Mount Belukha

Mount Belukha (4506 m above sea level) is the keeper of secrets, one of the mysterious places of the Altai, covered with glaciers, the “navel of the Earth”. From its foot originate many rivers and lakes that nourish the moisture of vast areas, perhaps for this reason, the mountain is considered sacred. Water after the melting of glaciers acquires a milky-white color, so the rivers are called white-water. Many rivers flow into the Arctic Ocean.

Mount Belukha is a sacred place for the burial of the dead among the Old Believers. After 1654, Old Believers, who disagreed with the official religion, went here to seek spirituality. They established the first settlements in these lands. Their descendants still live here. The road to the mountain lies through impassable places through mountain forests and trails, you are surrounded only by untouched wildlife. An interesting tourist attraction is Lake Equilibrium, which reflects the peaks of Belukha. There is a legend that earlier the mountain had 3 peaks, but after 1900 one of them fell and two remained.

The mountain is sacred in three religious cultures: Islam, Christianity and Buddhism. The way to it is very difficult, but it is one of the most attractive tourist sites of Altai. Many who have visited here say that it is necessary to go to Mount Belukha not with your feet, but with your heart. If you believe in the spiritual power of these places, they will share their secrets with you.

Short route: Gorno-Altaisk, road (via Neftebaza), village of Tungur, to the mountain about 40 km. Buses to Tungur go 2 times a week. Then by SUV to Lake Yazevo, then the way is only on horseback.