“Taldura – Chulyshman” – “In the wild gorges of Altai”
Description:
Talduri glacier
The Taldurinsk glacier (Big Taldurinsky) lies on the elephants of the South Chui Ridge. Length 7.5 km, area 28.2 sq km. The height of the end of the glacier is 2450 m. The thickness of the ice reaches 175 m. It is the largest glacier in the Russian Altai. It originates from 7 sources in the circus, in the frame of which the peaks of about 4000 m (Iiktu, etc.) rise. It has a narrow exit to the northeast, to the valley of the Taldura River.
Sofia glacier
Sofia glacier is one of the largest glaciers of Altai. Its area is 17.6 square kilometers, length 7.9 km. The height of the end of the glacier is 2620 m. As you know, the Altai glaciers are retreating. The Sofia glacier has the largest retreat for Altai. It was 2710 m, from 1898 (when it was opened and mapped), with an average speed of 18.7 m/year with its variants 5-27 m/year. To date, the Sofia glacier, which is an extensive system of ice flows, each of which has its own food area, is gradually divided into independent glaciers.
Pazyryk Valley
The name "Pazyryk" comes from the Tuvan "bazyryk" - "kurgan". There are 5 large mounds here. The time of their construction refers to the VI-III centuries BC. The archaeological culture of that time was called Pazyryk. In 1929, academician S.I. Rudenko and M.P. Gryaznov excavated the 1st mound. In 1947-1949, the rest were investigated. Due to the fact that in the highlands, the burial chamber turned into an island of permafrost, priceless finds have been preserved to this day. The excavated valuables are currently stored in the Hermitage. In the royal mounds were buried kings - rulers of the peoples who inhabited the Altai Mountains. The diameter of the mound mounds reaches 60 m.
Chulyshman Valley
A trip to the Chulyshman Valley is one of the most interesting. On the way we overcome the difficult and interesting pass Katu-Yaryk. This descent into the valley of the Chulyshman River is a dizzying serpentine 3.5 km long (consists of 9 turns). The elevation difference here is about 600 m. The height of the directly pass is about 1600 m. The road allows you to travel with oncoming only on turns, where it expands somewhat. The most recent descent is the longest and steepest. When driving along the pass, passengers are dropped off, and all the beauty of the surroundings they have the opportunity to contemplate during walking ascent or descent.
The name of the river Chulyshman comes from "Cholush" - "crust-nakrest." The river probably got its name from its twisting. Chulyshman is the main tributary of Teletskoye Lake. Length 231 km Average annual consumption - 149 m3 / s. It originates from the high mountain lake Julukul. Very beautiful and inaccessible river with clear greenish-blue water. It has two significant tributaries of Shavla and Chulch, flowing from the Shapshalsky Range through the Chulyshman Highlands, as well as the main tributary - the Bashkaus River.
From the steep slopes of the Chulyshman canyon, several picturesque waterfalls break down.
The vicinity of Chemala
The unique beauty of Chemal is associated mainly with the Katun River, breaking through among the majestic rocky mountains. The central place of pilgrimage of tourists is the confluence of the Chemal River into Katun, as well as the Chemal HPP and the Church on the island of Patmos. The height of the surrounding mountains: Krestovaya - 1336 m, Camel - 928 m.
The Temple of John the Theologian on the island of Patmos. The first missionary temple in Chemal was built in 1849. In 1915 it was transferred to the Katunsky island of Patmos and consecrated by the metropalite Makariy (Nevsky). Therefore, the island is often called the island of Macaria. In the 20s the temple was destroyed. Today (2000) was restored by V.N. Pavlov. Now the island of Patmos is a female hermitage of the Barnaul Znamensky Monastery. The temple is working. Anyone who wants to go through the bridge can.
From the island of Patmos to the confluence of Chemala and Katuni there is a path called the “goat trail”. From it, Katun is beautifully viewed, carrying its waters among the crags of the mountains. A little further the Chemal HPP, standing on the river. Chemal is slightly above the place of its confluence in Katun. Built in 1935. Power 400 kW. The height of the falling water is about 10 m. In the summer for fans of thrills there is an attraction "Barzanka". There are good opportunities for recreation at the Chemal Reservoir.
Katun River
Residents of the Altai Mountains associate this name with “Kadyn” – “king, woman, mistress”, and this is due to the ancient custom of peoples to glorify and worship large rivers, mountains, etc. and now the Altai people venerate and glorify Katyn, which is called Kadyn-Syy.
The Katun River is the largest river in the Altai Mountains. The length (688 km) and the area of the pool it has no equal in the Altai Mountains. After merging with Bia, it forms the Ob. In Katun live the gharius, taimen, and in the lower reaches appear pike, perch, mould. Katun inherited the valley, laid before the rise of the mountainous country Altai, about 70 million years ago. It originates on the southern slope of the Katun ridge near the city of Belukha (Geblar glacier) at an altitude of 2000 m. The average annual water consumption is 600-700 m3 / s.