The pearl of the Urals is Mount Yamantau

In the world there are many interesting places, among which are those created by Mother Nature herself. The Ural is famous for its beauty. There are a lot of clean picturesque lakes, located among the 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 quietness of dense and impenetrable forests, guarded by unimaginable ridges. This is the mountain Yamantau. It is the pearl of the Urals. Its peak is marked on all maps and attracts numerous tourists who appreciate the pristine nature of the mountain nature. With the giant dome of Yamantau, only Mount Iremel can compare - another South Ural peak, which is only 60 meters below the sea level.

"The Wicked Mountain"

As mentioned above, one of the most enigmatic and most beautiful places to which the Southern Urals is famous is Mount Yamantau. In translation from the Bashkir language "Yamantau" means "evil mountain". Why she was called that, as if no one knows. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the slopes of the mountain massif are swamped or overgrown with a kurumnik, and this did not allow us to graze cattle here, or because there were many bears in the mountain forests, the meeting with which was quite dangerous. But this name of the mountain is determined, most likely, by regular bad weather, because of which Yamantau often and for a long time wraps itself in the fog.

Legends and beliefs

Among the locals there are very different versions of the origin of the name of the mountain, which are shrouded in secrets. They believe that the top of the mountain is inhabited by evil virgins who take away everyone who meets them. Many people who went to the mountains of Yamantau, disappeared without a trace, and the horses, when climbing the hill, died for unknown reasons.

In addition, 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, also called Shulgan-Tash, he first entered the underworld and became its lord. Since then, he has constantly replenished his kingdom with living people who disappeared in the mountains.

But despite the fact that until now it is not known exactly why this name was named this mountain, 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 the Yamantau mountain lies. This beautiful and mysterious mountain range is located on the territory of Beloretsky District in Bashkortostan and belongs to the South Ural Reserve. It is located on the watershed of the Bolshaya and Malye Inzer rivers. In 10 kilometers from the massif there is a closed city of Mezhgorye.

Description of the mountain massif

Yamantau is a two-humped mountain range, the width of which is 3 kilometers. It stretches 5 kilometers to the north-west and has two main peaks. The first is Mount Kuyantau, whose height is 1510 meters. Still others call it Little Yamantau. The second peak is Bolshoy Yamantau, which is the highest point of the Southern Urals. The height of the Yamantau mountain (Big) is 1648 meters. Numerous ridges adjoin it, among which are Yusha, Nara, Kapkala and Mashak. At the foot of the mountain lies a dense forest, which stretches to a height of 1 kilometer. Next are the marshes, and at an altitude of 640 meters begins the kurumnik, many of which are rich in blueberries.

What you can see on Yamantau

With its mysterious and unique beauty, the Yamantau mountain attracts many connoisseurs of nature, which even the fact that it is currently forbidden by tourists is not stopping. First of all, climbing to the top of the Big Yamantau, you can see many picturesque glades, rivers, lakes, streams with clear water. Its slopes are composed of quartzite blocks of medium size, creating distinctive steps. The summit of Yamantau is a large, relatively flat rocky plateau, overgrown with moss. There is still a concreted helicopter pad and the ruins of the barracks, in which even the beds left after the stay of the military, who were at the top until the 90s, still stand. In the heart of the stone plateau 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 the Big and Small Yamantau is a very picturesque saddle, surrounded by large Kurum.

Journey to the top

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

Despite all the difficulties, the popularity of Yamantau does not decrease. Interest in this mountain is enhanced by unverified information about the secret construction of the underground city, which is given too much attention to foreign media.