Mount Grace in the Sverdlovsk Region

The Sverdlovsk region is the largest region of the Urals. Here, the plains alternate with the mountain ranges. The highest point is Mount Konjakovsky stone, which rises to 1569 meters. In the article we will tell about another peak, the height of which is only 385 meters, but nevertheless it is unique.

Description

Mount Grace, which will be discussed in the article, is on the eastern side of the Ural range. At the foot of it lies the city of Kushva. As already mentioned, its height is only 385 meters. Prior to the beginning of the 20th century, the mountain had 3 peaks, today only one remained under the influence of anthropogenic factors.

On the eastern slope of the mountain at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level is the source of the Salda River - the right tributary of the Tour. Also to the base of the ridge on the east side is the Saldinsky swamp, densely overgrown with cranberries.

Several names have Mount Grace. Magnetic mountain or Iron - this is the name of this peak. Its western slope is composed of greenstone porphyry rocks, but the summit and the eastern slope are very rich in magnetic iron ore. Deposits of rocks have the appearance of huge rods of irregular shape and veins, which had different structures: they could be fine-grained, dense, powdery, or have the appearance of boulders.

What is known for the mountain of Grace

At the beginning of the 20th century, the world's largest mining of magnetic iron ore, a black mineral, was conducted on this mountain, which is very important for industry. No deposit in the world could match the large deposits of this oxide near the provincial town of Kushva.

It is precisely as the world's largest deposit of magnetic iron ore, and the mountain of Grace is well known, the description of which is given in the article.

History

Until the spring of 1735, this place was practically unknown to anyone until the hunter Stepan Chumpin found several large pieces of iron-magnetic rock on the slope. He took with him a piece of ore and took it to the local official Sergei Yartsev, who was in charge of the mining business in the district. The official was an expert and quickly organized a group to study the mountain. During the first exploratory expedition on the eastern slope, huge deposits of magnetic ore of very high quality were discovered. The scale of the deposit struck, it seemed that the mountain of grace is completely composed of this mineral.

According to the legend, local residents were very angry with their compatriot Stepan Chumpin for giving the authorities the secrecy of their mountains. For this Stepan was burned alive. However, there is no documentary evidence of this fact.

Extraction of black mineral

By the way, in 1735 the ridge still had no name. The peak was named by Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev in honor of the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna (Anna in translation from Hebrew means "grace"). The mountain after the confirmation of the rich deposits in its bowels of iron ore immediately attracted the attention of Moscow, and already in September 1735 under the leadership of Tatishcheva, iron ore mining began here, the construction of mining plants was started, the city of Kushva was laid.

Later, the production was transferred to the general-berg director Shemberg, who undertook to pay the treasury the cost of the buildings already built. Shemberg very actively led the development of ore, hiring a large number of workers, but the treasury never received any money from him. Therefore, in 1754, the mountain was taken from him and transferred to the possession of Count Pyotr Ivanovich Shuvalov, who took over all the debts of Shemberg. But he did exactly the same as his predecessor: he extracted the ore in huge quantities, but he put all the money he got into his pocket without paying a penny to the treasury. After the Count's death in 1763, according to the decree of Catherine II, the mountain of Grace passed into state ownership, which was a blow to his son and heir - Count AP Shuvalov.

The extraction of the black mineral continued until 2003, when the deposit was fully developed. Therefore, it was closed. Now on that place is a huge quarry, which has a kilometer diameter and a depth of up to 320 meters. The closure of the mine negatively affected the economy of the city of Kushva, since almost all the able-bodied population was somehow connected with the extraction of the magnetic iron ore.

sights

Tourist infrastructure is not developed here. Travelers rarely visit Grace. The mountain attracts some with its huge career, others want to see the monument to Stepan Chumpin - the discoverer of the deposit, installed on the very top in 1826. It is a cast-iron cube with a metal bowl on it, tongues of flame burst out from it, symbolizing the death of the discoverer through burning.

Once upon a time on the top of the mountain, on the platform of the magnetic iron, stood the chapel of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The local people greatly revered her, and every year on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (a church holiday), a procession was made here. After the revolution, the chapel was completely destroyed.

Where else is the mountain of grace?

Sochi (Russia, Krasnodar Territory) and Balaklava (Russia, Crimea) are populated areas near which there is also a peak with the beautiful name Grace.

The Sochi mountain range is located 20 km from the city center and one kilometer from the sea coast. On its slopes there are several health resorts and private cottages.

Crimean mountain Grace was a favorite place of rest for locals who went here for picnics. However, there were reports that the mountain slopes were given for private development, which makes it impossible to walk on them. This is very disturbing to the residents of Balaklava.