After I first visited the highest point of the Southern Urals - Mount Yamantau in 2001, I read with interest on the Internet about the secrets surrounding this peak. He immediately wrote a report about his stay on the mountain and on the semi-abandoned objects at the foot. He wrote, frankly, stupidity, taking the foundation of one of the unfinished buildings next to the ventilation shafts for tanks for "pre-shipment storage of uranium ore." Fifteen years later, I stumbled upon echoes of this nonsense, when a random fellow traveler began to tell me about how uranium was mined near Yamantau, referring to my own article.

I sincerely warn that the following is the opinion of a simple layman who has been to those parts more than once and collected all the facts available to the public together.

View of Yamantau (Big and Small Yamantau) from the southwestern section of the South Ural Reserve

A few words about the mountain itself - perhaps the very mysterious place in Russia. Yamantau is surrounded by many legends, rumors and tales, but the facts are as follows: in the very heart of the Southern Urals, in the middle of a specially created reserve, where entry to mere mortals is prohibited and where hikers are constantly caught by rangers, surrounded mountain ranges, stone rivers, taiga and swamps, Mount Yamantau rises. Low, just over 1600 meters. Snow sometimes lingers at the top in summer, and at the foot you can see a mining and processing complex with a road and rail entrance underground. This complex, and what is possibly inside the mountain, is served by the closed city of Mezhgorye with a population of 16,000. The only road with checkpoints leads to the city from the highway.

Highway P316 at the turn in Mezhgorye. End place tourist routes(if the huntsman is not caught)

The hype around the mountain was raised by the Americans in 1996, as they were outraged by the large-scale military construction there. Let me remind you that at that time Russia, like Ukraine now, was eating up one IMF loan after another, having no money to pay salaries to doctors and teachers. The explanation for this paradox is simple - it is very expensive to maintain mothballed underground construction sites in a non-emergency state. It is necessary to constantly spend money on drainage, ventilation, and monitoring of workings. For example, to maintain a mothballed car underground tunnel in neighboring Ufa, which is only 300 meters long, two hundred million rubles are required annually. By the way, the construction of the tunnel was carried out by the same Construction Department No. 30 from Mezhgorye. The country could not afford either to abandon the huge project in which the Soviet Union had invested hundreds of millions of people's rubles, or to continue to waste them, having no return in terms of strategic security.

Today, popular consciousness strongly associates Yamantau with "Putin's Bunker" or "Doomsday Ark" for the Russian government elite. I dare to assure you, as of 2016, he cannot be one or the other.

It is worth noting that there is hardly anything in the mountain itself. The shelter may be under the mountain, but mountain range acts as a shield. Therefore, it makes no sense to make any calculations about the size of the bunker based on the volume of the mountain, as was done in some media.

Yamantau cannot be considered as Putin's bunker due to the fact that it does not guarantee safety from nuclear weapons. Several single-point strikes, even with standard 100-150-kiloton warheads, will pierce through the mountain and collapse the tunnels under the mountain. In addition, the power of thermonuclear charges is not limited by anything other than delivery methods. For example, the Soviet thermonuclear Tsar bomb, delivered by a modified Tu-95V bomber, had a yield of 50 megatons. Such a bomb evaporates a stone within a radius of four kilometers and brings down underground communications for tens of kilometers around. Let me remind you that the power of that explosion was artificially reduced by half, so that the bomber crew had time to fly to a safe distance.

Thermonuclear aerial bomb AN-602

Yamantau also cannot be Putin's bunker because of its remoteness. In the event of a nuclear war, the main blow will be delivered suddenly, in 10-20 minutes. You can escape from the capital only through an underground network of tunnels or protected from the consequences nuclear explosion helicopter. The maximum range of the modified Mi-8, which Putin flies, is no more than 600 kilometers, while Yamantau is twice as far. Relying on the option of transfers and refueling is impossible, since the first strike is likely to destroy the country's main flight infrastructure. There are no operating airfields in Mezhgorye itself or in neighboring Beloretsk to receive even a small plane, not to mention the presidential Il-96-300. Therefore, the only option for the survival of the country's leadership is secret bunkers in the Moscow region or in neighboring regions. Moreover, the main emphasis is on the word “secret”, since only secrecy can save the country's leadership in the event of a full-scale nuclear war.

Section of the highway P316 "Teschin language"

Thirdly, Yamantau is not suitable for the role of the doomsday ark, as it does not have the appropriate transport infrastructure. There is only one narrow and winding road near Yamantau, full of steep cliffs and bridges over mountain rivers. Only one truck can block traffic along the entire highway, which happens even in peacetime. The railway, laid under the Soviet Union all the way to Mezhgorye, is now abandoned. In many places the rails have been removed, the bridges are in a dilapidated state. The nearest airports are located in Ufa and Magnitogorsk, so the main hope is for the highway. However, in case of emergency, without the support of the engineering troops, the throughput of the route will drop to zero. Remember what happens in major cities during rush hour, when only one car breaks down on the road, and multiply that by hundreds. It is theoretically possible to walk from the highway to Yamantau, but in the taiga, landmarks are easily lost, and in winter, without special equipment, the chances of reaching somewhere tend to zero.

Obstacle engineering vehicle IMR-1

And, finally, Yamantau is not suitable for the role of a doomsday shelter, since the object has no military cover. It was the internal troops who would be able to ensure order during the evacuation, and the engineering units would guarantee the passage of equipment even with a weak transport infrastructure. Air defense could cover the mountain in case of an air attack. Meanwhile, the military units that once surrounded the facility are now abandoned.

All these factors do not rule out a potentially more important role for Yamantau. This is evidenced by the fact that the railway was still built, there was an airport in Beloretsk, and the mountain was surrounded by multiple construction sites and military units. The fact that this infrastructure is now destroyed and not being restored, rather indicates that the government does not see a particular threat that should be prepared for.

However, nuclear war is not the only risk worth building and maintaining a large underground facility. There remains the possibility of a pandemic, a sudden geological or climatic catastrophe, the fall of a large meteorite or asteroid. For this it would be worth developing transport infrastructure, because the current one does not guarantee the salvation of anyone except the personnel of Yamantau, and, perhaps, the inhabitants of Mezhgorye.

What on this moment is the facility under Mount Yamantau? There is a high degree of probability that one of the elements of the Perimeter system, a complex for automatic control of a massive retaliatory nuclear strike, is located there. In this case, in the vicinity of the mountain there should be missile silos with command missiles, as well as satellite communications complexes. However, the first and last can be mobile. In addition, it is possible that a secret research or production facility is located in the underground halls of Yamantau. This version is indirectly confirmed by the presence of another closed city on the border with the South Ural Reserve. Since 1952, in Trekhgorny, at the Instrument-Making Plant, they have been manufacturing nuclear weapons. It is possible that the products of this plant are stored near Yamantau. Personally, I consider this version the most probable, since, due to its remoteness, the mountain provides additional security, and in the event of an accidental detonation, the mass of Yamantau will prevent radioactive dust from entering the atmosphere.

Let's summarize. Yamantau cannot claim to be Putin's bunker, although with proper development of the surrounding infrastructure it has the potential to become something of an ark in case of a global catastrophe. Now Yamantau is not ready for this role. Most likely (I am guided by the principle of the Okham blade), the current main purpose of the facility under Mount Yamantau is a military warehouse.

Sources:

What should a person who is going to visit the “terrible and terrible, shrouded in secrets and secrets” mountain Yamantau 1640 m., concurrently the highest point of the Southern Urals, need to know.

In my opinion there are two main points:

1. The mountain is in the heart South Ural Nature Reserve and going on a journey, you will, without any doubt, violate Art. 9, part 5 of the Federal Law of March 14, 1995 N 33-FZ “On Specially Protected Natural Territories”.

Article 9. The regime of special protection of the territories of state natural reserves

Part 5. Stay in the territories of state natural reserves of individuals who are not employees of federal state budgetary institutions that manage state natural reserves, officials of the federal executive body in charge of state nature reserves is allowed only with permission from federal state budgetary institutions managing state nature reserves, or the federal executive body in charge of state nature reserves.

As soon as you violate the boundaries of the reserve, you will commit an administrative offense falling under the article:

8.39. Violation of the rules of protection and use natural resources in specially protected natural areas of the codec Russian Federation on administrative offenses” dated December 30, 2001 N 195-FZ

Violation of the established regime or other rules for the protection and use of the environment and natural resources in the territories of state natural reserves, national parks, natural parks, state natural reserves, as well as in territories where natural monuments are located, in other specially protected natural territories or in their protected zones, shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine on citizens in the amount of three thousand to four thousand rubles with or without confiscation of the instruments of an administrative offense and products of illegal nature management. such; for officials - from fifteen thousand to twenty thousand rubles with or without confiscation of instruments for committing an administrative offense and products of illegal nature management; for legal entities - from three hundred thousand to five hundred thousand rubles with or without confiscation of instruments for committing an administrative offense and products of illegal nature management.

2. Mount Yamantau due to being in the reserve is relatively difficult to access. Surrounded by high ridges, kurum rivers, forests inhabited wild beast. The weather on its summit can be very harsh. One summer, in June, I caught a terrible hypothermia on its slopes and could not reach the top. Therefore, it is necessary to have some experience of walking "into the forest" and the mountains of the Southern Urals, to approach this route with all seriousness.

And do not be confused by the apparent ease of describing the route. Even I had a hard time sometimes.

Now for our fun trip.

For a long time we wanted to go Rais Gabitov in the mountains, and finally everything turned out as well as possible.

Window in the weather gold autumn, availability of time.

It is criminal to miss such an opportunity, and we, as law-abiding (almost) citizens, did not miss it.

Like any media personality, blogger Rais Gabitov is attracted by everything big, special and brilliant, so Mount Yamantau became our main goal.

Considering the options for the path, I chose a linear route along the line of the village of Tirlyan - ur. Misela - hr. Inzerskiye Zubchatki - Mt. Kumardak (city of Kolokolnaya 1354.1) - Mt. Mashak (peak 1383.2) - Karaulnaya - Yamantau (1640.4), - Bykovskiye Polyany - Karatash (1103.2) - Ufa-Beloretsk highway.

Why I chose it, because it is very beautiful, logical, and can be completed without strain in 3 days, the approximate length of the route is 90-100 km.

We arrived in the village of Tirlyan by 8 in the morning, the sun bathing in the morning fog flooded the world with gold, as if saying: “Go guys, dive into the red autumn with your head!”, Which we hurried to do.

The first part of the route to the famous rocky circus of the Inzerskiye gear ridge was the most vile.

Jeepers who were sober and did not swear.

Having become a victim of popularity and the availability of a road, the rock circus turned into an ordinary circus. Crowds of people, the roar of chainsaws, drunken companies at the wheel of prepared SUVs, diligently kneading a thick layer of dirt on the road.

Having had a quick lunch on one of the remnants, we moved on to the clean and quiet autumn forests of the Inzer Valley.

ATTENTION: There are cellular and the Internet is sufficient for the publication of photos.

We walked and enjoyed, the forest with drooping autumn grass is perfectly passable, small riding bolts in the sources of the Terzhenka and Bolshoy Inzer rivers do not present obstacles, dry and warm kurum fields perfectly diversify the monotony of movement through the forest and perfectly hold the foot.

Two hours before sunset, we started climbing the Kumardak ridge under the top of Mount Kolokolnaya (1354.1), we managed on time, half an hour before sunset.

Throwing away backpacks, we took up the pressing issues of the evening, photography and climbing to the top.

A surprise for me was the destruction and mobility of the kurum on the mountain, I don’t remember such a rocky peak in the Southern Urals. KEEP IN MIND!

frozen stone waves, on the slopes of the Kumardak ridge

Having climbed all the top and the rocks surrounding it, put up a tent with a sense of accomplishment and went to sleep.

ATTENTION: On the Kumardak ridge, in the area of ​​Mount Kolokolnaya, there is a cellular connection and the Internet is sufficient for publishing a photo.

ATTENTION: The slopes of Mount Kolokolnaya (Kumardak ridge) have a dangerous “live” kurum. Climb with care

During the day, 33 km were covered, of which 17 were on the way to Inzerskie Zubchatki.

Route of the first day. the village of Tirlyan - the Izersky gears - Mt. Kumardak

The morning of the second day was amazing!

I got up an hour before sunrise, quickly cooked pasta, drank tea, and in 30 minutes I was at the top of Kolokolnaya. Quietly and gently, drowning in shades of red and pink, the sun rose.

At 8.20 we continued our way to the top of the Urals. Along the steep kurum slope we descended into the Yuryuzan valley, small upland swamps,

kurum rivers, the sources of the Yuryuzan river flew by unnoticed during an interesting conversation,

By noon, we began to climb the Mashak ridge, a majestic panorama of the path we had traveled unfolded behind us, in the distance we could see Mount Kolokolnaya and our campsite.

We crossed the watershed of the Mashak ridge, left the labyrinth of dwarf fir trees and rocks on the western slope and fell into an ecstatic silence.

In front of us, there was a view of the highest mountain of the Southern Urals, Yamantau.

It was as if we were in the front row, in the VIP seats of a huge auditorium, and the whole grandiose performance unfolded only for us.

At that moment it was decided that better places not available for lunch...

We descended from the Mashak ridge, crossed the power lines,

a place where you need to be most attentive and careful in order to avoid an unwanted meeting with the workers of the reserve. And further along the beautiful park forest with a slight climb, they crossed the last vertical barrier on the way to the goal of Mount Karaulnaya (1235.8)

Behind Karaulnaya there is a small descent and extensive raised bogs overgrown with rare, broken dwarf birches.

Surprisingly, there was little water, not above the ankle, we quickly passed the swamp and began to climb the saddle between Mount Yamantau and Kuyantau (Small Yamantau).

From the highest point of the saddle, a man-made chute goes up to the top, cleared in the kurum during the active development of the mountain. Apparently it was used to supply water to the summit, in some places you can find the remains of pipes, on the other side of the saddle there is a lake, to which pipes lead.

The chute is easy to climb and can serve as an excellent guide in bad weather.

In our case, the weather is ideal, with the exception of an incomprehensible haze that has come running and enveloped all the mountains around, but they don’t look for good, good.

Climbing up to the summit plateau, we find the remains of structures, a lot of technical rubbish, spare parts from a drill, some kind of bathtub carved right in the mountain, and, most valuable for us, a staircase.

A stupid idea is born by itself, I grab a ladder and carry it to the top.

There will be good photos.

Here it is probably necessary to deviate from the narrative and say in more detail why I allowed myself to do this, foreseeing indignant exclamations.

I unconditionally and consistently condemn all people who litter the mountains, and never allow myself to leave something on the mountain. But in this situation, I did not bring anything to the mountain, the stairs have been on the mountain for many years, as well as tons of other technical, construction, military debris. And their main deposits are located exactly at the top.

And, it turned out to be very conceptual and fun, a staircase going into the sky on top of a mountain. Something like this…

There is a strong wind at the top, but this is not a reason to deny yourself an overnight stay.

I like to spend the night iconic places to enjoy your stay there without haste. Rais has some doubts, but I convince him and we set up a tent under the cover of a small stone tour.

on this night, within a radius of more than 1000 kilometers, no one will sleep above us 🙂

We walk along the plateau, the scale of littering which is amazing.

Foundations and remains of log cabins, mountains of metal rubbish, artificial depressions filled with water, skeletons of armored beds…

A separate action photo session of Rais in his "signature" red shorts.

In the hellish penetrating wind, Rais, like a mountain goat, jumps from stone to stone, trying to catch one single angle, only known to him.

The whitish haze that has covered everything around devours the sunset, and we go to bed.

ATTENTION: On Mount Yamantau there is a cellular connection and the Internet is sufficient for posting a photo.

We covered 22 kilometers in a day.

Route of the second day. Kumardak - Mashak - Yamantau

The night was cold and windy.

1 C combined with a strong wind did not add motivation to leave a warm sleeping bag.

But knowing that this is the only way they are born beautiful pictures, I perform my daily morning "prayer". Fast food, tea, and 30 minutes after waking up, I am jumping along the kurums, trying to keep up with the disappearing and dissolving Iremel.

Dawn, this morning is beautiful, and the shooting point is excellent. The entire high South Ural is at a glance. What I love!

40 minutes to shoot, and kick Rais back to get ready faster.

Today is a long and hard day.

We go down to the saddle, we decide to take a walk to the lake.

Transparent clear waters, and there is no reason not to freshen up. The water is icy, what a man who has not washed for 3 days needs.

After swimming, we begin the descent, cut the southern slope of Mount Kuyantau (Small Yamantau) and go out through the beautiful park forest to the area of ​​ur. Bykovsky Polyany.

From here there is a stunning view of the summit we left behind.

Rais again has an involuntary need to run around the field in red shorts.

A little higher than the meadows, we come out onto a good country road, it can be seen that cars are driving along it. The speed increases, but you need to be careful. A few kilometers later, a new surprise, an abandoned barracks.

As is often the case with military installations, everything is abandoned and gradually destroyed. Nothing, no one needs.

A little more along a good road and at a crossroads to a ford across the right tributary of the Malaya Kuzelga River, and then another crossroads and already along a completely overgrown road towards Mount Kuseymatau.

And the rest of the way along the heavily overgrown and unused road to the Yusha ridge. On the one hand, it is harder to walk, sometimes the road gets lost in the fields, but basically it is quite easy to pass, and what is very important, the risk of meeting someone is minimized, it is clear that only bears and moose walk along the road.

The last snack and a halt on the top of Mount Tornaya. With a beautiful sunset view of the peaks of Dunansungan and Kaintube.

Immediately after the rest, we turn off the road and try to find a path perpendicular to the ridge that goes down into the valley. It is shown on the navigators good road almost asphalt. We didn’t find a downhill path and already in pitch darkness we climbed along windbreaks, in the area where a good road was marked, it was also a disappointment. There is nothing at all.

I'm going along the river. Big Kureuz and yet we go out onto a country road, a few kilometers before the highway we get on a concrete road.

A car picks us up on the highway and takes us to Ufa.

Goodbye high Southern Urals, until we meet again.

While walking, I noticed a few interesting peaks must visit 😉

We covered 41 kilometers in a day.

Total total mileage of the route was: 96 kilometers.

p.s. and lastly, it was not in vain that I wrote at the beginning about the legal consequences of visiting the reserve.

I'M READY TO PAY THE FINE

If you are an employee of the South Ural Nature Reserve and you want to impose a fine on me, write to me and I will send you my details.

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on Mount Yamantau (west)

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southern slope of Yamantau

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Yamantau (Mountain Yaman-Tau)

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To the north of the Bashkir city of Beloretsk is Mount Yamantau - the highest point in the Southern Urals. For twenty years now, this area has attracted the close attention of many. And it's not just the beauties of the local nature.

Reserve of secrets

Translated from the Bashkir "yaman tau" means "bad mountain". It is difficult to climb it, on the slopes there is a deaf taiga, swamps, placers of sharp stone blocks, it is easy to get lost in thick fogs (see photo). In short - "bad mountain".

In the 1960s, geologists, designers, and builders frequented these parts. Then, in the midst cold war on Mount Yaman-Tau, at an altitude of 1640 m, they decided to build a military facility. More precisely, not on the mountain, but inside it.

Stretched along the slope railway. At the foot of the mountain, workers' settlements grew up. The territory was declared closed South Ural nature reserve. And for those who live here, work or serve, they introduced the same allowances and benefits as for residents of the Arctic. Although from the Southern Urals to the Far North ... You understand.

Yamantau small is the second hump of Yamantau, small 1510 m.

The secrecy and scale of the construction suggested that something very serious was being built in case of war.

When the USSR collapsed, the construction site was mothballed. But in the 1990s, work began to boil again on Mount Yamatau. A concrete plant and a mining and processing plant, called Yuzhno-Uralsky, grew up here. Concrete, for sure, was required underground work. But the plant ... Nobody has ever seen its products.

Journalists also drew attention to the fact that in 2007 the Russian president fell in love with ski resort Abzakovo and began to visit here regularly. And by the way, Abzakovo to Yamatau - 15 minutes by helicopter. It seems that the work was completed and the main "customer" accepted the finished object.

The mountains of Bashkortostan are quite popular with tourists. Some people manage to climb Yamatau, bypassing the checkpoint and not attracting the attention of military patrols and rangers. On a flat top the size of two football fields, tourists see the remains of rusting structures, an impressive tower with an elevator shaft, from which powerful fans drive underground air out. From here, a concrete road leads down the slope to closed villages (see photo).

Soldiers who once served at the construction site and guarding the facility talk about eight shafts with a diameter of 30 m, each of which goes to a depth of up to a kilometer.

It is assumed that the mines are connected by tunnels, equipped with autonomous water and power supply systems, communication lines, electric trains (metro). Under the protection of a thousand-ton granite shield, this complex will withstand any thermonuclear strike.

Mines? Missile base? Storage? Bunker?

Decades have passed. The villages have long turned into a closed city of Mezhgorye on the slope of Mount Yamantau, inhabited by builders and military pensioners. But what the bowels of the mountain hide is unknown. There are only rumors and speculation.

Maybe uranium ores are mined in the depths of the mountains, and the plant processes them? But there is no such level of secrecy in any uranium mine. And the level of radiation on the mountain is within the normal range. It is possible that the GOC was built as a distraction to hide the purpose of the object.

Some people believe that state reserves are stored in the mines - food, manufactured goods, and so on in case of emergencies. True, for several decades no one has seen a hint that something like this was brought into the mines.

Are there missile launchers hidden in the mines? Experts are skeptical about this assumption.

More plausible than others is the version that the dungeon of Mount Yamantau will become a bunker - the residence of the country's leadership and a command post in case of a nuclear war. It is also possible that they plan to evacuate the main state values ​​(gold reserves, etc.) here.

In general, for now, Mount Yamatau is in no hurry to reveal its secrets.

There are many in the world interesting places, among which are those created by mother nature herself. The Urals are also famous for their beauties. There are many clean picturesque lakes located among majestic mountains, fast rivers and mysterious caves. One of the most beautiful places is located in the heart in the silence of dense and impregnable ridges. This is Mount Yamantau. She is the pearl of the Urals. Its peak is marked on all maps and attracts numerous tourists who appreciate the originality. mountain nature. Only Mount Big Iremel, another South Ural peak, which is only 60 meters lower, can be compared with the giant dome of Yamantau.

"Evil Mountain"

As mentioned above, one of the mysterious and most beautiful places that the South Urals are famous for is Mount Yamantau. Translated from the Bashkir language, "Yamantau" means "evil mountain". Why it was called that, no one knows for sure. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the slopes of the mountain range are swampy or littered with kurumnik, and this did not allow cattle to graze here, or because there were many bears in the mountain forests, encountering which was quite dangerous. But this name of the mountain is determined, most likely, by regular bad weather, because of which Yamantau is often wrapped in fog for a long time.

Legends and beliefs

Among local residents there are completely different versions of the origin of the name of the mountain, which are shrouded in secrets. They believe that evil maidens live on the top of the mountain, who take away everyone they meet. Many people who went to the Yamantau mountains disappeared without a trace, and horses died for unknown reasons while climbing the mountain.

In addition, Mount Yamantau is covered with numerous legends and beliefs, many of which are associated with the character of Bashkir mythology - Shulgan. In these stories, this hero was the personification of evil forces. Through Kapava - a cave located on Mount Yamantau, which is also called Shulgan-Tash - he first got into underworld and became his master. Since then, he has constantly replenished his kingdom with living people who disappeared in the mountains.

But despite the fact that it is still not known exactly why this mountain was named that way, many tourists try to enjoy the beauty of this place from the outside.

Where is Yamantau

If you are interested in this place, it's time to find out where Mount Yamantau is located. This most beautiful and mysterious mountain range is located on the territory of the Beloretsk region in Bashkortostan and belongs to the South Ural Reserve. It is located on the watershed of the Big and Small Inzer rivers. At 10 kilometers from the array is the closed city of Mezhgorye.

Description of the mountain range

Yamantau is a two-hump mountain range, the width of which is 3 kilometers. It stretches for 5 kilometers to the northwest and has two main peaks. The first is Mount Kuyantau, whose height is 1510 meters. Many people also call it Small Yamantau. The second peak is Big Yamantau, which is highest point Southern Urals. The height of Mount Yamantau (Big) is 1648 meters. Numerous ridges adjoin it, including Yusha, Nara, Kapkala and Mashak. At the foot of the mountain there is a dense forest that stretches up to a height of 1 kilometer. Then there are swamps, and at an altitude of 640 meters, a kurumnik begins, many parts of which are rich in blueberries.

What can be seen on Yamantau

With its mystery and unique beauty, Mount Yamantau attracts many nature lovers, who are not stopped even by the fact that it is currently forbidden for tourists to visit it. First of all, climbing to the top of the Big Yamantau, you can see many picturesque glades, rivers, lakes, streams with the purest water. Its slopes are composed of medium-sized quartzite boulders, creating a kind of steps. The summit of Yamantau is a large, relatively flat rocky plateau covered with moss. There are still concrete and ruins of the barracks, in which there are still beds left after the stay of the military, who were on the top until the 90s. In the very center of the stone plateau there is a modest concrete obelisk dedicated to the soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War. Nearby you can see a small lake, which was formed in the funnel from the explosion. From the top there is a stunning view of the central part of the Southern Urals. Between Big and Small Yamantau there is a very picturesque saddle, surrounded by large kurums.

Journey to the top

Mount Yamantau is the territory of the reserve, access to which is very limited, so it is not so easy to organize hikes in its vicinity. In addition, on its slopes there is a secret object - the city of Mezhgorye, which is carefully guarded by the military. But this does not stop solo ascents, which are carried out from Beloretsk, through the villages of Kuz'elga and Tatly. This path is considered the shortest. You can also get to the top of Yamantau from the side of the Nara ridge. This allows you to go around the restricted area on the left and not meet the patrol. The safest route lies on the eastern side of the mountain range, from the village of Nura. On the south side there are solid swamps, so climbing here is impossible.

Despite all the difficulties, the popularity of Yamantau is not declining. Interest in this mountain is heightened by unverified information about the secret construction of an underground city, which is given too much attention by foreign media.

Alexander Sidelnikov

Legends of Yaman-Tau mountain

(as a hypothesis)

Yaman-Tau is the highest mountain in the Southern Urals. It is located on the territory of the South Ural State Reserve, and is known for the fact that a certain specially protected object is located in it. Many believe that inside the Yaman-Tau built underground city, capable, in which case, to shelter the leadership of the country.

Perhaps this is so, but, having studied the legends and traditions of these places for many years, I would venture to make another hypothesis about what is inside the Yaman-Tau mountain.

In the Bashkir folk epic, Mount Yaman-Tau is associated with the bogatyr Shulgan, the elder brother of the bogatyr of the Urals. In myths, Shulgan is described as a negative hero. He violates the customs of his ancestors and becomes ruler of the underworld.

The name of the largest cave in the Southern Urals - Kapova, better known as the Shulgan-tash caves, as well as the Shulganka river, the water from which was considered dead, is associated with the name of Shulgan. But the place where the hero made the transition to the underworld is not a cave or a river, but Mount Yaman-Tau. Perhaps it was these ideas about the mountain that gave it its name - translated from the Bashkir language Yaman-Tau - "bad mountain" "Bad", that is, "a mountain leading to an underground, cold and dark kingdom."

An interesting detail - Shulgan, passing into the underworld, does not die, but remains alive. Thus, in the Bashkir myths, the Yaman-Tau mountain acts as a kind of portal through which a living person can pass into the other world (parallel) world.

Recent studies have revealed similarities in the motifs and storylines of the Bashkir epic "Ural-Batyr" and the Sumerian-Akkadian epic about Gilgamesh.

One of the storylines of this epic includes a description Gilgamesh's journey through the underworld through the range of mountains surrounding the inhabited world. There he met with the only person who received immortality from the hands of the gods (in the Bashkir epic, Shulgan is a man who went through the mountain into the underworld and at the same time remained alive).

The mysterious country that Gilgamesh visited was called Kur. Sumerian myths do not give its exact coordinates. It is only known that Kur was somewhere very far from the capital of the Sumerian kingdom (most likely in northeast direction which was considered sacred). It is also known that Kur was separated from the rest of the world by an underground river with dead water. In this connection, it will be interesting to note that in the Bashkir language the root "shul" from which the name Shulgan came from is literally translated - "water not suitable for drinking" ("dead water").

Noteworthy is the translation of the word "Kur" itself - "mountain", "mountainous country" - in the literal sense - "country of no return." It is also known that before approaching this place, it was necessary to overcome the “great steppe”, and then the seven gates of Kur.

Far to the northeast of Mesopotamia are the mountains of the Southern Urals, where many peaks have retained the root “kur” in their name.

If you climb Yaman-Tau from the eastern (steppe) side, the traveler will first have to climb relatively low ridges Chur yatmas and tashty Chur yatmas, then pass at the foot of the mountain Chur how, then, to start climbing the Ural-Tau watershed ridge, from one of the peaks of which there are mountains Chur tash - he will see a majestic panorama with Mount Yaman-Tau on the horizon.

Etymological dictionaries do not combine the names of the mountains of the Southern Urals with the root " Chur"into a whole. Chur yatmas translate as "grouse does not live", Chur as - "coward", a Chur tash - "rich stone" Chur hashka. "lead (mountain)" etc. It is quite possible that this is because today the original mythological ideas about these mountains have been lost and their names are being interpreted based only on the Bashkir language. The root "Kur" itself may have a different, more ancient origin.

And it can be assumed that the place described in Sumerian mythology, through which one could go down to the underworld and return back, was in the Southern Urals, or rather, on Mount Yaman-Tau.

(It is interesting that in Kura Gilgamesh was looking for a flower that gives immortality. For various reasons, he could not take it out of this place. And here another parallel arises. Hercules, performing his 12th feat, went around half the world in search of apples of immortality, and, at the prompt of the titan Prometheus, found them in the Riphean mountains.In these mountains, the Greeks saw the Urals, or to be more precise, the South.The magical fruits from the hero refused to accept all mortals and immortals, and Hercules was forced to return them back to the mysterious garden.More You can read more about this in my article published in the journal Gardens of Russia No. 12.2010, 01.2011.)

Indo-Iranian myths can also lead to Mount Yaman-Tau. There is a hypothesis that the name of the mountain comes from the name of the character of these myths Yima (Iranian) or Yama (Indian). In this case, Yaman-Tau literally means "mountain of Yama (Yima)". At first glance, it may seem that such a comparison is nothing more than a play on words. But at the end of the 20th century, in the Southern Urals, archaeologists discovered a unique civilization that reached an unprecedented level of development for its time (Arkaim, Sintashta, etc.). Scientists called it the "Land of Cities". Further research suggested that the "Country" was inhabited by the ancestors of the Indo-European peoples. Moreover, a striking similarity was found between the country of Aryana Veji (Aryan Expanse) described in the sacred Iranian texts and the ancient archaeological sites found in the Ural land.

From the myths it is known that the “king of the golden age” bright Yima ruled this country. He is also known in myths as "the first to die" and as "the lord of the underworld." Thus, an even more accurate translation of the name of the Yaman-Tau mountain is "mountain of the lord of the underworld." This assumption is in good agreement with the Bashkir myth of the hero Shulgan and the Sumerian myth of Gilgamesh. And not only…

One of the main mysteries of the "Country of Cities" is its unexpected decline. In the abandoned cities of the Southern Urals, no traces of attacks, epidemics, or natural disasters were found. It’s just that at some point the residents gathered their property, put things in order in the cities and literally “ how they fell through the ground ". Many hypotheses are put forward as to why they left the inhabited cities and where they went. Considering that the king of this country was the first to go to the other world, did he not lead others along this way?

The ancient Slavs did not mark themselves in the Southern Urals, but their myths contain many borrowings from Iranian myths. This is not surprising, since in ancient times, the border of the Iranian world ran much to the north of the modern one, and on this northern border the Iranian and Slavic worlds actively exchanged experience and ideas, including ideas about the structure of the world.

So the concept of "Iriy" or paradise could get into Slavic myths. Most likely, it is an abbreviated form of the Iranian word "parairidaez" also meaning paradise.

Regarding where Iriy was located, there are two hypotheses. According to one, Iriy was located in the distant south island, according to another, Iriy was planted in the Riphean mountains, in which the Slavs saw the Ural Range. The second version seems to be more plausible, because archaeological finds prove that in ancient times part of the Iranian tribes lived in the Urals, but they were not engaged in navigation.

In myths, Iriy is described as a harsh place. Moreover, from it it was possible to get not only to the "higher heavens", but also to underworld. It is important that each of the trips was made from its own mountain. From the Iry or Alatyr mountain - up to heaven, and from the mountain of sorrow and crying Hvangur - down to the Pecal Kingdom.

There is a hypothesis that the Slavic mountain Khvangur is the real Yaman-Tau, and the Iriyskaya mountain is the real Iremel - the second highest mountain in the Southern Urals, located about 70 km north of Yaman-Tau.

In the underworld, according to Slavic myths, the god Veles was imprisoned, in search of which his beloved Azovka went.

... And the Azovka Vyshnya (the Most High God) prayed:

- God our Highness, Almighty! Give me Vyshen the keys to Svarga (Svarga is a synonym for Iria)! So that pass through Iriy to Hell and find a dear friend there!

And the Almighty heard the prayer. He gave Azovka a cry from Svarga, and opened to her entrance to the realm of Viy. And Azovka passedgates . And Viya appeared before the throne ...

The plot of this Slavic myth was put by the famous Ural writer Bazhov as the basis for the fairy tale "Dear Name" (for those who have not read this fairy tale, but would like to understand what is inside the Yaman-Tau mountain, I strongly recommend doing this). In it, the Ural mountain, into which the hero went, can only be revealed to those who pronounce a new name *

I wonder if those who dug kilometers of tunnels under the highest and most mysterious mountain of the Southern Urals know that this is the most « name", opening a passage to the kingdom of Viy (the Poloz snake), the white-eyed miracle and the wild people, the stories about which the Ural land is so rich?

(* In "Dear Name" the action takes place around the Azov-mountain, located near Yekaterinburg, but the researchers of Bazhov's work note that the writer "tied" all the tales to his small homeland. As a basis, he took the legends of tradition and myths that he collected throughout the Urals.)

The Indian Mahabharata is considered one of the most ancient texts on earth. It begins with a story about the churning of the oceans (“the ocean” in myths is called the world space), in order to obtain the drink of immortality amrita.

To do this, the gods took Mount Mandara, wrapped it around the world serpent Shesha and began to spin it back and forth until amrita began to appear nearby, like butter in milk. The myths tell an interesting detail. Mortals helped the gods, but when the amrita was collected, they felt sorry for sharing with everyone and they went to the trick: some people received a drink of immortality from the hands of the gods and they became equal to the gods or devas, and some were left with nothing and turned into asuras. And after the battle with the devas asuras were forced to go underground.

The Mahabharata does not give the coordinates of where this event took place. But, it can be assumed that it was much north of modern India: where the mysterious ancestral home of the Aryan tribes was located. And in the Urals, where numerous traces of the presence of the ancestors of the Indo-Europeans were found, there is a place where the Indian myth sounds special.

The highest mountain of the Southern Urals, Yaman-Tau, is also the most massive, and it is known that Mandara literally translates as "huge ". It is known from myths that Mandara appeared one of the first and was one of the most high mountains on the ground.

Mount Yaman-Tau is composed exclusively of ancient rocks, their age is estimated at more than 2 billion years. Scientists believe that the age of Yaman-Tau is much older than the age of the Ural Mountains themselves. Yaman-Tau is of volcanic origin. It was once one of the highest mountains that ever existed on Earth. According to some estimates, the "young" Yaman-Tau was much higher than the modern Everest ...

... Hundreds of millions of years passed, Yaman-Tau almost completely collapsed (actually it was not even Yaman-Tau, but a mountain range from Yaman-Tau to Iremel, Shalom and Zigalga), and only after that the formation of the Ural Mountains proper began.

Noteworthy are the names of the mountains that are spurs of Yaman-Tau. From the south, the Yusha ridge adjoins the mountain. in the Slavic (Ural) fairy tales Yusha is the same as the snake Shesha in Indian ( And so that the Earth does not go into the sea, Rod gave birth under it to Yusha the powerful snake, the wondrous multi-strength snake ... If Yusha the snake moves - Mother Earth Cheese will turn).

Near the Yusha ridge (which is today the same secret place, as well as Mount Yaman-Tau) there is a place Assy (known as a resort with unique mineral waters), Assami in Indo-Iranian myths is called a class of demigods. In Indian myths, they are often called asuras - people who did not receive the drink of immortality from the gods and were forced to go to the underworld (Patalu), the king of which myths call Sheshu (Yushu)-Anantu himself (Shulgana?). The connection between the king of the underworld Sheshi-Ananta and the hero Shulgan, who went to the underworld in the region of Mount Yaman-Tau, is indicated by the fact that Shesha-Ananta in one of his incarnations was the elder brother of Krishna, just as Shulgan was the elder brother of the Urals. Just like Shulgan, Shesha-Ananta first lived on Earth. The elements of both characters of myths are world waters.

Thus, an analysis of Indian myths allows us to make an incredible assumption: under the Yaman-Tau mountain, they are again trying to get "something", which will give humanity strength for further creation. All mankind take advantage of this "something" will not be able to, but for the elect it will be salvation (if I'm wrong, then why is there such secrecy on the mountain?).

Such a conclusion surprisingly echoes the conclusions made by L.N. Gumilyov in the book "Ethnogenesis and the biosphere of the earth." In it, Lev Nikolaevich proved that humanity, being a part of nature, is subject to its global laws and, in particular, the law of entropy - the gradual loss of energy. But humanity does not turn into a herd of animals, because from time to time people of a special kind are born on earth - inventors, travelers, social and religious leaders. They bring with them a new charge of energy: new ideas, new values ​​- and pull everyone else along with them. In fact, they make it possible for others to remain human.

Gumilyov called these special people "passionaries". He also studied the patterns of their birth. According to Gumilyov, they are born during the so-called. "passionary impulses". The scientist does not name the exact source of these shocks, pointing only to their cosmic origin. But on earth, this extraterrestrial influence manifests itself only in certain places, usually at the junctions of landscapes. At these points, the so-called. "centers of ethnogenesis". Lev Nikolaevich believed that the process of ethnogenesis occurs spontaneously, but if you know the place where the next cosmic ray can hit, if you know the approximate time ... - then you can say that geniuses and prophets can be "made" to order. And Mount Yaman-Tau is a very attractive place for this.

Assumptions are often made that secret scientific developments can be carried out at the facility located under the Yaman-Tau mountain. Such assumptions are not without meaning. Thus, it is well known that in recent years the laboratories of physicists have been going deeper and deeper underground. For example, in the North Caucasus near Mount Elbrus in the rock at a depth of 2 km from the surface, Russian scientists have been trying for several years to “catch” one of the most mysterious and elusive particles of the neutrino microcosm.

The fact that such work can be carried out under the most massive mountain of the Southern Urals is indicated by several facts. To secret facility several high-voltage power lines are suitable. It is quite possible that the large power consumption is due to all kinds of detectors, accelerators and other equipment installed inside.

In addition, from a geological point of view, Yaman-Tau - unique place for experiments with gravitational fields, elementary particles, etc. The thickness of the earth's crust here reaches almost maximum values, there are no geological faults under the mountain, and the rocks themselves are very dense and hard. Such a "terrestrial firmament" will not only filter out all unwanted (background) radiation from the cosmos, but will also bend space and time itself - and here it is: the portal to another world is open.

In this regard, it is worth returning briefly to myths again. The ancient Indians knew that the gods, in order to get the power for creation in our world (or rather, for their manifestation in our world and self-realization), need a huge mountain. This mountain they called Mandara (“huge” or “solid”). This mountain rose above the surface of the earth by 11 thousand yojanas (1 iojan is about 4 km) and went underground by the same amount (for comparison, see above the origin of Mount Yaman-Tau). Even the gods were unable to pull this hulk out of the ground.

On the Internet, it has been repeatedly suggested that experiments on cloning and the creation of transgenic organisms can be carried out under the Yaman-Tau mountain. This idea also deserves attention. In fact, in the Indian Mahabharata, if we discard the details, it is described how a center of speciation formed around the mountain after a natural cataclysm that destroyed almost all life on the planet. In this understanding, the Indian myth has something in common with the biblical myth of the flood and Noah's ark. It has been hypothesized that this ark was not actually a huge ship. According to the dimensions given by the Bible, a wooden ship simply cannot be built. The ark was a hiding place, quite possibly a cave inside Ararat. After the completion of the flood, it was from this place that people again settled on the earth, and all kinds of plants and animals came out. According to the Bible, these were the same people, plants and animals that existed before the flood. But modern scientists have doubts about this.

Today, many facts have been accumulated that the theory of evolution of Charles Darwin cannot describe the process of the appearance on Earth of new plant species, animals and man himself. This leads to the conclusion that they were formed not as a result of gradual complication and natural selection, but almost instantly. (For example, there were no flower plants on Earth, and suddenly, without any intermediate forms, they appeared.) There is reason to believe that this happened immediately after global catastrophes (climate changes, lithosphere shifts, collisions with large asteroids, etc. .). Based on such ideas, Noah's Ark can be called a kind of laboratory for the creation of a "new earth and a new heaven" new people, plants and animals. The idea of ​​building "laboratories" belongs to God himself (both the Bible and the Mahabharata directly speak about this and see the Avesta, a description of Vara), otherwise - to extraterrestrial intelligence, and it is built by the hands of the most advanced antediluvian people. And all this is done in the name of the future.

I don’t know how it is in the case of the ark near Yaman-Tau: it is built by the “advanced”, or simply by those who hope to sit out, but the plant breeding experiments that the author has conducted over the past 20 years have shown that new varieties of agricultural crops can be created here much more interesting than in other places (this, by the way, is not the idea of ​​the author of the article: N.I. Vavilov wrote that the centers of speciation on Earth are confined to mountainous areas and have a local location). Perhaps this is also well known in the underground city of the Urals.

Daniil Andreev's book "The Rose of the World" is dedicated to the fate of Russia and the World. It was written before the grandiose construction began inside the Yaman-Tau mountain. But in "Rose of the World" (as well as in "Russian Gods") there is Ural underground "trace".

Describing parallel worlds that have "very special significance" for humanity he wrote that each of the metacultures of the Earth has its own antipole, on which holy cities anti-humanity. These worlds are connected with the lower layers of the earth's crust and the so-called. "compensatory ledges" of the planet, which are projected onto the surface of the earth in the form of mountain ranges.

Many people wrote about the hollow earth and travels to its center (Dante, Jules Verne, Obruchev, etc.), but Daniil Andreev, in his "travels" to other worlds, introduces a clear geographic coordinate. He thought (he saw?) the most important of the infra-cities of Russia is located on the compensation ledge of the anti-Urals !!!(for details, see "Rose of the World", book four, chapter three, as well as "Russian Gods", chapter "The Other Side of the World").

(... But wasn’t the builders of one of the most secret construction projects in Russia trying to get through to him, unfolding under the very high mountain Southern Urals?)

The main shrine of the capital of anti-Russia is the temple "representing a mountain hollowed out from the inside."

The vital forces of humanity of anti-Russia are supported by the psychic energy of earthly Russia.

And the most interesting:

« Main city anti-Russia is surrounded by an annular citadel consisting of concentric circles. In one of them languishes Navna, the ideal Cathedral Soul of Russia. Relatively recently, a dense vault was erected over it. Now her voice is barely audible. “Only the believers in earthly Russia and the enlightened in Heavenly Russia hear her voice. “Who is she - Navna? What unites Russians into a single nation; something that calls individual Russian souls up and up; that which envelops the art of Russia with a unique fragrance; that which stands above the purest and highest female images of Russian legends, literature and music; that which gives rise in Russian hearts to a longing for a high, special duty intended only for Russia - all this is Navna ... ".

... and the place of her captivity according to Andreev is an underground city under the Ural Mountains.

In this regard, the question remains open - what did the builders do under the very mysterious mountain Ural - helped "strengthen" vault of the dungeon for the Cathedral Soul of Russia or vice versa, tried it "destroy"?

Very few people know what they actually did, but from the Rose of the World, which many in our country consider a prophetic book, we can conclude that in the Urals, in the region of a giant mountain hollowed out from the inside, Andreev saw what we can call it a portal between the worlds.

What this portal may be Mount Yaman-Tau, is confirmed by other sources: Bashkir, Iranian, Indian, Sumerian, Slavic myths. This does not contradict the more or less official version regarding what is located under the highest mountain of the southern Urals. Most often called "the city, in which, in which case, the Russian government can go." But how to "leave"? It may be that at one time the white-eyed Chud, the virgins, Yama, Shulgan, Veles “left” through the mountain ...

... It turns out quite some kind of devilry. “If it’s true, well, at least a third ...”, then there are citizens in our country who are no longer enough to have secluded guarded towns in the Moscow region or somewhere else. south coast France. They have prepared for themselves a "secluded place" of a completely different kind - get them out of there! (author's joke).

More seriously again.

If we assume that the "object" under the Yaman-Tau mountain may be intended for communication with another world or solving other occult problems, it is worth remembering a very recent story.

The leadership of Nazi Germany literally raved about occult ideas. According to one of them, under the surface of the Earth, in another dimension, there was another more highly developed civilization. It was its inhabitants that the ancient inhabitants of our planet called "gods". From time to time, the gods briefly appeared in our world and brought new ideas and technologies to people.

In search of a passage ("gate") to another world, the Germans searched the entire surface of the Earth ... and, ... apparently, this search yielded results. Indirectly, this is indicated by the fact that during the short time of the existence of the Third Reich, it was possible to raise science to a very high level of development. Many of those who studied this phenomenon came to the conclusion that someone more powerful shared a number of scientific ideas and technologies with the Germans.

In recent years, much has been said about the Antarctic project of Nazi Germany. Allegedly, it is in the region of the South Pole of the Earth that the secret institutions are able to find a passage to the other world. They transported hundreds of thousands of tons of mining equipment, entire factories, thousands of the best representatives of the Aryan race to the icy continent with special overground and underground convoys. When, after the war, the Americans rushed to look for traces of German expeditions in Antarctica, they found nothing, everything “fell through the ground” (from which many concluded that the elite of Nazi society still managed to realize the super-idea of ​​becoming part of “superhumanity”).

To be fairer, the Americans did find something in Antarctica, and it was ... (!) Soviet aircraft and warships. As it became known later, they were also looking for traces of German Antarctic expeditions. And the fact that our country ended up on the southern continent before the Americans is explained very simply: we got most of the Nazi documents dedicated to finding a portal to another world.

In Antarctica Soviet Union no more fortunate than the United States and other allies. But, here it should be remembered that the Germans, in their search for a portal between worlds, proceeded from the fact that there is not one on earth: there are at least two of them, and maybe much more. So if the Antarctic passage was closed behind the Germans, then in other places of the planet it was quite possibly still open. The search could well continue ... (which, of course, nothing was reported to the “general public”).

What had to be done for this? - First of all, it is good to study the ancient myths and legends, which reported contacts with other world. Find the most suspicious places and dig well towards another world…

Yes, here's more very important- you had to earn something to be accepted in another world. And with this, everything is not so simple.

So the hero Shulgan, in order to become the ruler of the underworld, had to break all the taboos of his kind. The Aryan king Yima (Yama), before becoming the first to recognize the passage to the underworld, had to commit three times what is called the "fall" in myths. With Veles, who thundered in Hell, it was also not all clean (in fact, Veles was a werewolf god). Well, about the Nazis it is still more obvious: in order to get an “entry ticket” to the dungeon, you had to do a lot of things like that ...! Surprisingly, the principle of selecting emigrants is the same everywhere - become a kind of Bad Guy - give up all traditions, break all prohibitions, destroy culture, morals and you will become a worthy candidate. And there is no place for honest and noble kibalchish in that world... And, this is already very sad...

Although the author hopes that everything may not be so hopeless. Perhaps, under the Yaman-Tau mountain, our government really wants to createSOMETHING about our future .