Unhappy is the one who has not seen the Golden Mountains of Altai. After all, the beauty of this place is truly amazing and unique. And everyone who has been here understands that you will not find a more wonderful place on the planet. Not for nothing that many Russian and foreign writers with genuine enthusiasm described the pristine beauty of the Altai Territory.
Well, let's find out why the Golden Mountains are so remarkable. What kind of power is hidden in them? And why are they so touching the soul of those who have been there?
Ancient legend
Among the local population there is an old legend about how this place appeared. According to legend, once the Almighty wanted to create a land where all animals and trees will live in harmony and peace. And so that his choice was fair, he ordered the eagle, deer and cedar to go around all the lands and find the one where their soul will be joyful and bright.
The chosen ones walked for a long time, choosing a new home for themselves. And yet their heart showed them the way to a wonderful valley surrounded by mountains and rivers. In the end, they met in the same place and decided to stay here. God pleased their choice, for that land was truly beautiful, and therefore he blessed it and all those who live on it.
Golden mountains of Russia
But legend is one thing, and quite another thing is the truth discovered by scientists. So, according to their research, the Golden Mountains were formed due to the collision of Hindustan with the mainland. This happened in the Paleozoic era, that is, approximately 500 million years ago.
However, these were completely different mountain ranges, which, under the influence of time, were almost completely destroyed. And only 65 million years ago, on the site of the modern Golden Mountains, new accumulations of minerals began to form. And now, after many years, they became those snowy peaks that delight the eyes of visiting tourists.
As for the name itself, it came from the Turkic “Al” - “gold”, and “Tai” - “mountain”. However, no one knows why this region was named that way. Perhaps this is due to the sunlight that repainted the tops of the mountains in a golden hue. Or the reason was the natural wealth of this region, which gave shelter and food to many generations of Altai.
Where are the Golden Mountains of Altai?
This place is located at the junction of countries such as China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia. This is the largest mountain system in Siberia, which is really amazing, given the scale of this zone. But the Golden Mountains are famous not for their size, but for their natural wealth.
So, it is here that the largest mountain of Russia is Belukha, or the Two-Headed Peak. Its height is 4509 m, which makes it the indisputable leader among its "relatives". On average, the mountain range rises above the ground by 1500-1700 meters.
It should be noted that quite a large part of these lands is under the protection of UNESCO. More than 16 thousand km² are protected areas, protected from harmful human influences.
Altai nature
As mentioned earlier, the Golden Altai Mountains are famous for their unique nature. For the most part, this is because it is the edge of saturated contrasts. So, there are spacious meadows and steppes, dense forests and crystal clear rivers bordering moss-covered rocks.
It is this diversity that captures the spirit of travelers and scholars. It would seem that here you are rushing along an endless field, how in an instant it is replaced by a beautiful forest, consisting of firs and firs. Pleasing to the eye and mountain herbs, many of which are listed in the Red Book and are found only in this region.
However, many plants are medicinal. It was this factor that contributed to the fact that many Altai people prefer traditional medicine to conventional. Indeed, from her, there is more benefit, in their opinion, and there is a remedy for sores and ailments always nearby, literally at hand.
Region of Mirror Rivers and Lakes
Glaciers of the Golden Mountains have spawned many mountain rivers and lakes. Some of them are so huge and amazing that they rightfully began to be called the natural heritage of mankind. So, the largest lake in this region is called Teletsky. Located at an altitude of 436 m, it stretched over more than 70 km in length. Its water, both in winter and in summer, remains crystal clear, as if it were not a reservoir, but a large mirror.
Also, the Golden Mountains give rise to such great rivers flowing in Russia as the Irtysh and Ob. Let them still be very small here - they are just mountain streams, but nevertheless these mountains are their native home. As for the Altai Territory itself, Katun is considered the largest river here. The total length of its gutter is 688 km. By the way, it is she, merging with Biya, who gives rise to Ob.
But that is not all. Small rivers and lakes are scattered throughout the territory of this region, enhancing the beauty that the Golden Mountains of Altai are famous for. Photos of these water bodies, bewitching with its freshness and purity, attract tourists from all around and even from other countries.
Fauna of the Altai Mountains
The fauna of Altai is very diverse. Here you can find both habitual inhabitants of Siberia, such as a wolf, wild boar and deer, as well as very rare ones. In particular, the snow leopard, snow leopard and the Siberian snow goat live in the Altai mountains.
Do not forget about those animals that preferred heaven and water to land. Indeed, thanks to absolute freedom and the almost complete absence of human influence, they feel very comfortable here. That is why in heaven you can always see the proud falcon, and see the glimpses of the scales of large cupid in the water.
