Chulyshman Valley: where are the main attractions

Chulyshman Valley has long been known among tourists in the Altai. It was formed as a result of the convergence of a huge glacier. There are many interesting and picturesque places in the valley. The site on the map, where it is located, is the Ulagan district of the Altai Republic. It is one of the hard-to-reach places in the republic.

Chulyshman River

Chulyshman's valley received its name from the same name of the water stream. From Lake Djulukol to Teletskoye Lake (Altyn-Kol), a swift and winding river carries its waters. Her name is Chulyshman. Its name, according to one of the versions, because of the many bends the river received from "celushkin" - "earthworm". Its length reaches 240 km, is one of the most important tributaries of the Teletskoye Lake (up to 70% of the influx, the area of water collection is almost 17 thousand square kilometers).

A beautiful and powerful river attracts the attention of water tourists-extremals. Rafting on it is quite complicated, many rapids. For example, the famous Yazulin threshold lasts for 15 kilometers.

About the Chulyshman Valley

Chulyshmansky valley itself is also amazing with its magnificent views. Sheer unapproachable walls that converge almost closely, to several hundred meters, then again move apart for several kilometers.

Above with. Yazul almost no one lives, only occasionally come across hunting lodges and winter huts. But the most popular is the part of the valley that lies north of the Katu-Yaryk Pass.

Katu-Yaryk

From the pass, the Chulyshman Valley begins for the visitors. How to get to it is not an easy question. This pass is one of two possible routes to the valley, and in winter, perhaps, the only one (with the possible exception of traveling by helicopter). He received his name from the Altai "kot kharyk" - "a difficult road". Indeed, until the middle of the twentieth century, when the Ulagan-Koo-Balykcha road was built, it was possible to penetrate the valley only along the lake or on horseback, through a difficult and dangerous pass.

Despite the fact that today Katu-Yaryk is a normal gravel road, it continues to be considered a rather complex and dangerous area, which is crossed only by experienced drivers with strong nerves, not afraid of heights. But such drivers, as well as their passengers, are waiting for a rather fascinating journey with breathtaking views.

There is one more subtlety in an automobile trip to the valley - since the pass is fairly steep, only powerful cars can go back. The rest remains either to be remelted by ferry (and the cost of such a ferry reaches 7 thousand rubles), or for a fee to use the services of local motorists.

Waterfall Uchar

The valley is replete with waterfalls, which overflow beautiful foamy streams on both sides of the river. Especially a lot of them in the spring period, when temporary waterfalls are added to permanent ones. But the most impressive is the famous Uchar.

The name "Uchar" can be translated as "powerful" or "roaring". And indeed, already a hundred meters from his foot, to hear each other, you have to scream. Falling several steps from a great height - 160 meters - it strikes with its beauty and grandeur.

It is the most beautiful water stream that has the Chulyshman Valley. The waterfall Uchar fascinates many with its power.

But getting to it is not easy. To do this, buying tickets at the reserve cashier for a small amount of 100 rubles, you will need to do a trip of 3-5 hours. The route is quite complicated, and it is better to use the services of a conductor. But an experienced tourist with a good health can easily overcome the route and alone. Travelers who decide on such a walk will get a lot of impressions on the way and will be rewarded with the opened views and bathing on a comfortable beach near the waterfall.

Stone Mushrooms

The second most popular place of tourist pilgrimage in the valley is the stone mushrooms, which amaze with their unique, nowhere else encountered, views. This geological formation, which, according to the calculations of geologists, will not last more than half a century, is a real forest of stone mushrooms. On a fairly thin base are massive blocks, holding some miracle. And the "mushrooms" themselves range from very small, not more than a meter in height, to huge ones, of a dozen meters.

The road to the Mushrooms is quite simple, but in some places it goes uphill, it takes about an hour. As in the case with Uchar, you will first have to cross the river, using the services of Altai boatmen. Overcoming the path, you can admire the wonderful panorama of the valley, as well as make a series of spectacular pictures next to the stone giants.

South Teletskoye Lake

In the north, the valley rests on the southern shore of the Teletskoye Lake, which is proud of the Altai Mountains. Chulyshman Valley as it passes into this Altai "sea". Another name is its Altyn-Kol. In the southern part of it are very picturesque places, it is a real pearl of the valley. Two majestic mountains - Altyn-Tu and Tualok - give it a unique charm, throwing their reflections in the cold water surface of the Golden Lake.

Here is a magnificent huge sandy beach and, which, perhaps most importantly, quite few vacationers. Due to the inaccessibility of the southern coast, the bulk of holidaymakers concentrate on the northern shore of Teletskiy, giving ample time for lovers to stay in silence and to relax truly in communion with nature. At the same time, there are three camp sites on this lake shore, with houses and campsites, where you can take advantage of the necessary minimum of civilizational benefits.

Chulyshman Valley is one of the most picturesque places in the Altai Mountains. The mountains surrounding the valley are striking in their height. Although it is difficult to access, many tourists continue to aspire to the Ulagan district of the Altai Republic.