The impregnable mountains of the Urals have always attracted the close attention of tourists, because many ancient legends are associated with them. Going on a risky journey, the daredevils are not afraid of the unfavorable nature and the harsh climate. Mother Nature has created amazing masterpieces, the beauty of which strikes on the spot.
The place is beautiful but dangerous
Unfriendly mountains for guests with undeveloped tourist routes are little studied, but they are all the more interesting for travelers. There is no place more beautiful on the Ural Range than Otorten, which is considered an anomalous zone. The mountain that claimed the lives of people is known not only to climbers: a lot of material has been written and filmed about the peak with a bad reputation.
Mountain legends
The fact is that at different times and under mysterious circumstances, people died here. Locals say that at the top, whose name translates as "do not go there", terrible things happened. Shamans, in order to appease the spirits, brought bloody sacrifices. The goddess of death living on the mountain took nine living people into her armscreatures, however, after the ritual killings of birds and animals, a tragic incident occurred that claimed the lives of Mansi hunters.
The mysterious Mount Otorten, legends about which have been circulating for several hundred years, seemed to get a taste: contemporaries know about 27 dead in the vicinity of a place filled with mysticism. The Mansi people consider nine to be a sacred number that opens the door to the world of spirits, and they are sure that this is a symbol of both the end of life and its rebirth.
A tragedy whose causes are still unknown
In 1959, the public was excited by the news that the bodies of experienced hikers, not for the first time, had been found on the slopes of the mountain. The circumstances of the death of young people to this day have not been clarified, although there are many versions explaining the reasons for their mysterious death.
One way or another, but again nine lives were taken by the infamous Mount Otorten.
Where is the anomalous zone?
Places called the Ural Alps are located between the Sverdlovsk region and the Komi Republic. The most beautiful corner that attracts travelers can rightfully be called a natural miracle. At the foot of the peak there is a picturesque dwarf forest, and from its height there is an amazing view of the valley of the Lozva River playing with colors. Here is a five-meter stone ridge, the slope of which leads to the transparent lake Lunthusaptur.
Two tops
The path to this peak passes through the infamous Dyatlov Pass. Tourists are attracted by the echoes of the tragedy that unfolded 57years ago and the fantastic views that Otorten is famous for.
"Mountain of the Dead" - Kholatchakhl - is located to the north, and enters the Stone Belt ridge. These are two peaks that tourists from the Dyatlov group wanted to conquer. Even the names of the mountains indicate that they should be avoided, but young and he althy tourists just laughed at the local folklore.
Punishment of the gods?
In 1959, the Mansi observed a strange phenomenon over the Northern Urals: either they approached the ground, then bright fireballs soared high up, clearly visible against the dark background of the sky. Residents watched the unusual picture in alarm and considered it the wrath of the gods because people came to conquer Otorten. The mountain did not release the bodies, although hundreds of volunteers were looking for them.
And after they found those who died a terrible death, terrible rumors began to circulate in the local villages about a merciless war that the gods declared on earthly creatures who tried to invade the forbidden territory.
Reconstruction of the infamous campaign
The trip to the Urals was long planned by an experienced leader Igor Dyatlov, who dreamed of going through a route of the highest difficulty. The group had to overcome about 350 kilometers on skis and conquer two peaks, about which there were terrible legends.
What made the group go exactly to Otorten? The mountain, which local hunters do not even look at because of a bad reputation, is shrouded in secrets and mysticism. Perhaps this spurred students and graduates of the institute, who knew about the cursed number and were veryskeptical of village superstitions.
Ten tourists were preparing for a difficult journey, but before the start of the trip one of them left the race.
On a cold January day, nine people went up the mountain, having experienced all the “charms” of the local climate: the knocking wind made it impossible to walk, and the swirling snow covered their faces, not allowing them to see anything around. Dyatlov decides to spend the night in tents in order to lead the group further in the morning. He is inspired and looks forward to tomorrow with enthusiasm, because Mount Otorten will reveal its secrets to him.
The death of the Dyatlov group
However, the tourists did not get in touch at the appointed time, and rescue activities were immediately organized. For three long weeks, the search for the missing group went on, until a tent was found, left by people in severe frost. There are traces of students running down, as if disoriented or blinded by something. The frozen bodies of six young people who died of hypothermia were found in the snow, and the death of three more came from severe injuries incompatible with life.
The circumstances of the tragedy were concealed even from close relatives, who were informed of the death from hypothermia, and all the results of the investigation were classified. Signatures of non-disclosure were taken from autopsies who found a small amount of radioactive material on clothing samples.
The death of the group, which had a great public response, worried scientists. They were interested in what made people run out on a fiercefrost naked and under the cover of night. The main version was the avalanche that killed the students. However, there are also the most fantastic versions explaining the tragedy, which are devoted to about twenty documentaries and television programs.
New name appeared on the map
Modest obelisks in the cemeteries of Yekaterinburg are a constant reminder of it, and a new name has appeared on the map - the Dyatlov Pass. Mount Otorten does not stop taking human lives. At the beginning of this year, Perm tourists discovered the corpse of a man who died from hypothermia. It is believed that the traveler went alone in the wake of the expedition to solve the mystery, and froze.
Route for the brave
Now a tourist route "Ivdel - Dyatlov Pass - Mount Otorten" has been developed for the daredevils, which is a memorable journey. From the northernmost city of the Sverdlovsk region, tourists are picked up by a helicopter, which will take them to the colorful Mansi village and the famous pass. During the hike, the group is under the close attention of experienced instructors with special knowledge and skills.
Mount Otorten: how to get there?
You can get to the mountain on your own as follows: arrive in Yekaterinburg, and from it get by train or by passing car to Ivdel, from which SUVs go to the village of Ushma. It is from there that the hiking path through the famous Dyatlov Pass begins. Few hoursroads, and tourists are met by the Otorten mountain shrouded in mystery.
How to get to a picturesque place, it is easy to find out from the locals. They will also show you the purest lakes where you can swim and tell about ancient legends passed down from generation to generation.
The mystery of our planet
More than 50 years have passed, and the true causes of the death of the Dyatlov group are hidden from the public. Tourists visiting these places do not pass by the pass, and put flowers on the memorial plaque installed at the foot of the natural wonder called Otorten.
The mountain keeps the circumstances of death and is in no hurry to share them with anyone. When one of the main mysteries of our planet will be revealed, no one knows.
