Rivers of Gorno-Altaisk. Rivers and Lakes of Altai Rivers and Lakes of Altai

The Mashey River 94 kilometers from the mouth, along the bank on the left side, flows into the Chuya River. The river begins at the slope of the Maashey-Bash mountains; at the source of the river there is a glacier with the same name.

According to water statistics state register Russia, the Mashey River is part of the Verkhneobsky basin district. It is a water management section of the Katun River and a river sub-basin of the Biya and Katun rivers. It was also the river basin of the Upper Ob River, before it flowed into the Irtysh River.

The river exalts a very picturesque and fresh look Altai mountains. The water is clean and clear, and the banks are bordered by small bushes.

Black Iyus River

Black Iyus is a mountain river located in the north of Khakassia. It flows through the territories of Ordzhonikidze and Shirinsky districts. The river merges with the Bely Iyus, forming the Chulym River, the right tributary of the Ob.

Inzhul is the left tributary of the Black Iyus.

The length of the river is 178 kilometers, the spillway area is 4,290 square kilometers. Its source is a karst lake, which is located in the eastern part of the Bely Golets mountain in the Kuznetsk Alatau. The mouth is the Chulym River. The source has a height of 1340 meters, the mouth is approximately 380 meters.

The basin is 5% swampy, forest cover occupies 75% of the territory. In the annual course water regime We can distinguish spring flood, summer-autumn and winter low water. Rain floods repeatedly interrupt the summer-autumn low-water period. The total flow of the summer-autumn period is 80-85%. In winter, ice dams appear with water leaking onto the ice.

The river water has hydrocarbonate chemical composition. Over the course of a year, its flow rate averages 43.1 meters per second.

Chemal River

The length of the Chemal River reaches 54 kilometers. Covers a decent portion Altai Territory. There are many settlements along the Chemal route. The largest village has exactly the same name as the river. There it connects with the small river Kuba, from where, seven kilometers later, it flows into the Katun.

By the way, the name “Chemal” itself is translated from Altai as “anthill”. This name appeared because of the goats and sheep that grazed in this area more than a hundred years ago. From above they looked like ants swarming in the grass.

In some places Chemal is quiet and calm, pleasing the eye with its calm, in others it seethes and foams. In the area where there is a strong flow, the Chemal hydroelectric power station was built in 1935.

In addition, the Chemal region is famous for the cleanliness of its air. Therefore, there are a huge number of tourist centers and campsites along the banks of the river. There are even two sanatoriums: one just for children, and the second for children with tuberculosis diseases.

The rivers of the Altai Territory mainly belong to the Ob system. In the west and north-west of the region there is an area of internal drainage - the drainless basin of the Kulundinskaya Lowland.

The Altai region is crossed in its upper course by the Ob River. At a distance of 500 km, its wide ribbon forms two giant bends. Ob and its tributaries Chumysh, Aley, Big River, Barnaulka and others have a calm flow, wide developed valleys, in which strongly winding river beds lie, with clearly visible sandy reaches.

The river network in the Altai Mountains, with the exception of the southeast, is well developed. Rivers start from glaciers and numerous lakes. On some flat watersheds there are swamps that give rise to rivers (Bashkaus - a tributary of the Chulyshman). Mountain rivers flow in narrow valleys, sometimes in dark, gloomy gorges. Along a rocky channel strewn with boulders and pebbles, the water rushes down with a large fall, encounters hard crystalline ledges and rapids along the way, breaks against them, turning into white bubbling foam. The noise of the rapids gives way to the roar of waterfalls, of which there are many in the Altai highlands.

The picture of thundering water falling in ledges from a height of tens of meters is amazing. The tallest and beautiful waterfalls located on the slopes of the Belukha massif. On the northern slope along Tekel (the right tributary of the Akkem) there is a waterfall 60 m high; on the Tigirek (the left tributary of the Kucherla) there is a waterfall of 40 m. On the southern slope of Belukha, in the upper reaches of the Katun, on its right tributary, there is the Rossypnaya waterfall, 30 m high. There are dozens of waterfalls on the rivers flowing into Lake Teletskoye. The Korbu waterfall is well known; its powerful stream falls from a 12-meter height.

The rivers of the Altai Territory have a mixed supply: rain, snow, glaciers and groundwater.

The rivers of the Kulundinskaya Lowland are predominantly fed by snow. They are characterized by spring floods. Very little in summer atmospheric precipitation, rivers become very shallow and dry up in many places. By the end of summer, there is almost no water left in the upper reaches of the Kuchuk River; the channel represents chains of small elongated lakes.

Ob- a lowland river, but its sources and main tributaries are in the mountains, therefore, in the diet and regime of the Ob, signs of lowland and mountain rivers. The Ob has two maximum water rises - in spring and summer. The spring rise in water occurs from the melting of snow, and the summer rise from the melting of glaciers. The lowest water level in the Ob is in winter.

Low water in winter is typical for most rivers in the region. Rivers freeze for a long time. Freeze-up on the Ob and rivers of the plains begins in the second half of November; by the end of April they are free of ice.

Mountain rivers belong to the Altai type, which has a special regime and nutrition. First of all, they are rich in water, since they have food sources that continuously replenish water reserves from precipitation, from the melting of glaciers and the influx of groundwater.

Snow melts in the mountains for several months, from April to June. The second feature of snow melting is that first the snow melts in the north of the Altai Mountains in the low mountains, and then in the middle mountains and finally in the southern high mountain regions. In June, snowfields and glaciers begin to melt. Solar clear days alternate with rainy days. There are years with long summer rains. Precipitation often falls in the form of showers, and the water level in rivers rises quickly and strongly. The rivers of the highlands are fed by snow and glaciers and therefore are characterized by a summer, namely June, rise in water. Autumn floods occur. In four to five months, most of the annual water requirement flows down.

Introduction to maximum level Water in a river is determined by hydrography. Altai rivers can be roughly divided into five groups.

Rivers with spring floods. Snow food. This group includes medium and small rivers in the foothills with an average drainage height of up to 500 m.
Rivers with spring floods and rain floods. This group includes medium and small rivers with average height catchments from 500 to 1500 m.
Rivers with spring-summer floods and rain floods. Food: snow, glacier, rain. This group includes all large and medium-sized rivers with a drainage height from 1500 to 2500 m.
Rivers with summer floods. The food is glacial. These are mainly medium and small rivers at altitudes above 2500 m.
Rivers with equalized flow throughout the year. Ground nutrition. These are mostly small rivers.

The greatest groundwater recharge is observed on rivers with an average catchment height ranging from 600 to 2000 m. The exception is the Chuya River, in which the share of groundwater is 33% of the annual flow. This is due to the fact that the Chuya depression, filled with sand and pebble deposits, is a huge reservoir of groundwater that gradually flows into the Chuya.

The duration of freeze-up on Altai rivers ranges from 110 to 200 days, and in some sections of the rivers the water does not freeze. The beginning of freeze-up usually occurs in November, the opening - at the beginning - mid-April.

Belukha is not only a glacial center, but also the most important feeding center for large and small rivers spreading from Belukha to different sides. The Belukha glaciers are very active in this regard, because they end low, which means they melt a lot and at the same time receive a lot of precipitation. According to the available hydrometric data, the first place in water content belongs to the Iedygem River, the second and third are the Katun and Bereli, then the Ak-Kem and Myushtu-airy. The total flow of glacial waters provided by Belukha is estimated at approximately 400 million cubic meters. m. per year. This entire mass of water is taken at an altitude of about 2000 m and, therefore, has a huge potential reserve of power.

Characteristics of Altai rivers

The rivers of the Altai Territory mainly belong to the Ob system. In the west and north-west of the region there is an area of internal drainage - the drainless basin of the Kulundinskaya Lowland.

The river network in the Altai Mountains, with the exception of the southeast, is well developed. Rivers start from glaciers and numerous lakes. Some flat watersheds contain swamps that give rise to rivers ( Bashkaus- Chulyshman tributary). Mountain rivers flow in narrow valleys, sometimes in dark, gloomy gorges. Along a rocky channel strewn with boulders and pebbles, the water rushes down with a large fall, encounters hard crystalline ledges and rapids along the way, breaks against them, turning into white bubbling foam. The noise of the rapids gives way to the roar of waterfalls, of which there are many in the Altai highlands.

The picture of thundering water falling in ledges from a height of tens of meters is amazing. The highest and most beautiful waterfalls are located on the slopes of the Belukha massif. On the northern slope Tekelu(the right tributary of the Akkem) there is a waterfall 60 m high; on the Tigirek (the left tributary of the Kucherla) there is a waterfall of 40 m. On the southern slope of Belukha, in the upper reaches of the Katun, on its right tributary, there is Rossypnoy waterfall 30 m high. There are dozens of waterfalls on the rivers flowing into Lake Teletskoye. Well known Korbu waterfall, its powerful stream falls from a 12-meter height.

The rivers of the Altai Territory have a mixed supply: rain, snow, glaciers and groundwater.

The rivers of the Kulundinskaya Lowland are predominantly fed by snow. They are characterized by spring floods. In summer there is very little precipitation, the rivers become very shallow and dry up in many places. By the end of summer, there is almost no water left in the upper reaches of the Kuchuk River; the channel represents chains of small elongated lakes.

Ob- a lowland river, but its sources and main tributaries are in the mountains, therefore, in the diet and regime of the Ob, signs of lowland and mountain rivers are observed. The Ob has two maximum water rises - in spring and summer. The spring rise in water occurs from the melting of snow, the summer rise from the melting of glaciers. The lowest water level in the Ob is in winter.

Snow melts in the mountains for several months, from April to June. The second feature of snow melting is that first the snow melts in the north of the Altai Mountains in the low mountains, and then in the middle mountains and finally in the southern high mountain regions. In June, snowfields and glaciers begin to melt. Sunny clear days alternate with rainy ones. There are years with long summer rains. Precipitation often falls in the form of showers, and the water level in rivers rises quickly and strongly. The rivers of the highlands are fed by snow and glaciers and therefore are characterized by a summer, namely June, rise in water. Autumn floods occur. In four to five months, most of the annual water requirement flows down.

Rivers of middle and low mountains have two high levels water: in spring and summer - high water in late May and early June; in summer and autumn - floods from melting glaciers and autumn rains. In autumn and winter there is low water. Mountain rivers freeze later than lowland rivers. The water does not freeze on the rapids; ice forms through the open rapids. Often rivers freeze to the bottom, ice plugs appear that the water cannot break through, it comes to the surface, and ice floods the valleys. In some mountain rivers, the process of ice formation occurs simultaneously on the surface and along the bottom of the channel. Surface and bottom ice combine to create a barrier to water. It finds its way out through the surface ice and ice dams form again. Ice cover lasts up to 7 months.

Belukha is not only a glacial junction, but also the most important feeding center for large and small rivers spreading from Belukha in different directions. The Belukha glaciers are very active in this regard, because they end low, which means they melt a lot and at the same time receive a lot of precipitation. According to the available hydrometric data, the first place in water content belongs to the Iedygem River, the second and third are the Katun and Bereli, then the Ak-Kem and Myushtu-airy. The total flow of glacial water produced by Belukha is estimated at approximately 400 million cubic meters. m. per year. This entire mass of water is taken at an altitude of about 2000 m and, therefore, has a huge potential reserve of power.

The Ak-kem River flows from the Ak-kem glacier and is a turbulent foamy stream. There are two lakes on the Ak-kem River: Upper and Lower, which are of glacial origin. The largest of them, Lower Akkem Lake, 1350 m long and 610 m wide, has a mirror area of 1 sq. km and a depth of 15 m. It lies at an altitude of 2050 m and is formed by one of the young moraines. Upper Ak-Kem Lake, which is small in size, is located near the tongue of the Ak-Kem glacier and was formed by the youngest Late Holocene...

The Alambay River is the right tributary of the Chumysh, flowing into it near the city of Zarinsk. Originates 2.5 km to southeast from the Alambay railway station (Zarinsky district of the Altai Territory). Length 140 km, basin area 1960 sq. km. The main tributaries: Ingara (right, length 28 km), Lesnoy Alambay (right, length 68 km), Khmelevka (right, length 28 km), Borovlyanka (left, length 21 km). Upper part The basin is located on the dissected lowlands of the Salair ridge, the lower one is on the gently ridged Pre-Salair...

The Alei River is the left tributary of the river. Obi. It flows into it near the village of Ust-Aleika, Kalmansky district, Altai Territory. The source of the Vostochny Alei River is taken as the beginning of the river. The length of Alei is 866 km, the drainage basin area is 21,100 sq. km. The main tributaries: Goltsovka, Kamenka, Zolotukha, Kizikha, Poperechnaya, Klepechikha, Yazevka, Gorevka, Chistyunka. In the middle reaches, the floodplain is crossed by large longitudinal channels: Sklyuikha (length 62 km), Bashmachikha (15 km), Vavilon (40 km). On the left bank there are cities...

The Barnaulka River is a left tributary of the river. Ob and flows into it near the city of Barnaul. It flows out of Lake Zerkalnoye in the Shipunovsky district of the Altai Territory. Length 207 km, drainage basin area 5720 sq. km. Basically, all the tributaries flow into it from the left: Voronikha, Rozhnya, Kolyvan, Panshikha, Shtabka, Vlasikha. The drainage basin is located entirely on the Priob Plateau. It extends in a narrow strip (20-27 km) from southwest to northeast for 240 km. The modern valley is located in the hollow of an ancient drainage. IN...

Biya Biy (river), Biysk (city) - “Biy is the lord.” The Biya is the second most powerful river (after the Katun) of the Altai Republic. It receives the bulk of its water from Lake Teletskoye; average annual water consumption at the outlet is 221 cubic meters. m per second. In the first 100 km, the average drop is approximately 1.6 m per kilometer. The current speed is 7-9 km per hour, depending on the water level in Lake Teletskoye. In the upper reaches of the Biya it passes through the territory of the Altai Republic in a northern direction among low ridges. For s. Lake-Kureevo...

Bolshaya Rechka, river, right tributary of the Ob. It originates 12 km from the village of Gornovoe, Troitsky district, Altai Territory. Length 258 km, drainage basin area 4000 sq. km. There are 294 lakes with total area mirrors 28.9 sq. km. The main tributaries: Eltsovka (left, length 23 km), Belaya (left, length 61 km), Borovlyanka (left, length 45 km), Listvyanka (right, length 25 km), Kamyshenka (left, length 76 km). Upper and middle part The basins are located on the ridged Biysk-Chumysh upland with dense...

The Burla River is located in the drainage region of the Ob-Irtysh interfluve. The river originates 8 km northeast of the village of Dolganki, Krutikhinsky district. In high-water years, it flows into the drainless bitter-salty Lake Bolshoy Adzhbulat on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in medium and low-water years - into Lake Bolshoye Topolnoe in the Burlinsky district of the Altai Territory. The length of the river is 489 km, the basin area is 12800 square meters. km. Main tributaries: Panshikha (left, length 22 km), Kurya (Aksenikha, left, length...

The Kasmala River, a left tributary of the Ob, originates in a swampy watershed south of the Podstepnoe village in the Rebrikhinsky district of the Altai Territory. It flows into the Ob-Tikhaya channel in the Pavlovsk region of the Altai Territory. The length of the river is 119 km, the catchment area is 2550 sq. km. It receives a number of tributaries: Kalmanka, Rebrikha, Barsuchikha, Torbachikha, Borovlyanka, Rogozikha, Funtovka, Chernopyatovka. The drainage basin is flat, on the Priob plateau. Bolina is located in the hollow of an ancient drainage, in the Kasmalinsky ribbon forest. Floodplain...

Among the numerous rivers of Altai, the largest and longest is the Katun. It originates from the glaciers of Mount Belukha and extends in the northwest beyond the Altai Mountains. Merging with the second largest river in Altai, the Biya, the Katun gives rise to one of the largest Siberian rivers, the Ob. The length of the Katun is 688 km. Depending on the slope and nature of the riverbed, the river either rumbles between stones and boulders, or calmly flows along the flattened sections of the bottom, overgrown with willow bushes and...

The Kulunda River is located in the drainage region of the Ob-Irtysh interfluve. It flows from a small swamp 2 km north of the village of Ust-Moshikha, Rebrikha district, Altai Territory. It flows into Lake Kulundinskoye in two branches. The length of the river is 412 km, the basin area is 12,400 square meters. km. The largest tributaries: Ermachikha (left, length 37 km), Solonovka (right, length 37 km), Cheremshanka (right, length 56 km), Proslauha (right, length 78 km), Chuman (right, length 88 km). The drainage basin is flat...

The Kucherla River, which flows into the Katun, is formed as a result of the confluence of three equal river streams of its sources: Koni-Ayra, Ioldo-Ayra and Myushtu-Ayra. The general Kucherla valley turns out to be deeper than the valleys of each of the three equal sources. These rivers have large, beautiful waterfalls. At its confluence with Lake Kucherlinskoye, the Kucherla River already looks like wild river, which is not so easy to cross. There are 43 lakes in the Kucherla valley, most of which are concentrated in the upper reaches of the valleys...

The Kuchuk River originates 10 km south of the village. Voznesenka, Rodinsky district, Altai Territory, flows into Lake Kuchukskoye. Length 121 km, drainage area 1020 sq. km. In the upper reaches small temporary streams flow into it. The drainage basin is located on the Priob Plateau and the Kulundinskaya Lowland. The valley is expressed throughout its entire length; the floodplain is present only in certain areas. The riverbed is blocked by earthen dams; in the areas between the ponds it is dry, with water only in holes or reaches. Constant flow of the river...

The Ob River, one of the largest rivers on globe. It is formed from the confluence of the Biya (length 301 km) and the Katun (length 688 km) on the territory of the Altai Territory, 22 km below the city of Biysk, near the village of Sorokino (right bank) and the village of Verkhne-Obsky (left bank). The Ob flows into the Ob Bay Kara Sea at Cape Yam-Sale. The length of the river is 3650 km, the basin area is 2,990,000 square meters. km, within the Altai region (Altai Territory) its length is 493 km, the basin area is 209,500 sq. km. The main tributaries of the Upper Ob (from...

The Sungai River is the right tributary of the Chumysh, flowing into it above the village of Zarechny, Kytmanovsky district, Altai Territory. In the lower reaches it is called Kolbiha. It originates 2 km southwest of the Tyagun railway station. Length 103 km, drainage area 1480 sq. km. The main tributaries: Mishikha (right, length 28 km), Potaskuy (left, length 33 km), Mostovaya (right, length 45 km). The upper part of the basin is located on the Salair Ridge and is occupied by taiga. The lower part is located on a ridged clearing, mostly plowed.

The Uksunay River is the right tributary of Chumysh, flows into it at the village. Buranovo, Togul district, Altai Territory. It originates on the southwestern slope of the Salair Ridge. Length 165 km, drainage basin area 2600 sq. km. The main tributaries: Kamenushka (left, length 43 km), Togul (right, length 110 km). The drainage basin is formed on the slopes of Salair and the Pre-Salair plain. The upper part is forested (fir, aspen, birch), the lower part is almost treeless, heavily plowed. The valley is well defined along its entire course...

The Chemrovka River is the right tributary of the river. Ob and flows into it below the village of Fominskoye, Zonal District of the Altai Territory. It is formed from the confluence of two rivers - left and right Marushka - near the village. Marushka Tselinny district of the Altai Territory. The length of the river is 123 km, the basin area is 2830 sq. km. The main tributaries: Sukhaya Chemrovka (left, length 60 km), Shubenka (right, length 68 km), Utkul (right, length 55 km). The drainage area of the upper part of the basin is located in the south of the Biysk-Chumysh Upland with gentle hills and dense...

The Chumysh River is a right tributary of the Ob River, flowing into the latter 88 km below the city of Barnaul. Chumysh is formed from the confluence of the Kara-Chumysh and Tom-Chumysh rivers in the Kemerovo region. The length of the river is 644 km, the drainage basin area is 23900 sq. km. Main tributaries: Kara-Chumysh (left, length 173 km), Tom-Chumysh (right, length 110 km), Sary-Chumysh (left, length 98 km), Angurep (left, length 48 km), Yama (left, length 67 km), Uksunai (right, length 165 km), Taraba (left, length 70 km), Sungai (right, length...

Chuya (river), Chuya squirrels, Chuya steppe, Chuya tract - “Water, river”. Chuya is of interest to water tourists from the mouth of the Mazhoy River, where the Mazhoysky cascade of rapids of the 5th-6th category of difficulty begins, one of the most interesting and technically difficult for rafting. Mazhoysky cascade is most popular among tourists due to the convenience of access roads. Downstream there are also several interesting rapids, one of them - “Behemoth” - hosts annual water tourism competitions...

General information

Relief Altai mountains It is diverse, with areas of ancient plains, alpine-type glacial high-mountain relief, mountains of medium (1800-2000 meters) and low altitude (500-600 meters), and deep basins standing out here. The ridges are cut by numerous snow-fed rivers. Turbulent water streams flow into lakes famous for their beauty, lying in picturesque valleys. The Biya and Katun rivers originate in the Altai Mountains, which merge to form the Ob, one of the deepest and longest rivers in Russia.

The highest ridge of the Altai Mountains is Katunsky. With its snowy slopes, sharp peaks, picturesque lakes and glaciers, this part of the Altai mountain system is similar to the Alps.

The Altai Mountains are famous for their caves, of which there are more than 300, especially in the basin of the Katun, Anui and Charysh rivers. Mountain Altai is a land of waterfalls, the highest of which is the 60-meter Tekelyu, which flows into the Akkem River.

The weather in the Altai Mountains is unpredictable, so you should not rely on weather forecasters. Being in the mountains on a warm, clear day, you can witness the sudden birth of a cloud and be in the very thick of it.

The climate of the region is sharply continental with cold winter And warm summer. The weather in any given location depends on its altitude and prevailing winds. In the Altai Mountains there is both the warmest place in Siberia and its pole of cold. The climate is formed under the influence of the Arctic masses, warm and humid winds of the Atlantic and the hot air of Central Asia. Winter in the region lasts from 3 to 5 months, one of the coldest places is the Chui Valley, where the temperature drops to -32°. It is much warmer in the southern regions of the Altai Mountains - for example, in the area of Lake Teletskoye, winter pleases with a comfortable ten degrees below zero. In spring and autumn, cold snaps and frosts are frequent, lasting until mid-June in high mountain areas. Most warm month- July from average temperature from +14 to +16°; in the highlands - from +5 to +8°, here the temperature decreases by 0.6° with an increase in altitude for every 100 meters.

In summer, daylight in the region lasts 17 hours, which is more than in Yalta or Sochi.

Gorny Altai is famous for its rich flora and fauna. In a relatively small area of the region, almost all types of vegetation of Asia, Kazakhstan and the European part of Russia grow. On the Altai Mountains of different heights there are taiga, steppe, mountain tundra and alpine meadows.

In each natural area Animals live that are adapted to certain environmental conditions. Some of them - bears, maral, sable - migrate from one habitat to another. The Altai Mountains are also home to elk, musk deer, roe deer, ground squirrel, fox, wolverine, squirrel, and ermine. Lives in the highlands the rarest beast on Earth - snow leopard ( snow leopard), as well as the Siberian goat and the red wolf.

Endemic species that live only here have also formed in the Altai Mountains: mountain turkey, tundra partridge, Altai buzzard. Other birds of the region - gray goose, mallard duck, common crane, snipe, eagle owl, nutcracker.

Attractions

Lake Teletskoye is a true pearl in the scattering of Altai lakes. The purest waters, framed by mountains and centuries-old cedars, alpine meadows and magnificent waterfalls, remoteness from civilization are the sources of the charm of the famous lake.

Lake Teletskoye

The Ukok Plateau is a protected natural area, a place of concentration of burial mounds from different chronological eras. Local residents believe that the plateau is the threshold firmament, “the end of everything,” a special sacred place to which they entrust the bodies of the dead. In many mounds, cooled by permafrost, perfectly preserved household items have been found that are of enormous historical value. The unique nature of the plateau and the surrounding Altai Mountains inspired the artist Nicholas Roerich to create world-famous paintings. In the village of Verkhniy Uimon there is a house-museum of the painter, where you can see his paintings and purchase copies of them.

Ukok Plateau

Chemal is a picturesque area of the Altai Mountains, where the Katun carries its waters past rocky mountains that are fascinating in their inaccessibility.

The Katun River near the village of Chemal

Karakol Lakes - 7 reservoirs of amazing beauty, stretching in a chain along the western slope of the Iolgo ridge. To admire the lakes located at an altitude of 2000 meters, you will have to use horses or a specially equipped vehicle.

Karakol Lakes

Lower Shavlinskoye Lake is located surrounded by the Mechta, Skazka and Krasavitsa mountains in the vicinity of the village of Chibit. Pagan idols are installed on the shore of the reservoir.

Lower Shavlinskoye Lake

The discovery of the Denisova Cave, located in the valley of the Anuy River, Soloneshsky district, has become a notable event in world archeology. Human remains dating back 42,000 years were found in the cave. In addition, the oldest cultural layer of people who lived in the cave 282,000 years ago was discovered here. At the parking lot ancient man more than 80,000 different stone household items were found, iron products of the 14th century, bronze knives more later periods. The cave is accessible to people of any level physical training. Before the eyes of a tourist who takes the time to get here, there appears a unique so-called “layer cake”, consisting of more than 20 cultural layers formed in different eras of human existence.

The Altai cave, one of the deepest and longest in Siberia and Altai, goes down 240 meters, and its length is 2540 meters. This natural attraction, protected as a geological natural monument, is located in the village of Cheremshanka in the Altai Territory. The Altai cave is actively visited by amateur tourists and professional speleologists.

Mount Belukha, part of the Katunsky ridge and revered by local residents as sacred, is the highest point in Siberia and Altai, rising above the picturesque valleys of the Ukok plateau at 4509 meters. Belukha is located equidistant from the four world oceans and is the geographic center of Eurasia. Many who have visited Belukha or near it admit that they felt the enlightenment of consciousness and the incredible energy of these places. There is a special atmosphere here that puts you in a philosophical mood. And this is not self-hypnosis; many scientists claim that there really are powerful bioenergy fields around the mountain. Buddhists believe that somewhere on the top of the mountain there is an entrance to the fabulous country of Shambhala, which only a select few can see. The sources of the main Altai river Katun originate in the Belukha glaciers.

Chapel of Archangel Michael at the foot of Mount Belukha

The Chuysky tract is the Novosibirsk-Tashanta highway, ending at the borders of Mongolia. After driving along it, you will be able to get to know the Altai Mountains better and see all their diversity.

Chuysky tract

Other sights of the Altai Mountains worthy of attention:

Lake Aya;
Multinskie lakes;
Kucherlinsky lakes;
Lake Manzherok;
Rock paintings primitive people in the Kalbak-Tash tract;
Scythian mounds of Pazyryk;
Mount Altyn-Tu;
Patmos Island on Chemal with the Temple of St. John the Evangelist;
The Tsar's Kurgan is a burial place over 2000 years old;
Valley of the Chulyshman River with numerous waterfalls.

This is only a small part of the natural and man-made wonders that the Altai Mountains are rich in.

Why go

Adherents of sports tourism have known and visited the Altai Mountains for several decades. Altai mountain rivers are ideal for rafting. Speleologists descend into mysterious caves, climbers storm mountain peaks, paragliders soar over picturesque landscapes, and nature has prepared countless places of stunning beauty for hikers. Equestrian tourism is well developed in Altai, giving the opportunity to visit the most inaccessible corners of the region, where you can see Argali sheep listed in the Red Book, lakes of unreal beauty, and hear the inimitable and soul-stirring cries of deer during the rut.

Fishing in the Altai Mountains traditionally attracts many tourists not only from neighboring regions, but also from the European part of Russia, as well as from abroad. Water local rivers rich valuable fish- grayling, taimen, whitefish, rainbow trout, burbot, pike and other species.

People go to Altai to receive treatment and relax in one of the most environmentally friendly places on Earth. The seismically active region is rich in healing thermal springs; local radon waters are especially valued. Belokurikha is the most popular Altai balneological resort, famous for its unique microclimate, modern health resort facilities and excellent opportunities for active recreation. Vacationers get unforgettable pleasure while walking along the health path along the stormy Belokurikha River rushing through a forest gorge. Tourists have access to a chairlift that takes resort guests to Mount Tserkovka (height 815 meters), from the top of which there is a stunning view of the Altai expanses.

One of business cards The Altai Mountains are deer, on whose treatment with antlers an entire medical industry is based. Antlers are young, unossified antlers of deer, cut only from males in June-July. Male individuals provide a unique medicinal product, rich in amino acids and microelements, a recognized elixir of health and longevity. To obtain valuable raw materials, deer are bred in captivity - the animals live in the vast territory of the maral, where they are protected from predators and poachers. Only once a year are red deer disturbed in order to cut off their antlers. On the basis of many maral camps, medical centers have been created where vacationers improve their health among the mountains and forests, enjoying the peace and quiet in the bosom of Altai nature.

Visitors are welcome in winter ski resorts Altai - Manzherok, Belokurikha, Turquoise Katun, Seminsky Pass.

IN lately The tourist infrastructure in the mountainous regions of Altai is rapidly developing: modern hotels and recreation centers are being built, new excursion routes are being developed, new roads are being laid and old ones are being improved. The number of agencies offering a variety of tours to Altai has increased significantly.

Tourist information

Finding suitable accommodation in the tourist areas of the Altai Mountains is not difficult - there are camp sites everywhere different levels comfort, hotels and boarding houses. Many local residents offer private accommodation for a very reasonable fee.

Communication in Gorny Altai is available on all major tourist destinations. It would be useful to have SIM cards of two or three operators with you, because... in some areas Beeline has better communication, and in others - Megafon.

When going to Altai, even at the height of summer, be sure to stock up on warm clothes - in mountainous areas, night temperatures can drop to +5°.

Popular souvenirs from the Altai Mountains - honey, antlers, pine nuts, teas from alpine herbs, original wooden products of local residents, amulets, national musical instruments and household items.

In places that are sacred to the Altai people, you should not indulge in fun, shout or litter. Don’t stroke your pride - don’t leave ugly inscriptions “I was here...” on man-made and natural sights of Altai. Local residents expect tourists to respect their land, ancestors and wildlife.

How to get there

The most convenient way to get to Altai is from Novosibirsk - by train or bus to Barnaul or Biysk. From these cities there are several flights per day to Gorno-Altaisk and others settlements region. If you are traveling by car, then from Novosibirsk you should take the M-52 highway (Chuysky tract).

Altai, view of the Belukha massif

Rivers of the Altai Territory

Ob
The main river of the Altai region is the Ob, formed from the confluence of two rivers - the Biya and the Katun. At a distance of 500 kilometers, the wide ribbon of the Ob crosses the Altai Territory, forming two giant bends. In its length (3680 km) it is second in Russia only to the Lena (4264 km) and Amur (4354 km), and in terms of the area of the Ob basin it is the largest large river our country, second only to five rivers on the planet: the Amazon, Congo, Mississippi, Nile and La Plata.

The Ob and its tributaries Chumysh, Anui, Alei, Bolshaya Rechka, Barnaulka and others have a calm flow, wide developed valleys, in which strongly winding channels with sandy reaches adjoin.
Barnaulka River- tributary of the Ob River

The bottom of the Ob is sandy over a large area. Sometimes you come across rocky rifts and shoals, especially in the section of the river between Biysk and Barnaul. During floods, the water level in the Ob is high; water floods the right low bank for several kilometers.

Name great river The Ob owes its origin not to the peoples who have lived on its banks from time immemorial. The Nenets living in the lower reaches of the river called it “Sala-yam”, which means “Cape River”. The Khanty and Mansi gave it the name “As” - “ big river“, the Selkups called the river “Kvay”, “Eme”, “Kuay”. All these names meant “large river.” The Russians first saw the river in its lower reaches when hunters and merchants, together with Zyryan guides, went beyond the Stone (as the Ural Mountains were then called). Long before Ermak’s conquest of Siberia, the region around the Ob was called Obdorsky.

There is a version that the name of the great Siberian river comes from the Komi language, which meant “snow”, “snowdrift”, “place near the snow”.

There is also an assumption that the name is related to the Iranian word “ob” - “water”. And such a name deep river could well have been given by the peoples of the Iranian-speaking group who lived in the south of Western Siberia during the period from the Early Bronze Age to the Middle Ages.

Biya
Biya is the second largest river in Altai. It originates in Lake Teletskoye. Its length is 280 kilometers. In the upper part of the river there are rapids, waterfalls, and rifts. Merging with Katun, Biya gives rise to the Ob.

The name Biya is associated with the Altai words “biy”, “beg”, “bii” - “lord”.

Katun
The Katun flows from the Gebler glacier at an altitude of about 2000 meters on the southern slope of the high mountain Altai - Belukhas. In the upper and middle reaches the river has a mountainous character, especially in summer time when snow and glaciers are rapidly melting. In the lower reaches it acquires a flat character, spreading below the village. The Maima has channels and channels, and flows along an inclined plain to the north until it merges with the Biya.

The water in the Katun is cold, its temperature in summer rarely rises above 15 C. The river is fed mainly by the melting of snow and ice from glaciers. The length of the river is 665 kilometers, and there are about 7,000 waterfalls and rapids in its basin.

Aley
Alei is the largest tributary of the Ob on the flat part of the region. In length (755 km) it exceeds Katun and Biya, but is inferior to them in terms of water content. Alei originates in low mountains northwestern Altai. This is a river with mixed type feeding (snow and rain), spring flood reaches its maximum in April. Alei is characterized by large loop-shaped bends; in the lower reaches the river has broad clay soil.

Chumysh
Chumysh is the right tributary of the Ob. The river originates in Salair, from the confluence of two rivers: Tom-Chumysh and Kara-Chumysh. Although the river is twice as long as the Biya (644 km), the Chumysh is a relatively low-water river. In many places its valley is swampy and covered mixed forest. The share of snow supply makes up more than half of the runoff for the year, and the maximum flood in Chumysh is in April.

Lakes of Altai

Picturesque Altai lakes. There are thousands of them in the region, and they are located throughout the territory.

Most of the lakes are located in the Kulunda Lowland and on the Priob Plateau. It’s not for nothing that Altai is called the land of blue lakes. Small mountain and steppe lakes give natural landscapes a unique charm and uniqueness.

The most big lake in the Altai Territory there is a bitter-salty lake Kulundinskoye (area 600 sq. km, length - 35 and width 25 km). It is shallow (maximum depth - 4 m), fed by the waters of the Kulunda River and groundwater. To the south of Kulundinsky there is the second largest lake - Kuchukskoye (area 180 sq. km). It is completely similar in regime and nutrition to Kulundinsky and was previously connected to it by a channel.

The Kulunda lakes are all remnants of an ancient sea that existed many millions of years ago on the site of the present plains. Many of these lakes have long been famous for their mineral waters, having healing properties, as well as healing clays and mud. Gorkoe-Peresheichnoye and Malinovoye are places of pilgrimage for residents of the region and numerous guests. There has been a medical and health complex on the salty Bolshoi Yarovoe Lake for many years. Salt water, plenty of steppe sun, picturesque pine forest The shores of such lakes create unique conditions for recreation.

There is a lot of fish in the fresh flowing lakes, and waterfowl in the reed thickets along the banks.

The lakes of the mountainous part of the Altai Territory are very picturesque. They are located in the hollows of ancient drainage, on the site of old channels of long-vanished mountain rivers that arose when an ancient glacier melted.

Lake Aya

The unique beauty of Lake Kolyvan, along the shores of which quaint castles of granite rocks are piled up. You can admire the stone sculptures of fantastic animals while lying on the sandy beach.

Kolyvan Lake

Many of these lakes form a long chain, connected by channels and small rivers. Some of these lakes give rise to the left tributaries of the Ob (the Barnaulka River, flowing through the territory of the regional center, originates from such lakes located in the forest near the villages of Peschanoye and Voronikha).

Between the Biya and Chumysh rivers there are small and shallow freshwater lakes. There are lakes on the floodplains of lowland rivers, and in ancient and modern river valleys There are small elongated lakes - oxbow lakes.

The Altai region is also rich mineral springs. What makes it especially famous is its radon sources, which have been used by the local population since time immemorial. medicinal purposes. Both in our country and abroad, the famous radon waters of Belokurikha are famous, where numerous resorts and health resorts have been built. The presence of radon waters was noted in the valleys of the Kalmanka and Berezovaya rivers.

Waterfalls are also common in Altai, like the waterfall on the Shinok River, not far from Denisova Cave, about 70 meters high, which until recently was known only to local residents. Now many people dream of visiting here. Currently, there are eight waterfalls and one waterfall on the Shinok River. In 2000, the Cascade of Waterfalls on the Shinok River reserve acquired the status of a natural monument.