Altai. teletskoye lake

The main tourist season in Gorny Altai falls on June-August. The sharply continental climate leaves little room for choice. However, good weather during the day starts from mid-May and lasts until the end of September. True, the nights during this period are cold (up to negative temperatures).

Weather in Altai

Summer

In general, the weather in Altai is very changeable. During the day, in the summer, it reaches +30 degrees, at night + 10-12. It may suddenly rain, and just as suddenly it will end. In the highlands, the weather is even more capricious: in the upper reaches of the Chuya, in May, during the day we were exhausted from the heat, and in the morning the tents were covered with snow. The water in mountain rivers and lakes is always cold, so swimming is more like winter swimming. Although, you can get used to it. After a couple of weeks, we already managed to make small swims. Water warms up only in Lake Aya and in the Katun baths. You can also swim in the artificial lakes on the Turquoise Katun, and in the outdoor pools on the territory of the camp sites.

in winter

There are several ski bases for winter recreation: in Gorno-Altaisk itself, in the village of Manzherok, and also near the village of Aya on Mount Vesyolaya. It is better to book accommodation in advance, and not because there are so many people, but in order to prepare the base. New Year's holidays do not count - at this time there is always a full house. In winter, the temperature is always in the red, however, it is felt differently everywhere. For example, in the foothills the frost is much milder than in the Chui steppe. This is also due to the amount of snow: the more it is, the easier it is to endure frost.

Spring and autumn

The most “dead” months for tourism are the off-season, i.e. October - November and March - April. Then there is still / already little snow, and it is still cool for the main summer entertainment. However, during this period, year-round hotels, sanatoriums and recreation centers continue to operate (but then it is better to go with a large company, because there are very few people). In late September - early October, you can admire the turquoise color of the Katun, and from the end of April, rosemary (maralnik) begins to bloom.

Festivals of Gorny Altai

"Green Paradise"

At the end of August, a festival of bard songs is held annually in the area of ​​Lake Teletskoye. It is called differently, depending on the location. "Green Paradise" in the village of Turochak or "Golden Songs of the Golden Lake" in the village of Artybash. This festival cannot be found by sound, we even doubted whether we had arrived there, because. no music was heard from the road. Organizers fundamentally do not use equipment that amplifies the sound. And it helps to plunge into the atmosphere of the nature of the Altai Mountains. You can stay in a tent right on the festival site or rent a house from local residents. Our company prefers the first option in order to constantly be in the thick of things.

"El Oiyn"

It is celebrated every two years. Now the regular venue is the Kabailu-Mezhelik valley, located near the village of Elo, Ongudaysky district. This is a real extravaganza of national culture! For this alone, it is worth going to Altai. Here they compete in everything: wrestling, racing, lifting stones, playing with a whip, throwing a mace, dressing an untrained horse, etc. In between competitions, national songs are sung, epic storytellers (tai chi) and masters of throat singing perform. Exhibitions are held: a competition of yurts, the "City of Masters", national musical instruments. Lots of competitions for children and adults. For these few days, the valley turns into an anthill, which operates around the clock. We forgot about sleep and food, because it is almost impossible to have time to see everything. The organizers offer accommodation either in a tent camp or at nearby camp sites.

Tourist base "Manzherok"

Every summer month, or even twice, various festivals are held here. Starting from bard (end of May - beginning of June) and ending with bikers (end of August). In July - August there are often rock music festivals. The program is always rich, the stage is big, the sound is professional. The administration of the base has long "eaten the dog" on holding such large-scale events, so the organization is always at the highest level. Accommodation is possible both on the territory of the base (summer houses or cottages), and outside the territory, in a tent camp. Although you rarely have to sleep at such concerts and not enough, so as not to miss anything. The most active party-goers from our company generally managed to sleep in the car. In addition to the musical program itself, there are always competitions for the audience. There are various fairs (from rock paraphernalia to local souvenirs) and other entertainment (shooting gallery, master classes, body art).

Festival dates are never the same. The organizers always adjust to the weather, weekends and many other factors. It is always better to check the schedule on the Internet.

Altai, and especially mountainous, is a place almost untouched by civilization. This is what attracts tourists from all over the world here, as well as shooting stars in the first half of August. If the night is clear - the sight is simply incredible, they fall every minute.

You can go here from the end of May to the end of September. The warmest time is from mid-June to the end of August. And this is the best time also for the reason that from May to mid-June is the time of ticks.

A trip to Altai is planned - read the brief instructions on what to take with you

When you get there, don't be surprised if you meet a Japanese or an Argentine, I'm not talking about Europeans. People come here from everywhere and it's great, there is an opportunity to make friends from all over the world, and maybe even meet your destiny.

The locals are native Altaians and the rest, mostly Russians.

The Altaians are a people with an Asian appearance, very original, have their own language and have preserved the traditions of their ancestors, they are pagans. They have Russian names. In principle, do not mind helping tourists. Well, there to bring a backpack of an unprepared tourist, and maybe even the tourist himself. Naturally for money. They are simple people and value respect, they really don’t like it when they swear in front of them, as is customary with us.

There are many Old Believers among Russians and there is one very good place - the Museum of Old Believers in the village of Verkh Uimon is a must, visit if you are nearby, you will not regret it.

Don't even think about going to the mountains alone!

Only if you are an inexperienced walker, non-professional. If not, join a group with a professional instructor. People die in the mountains every year, Altai is no exception. They die due to lack of experience, some kind of equipment, due to the inability to make the right decision in a critical situation.

We came to the mountains - you can turn off your mobile phones, they do not work here.

No, of course, there are places where they work, but you need to know them - mountains are mountains. And, in general, didn’t you come here to break all the threads that connect you with the outside world and breathe freely and breathe? At least a couple of weeks. Yes, by the way, where it is (cellular communication), these are MTS and BeeLine.

Equipment, shall we say, for public use.

Double layer tent with taped seams. Ax or chain saw. Bowlers, at least two. A good awning for gatherings by the fire in bad weather. I’m not talking about the first aid kit, it’s not even twice two, but one plus one. Gas burner and gas supply.

Personal equipment.

Backpack, minimum volume 80 liters, for men 100-120 liters with a good back. Warm sleeping bag. Count on sub-zero night temperatures (somewhere -5), these are still mountains. Foam pad for a sleeping bag. Khoba - bedding under the fifth point, very convenient on a hike, believe me. LED flashlight. Knife, matches tourist and usual. Raincoat. Plastic bags for wrapping anything and everything in them, especially sleeping things, and in several bags.

Take at least two sets of clothes - sleeping and running. Always keep your sleeping bag dry! And never wear it during the day, during the transition.

Choose your shoes very carefully.

What you should not save on is shoes. Knock down your legs on the first day - consider the trip ruined. Buy trekking boots, maybe something with rubber soles or military boots. You also need comfortable sneakers and slippers for relaxation after a hard day or for a day out.

Well, in short, that's all. Additional information will be drawn from our website. Have a nice holiday!

And finally, video instruction

The climate of Altai is a delicate matter. For me, the weather is one of the main components of a pleasant and fruitful trip. For each of us, it is of great importance when choosing a travel date and in the process of packing luggage.

If in many popular tourist places it is possible to predict the mood of nature, then the climate of Altai is a separate issue. Even if I remember well, I will not be able to find in my memory two identical winters or two identical summers.

The mountainous climate here is famous for its clean air, solar radiation and relatively high oxygen content. It has a refreshing and healing effect.

What is the climate in the Altai mountains

The type of climate in the Altai Mountains is sharply continental. Accordingly, it is changeable. This is the main thing to remember if you are suddenly going to visit these places of unique beauty. This is due to the relief, due to which a kind of climatic zoning is formed, which differs in height above sea level and depends on the height of the mountains.

Summer

In summer, the climate of Altai is cooler than in ordinary regions, which allows outdoor activities (hiking, climbing, rafting, walking) to be pleasant and, most importantly, useful. During my travels, I encountered a variety of natural events. So, for example, during the first summer visit to Chemal, there was a terrible heat of +30 and a cloudless sky, and during the second - +13 and hail. These two trips were separated by only 2 years.

The Altai Mountains are located far from the seas and oceans, and weather inconstancy is caused by humid sea air moving from the west. High mountains block his path and take away the bulk of the precipitation. The most changeable climate of Altai met me within the limits, where the weather can change several times in one day. For me personally, and perhaps for you, this is much more interesting than the monotonous summer heat.

The photo below is for comparison of a thunderstorm and a sunny day.

autumn

The weather in Altai in autumn can safely add variety to your morning. A barely noticeable frost appears on the grass, and a slight coolness is felt in the air. In September and October the temperature is still positive (+8 - +4); it rains more and more. In November, in some places, ice covers lakes and rivers.

in winter

During the winter months it is much warmer in the mountains than in the plains. In combination with abundant snow cover, favorable conditions are created for spending time on the ski slope. In my opinion, for people who want peace and relaxation, it will be the best choice. The average temperature is kept at around -9 degrees. Mother-of-pearl snowball envelops the coastal slopes, and the great lake spirit will help restore your peace of mind. It is extremely undesirable to admire in January the fabulous originality of the Chui steppe (the most severe place in the Altai mountains in terms of climate), - it happens that it reaches -60 at night.

Movement features

Many times I had to get to the "mountain" by car. The roads are of good quality (M52 highway), but in winter they are very dangerous. Before you go on a trip in the cold season, be sure to check the technical condition of the brakes and the degree of wear of the rubber. Perhaps this will save the most precious thing that a person has - your life.

The climate of Altai is still peculiar: in the fall, the first night frosts begin, which also affect the condition of the road. Ice and snow drifts are not uncommon in these protected areas. A special degree of danger arises in serpentine areas, when on the one hand there is a cliff into the icy mountain river Katun, and on the other - massive rocks.

spring

Magic and all. The real spring time comes closer to May, when the temperature is already above zero degrees. A unique spectacle is the release of rivers from the icy shackles, which occurs in mid-late April. In May, heavy rains are already in full swing and thunder rumbles. The temperature in the most famous tourist centers (Chemale, Turquoise Katun, Lake Teletskoye) in April-May is usually +5 - +9 degrees.

I can advise you to take warm clothes with you regardless of the season, because sometimes even in the early summer morning you can find frost on the grass. It seems to me that there is something peculiar and interesting in this, when you do not know what to expect from her majesty - nature. The climate of the Altai Mountains in summer is a confirmation of this fact.

The climate of the Altai Territory

Recently, I have noticed more and more often that people do not understand the difference between the Altai Mountains and the Altai Territory. However, there are differences. A lot of them. It is worth at least mentioning that there are no mountains in the Altai Territory. Its capital city is .

Summer

Due to its interesting location (the center of the Eurasian continent), summer is moderately dry and hot. The air often warms up to +35, and it may not rain for several weeks. The climate in Barnaul (at the time of my life there) often produced versatile surprises. For example, summer hurricanes that raise sand from the ground. In the last two years, real summer begins only in July and lasts until mid-September. June began to be distinguished by its coolness and thunderstorms.

Winter

Winter is frosty. The fault is the Siberian anticyclone, which is formed in the northeast and is the cause of low temperatures. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in winter temperatures. Sometimes in January it can be 0-2 above zero. Such warming leads to emergency situations on the roads and increased injury risk. But you can go without a hat. However, there are few such warm winter days. It is customary to set the average mark at a more familiar level for Siberia (-10-15 degrees). Such a significant temperature fluctuation is due to the presence of a sharply continental climate.

In the Altai Territory, processes of atmospheric circulation that are heterogeneous in composition take place, which is an important factor for the formation of the local climate. By their interaction, air masses create uncertain and dramatically changing weather.

The climate of the Altai Mountains is comparable to a living organism. For a person who wants to understand the essence of nature, weather conditions are rarely a decisive factor. Nature is harmonious and this needs to be realized. There is no extra rain or unwanted thunderstorms. All the trials that the mountain spirit sends us lead to self-perfection. They give the opportunity to know oneself, and to someone - to heal their spiritual wounds.

Sofia Glacier Gorge

Interesting places in Altai and how to get to them.

Altai is huge and different. You can come here every year all your life and discover something new every time. In this post, I share with you my favorite places where you can drive an SUV and in some places walk a little. Quite walking Altai will be next time :)

When to go to Altai (seasons) and a few features

You can travel around Altai all year round, but:

• In winter, it is certainly cold here, but fabulously beautiful, because everything is covered in snow. Avalanches are possible in the mountains and it is worth walking on them, understanding what avalanche places are.
• Early summer is good, but there is a lot of water on the gorge roads and ticks.
• In the foothills of Altai there are many recreation centers (Chemal, Lake Teletskoye, etc.) and it is good here all year round.
• The best time for hiking and trips in Altai: August-September, when you can drive even on the Ukok plateau (less water) and the least ticks.

What else is important to know about traveling in Altai:

• In the tourist Altai (Chemal, Teletskoye) there are many tourists, but also many amenities. It is easy to get here by hitchhiking and public transport.
• The most interesting places in Altai are located where buses do not go and hitches are very, very rare (not every day), occasionally houses with local shepherds come across 100 km away. You can partially climb into such places on off-road vehicles, or walk along them on foot.
• Off-road in Altai is magnificent. You can see many beautiful and different places. Let's see which ones.
• (I will remember something else important, I will definitely add :).

Interesting places in Altai for traveling by car, coordinates and photos

Sofia Glacier Gorge

In general, from the village of Beltir you can go to different gorges and they are all beautiful. You can get to the Sofia Glacier in autumn. In winter there is a lot of snow, and at the beginning of summer there is too much water in the gorge. Coordinates: 49.794444°, 87.772222°

How to use Google coordinates can be read

Sofia Glacier

Martian landscapes outside the village of Beltir

You will pass such landscapes on the way to the Sofia glacier or Karagemsky and other gorges. This is not the popular Altai Mars that I write about below, but it looks even more real.

Martian Altai, Kyzyl-Chin gorge behind the village of Chagan-Uzun

And this is the "Martian landscapes of Altai", where they take on excursions. You have to find this place without coordinates, peeping on Google maps where Chagan-Uzun is located. After it, a small puzzle in the form of branching roads and you are on Mars.

Peak (relay) behind Aktash settlement

Google Coordinates of the place: 50.34001,87.748672 You can climb here on an SUV right to the very top, driving from Aktash past the abandoned one. The views from the top are bombastic.

Night Teletskoye Lake

The lake can be accessed from two sides. For those who are not interested in easy ways - the southern shore of Lake Teletskoye, to which you can drive through the Katu-Yaryk pass and the Chulyshman river valley. The road is quite tiring, but the views here are beautiful. On the shore there are houses where you can stay or put up tents. Coordinates: 51.347994, 87.776104

An easier way to get to Lake Teletskoye is to drive up to it from the north side through the village of Artybash, by public transport.

Valley of the Chulyshman River and the Katu-Yaryk Pass

Descent into the valley right along the serpentine, which is in the photo↓. The road is considered unsafe, but to be honest, I never felt in danger going down it. We go and go to ourselves, admiring the views. Even puzoterki pass here, although some then it is problematic to climb. Google Coordinates: 50.911640, 88.216379

And here is a video from that place:

Uchitel pass, Aktru gorge

Pass Teacher located in the Aktru gorge. The height is about 3150 meters. Difficulty category 1A. One of the easiest category passes in the gorge, which can be climbed and descended in about 4-5 hours.

Google coordinates: 50.084444, 87.778611

View from the ascent to the Uchitel pass

Mountain trails in the area of ​​the Aktru gorge, the trail to the Blue Lake and the Aktru glacier

There are many places in the Aktru gorge where you can go. There are very difficult routes here, where you can go only with equipment and in bundles, and simple ones, where you can “run away” in a few hours. You can ask climbers at the base about routes.

Aktru Base is a place worth visiting on its own. Firstly, because it’s not so easy to get here by car, and if you drive, then it’s already cool, and secondly, it’s wonderful here ...

Blue lake near Aktru glacier

Blue Lake is a transshipment base for climbers ascending the peak or the Aktru glacier. An amazing place worth a stroll from the Aktru base. In time it will take 4-5 hours. Google Coordinates: 50.077716, 87.724579

Top Dome of Three Lakes

The difficulty of climbing to the top of the Dome is 1B. On the ascent and descent, you can lay the whole day (about 12 hours). There are two ways to get here. It is recommended to climb with a guide. In winter - with cats. In any case, before the ascent, you will have to talk with knowledgeable people in the Aktru base to find out the way and about the safety of the ascent. The ascent starts from Aktru camp. Dome coordinates are approximately here :): 50.044800, 87.806500

Glade behind the Karagem pass

Place coordinates: 49.962720, 87.622576

The place is beautiful, but you can only get here on a prepared SUV and it’s better not to go alone, because sometimes you have to pull each other out. The road is difficult. There are many fords with large stones, slopes and ... no road. But it's definitely worth it. Get from Beltir. There is a bathhouse on the glade itself :)

The road from the glade to the Karagem pass.

Ukok Plateau

Ukok is a plateau located at the junction of the borders of Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and Russia. The height here is 2200-2500 m, winds blow, in winter the temperature drops to -50. The highest point of Ukok is Mount Kuiten-Uul 4374 (the second highest in Altai).

Ukok is a place of ancient burials, it was here that archaeologists unearthed the Princess of Ukok. The place is strange, cold, wonderful. It draws to itself again and again ... It is more likely to drive here in August-September. There is a lot of water in spring and early summer. You can drive to Ukok either through the Warm Key Pass (the most likely way), or through the Jazator River.

Plateau coordinates: 49.268354, 87.413683

Warm key: 49.408177, 88.035687

"Road" on Ukok in August

And this is an attempt to drive to Ukok across the Jazator River. Attempt failed.)
Way home from Altai. Chui tract

* All other places did not fit here, because the Altai is immense and everything else always remains, not yet explored ... There is also Tuva through the Buguzun pass and many many chic places.

We must immediately remember that territorially there is the Altai Territory, and there is the Republic of Altai. My goal now is to describe interesting places in Altai in general, so some of them will refer to the Republic, the other to the Altai Territory. What to visit in Altai is up to you. Altai is huge and different. The article contains only a part of the places that you can visit in Altai. This is not all, you can come to Altai every year and all your life, but every time you find something new.

The main factors that attract to Altai are, of course, nature views, climatic features and mineral springs. There is an abundance of sun in the Altai Mountains, amazingly clean and transparent air, a high degree of air ionization. The nature of the region captivates with its grandeur and originality. There are many salt and fresh lakes, relict forests grow, bizarre rocks, unusual caves and grottoes rise. The Altai Mountains, according to many people, bring pleasure simply from their contemplation.

What else is important to know about traveling in Altai:

• There are developed tourist places - Chemal and Teletskoye. There are a lot of tourists, and the facilities are not bad. You can get there by public transport, by car or even by hitchhiking.
• But the most interesting places in Altai are located where buses do not go and rides are very rare. Almost wild places where you can drive off-road vehicles, on horseback, and somewhere - only on foot. Rest without comfort and not for everyone. Romance and extreme!
• Who by car, off-road in Altai is provided to you magnificent. Unless of course you decide to deviate from the track. But this way you can see many beautiful places.

Places worth visiting in Altai:

Lake Teletskoe (n. Artybash)

Teletskoye is the largest lake in Altai and one of the largest in Russia. The depth of the lake reaches 330 meters (25th position among the deepest lakes in the world). More than seventy rivers and streams flow into Teletskoye, and only one river, the Biya, flows out. The lake is located in a depression between the Korbu and Altyn-Tu mountain ranges and the spurs of the Abakan Range. The shores of the lake are mostly steep, represented by mountain slopes, which are completely overgrown with forest. There are real “century-old” cedars here.

The main popular attractions in the area of ​​Lake Teletskoye:

• waterfalls on the Third River.

Swimming on Teletskoye is not comfortable. The lake is filled with water from mountain rivers and has a great depth. The water in it remains cold even in summer, warming up no higher than 10°C. But thousands of tourists from year to year come here to look at the unique beauty, filled with mystery and mystery ... In the area of ​​Lake Teletskoye, the paths of many complex routes pass (this is if you book a tour of Altai).

The most famous settlement on Teletskoye is the village of Artybash. The road ends here and in the summer months the village becomes a local tourist center.

It is here that the camp sites are located, excursions are made from here, and, of course, the most interesting active routes begin from here.

The lake can be accessed from two sides.

For those who are interested in a more difficult and farther way - the southern shore of Lake Teletskoye. To get there, you need to pass through the Katu-Yaryk pass and the valley of the Chulyshman river. The road is quite tiring, but the views here are beautiful. Read more at the end. You can stay in cabins or tents.

An easier way is to drive up to Lake Teletskoye from the north side through the village of Artybash.

Turquoise Katun is a tourist complex located on the left bank of the Katun River, in the area of ​​Mount Red Stone. That is, this is not the whole Katun, but only part of the coastal zone. Here you will even see alpine meadows, forests with different tree species and a mountainous landscape. The total area is 32.3 sq. km. The complex is actively developing.

In the central part are the main objects:

• an artificial lake with an area of ​​7 hectares, warmed up to 23 degrees. For comparison, the temperature in Katun on the hottest days barely exceeds 10 degrees.
• around the artificial reservoir there are 5 cafes,
• water park, children's pond with attractions.

There are eight recreation centers on the territory of the complex. A wide variety of excursions, rafting, horse and bicycle rides are offered.

If you are looking for a holiday with comfort, this is Turquoise Katun.

Regular buses run to Turquoise Katun from Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Biysk and Gorno-Altaisk. If you get on your own, then from Biysk you need to drive here along the Chuisky tract, bypassing Srostki, Mayma and Manzherok.

The system of Tavdinsky or, as they are also called, Taldinsky caves is easily accessible. They are located in the popular tourist area "Turquoise Katun" near the village of Izvestkovy.

There are about 30 caves on the rocky five-kilometer ledge. The caves are interconnected and have several entrances. The most popular of them is "Girl's Tears" or "Tavdinskaya". The caves have been used by people since the Bronze Age, as evidenced by the archaeological finds made under their vaults. And from the top of the Tavdinsky mountain, a beautiful view of the beautiful Katun and the Chuisky tract opens up.

A road and signs lead from the bridge over the Katun to the caves. The entrances to them are visible from afar.

House-Museum of V. M. Shukshin

Located on the territory of the Altai Territory, Biysk region, in the village of Srostki. Guided tours have been open here since 1978. Consists of three houses. Vasily Shukshin's mother lived in one house, his childhood once passed in the other, and also the school building. The estate covers an area of ​​1.16 hectares. They will also tell about the memorable corners of the village, one way or another connected with the life of V.M. Shukshin.

The local sea is Big Spring Lake. There are no mountains nearby. It is located on the territory of the central Kulunda steppe, 8 kilometers west of the city of Slavgorod and 400 km from the city of Novosibirsk. The Scythian peoples who lived here earlier endowed the reservoir with the magical properties of making wishes come true!

At the bottom of the Yarovoye, two lines intersecting with each other were found. Scientists consider these furrows to be anomalous (in the good sense of the phrase). The water is both bitter and salty.

Lake Bolshoye Yarovoe Lake is located on a plateau, on which there are practically no trees. The shores of Yarovoye are quite high, and the south and southwest of the coastal territory is cut by ravines.

The lake is closed, nothing flows into it and nothing flows out. The composition of the water is unique, enriched with minerals, and everything else - artemia lives in the lake, dying, it mixes with salts and silt, forming an impressive mud layer endowed with healing properties. The taste of water, in addition to salinity, has bitterness, the lake belongs to a brine-type pool, the supply of which is provided by underground springs.

The mud of the Great Yarovoye Lake is comparable in its performance to the mud of the lakes of such resorts as Odessa, Saki, Staraya Russa. Not very far from Yarovoye is another, but small, which has nothing to do with Altai, but is also known for its therapeutic mud. Unlike Yarovoye in Karachi, rest is wild, although there is also a sanatorium founded under the king (but the prices are still the same).

And many go to Yarovoye, photos from there are not always easy to distinguish from Anapa, for example. Also sand, sun, a lot of people on the beach. There are many sunny days, dry climate. Bolshoye Yarovoye Lake is perfect for health tourism. The territory is equipped, there are guest houses and high-rise buildings where apartments are rented. Yarovoye was granted the status of a natural monument in 1978.

Nizhnyaya Katun area

The Nizhnyaya Katun region is located in the central part of the Altai Republic, in the Chemal region. The area with mountains of low height, overgrown with forests with a transition to the mountain-steppe zone of the Northern Altai. The territory of the district includes the valley of the lower Katun and the system of small mountain rivers. The area begins in the village of Ust-Sema, if you turn onto the Chemal highway from the Chuisky tract, which goes across the bridge to the left bank of the Katun.

Chemal region in terms of tourism is one of the most developed. It is accessible in terms of transport, has favorable climatic conditions, a unique and very picturesque landscape, and cultural and historical objects are located here. Tourist bases and recreation centers have been built on the territory of the district.

As in the whole Altai, various excursions are offered along thematic routes by car, on foot or on horseback. The current of the Katun in this area is not very rough, which allows you to make an rafting with instructors for tourists with a low degree of preparation.

Archaeological objects are concentrated to the south of Chemal along the Katun, on the section of the road from Elanda to Kuyus. These are the sites of ancient people of different eras, burial mounds, burial grounds, rock paintings. Here is the famous Chemal hydroelectric power station, the temple of St. John the Theologian on the island of Patmos. The valley of the Lower Katun can be called an ideal place for those who like to combine outdoor recreation, excursions with comfort.

The highest point of the Altai Mountains is located on the Katun Ridge. There are various names in local dialects: Uch-Sumer, Kadyn-Bazhy, Muztau shyny.

In the location of Belukha, earthquakes are common. The seismic activity of the zone is high, 7-8 points.

Summer is cool here. The average temperature at the foot of Belukha in summer is +6 C. Then comes an incredibly harsh winter (up to -48 C). Snow can fall in the summer, rain is a common thing.

At the foot of Belukha, dense coniferous forests and berry bushes, birches and alpine grasses, tundra lichens and Red Book flowers peacefully coexist.

The animal world in the vicinity of Belukha is ruled by small rodents - mice, voles. It happens that the stony slopes of the mountain will be honored by the presence of a lynx and a Siberian goat, or even a rare predator, the snow leopard.

Birds have chosen Belukha. Partridges, sparrows and even golden eagles settle here.

Mount Belukha is shrouded in myths and legends of varying degrees of gloom. The most famous one says that at the foot of the mountain there are gates to Shambhala (or Belovodie). Modern admirers of the ideas of the notorious Roerichs consider Belukha a place of power and the only safe place on Earth in case of another doomsday.

The Sofia Glacier can be reached from the village of Beltir in autumn. In winter there is a lot of snow, and at the beginning of summer there is too much water in the gorge.

Martian landscapes beyond the village of Beltir

And if you go to the very one to the Sofia glacier or Karagemsky and other gorges, you will see such landscapes. Places in Altai are not popular among tourists. So to speak, for the sophisticated. But if you compare it with a photo from Mars, it looks very similar (not counting the sky).

Lake Aya

Aya is a very popular lake in Altai and also a warm lake. The size of the lake is small - 409 x 190 m, the average depth is 12 m, the maximum depth is 24 m, the water temperature in July is + 22 + 24 0С.

On the shore of the lake there is an equipped beach (water slide, sun lounger rental, showers, toilets), a boat dock. Summer cafes and shops in the vicinity are also present. A number of routes from other places of rest in Altai are offered to Lake Aya. For example, scheduled excursions are conducted from the lower Katun region, including a visit.

Lake Aya has healthy air, a lot of sun. The shores of the lake are surrounded by low cliffs, covered with mixed forest. Not only residents of nearby territories come here, but from all over Russia and from beyond its borders. Lake Aya is located just 450 meters from the left bank of the Katun at an altitude of 380 meters above sea level.

Mount Devil's Finger

The rock is one of the most popular sights of the Altai region, located near Lake Aya.

The Devil's Finger Rock is one of the most popular sights of the Altai region, located near Lake Aya.

Valley of the Chulyshman River and the Katu-Yaryk Pass

The descent into the valley goes along a serpentine. The road is considered unsafe. Different cars are passing by, even right-handed sedans. Although it is difficult for the latter to climb later, it is easier to slide down.

Mountain trails in the area of ​​the Aktru gorge, the trail to the Blue Lake and the Aktru glacier

There are many places in the Aktru Gorge where you can go on foot. There are very difficult routes here, where you can go only with equipment and in bundles, and there are simple ones, for a day or even faster. There is a one with the same name. Climbers come there, you can check with them about the routes.

It is not always possible and not for everyone to get to the Aktru base by car. You need to know the road, and not just any car is needed ...

A legendary place shrouded in secrets and legends. The Ukok Plateau is located at the junction of the borders of Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and Russia. The height is 2200-2500 m. It is windy here, in winter the temperature drops to -50. The highest point of Ukok is Mount Kuiten-Uul 4374 (the second highest in Altai).

It was here that an ancient burial was found, from which the mummy of a woman, called the Princess of Ukok, was recovered. Local residents are still fighting with the authorities for the return of the princess to the burial place, they consider the fact that they took her from the plateau to be bad. The place is strange, cold, wonderful. But it draws you back again and again ... It is more likely to travel here in August-September. In spring and early summer there is a lot of water, sometimes snow. You can drive to Ukok either through the Warm Key Pass (the most likely way) or through the Jazator River. On the Ukok plateau there are organized tours in groups.

It is located in the south-west of the Altai Territory and border areas with Kazakhstan: Zmeinogorsk, Krasnoshchekovsky and Tretyakov regions.
Formed in 1999. At the moment it occupies an area of ​​over 40 thousand hectares, there are plans for further expansion. The proximity of the reserve to the black taiga, where there are no traces of human activity yet, creates a reason to consider these territories for new areas of the reserve.

There are several natural monuments on the territory of the reserve:

• scary cave,
• foot-and-mouth cave,
• cave Hyena Lair,
• Silurus cut,
• log Scary,
• Mount Seven Cave
• Tigirek fortress.

More than 600 species of plants, many mammals (65 species) and birds (117 species) grow within Tigireksky. Brown bear, roe deer, elk and deer live here, as well as Siberian weasel, sable, ermine, squirrel, white hare and chipmunk. You can see (although less often) wolverine, weasel, lynx, musk deer. There are a lot of feathered creatures in the reserve: for example, black grouse, hazel grouse, long-tailed owl, upland owl, nutcracker, capercaillie.

The relief is represented by small hills stretching throughout the reserve, crowned with domed peaks, the shape of which gave the name to the reserve (“tigirek” is translated into Russian as “rounded, smooth”).

In winter, the places are dangerous, especially in the southeastern part, where avalanches, landslides and talus are frequent. In the east there are canyons and gorges, and the northwest is represented by a gentle slope.

The historical monument - the ruins of the Tigirek fortress - dates back to the 18th century. At one time, the fortress had the role of an outpost of the Kolyvano-Kuznetsk fortification line. The remains of the fortress are part of the era of Russian settlements on the territory of Altai, over the mines and factories of which the threat of Dzhungar raids hung. Today, a piece of history is a memorial building of military engineering art.

Several tourist routes have been laid along the protected area, which can be overcome on horseback or on foot. These roads are associated with the inspection of colorful landscapes, woven black taiga, steppe meadows, mixed forests, woven birch, pine and fir trees. Observation platforms of natural origin provide beautiful panoramas of the river valleys of the Big Tigirek and Ini. The trail linking the villages of Chineta and Tigirek can present a meeting with large birds of prey and ungulates represented by elk and roe deer.

Within the Altai Territory, the Tigirek Reserve is the only specially protected area on a federal scale.

Edelweiss Valley

The Edelweiss Valley (Yarlu Valley) is one of the most beautiful and amazing places in the Altai Mountains. It is located near Belukha Mountain, to the left of Akkem Lake, at an altitude of about 2000 m above sea level. The name of the valley is really speaking: flowers that are very rare in nature, listed in the Red Book - EDELWEISS, grow here.

Small, fluffy, very delicate in appearance! There is also a stone fortress in the valley. This place is certainly sacred for people, as evidenced by numerous stone figures built inside the fortress.

Petroglyphs Kalbak-tash

A large array of ancient rock paintings aged over 5 thousand images. According to scientists who studied Kalbak-Tash, the drawings were created by people who lived here from the Neolithic period (IV-VI centuries BC) to the Middle Ages (VIII-X centuries AD). On the stones you can see the figures of animals that inhabited the Altai several thousand years ago, hunting scenes and various, including solar, symbols (which once again indicates that swastika y was not invented by Hitler, and its meaning is completely different than many people think). The petroglyphs were made with both stone and metal tools. Researchers attribute well-preserved runic inscriptions to the ancient Turkic era. Some of the plots depicted can be easily correlated with the famous Altai myths.

You can get to the rock complex from the Chui tract. It is located on the right bank of the river. After the mark "723 km" you need to turn left between the fourth and fifth pillars of the power line and walk about 20 meters.

stone mushrooms

Unusual rock forms, created by nature as a result of a long weathering process, are located in the valley of the Karasuk River - one of the tributaries of the mighty Chulyshman. Fanciful stone mushrooms consist of rocks of heterogeneous composition and picturesquely rise above the slopes of the valley. Unfortunately, over time, unusual natural formations continue to collapse. According to local residents, some of the "hats" collapsed during a strong earthquake that occurred in the Altai Mountains in 2003.

You need to go to the mushrooms along a dirt road laid along the Chulyshman valley. From the mouth of the river (i.e. from Lake Teletskoye) the journey takes about 2 hours. The road near the Ak-Kurum tract runs along the opposite (left) bank of the river, to get to the "mushrooms", you need to cross the river and climb up the path.

Lower Shavlinskoye Lake

The lake lies in the spurs of the Severo-Chuysky ridge at an altitude of almost 2000 m above sea level and is framed by picturesque high peaks, from the glaciers of which the Right Shavla River flows. This is one of the most popular tourist sites. Hiking and horse trails. The eastern shore of the lake is overgrown with a good larch and cedar forest, in which there are thickets of lingonberries and blueberries, and in non-dry summers there are many mushrooms. Chipmunks live here.

The water of the lake is clean, grayling is found here. It is customary for tourists standing on the banks of Nizhny Shavlinsky to use water from mountain streams flowing into the lake for drinking and cooking needs. In the middle of the populated eastern shore is the Glade of Idols, where wooden sculptures are exhibited, made by the hands of people who visited these places. And the opposite western shore of the lake is steep and rocky, and there are no places for bivouacs on it.

There is a walking route about 35 km long from the village of Chibit to the lake. It is laid along the path through the Oroi pass (about 2200 m) to the Eshtykol plateau. And the final part of the path passes along the path on the right side of the Shavla River valley.

Belokurikha

The city of Belokurikha is a beautiful resort with a developed structure of entertainment centers (about twenty restaurants, bars and cafes, a bowling club, an aqua park that welcomes guests all year round) and sanatoriums. In spring, summer and autumn, Belokurikha attracts tourists with the beauty of its nature, and in winter it invites them to the ski slopes located in the resort area of ​​Belokurikha.

Located 230 km from Barnaul and 70 km from Biysk.

The main wealth of these places is radon sources. The waters of the springs rise from a depth of 100-400 m through the faults of the earth's crust to the surface and absorb the information of the Earth into their "memory", which also has a beneficial effect on the human body. Treatment in the sanatoriums of Belokurikha is carried out using new methods and modern equipment, it is not cheap, but there are always vacationers at the resort.