Pillars of weathering: where is the Russian wonder of the world, how to get there

The pillars of weathering, or, as they are also called, "Mansi boobies" are huge stone statues that are on the mountain Man-Pupu-Ner (Republic of Komi, Troitsko-Pechersky district). These giant idols were created by nature 200 million years ago and are a geological monument.

The riddle of origin

Earlier on this territory there were high mountains, but under the influence of wind and snow for several thousand years they slowly collapsed. First soft rocks were washed away, then hard. Some of the hard rocks of the former mountains have survived to this day. Now here you can see 7 large pillars, which amaze with their stern grandeur.

Legends of Idols

Despite the existing scientific explanation of the origin of stone statues, this place is visited by a variety of legends.

In one of the myths it is told that the columns of weathering are the seven giant brothers that turned into stone. They came to these parts to take away the most beautiful girl from the Mansi tribe. Beauty refused to become the wife of her elder brother and therefore decided to kidnap her. Between the men of the tribe and the brothers, a bloody massacre unfolded, which lasted all day. First, the older brother broke the wall of the stone city of Muncie, then he decided to destroy the castle of crystal, the fragments of which were scattered throughout the Urals. The girl rushed to flee from the unloved in the mountains. To stop the giants, the belle's brother went to the sacred place to ask the Mansi spirits to get rid of the very annoying sister of his sister. The next day the giants found the girl and were about to take her with them, but at that moment her brother appeared and, with the help of spells obtained from spirits, managed to turn giants into stone statues.

The columns of weathering (Man-Pupu-Ner), according to another legend, appeared somewhat differently. There were six powerful giants. They began to pursue one of the Mansi tribes that lived high in the Ural Mountains. Giants almost came close to the tribe near the source of Pechery, but here they were caught by a shaman. Scary and white, like a lime, the witch's face greatly frightened the giants, and they themselves turned into huge stone statues. Since that time, many shamans from the Mansi tribe have come to idols to draw their magic power here.

The third legend tells that the columns of weathering are fossilized giants, frozen in eternal horror due to the powerful energy of the main mountain on this plateau - Yalpinger, which is very closely located from an unusual place.

Plateau of the seven pillars

Plateau Manpupuner - one of the most picturesque in the Urals. To visit this amazing place is the dream of hundreds of travelers. This mysterious plateau is located in the northern part of the Ural range. The territory belongs to the Pechero-Ilychsky Reserve. It is visited every day by thousands of tourists, and all because it is the place where the columns of weathering are. Seven idols have a height of 29 to 42 meters. To say that they look rather unusual is to say nothing. In this place the most powerful energy was concentrated: being near the stone giants, you even feel yourself in a special way.

The Mansky tribes call this range Manpupuner (which means "a small mountain of idols"). Hunters call it Bolvano-from (that is, "stone boobies"). Simply nature lovers nicknamed this place the Ural Stonehenge, and among the tourists behind the statues was fixed the nickname of the Pupa, or "the mountain of stone idols".

The birth of kerkur

The columns of weathering (the Komi Republic) are the kerkuras. So scientifically called columnar rocks, which stand separately from each other. They are created quite a long time. First magma is introduced into the lower rocks and solidifies inside in the form of oblong figures. Then such natural "helpers" as the wind, heat, frost, water and wind, for hundreds of years undermine the stone, gradually turning the mountains into plains. So it happened with these pillars, their hard rocks continue and now become thinner.

The Seventh Wonder of the World

"Stone fools" are listed in the list of seven wonders of Russia. Six pillars, created by nature itself, stand on the edge of the cliff. A bit further the seventh image is located. Forms of formations are whimsical and diverse. Depending on which angle to approach them, they visually change their outlines. People may think that they see images of animals, people, different objects. For example, many tourists sweep away that the seventh "dolt" is like a bottle that was turned upside down. The sixth pillar is like a head either of a bull or a ram. The fifth statue is associated in many visitors with the figure of a person.

Mystic Stones

When you see all this with your own eyes, it's hard to even imagine that stone hulks are a geological monument or the result of painstaking labor of nature. In addition to the will, you begin to believe in legends. Firstly, it's hard to realize that wind, rain and snow can be so brilliant creators, secondly, just somehow in a child's way I want to believe in a miracle.

The plateau is located in such a way that everything blossoms on the southern side at the beginning of summer, and snow still lies on the north side, and it begins to melt only in August. Many of those who visited there, note that near the stone pillars begins to overcome an inexplicable sense of fear. Local residents are sure that in ancient times they performed different shamanic rituals.

The closer you get to them, the more unusual the look becomes. All formations have different shapes, and around them lie stone boulders and ridges, which form a solid wall, as if protecting the kerkurs. They look very beautiful in the winter, when the pillars are completely white, as if they were crystal. In autumn there are often fogs here, and giants seem to be drawn through the haze.

Pillars of weathering: how to get there?

It is worth noting that it is not very easy to get here. Not all travelers have enough willpower to reach the intended goal of the route. But still there is a way out. The first way is to walk there, for this you will have to overcome an impressive distance from the Perm region or the Sverdlovsk region. Go, however, have a very long time - about 10-11 days. For the lazy, another option is suitable: a helicopter flight from Ukhta with refueling in Troitsko-Pechorsk. You can get there by helicopter in 4 hours. But it's worth the pleasure, as you know, there will be very decent money. If you go from Syktyvkar, you will first have to get to Troitsko-Pechorsk, and then by car to the village of Yaksha. From there you will have to cross 200 km along the river on a motor boat. At the final stage of the journey, you need to walk about 40 km.

After you arrive in the Pechoro-Ilychsky Nature Reserve, you will be greeted by an employee of the protected area and will offer accommodation for a holiday in a special house. This room is built of wood and heated with an economical oven. In winter time, the house can be reached by snowmobile, and in summer - only by off-road vehicles.

The enchanting mystery of nature

"Man's dummies" - an amazing and majestic place. Grandiose, like frozen idols, they amaze the imagination and create a feeling of a powerful energy surge. If you still decide to overcome the difficult path and see firsthand Manpupuner, the Pillars of weathering (Russia) are happy to welcome everyone at any time of the year.