located on the watershed of the Big and Small Inzer rivers. The closed city of Mezhgorye is located 10 kilometers from the massif.

Description of the mountain range

Yamantau is a two-hump mountain range, the width of which is 3 kilometers. It stretches for 5 kilometers to the northwest and has two main peaks. The first is Mount Kuyantau, whose height is 1510 meters. Many people also call it Small Yamantau. The second peak is Big Yamantau, which is the highest point of the Southern Urals. The height of Mount Yamantau (Big) is 1648 meters. Numerous ranges adjoin it, including Yusha, Nara, Kapkala and Mashak. At the foot of the mountain there is a dense forest that stretches to a height of 1 kilometer. Then there are swamps, and at an altitude of 640 meters a kurumnik begins, many parts of which are rich in blueberries.

What can be seen on Yamantau

With its mystery and unique beauty, Mount Yamantau attracts many nature lovers who are not stopped even by the fact that it is currently forbidden for tourists to visit it. First of all, climbing to the top of the Big Yamantau, you can see many picturesque glades, rivers, lakes, streams with the purest water. Its slopes are composed of medium-sized quartzite boulders, creating a kind of steps. The top of Yamantau is a large, relatively flat rocky plateau covered with moss. There are still concretea helipad and the ruins of a barracks, which still has beds left after the stay of the military, who were on top until the 90s. In the very center of the stone plateau there is a modest concrete obelisk dedicated to the soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War. Nearby you can see a small lake, which was formed in the funnel from the explosion. From the top there is a stunning view of the central part of the Southern Urals. Between Big and Small Yamantau there is a very picturesque saddle surrounded by large kurums.

Journey to the top

Mount Yamantau is the territory of the reserve, access to which is very limited, so it is not so easy to organize hikes in its vicinity. In addition, on its slopes there is a secret object - the city of Mezhgorye, which is carefully guarded by the military. But this does not stop solo ascents, which are carried out from Beloretsk, through the villages of Kuz'elga and Tatly. This path is considered the shortest. You can also get to the top of Yamantau from the side of the Nara ridge. This allows you to go around the restricted area on the left and not meet the patrol. The safest route lies on the eastern side of the mountain range, from the village of Nura. On the south side there are solid swamps, so climbing here is impossible.

Despite all the difficulties, Yamantau's popularity is not declining. Interest in this mountain is heightened by unverified information about the secret construction of an underground city, which is getting too much attention.paid by foreign media.