Ural Mountains, Urals. Ural - what is it? Region Ural Cities of the Urals and Siberia message

By the beginning of the 21st century. Almost half of the population of world civilization lived in cities. Cities play a leading role in the economic, socio-political and socio-cultural life of countries and peoples of the world. Cities produce 4/5 of the value of all goods and services produced in the world. Thus, modern world civilization is, first of all, an urban civilization. The main direction in the development of society is its urbanization. The peculiarities of the concentration of population and economic life in cities, the spread of their influence on the agrarian environment constitute the core of the historical process in Modern and Contemporary times. Understanding the essence of modernization of society is impossible without identifying the main stages of urbanization.

The cities of the Urals occupy a special place in the history of Russia. And today they play an important role in the economic, socio-political and socio-cultural development of the country.

Of the 1040 cities in Russia, 140 are located in the Urals, of the 13 million-plus cities, 4 are Ural cities (Ekaterinburg, Perm, Ufa, Chelyabinsk).

How did the formation of the Ural cities proceed in historical dynamics? Their formation and development can be divided into three large stages. The first covers the pre-industrial era (XV-XVII centuries), when 33 cities arose in the Urals1. At the time of their formation, these were mainly settlements, small villages and fortresses, which became an outpost for the development of the vast expanses of the Urals and Siberia, and did not play the role of industrial and administrative centers.

The second stage of urbanization of the Urals began with the beginning of Peter the Great’s modernization in the first quarter of the 18th century, when such fortress factories as Kamensk-Uralsky, Nevyansk, Yekaterinburg, etc. were founded. This stage continued until the start of capitalist modernization of Russia in the second half of the 19th century. It turns out that such cities make up the majority in the Urals. There are 73 of them, and 65 of them arose in the 18th century. These were mainly factory cities, where the industrial power of the “backbone of the state” was built.

The third stage of development of the cities of the Urals, urbanization of the region covers the period from the last third of the 19th century. until the end of the 1920s. This is the era of capitalist modernization of Russia, wars, revolutions, restoration of the national economy, the eve of the “Stalinist industrial revolution.” At this stage, 16 new cities arose on the map of the Urals, the birth of which is associated, as a rule, with the development of new mineral deposits (for example, Asbest, 1889), the construction of a railway (Bogdanovich, 1883) or the construction of new large factories ( Serov, 1899).

Of course, the process of urbanization in the region accelerated sharply during socialist industrialization. However, few new cities emerged in the “Stalin era,” as in the subsequent decades of Soviet power. From the late 1920s to 1989 15 cities2 appeared on the map of the Urals, starting with Magnitogorsk in 1929 and ending with the city of Dyurtyuli (Bashkortostan) in 1989. All of them, with rare exceptions, arose as a result of the development of newly discovered mineral deposits (for example, Kachkanar, 1956) or the construction of new large industrial enterprises (Magnitogorsk, 1929). The process of urbanization of the Urals in the twentieth centuries. was mainly due to the growth of the population of cities that arose in the pre-industrial era (XV-XVII centuries) and during the period of pre-capitalist modernization of Russia in the 18th - first half of the 19th centuries).

Ekaterinburg

Chelyabinsk

Tyumen

Ufa

Permian

Alapaevsk

Kungur

Nizhny Tagil

Tobolsk

Cherdyn

Verkhoturye

Verkhoturye is the most ancient city in the Sverdlovsk region; it still retains the appearance of a small town in a natural environment. In its vicinity, fragments of the 17th century Babinovskaya Road, the main route from European Russia to Siberia, are preserved. The city of Verkhoturye was founded in 1598 on the state…

The Ural Mountains are located on the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan and are a unique geographical feature that divides the Eurasian continent into two parts.

Direction and extent of the Ural Mountains.

The length of the Ural Mountains is more than 2500 km, they originate from the shores ofArctic Ocean and end in the sultry deserts of Kazakhstan. Due to the fact that the Ural Mountains cross the territory of Russia from north to south, they pass through five geographical zones. They include the expanses of the Orenburg, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Aktobe, Tyumen and Kustanai regions, as well as the territories of the Perm Territory, the Komi Republic and Bashkortostan.

Minerals of the Ural Mountains.

In the depths of the Urals are hidden countless riches known to the whole world. This includes the famous malachite, and semi-precious stones, colorfully described by Bazhov in his fairy tales, asbestos, platinum, gold and other minerals.

Nature of the Ural Mountains.

This region is famous for its incredible natural beauty. People come here to look at the amazing mountains, plunge into the clear waters of numerous lakes, go down into caves or raft down the stormy rivers of the Ural Mountains. You can travel through colorful places either by walking across the expanses of the Urals with a backpack on your back, or in the comfortable conditions of a sightseeing bus or your own car.

Ural Mountains in the Sverdlovsk region.

The beauty of these mountains is best seen in natural parks and reserves. Once in the Sverdlovsk region, you definitely need to visit Oleniye Ruchyi. Tourists come here to see the drawings of an ancient man painted on the surface of the Pisanitsa rock, visit the caves and go down to the Big Proval, marveling at the strength of the river that has made its way through the Holly Stone. For visitors, there are special trails throughout the park, observation decks, cable crossings and places for recreation.

Park "Bazhovskie places".

There is a natural park in the Urals called “Bazhov Places”, where you can go walking, horseback riding and cycling. Specially designed routes allow you to explore picturesque landscapes, visit Lake Talkov Kamen and climb Mount Markov Kamen. In winter you can travel here on snowmobiles, and in summer you can go down the mountain rivers in kayaks or paddle boards.

Rezhevsky reserve.

Connoisseurs of the natural beauty of semi-precious stones should definitely visit the Rezhevskaya reserve of the Ural Mountains, which includes several unique deposits of ornamental, precious and semi-precious stones. Traveling to the mining sites is only possible if accompanied by a reserve employee. The Rezh River flows through its territory, formed by the confluence of the Ayat and Bolshoi Sap rivers. These rivers originate in the Ural Mountains. On the right bank of the Rezh River rises the famous Shaitan stone. Local residents consider it a repository of mystical power.

Caves of the Urals.

Fans of extreme tourism will be happy to visit the numerous caves of the Urals. The most famous of them are Kungur Ice and Shulgan-Tash (Kapova). The Kungur Ice Cave stretches for 5.7 km, although only 1.5 km of it is accessible to tourists. On its territory there are about 50 grottoes, more than 60 lakes and many stalactites and stalagmites made of ice. The temperature here is always below freezing, so you need to dress appropriately to visit it. To enhance the visual effect, special lighting is used in the cave.

In the Kapova Cave, scientists discovered rock paintings that are more than 14 thousand years old. In total, about 200 works by ancient artists were found in its vastness. In addition, you can visit numerous halls, grottoes and galleries, located on three levels, and admire the underground lakes, in one of which an inattentive visitor risks swimming at the entrance.

Some attractions of the Ural Mountains are best visited in winter. One of these places is located in the Zyuratkul National Park. This is an ice fountain that arose thanks to geologists who once drilled a well in this place. Now a fountain of underground water gushes out of it. In winter, it turns into a bizarre-shaped icicle, reaching a height of 14 m.

Thermal springs of the Urals.

The Urals are also rich in thermal springs, so to undergo healing procedures there is no need to fly abroad, just come to Tyumen. Local thermal springs are rich in microelements that are beneficial to human health, and the water temperature in the source ranges from +36 to +45 0 C, regardless of the time of year. Recreation centers have been built on these waters.

Ust-Kachka, Perm.

Not far from Perm there is the Ust-Kachka health complex, unique in the composition of its mineral waters. In summer, you can ride catamarans or boats here. In winter, ski slopes, ice skating rinks and slides are available to vacationers.

Waterfalls of the Urals.

For the Ural Mountains, waterfalls are not a common occurrence, which makes it all the more interesting to visit such a natural miracle. One of them is the Plakun waterfall, located on the right bank of the Sylva River. Fresh water falls from a height of more than 7 m. Local residents and visitors consider this source holy and gave it the name Ilyinsky.

There is also a man-made waterfall near Yekaterinburg, nicknamed “Rokhotun” for the roar of the water. Its waters fall down from a height of more than 5 m. On a hot summer day, it is pleasant to stand under its streams, cooling off and receiving a free hydromassage.

In the Perm region there is a unique place called the Stone City. This name was given to it by tourists, although among the local population this miracle of nature is called “Devil’s Settlement”. The stones in this complex are arranged in such a way that the illusion of a real city with streets, squares and avenues is created. You can walk through its labyrinths for hours, and beginners can even get lost. Each stone has its own name, given for its resemblance to some animal. Some tourists climb to the tops of the rocks to see the beauty of the greenery surrounding the City.

Ridges and cliffs of the Ural Mountains.

Many cliffs of the Ural ridge also have their own names, for example, Bear Stone, which from afar resembles the gray back of a bear glimpsed among the green trees. Climbers use the hundred-meter steep cliff for their training. Unfortunately, it is gradually being destroyed. In the rock, archaeologists discovered a grotto in which there was a site for ancient people.

Not far from Yekaterinburg in the Visimsky Nature Reserve there is an outcrop of rocks. An attentive eye will immediately discern in it the outlines of a man whose head is covered with a cap. They call him Old Man Stone. If you climb to its top, you can admire the panorama of Nizhny Tagil.

Lakes of the Urals.

Among the numerous lakes of the Ural Mountains, there is one that is not inferior in glory to Lake Baikal. This is Lake Turgoyak, fed by radon springs. The water contains almost no mineral salts. Soft water has healing properties. People from all over Russia come here to improve their health.

If you appreciate the virgin beauty of mountain landscapes, untouched by civilization, come to the Urals, to the Ural Mountains: this region will definitely give you a piece of its amazing atmosphere.

One of the most famous sights of the Urals. This unique geological natural monument is located in the Perm region. It is no coincidence that more than 90 thousand inquisitive guests visit the cave every year, because none of its Russian “sisters” has such a rich history. In addition, the route through the Kungur Cave is considered one of the most convenient “cave routes” in our country. Electricity was installed along the entire length, paths were laid, and vaults were reinforced for safety purposes. In winter, intricate ice formations - stalactites and stalagmites - form here. In order to see these bizarre creations of nature, it is best to visit the Kungur Cave in February or March.

2. Ilmensky Reserve

The richest "mineral box" in the world. This territory is rightly called the ecological heritage of our country; the reserve is on the list of the five most significant tourist places in Russia. He received this honor because over two hundred varieties of minerals, many of which are quite rare, were collected in a fairly small area of ​​the complex.

Landscape and historical reserve located in the Chelyabinsk region. Remains of one of the most ancient civilizations of Eurasia. The rarest species of plants and animals have been preserved within the boundaries of the reserve. Every year more than 30 thousand tourists come here to look at archaeological monuments, as well as climb the Mountain of Love and the Mountain of Reason.

4. National parks

In the territory of this park, invaluable ecological systems have been preserved almost in their original form - mountain tundras here coexist with relict forests. Numerous scientists and travelers have admired and continue to admire the picturesque landscapes of Taganay.

Hydroelectric power station of the early 20th century. A natural-industrial complex, unique equipment and mechanisms have been preserved here in working order. It is protected by UNESCO as an international monument of history and culture.

6. Ignatievskaya Cave

The most frequently visited cave in the country. Every year over 1.5 thousand people come here. Under its arches is located the oldest “art gallery” of the Urals of the Paleolithic era. Ignatievskaya Cave is included in the list of objects that are under special state protection.

7. Blue mirrors

The Chelyabinsk region, located in the south of the Urals, can rightfully be called Russian Switzerland, which boasts not only a significant number of lakes (over 3100), but also the heterogeneity of their origin. The most famous lakes of the Urals:

Turgoyak. The deepest and coldest of the lakes in the region with an island sanctuary. The water in it is comparable in purity to Lake Baikal. Turgoyak is included in the list of the most valuable lakes in the world.

Zyuratkul. For its extraordinary beauty, this lake is called “Ural Ritsa”. More than 10 ancient human sites have been discovered on its shores.

8. Ski resorts

The Urals are a mountainous region. Therefore, it is no coincidence that a record number of ski resorts in the country are concentrated here. The largest of them are known not only in Russia.

Abzakovo. Picturesque nature, mountains, lakes - in winter thousands of tourists come here to relax. A great opportunity to attend international snowboarding and parallel slalom competitions.

Bathhouse. A comfortable resort with developed infrastructure - it has everything.

Zavyalikha. Ideal for family holidays: 10 trails of varying difficulty, a slope for beginners, equipped with a special towing lift.

This unique cave complex is located in the valley of the Bashkir River Ai. A large number of caves, shelters and grottoes, Stone Age sites. The largest archaeological complex in Russia. There are 13 excursion routes on the territory of the complex and in its surroundings.

10. Tourist route “In the footsteps of space aliens”

The celestial alien that exploded in the sky over Chelyabinsk left behind a lot of fragments. Since the Tunguska meteorite, this is the largest alien body that has fallen to earth. After this event, people of different ages, from different cities and countries rushed to search for fragments of the fallen celestial body. There are several tourist routes at the site of the meteorite fall.

Probably one of the most unusual landscapes in the Perm region is located in the city of Berezniki. A few steps back you were on the bank of the Kama, surrounded by a familiar forest. And suddenly the turquoise expanse of the tropical sea opens in front of you, lazy waves regularly roll onto the snow-white sand.

Places of extraordinary beauty lie in the north of the Perm region, near the city of Aleksandrovsk - a whole country of mountain lakes, with water of a deep turquoise color. Surprisingly, these lakes are just man-made structures - old flooded limestone quarries.

Museum-reserve of wooden architecture, located on the high cape of the Kama River. The location for the open-air museum was chosen well. The buildings fit harmoniously into the surrounding nature, the landscapes are very picturesque! In this article you will learn about the history and each object of Khokhlovka.

It’s no longer a secret to anyone how beautiful the Urals are. And the onset of winter frosts is not a reason to deny yourself hiking in the snow-covered expanses of the Ural region. Winter paints the landscape familiar from summer hikes in its unique colors. Therefore, having visited a certain place once in the summer, be sure to take the same route in the winter.

Azov Mountain is the most popular natural attraction near the town of Polevsky, the birthplace of Bazhov’s tales. The beauty of this place attracts many tourists. Various legends are associated with the mountain, and in 1940 an ancient treasure was found here...

Teeth of Shurale - this is exactly what, with a strange name at first glance, the Bashkirs call the northern slope of the Karatash ridge, decorated with beautiful rocks. There is another, poetic name: “Eagle’s Nest”. Tourists prefer another name: Aigir Rocks, after the name of the nearby Aigir railway station. And tourists are frequent guests here. In winter and summer, dozens and sometimes hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts go every weekend to conquer these beautiful rocks.

The Alapaevskaya Narrow-Gauge Railway (AUZhD) is the longest passenger narrow-gauge railway in Russia with a gauge of 750 mm. Its opening took place in 1898. In Soviet times, the length reached 600 kilometers, now it is 146 kilometers. Tourists often come to take a ride on the narrow-gauge railway.

These caves are located near the village of Arakaevo (Sverdlovsk region). One of them is the longest cave on the Serge River. The Arakaevo Caves are located on the territory of the popular Olenyi Ruchi natural park, but in this (southern) part of the park there are still significantly fewer tourists than in its central part.

Arkaim is one of the most famous sights of the Urals, having the reputation of an unusual, mysterious, even anomalous place. Every year many thousands of miracle lovers from all over the country come here. In addition to tourists, you can meet many esotericists, psychics and other extraordinary people here.

The Balbanyu River is one of the most famous in the Subpolar Urals among water tourists. This small, but extremely interesting and picturesque river originates near Mount Narodnaya - the highest point of the entire Ural range. By its name, which comes from the bizarre rocks located along the banks, Balbanyu is the “sister” of the now widely known Manpupuner-Bolvanoiz plateau.

One of the main attractions of the city of Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk region. The bell tower with the chapel of St. John Chrysostom has an architecture unusual for the Urals in the spirit of Western European architecture. The total height of the tower is more than 53 meters. And near it lies the Mountain Park named after. P.P. Bazhova.

Anyone who drives along the road from the city of Chusovoy towards Gubakha and Kizel (Perm Territory) pays attention to the fact that the dense taiga forest, after turning towards Gremyachinsk, gives way to mountain crooked forest, and to the side of the road, through a gap there is a view of the valley Bolshaya Gremyachaya river...

At the beginning of the 18th century, settlers from the village of Alapaihi founded a village here, which they named after the river that flowed into Chusovaya, Kashka. Opposite the now former village stands the Rain Stone. Fascinated by the passage of the Kashkinsky search, not all tourists pay attention to it. Meanwhile, this place is interesting and significant...

The Merry Mountains are a mountain range stretching 52 kilometers from north to south. Most of the Vesyolye Mountains coincide with the main Ural watershed, where the border between Europe and Asia passes. The great Ural writer D.N. often visited the Merry Mountains. Mamin-Sibiryak. In the past, Old Believers hid here from persecution and religious processions were held to holy graves.

Basic moments

This mountain system itself, which not only separates both continents, but is also an officially delineated cordon between them, belongs to Europe: the border is usually drawn along the eastern base of the mountains. Formed as a result of the collision of the Eurasian and African lithospheric plates, the Ural Mountains cover a vast territory. It includes the expanses of the Sverdlovsk, Orenburg and Tyumen regions, the Perm Territory, Bashkortostan and the Komi Republic, as well as the Aktobe and Kustanai regions of Kazakhstan.

In terms of its height, which does not exceed 1895 meters, the mountain system is significantly inferior to such giants as the Himalayas and Pamirs. For example, the peaks of the polar Urals are average in level - 600-800 meters, not to mention the fact that they are also the narrowest in terms of the width of the ridge. However, such geological characteristics have an undoubted advantage: they remain accessible to humans. And we are talking here not so much about scientific research, but about the tourist attractiveness of the places through which they lie. The landscape of the Ural Mountains is truly unique. Here crystal clear mountain streams and rivers begin their run, growing into larger bodies of water. Such large rivers as the Ural, Kama, Pechora, Chusovaya and Belaya also flow here.

A wide variety of recreational opportunities open up for tourists here: both for real extreme sports enthusiasts and for beginners. And the Ural Mountains are a true treasure trove of minerals. In addition to deposits of coal, natural gas and oil, mines are developed here that produce copper, nickel, chromium, titanium, gold, silver, and platinum. If we recall the tales of Pavel Bazhov, the Urals zone is also rich in malachite. And also emerald, diamond, crystal, amethyst, jasper and other precious stones.

The atmosphere of the Ural Mountains, regardless of whether you visit the Northern or Southern Urals, the Subpolar or Middle Urals, is indescribable. And their greatness, beauty, harmony and clean air charge you with energy and positivity, inspire and, of course, leave vivid impressions for the rest of your life.

History of the Ural Mountains

The Ural Mountains have been known since ancient times. In sources that have survived to this day, they are associated with the Hyperborean and Riphean mountains. Thus, Ptolemy pointed out that this mountain system consists of the Rimnus mountains (this is the current Middle Urals), Norosa (Southern Urals) and the northern part - the Hyperborean mountains themselves. In the first written sources of the 11th century AD, due to its great length, it was called nothing less than the “Earth Belt”.

In the first Russian chronicle, “The Tale of Bygone Years,” which dates back to the same 11th century, the mountains of the Urals were called by our compatriots Siberian, Poyasov or Big Stone. Under the name “Big Stone” they were also applied to the first map of the Russian state, also known as the “Big Drawing”, published in the second half of the 16th century. Cartographers of those years depicted the Urals as a mountain belt, from where many rivers originate.

There are many versions of the origin of the name of this mountain system. E. K. Hoffman, who developed the so-called Mansi version of this toponym, compares the name “Ural” with the Mansi word “ur”, which is translated as “mountain”. The second point of view, also very common, is the borrowing of the name from the Bashkir language. She, according to many scientists, seems the most convincing. After all, if you take the language, legends and traditions of this people - for example, the famous epic "Ural-Batyr" - then it is not difficult to see that in them this toponym has not only existed since ancient times, but is also maintained from generation to generation.

Nature and climate

The natural landscape of the Ural Mountains is incredibly beautiful and multifaceted. Here you can not only look at the mountains themselves, but also go down into numerous caves, swim in the waters of local lakes, and get a dose of thrill while rafting down wild rivers. Moreover, each tourist chooses for himself how exactly to travel. Some people like to go on independent hikes with a backpack on their shoulders, while others prefer the more comfortable conditions of a tour bus or the inside of a personal car.

The fauna of the “Earth Belt” is no less diverse. A predominant position in the local fauna is occupied by forest animals, whose habitat is coniferous, broad-leaved or mixed forests. Thus, squirrels live in coniferous forests, the main diet of which is spruce seeds, and in winter these cute animals with a fluffy tail feed on previously stored pine nuts and dried mushrooms. The marten is widespread in local forests, the existence of which is difficult to imagine without the already mentioned squirrel, which this predator hunts.

But the real wealth of these places is the fur-bearing game animals, the fame of which extends far beyond the region, for example, the sable, which lives in the forests of the Northern Urals. It, however, differs from the dark Siberian sable in its less beautiful skin of a reddish color. Uncontrolled hunting for valuable furry animals is prohibited by law. Without this ban, it would probably have been completely destroyed by now.

The taiga forests of the Ural Mountains are also home to the traditional Russian wolf, bear and elk. Roe deer are found in mixed forests. On the plains adjacent to the mountain ranges, the brown hare and fox feel at ease. We did not make a reservation: they live precisely on flat terrain, and for them the forest is just a shelter. And, of course, the tree crowns are well inhabited by many species of birds.

As for the climate of the Ural Mountains, the geographical location plays an important role in this regard. In the north, this mountain system extends beyond the Arctic Circle, but most of the mountains are located in the temperate climate zone. If you move from north to south along the perimeter of the mountain system, you will notice how the temperature gradually increases, which is especially noticeable in the summer. If in the north during the warm period of the year the thermometer shows from +10 to +12 degrees, then in the south - from 20 to 22 degrees above zero. However, in winter the temperature between north and south does not differ so sharply. The average monthly temperature in January in the north is 20 degrees minus, in the south it is 16-18 degrees below zero.

Air masses moving from the Atlantic Ocean also have a noticeable impact on the climate of the Urals. And although as atmospheric flows move from the west towards the Urals, the air becomes less humid, it cannot be called 100% dry either. As a result, more precipitation - 600-800 millimeters per year - falls on the western slope, while on the eastern slope this figure varies between 400-500 mm. But the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains in winter fall under the power of a powerful Siberian anticyclone, while in the south during the cold period of the year, partly cloudy and cold weather sets in.

A factor such as the relief of the mountain system also has a noticeable influence on fluctuations in the local climate. As you climb the mountain, you will feel the weather getting harsher. Different temperatures are felt even on different slopes, including those located nearby. Different parts of the Ural Mountains are characterized by unequal amounts of precipitation.

Sights of the Ural Mountains

One of the most famous protected areas of the Ural Mountains is the Oleniy Ruchi Park, located in the Sverdlovsk region. Curious tourists, especially those interested in ancient history, make a “pilgrimage” to the Pisanitsa rock located here, on the surface of which there are drawings made by ancient artists. The caves and the Great Failure are of considerable interest. “Oleniye Ruchiki” has a fairly developed tourist infrastructure: special trails are equipped in the park, there are observation decks, not to mention places for recreation. There are also cable crossings.

If you are familiar with the work of the writer Pavel Bazhov, his famous “Malachite Box,” then you will probably be interested in visiting the “Bazhov Places” natural park. The opportunities for complete rest and relaxation here are simply magnificent. You can take walks, bike rides or horseback rides. Walking along specially designed and thought-out routes, you will take in the picturesque landscapes, climb Mount Markov Kamen and visit Lake Talkov Kamen. Extreme sports enthusiasts usually flock here in the summer to go kayaking and kayaking down mountain rivers. Travelers also come here in winter, enjoying snowmobiling.

If you appreciate the natural beauty of semi-precious stones - namely natural, not subject to processing - be sure to visit the Rezhevskaya reserve, which combines deposits of not only precious, but also semi-precious and ornamental stones. Traveling to the mining sites on your own is prohibited - you must be accompanied by a reserve employee, but this in no way affects the impressions of what you see. The Rezh River flows through the territory of Rezhevsky; it was formed as a result of the confluence of the Bolshoy Sapa and Ayati - rivers originating in the Ural Mountains. The Shaitan Stone, popular among travelers, is located on the right bank of the Rezhi. The Urals consider this stone to be the center of mystical natural forces that help in various life situations. You can believe it or not, but the flow of tourists coming to the stone with various requests to higher powers does not dry out.

Of course, the Urals are a magnet for lovers of extreme tourism, who enjoy visiting its caves, of which there are a huge number. The most famous are Shulgan-Tash, or Kapova, and the Kungur Ice Cave. The length of the latter is almost 6 km, of which only one and a half kilometers are accessible to tourists. On the territory of the Kungur ice cave there are 50 grottoes, over 60 lakes and countless stalactites and stalagmites. The temperature in the cave is always below freezing, so when visiting here, dress as if you were going for a winter walk. The visual effect of the splendor of its interior decoration is enhanced by special lighting. But in the Kapova Cave, researchers discovered rock paintings, the age of which is estimated at 14 thousand years or more. Approximately 200 works by ancient masters of the brush have become the property of our time, although there were probably more. Travelers can also admire the underground lakes and visit grottoes, galleries and numerous halls located on three levels.

If the caves of the Ural Mountains create a winter atmosphere at any time of the year, then some attractions are best visited in winter. One of them is the ice fountain, which is located in the Zyuratkul National Park and arose thanks to the efforts of geologists who drilled a well in this place. Moreover, this is not just a fountain in our usual “urban” sense, but a fountain of underground water. With the onset of winter, it freezes and turns into a voluminous icicle of a bizarre shape, also impressive with its 14-meter height.

Many Russians, in order to improve their health, go to foreign thermal springs, for example, to the Czech Karlovy Vary or the Gellert Baths in Budapest. But why rush beyond the border if our native Urals are also rich in thermal springs? To undergo a full course of healing procedures, all you need to do is come to Tyumen. The hot springs here are rich in microelements beneficial for human health, and the water temperature ranges from +36 to +45 degrees Celsius depending on the season. Let us add that modern recreation centers have been built on these sources. Mineral waters are also used for treatment in the Ust-Kachka health complex, located near Perm and unique in the chemical composition of its waters. Summer recreation here can be combined with boating and catamarans; in winter, ice slides, skating rinks and full-fledged ski slopes are available to vacationers.

Despite the fact that waterfalls are not so typical for the Ural Mountains, they are present here and attract the attention of tourists. Among them we can highlight the Plakun waterfall, located on the right bank of the Sylva River. It throws down fresh water from a height exceeding 7 m. Its other name is Ilyinsky, it was given by local residents and visitors who consider this source holy. There is also a waterfall near Yekaterinburg, named Rokhotun for its roaring “temper”. Its peculiarity is that it is man-made. It throws its waters down from a height of more than 5 meters. When the summer heat sets in, visitors enjoy standing under its jets, cooling off and receiving hydromassage, completely free of charge.

Video: Southern Ural

Large cities of the Urals

The millionaire Yekaterinburg, the administrative center of the Sverdlovsk region, is called the capital of the Urals. It is also, unofficially, the third capital of Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg and the third capital of Russian rock. This is a large industrial metropolis, especially charming in winter. He is generously covered with snow, under the cover of which he resembles a giant who has fallen asleep in a deep sleep, and you never know exactly when he will wake up. But when he gets enough sleep, then, no doubt, he will definitely unfold to his full potential.

Yekaterinburg usually makes a strong impression on its guests - first of all, with many architectural attractions. Among them are the famous Church on the Blood, erected on the site of the execution of the last Russian emperor and his family, the Sverdlovsk rock club, the building of the former District Court, museums of various subjects and even an unusual monument... to an ordinary computer keyboard. The capital of the Urals is also famous for its shortest metro in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records: 7 stations account for only 9 km.

Chelyabinsk and Nizhny Tagil also became widely known in Russia, primarily thanks to the popular comedy show “Our Russia”. The characters of the program, beloved by viewers, are, of course, fictional, but tourists are still interested in where to find Ivan Dulin, the world’s first milling machine operator of non-traditional sexual orientation, and Vovan and Gena, hapless and drinking-loving Russian tourists who constantly find themselves in frankly tragicomic situations. One of the business cards of Chelyabinsk are two monuments: Love, made in the form of an iron tree, and Lefty with a shod flea. The city’s panorama of local factories located above the Miass River is also impressive. But in the Nizhny Tagil Museum of Fine Arts you can see a painting by Raphael - the only one in our country that can be found outside the Hermitage.

Another Ural city that has become famous thanks to television is Perm. This is where the “real boys” who became the heroes of the series of the same name live. Perm claims to be the next cultural capital of Russia, and this idea is actively lobbied by designer Artemy Lebedev, who is working on the external appearance of the city, and gallery owner Marat Gelman, specializing in contemporary art.

Orenburg, which is called the land of endless steppes, is also a real historical treasury of the Urals and all of Russia. At one time, it survived the siege of Emelyan Pugachev’s army; its streets and walls remember the visits of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko and the wedding of the first cosmonaut of the Earth, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.

In Ufa, another Ural city, there is a symbolic “Kilometer Zero” sign. The local post office is the very point from which the distance to other points on our planet is measured. Another famous landmark of the capital of Bashkortostan is the Ufa bronze sign, which is a disk with a one and a half meter diameter and weighs a whole ton. And in this city - at least that’s what the locals say - there is the tallest equestrian statue on the European continent. This is a monument to Salavat Yulaev, who is also called the Bashkir Bronze Horseman. The horse on which this associate of Emelyan Pugachev sits rises above the Belaya River.

Ski resorts of the Urals

The most important ski resorts in the Urals are concentrated in three regions of our country: the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as in Bashkortostan. Zavyalikha, Bannoye and Abzakovo are the most famous of them. The first is located near the city of Trekhgorny, the last two are near Magnitogorsk. According to the results of the competition, which is held as part of the International Congress of the Ski Industry, Abzakovo was recognized as the best ski resort in the Russian Federation in the 2005-2006 season.

A whole scattering of ski resorts is concentrated in the regions of the Middle and Southern Urals. Thrill-seekers and simply curious tourists who want to try themselves in such an “adrenaline” sport as alpine skiing come here almost all year round. Travelers here will find good trails for skis, sleds and snowboards.

In addition to alpine skiing, descents along mountain rivers are very popular among travelers. Fans of such alloys, which also increase adrenaline levels, go for thrills to Miass, Magnitogorsk, Asha or Kropchaevo. True, you won’t be able to get to your destination quickly, since you will have to travel by train or car.

The holiday season in the Urals lasts on average from October-November to April. During this period, another popular entertainment is snowmobiling and ATV riding. In Zavyalikha, which has become one of the most popular tourist spots, they even installed a special trampoline. Experienced athletes practice complex elements and tricks on it.

How to get there

Getting to all the major Ural cities will not be difficult, so the region of this majestic mountain system is one of the most convenient for domestic tourists. The flight from Moscow will take only three hours, and if you prefer to travel by train, the journey by rail will take just over a day.

The main Ural city, as we have already said, is Yekaterinburg, located in the Middle Urals. Due to the fact that the Ural Mountains themselves are low, it was possible to build several transport routes leading to Siberia from Central Russia. In particular, you can travel through the territory of this region along the famous railway artery – the Trans-Siberian Railway.