Stone giants. Stone giants and flying heads

There are places with extraordinary and very powerful energy. One of such places is the Man-Pupu-Ner plateau in the Northern Urals. Such a phenomenon as weathering pillars on the Manpupuner plateau, you can’t call it anything but a miracle of nature, and those who have not been there must definitely visit Manpupuner!

It is very difficult to get to this place, and it really requires endurance, patience and the ability to overcome all the hardships and hardships of the expedition mode of passing the route. But truly, as a reward, the majestic pillars of the sacred place of the Mansi people appear before those who have reached Manpupuner ...
What you see is impressive, and no photographs or videos can convey the living power of the giants...
This is where you begin to believe in real power (and maybe even feel it) emanating from this place. It is no coincidence that this place is considered one of the places of Power.

This natural monument deservedly became a finalist and winner of the All-Russian competition "7 Wonders of Russia". Just imagine: on a relatively flat highland, there are seven stone pillars, the height of which reaches 42 meters, which is equal in height to a 17-story building!

Some of them are even narrower at the base and look like an upside down bottle. How could this come into being? Scientifically, these pillars are the result of soft rock weathering activity. Once, 200-300 million years ago, full-fledged mountains stood here, but over time, rain and wind washed away soft limestone rocks, leaving solid ones in the form of pillars. Thanks to this, we can admire the weathering pillars on the Manpupiner plateau.

However, this is just our scientific version of the origin of Manpupuner. The Voguls of the local population of the Urals have other points of view. There are at least three legends explaining the origin of the Small Bolvans (this is how it sounds in the Manpupuner translation from the Mansi language).

According to one of the legends, behind the Younger Brothers, i.e. six Samoyed giants were chasing the Voguls while they were trying to get beyond the Stone Belt. The giants had already almost caught up with the Vogulis, when suddenly, a shaman with a white face Yalpingner appeared in front of them. He raised his hand and managed to utter one spell, after which all the giants turned to stone. Unfortunately, Jalpingner himself has also petrified. Since then, they have been standing against each other.

Another legend says that seven giant shamans followed Ripheus to destroy the Voguls and Mansi. When they climbed the Coype, they saw sacred mountain Voguls Yalpyngner (the holiest place for Voguls) and understood the greatness and power of the Vogul gods. They were petrified with horror, only the leader of the giants, the chief shaman, managed to raise his hand to cover his eyes from Yalpyngner. But this did not save him, he also turned into stone.

In the end, we left the most romantic legend about the origin of Manpupuner. As the myth says, there lived one tribe of Yugrs (Voguls, Mansi and other tribes related to them were called by the common name of Yugras). It was so rich and happy that there were legends about it far beyond the Stone Belt. The tribe lived under the auspices of Yalpyngner, and their leader was the mighty and wise Kuuschai. The leader had a daughter, the beautiful Ayum. There was no one more beautiful than her. Torev (the bear), who lived on the other side, found out about her beauty. Ural mountains. And then, one day, Torev came to Kuuschai and demanded Ayum to be his wife, which was refused by Ayum herself. Torev was very angry, called his giant brothers and decided to destroy the Yugrs, and take Ayum by force as his wife. Approaching stone city where Ayum was, the giant brothers began to besiege it. A great battle ensued and the power was on the side of the giants. Then Ayum asked the good spirits of Yalpyngner to convey the news of the attack on the city to her brother Pygrychum, who was hunting at that time. But Pygrychum was far away. The giants broke into the city, destroyed the crystal palace, the fragments of which scattered over the Riphean mountains (since then, rock crystal has been found here). The Ugra-Vogul tribe was forced to flee. And so, when the giants had already almost caught up with Ayum and her compatriots, Pygrychum suddenly appeared with a golden shield and a shining sword, which the spirits of Yalpingner gave him. Pygrychum sent a beam of light reflected from his shield into Torev's eyes and he turned to stone. His brothers were petrified in the same way. This is how Manpupuner arose.

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Introduction.

We recently went on a hike to Mount Frog, which is not far from the city where we live. The ascent to the Frog turned out to be quite steep. To take the remnant by storm helped steps from the roots of trees, sharply protruding from the ground. Spruce, Kuril bamboo, raspberry, wild rose, blueberry and other plants grow on this mountain slope. We had to climb through the forest, but suddenly the forest ends and an object from three large stones. Remaining Frog. The remains of the Frog is a group of rocks. From the western and eastern sides, their silhouette in its own way external form resembles a sitting frog preparing to jump. This is a high eight-meter rock. According to legend, the Frog was revered by the ancient Ainu as a temple of Wisdom, here the information flow is open like nowhere else. That is why here you can get answers to questions that have long been of concern, as well as make a wish or be inspired by a new idea. Yes, and modern psychics unanimously claim that the remnant is not just a beautiful rock, but “its essence manifests itself through three levels: heavenly, terrestrial and underground, like the life of the frog itself: it is born in water, jumps on the ground and burrows for the winter deep in the mud." Its unique properties make it interesting for ecologists and geologists. The surrounding nature, as it were, emphasizes border of the ordinary world with a place of power, surrounded by an energy aura: near rock sculptures the nature of the vegetation is changing from trees to grasses and shrubs. The higher you climb the rocky slopes, the lower the bushes become. Here you can find different herbs: hawkweed, krasnodnev, orchis, reedgrass, wheatgrass and others. On the talus - cat's paw, immortelle and fireweed. A lot of different things happen here: someone sees aliens, and someone sees messages left by ancestors who lived millions of years ago.

How did nature decide so: you walk through the forest, but you find yourself on a rock? Or is there really no magic here?

My parents and older brother and I love to travel around our island of Sakhalin. I especially like to conquer new Mountain peaks. You climb the next mountain, climb with all your might and it seems you are ready to give up and turn back ... when suddenly a breathtaking view opens up in front of you. An endless blue sea, a winding river glittering below, or an emerald forest in a valley. As if you are flying over all this beauty. This time we went to the Peak Courageous. Peak Bold is located on Mount Duet in Tikhaya Bay, the top of which is located at an altitude of 232 meters. Climbing the peak and the way back takes about 2 hours. Mount Duet is quite steep. Stone walls seem to hang over the bay - waves and pebbles carved their foot, forming bizarre shapes resembling the paws of huge monsters. These giant stone boulders rolled down a long time ago during the seismic activity of the earth and froze like guards at the water's edge. There are grottoes, cracks, longitudinal sections and niches along the coast line, it is interesting to walk and listen to the silence here. The coast is covered in black volcanic sand, among which one can see white quartzite pebbles. On the way you will not meet a single tree or even a bush. Only huge boulders, stones of various shapes, colors and sizes. And also rocky sheer cliffs with toad skins. We made this ascent in winter, so we could enjoy an extraordinary spectacle: the waters of small streams flowing down the steep slopes of the Zhdanko ridge and falling from a height freeze, forming magnificent pictures - large and small icicles up to 30 meters high in the form of various frozen icefalls. From the top you can enjoy beautiful view mountain range running further south, overlooking the Tikhaya Bay and the island "Zametny", the Zhdanko ridge, the coast Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

And the main hill of the island is Mountain Air. The place where it is now located ski resort. "Mountain air" can be seen from almost every window of the city. Yes, that's how close it is: a few minutes drive and you're already at the foot of Mount Bolshevik (this is the one where the complex is located). Bolshevik Mountain, Chekhov Peak, Russian Mountain - they all guard our city. Majestic, important. Huge pines alternate here with oaks and maples, dark needles - with quivering greens of birches and mountain ash. A funicular goes to the top of the Russian, but it's better to go on foot. The local forest is like an extension of the park. Ayan spruce in it coexists with Manchurian ash, Sakhalin fir - with cork and maple. The second level is lower trees: Sakhalin cherry, elderberry, giant stalks of Kuril bamboo. And all this is intertwined with vines - grapes, hydrangea, actinidia. At the very bottom, a fern lurked. The most remarkable are the so-called giant plants, ordinary grasses that here take on Martian dimensions. Sakhalin bear pipes, silkworm, kakalia, highlander grow up to 5 meters, butterbur (looks like burdock!) has leaves up to 3 meters in diameter, and local buckwheat-weirikha is crowned with such a stunning crown that it is not only eaten, but also used as an ornamental plant. In the thickets, lianas from exotic families of gourds and gourds are not uncommon. There is also a climbing hydrangea, included in the Red Book of Russia. In September-October, the hills are the most beautiful - there are clear and warm days, and the hills in crimson and gold attire are beautiful. They are like huge giants protecting our city.

But why?

Why are the mountains so different even on our island? Some are steep, stony without a single blade of grass, others are completely covered dark forest and gloomy, and the third gentle, on which it would be easy to walk, if not for the grass above human height?

The purpose of my project: to find out why the mountains on our Sakhalin Island are so different?

Based on the goal, the task was set: to study the structure of various mountain systems.

The hypothesis put forward by me is as follows: if the method of origin, climatic conditions, area of ​​​​location change, then the mountain itself changes.

The practical significance of the project will be as follows, I will learn about our island Interesting Facts, about the origin of the Earth, about the structure of mountains.

The origin of the mountains

From information sources, I learned that on Sakhalin the predominant form of relief is low and medium high mountains, occupying at least three-quarters of the surface of the entire island. According to the nature of the relief, the island can be divided into two district - southern mountainous and northern plains.

The island has two mountain systems located in the southern and middle parts. southern mountains these are two ridges, the West Sakhalin Mountains and the East Sakhalin Mountains. The West Sakhalin Mountains stretch for 650 km along the western coast from the middle of the island to its southern tip. The East Sakhalin Mountains are a complex system of ridges that filled eastern part Sakhalin. The length of this system is 350 km. Mountains stretching along the coast from south to north, with the highest peak Mount Lopatina (1609 meters above sea level). In the south of Sakhalin is the Susunai Range with peaks over 1000 meters above sea level and a length of about 50 km. In the northern part there are small heights.

The composition of the rocks of the West Sakhalin Range includes mainly: shales, sandstones, conglomerates and igneous rocks. They also contain coal seams. A East Sakhalin Ridge It is composed mainly of metamorphic rocks, that is, altered igneous rocks. Here there are a complex of building materials, and in the central part and placers of gold.

So if we are talking about igneous rocks, the origin of mountain systems is the same - volcanic. The origin of volcanic mountains speaks for itself. Volcanic magma breaks out and cools down to form new rocks. These rocks eventually accumulate around crevices and turn into cone-shaped volcanoes. Sometimes there is a union of several volcanoes located close to each other, thereby forming volcanic ridges. Or maybe it's the work of underwater volcanoes, we live on the island.

Conclusion number 1: the mountains on Sakhalin were formed in one way - volcanic, and this does not affect the difference.

Mountain structure.

The first view I have considered is a mountain with sharp peaks, steep ascents, sharp ledges, consisting of hard rocks. On such mountains there is no grass, let alone trees. At the top of such a mountain there is a strong wind and they are located on the seashore, where the vegetation is already scarce.

The second type of mountains are mountains with gentle slopes and rough vegetation. On Sakhalin locals they call them hills. The meaning of the word SOPKA comes from the word to pour , hill, hill, earth embankment. But it’s true, a hill always has a fertile layer, which is why trees, bushes, and grass grow on it. The forests of Sakhalin are characterized by the predominance of spruce-fir, green forests. The flora of the region is rich and varied. Here, as in a huge botanical garden, coexist in close proximity larch and polar birch, spruce and wild grapes, cedar elfin and velvet tree. On the hills you can find tree-like yew, lemongrass, actinidia, grapes. It is on the hills that the inhabitants of the island gather berries and mushrooms. It is noteworthy that you can find plants such as burdock, oxalis, hogweed growing taller than human growth, turning some areas into a kind of jungle. Through the bamboo thickets, which cover almost all the slopes of the hills, it is extremely difficult to pass - one plant is so tightly pressed against another.

Conclusion #2: appearance mountains depends on its structure.

3.Location of mountains.

The mountains located on the coast, for the most part, do not have vegetation. The slopes facing the sea consist of stones, boulders and rocks. High mountain ranges in some places come close to the coast, which rises above the water with a steep and low cliff. At the foot of the cliff there is a small excellent sand beach, which at high tide can be completely flooded and cut off the path home. In some places mountain range comes directly to the shore and steep, often completely impregnable rocks, breaks off into the sea. The coast is replete with high rocky capes with rocky peaks of a conical shape, rising 600-700 m above the water.

In this section, the coast is completely impassable. In some places, at low tide, a small flat strip of land is exposed, but traveling along it is dangerous. At high tide, sea waves beat right into the coastal cliffs and woe to those who do not have time to go to a safe place.

The coastal mountains are greatly influenced by the huge bodies of water surrounding the island. In winter, cold air from the mainland rushes to the ocean through the Sakhalin mountain range in a northwesterly direction. And in summer, the cooled air moves back, enveloping the East Sakhalin Range. The eastern ridge serves as a barrier protecting the island from cold winds blowing from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Therefore, the slopes of the mountains facing the sea look more severe. At the end of summer and autumn, typhoons invade Sakhalin - strong destructive winds with big amount rainfall test the strength of mountain peaks.

The cliffs that form the cape fall vertically into the sea, and a chain of underwater rocks lies parallel to the shore. Here the sea is always raging and foaming. Ships avoid approaching these rocks, where only seabirds live.

The mountains recede further and further from the coast, and gradually lowering, merge with the surrounding lowland. The mountains located along the edges of the valleys, on the contrary, have rough vegetation. Their slopes are overgrown with taiga: larch, spruce, cedar elfin. The vegetation here is unusually lush, tall and very dense. It is very difficult to pass through the bamboo thickets, which cover almost all the slopes of the hills. Some plants reach a height of 3-4 meters. The stems of the bear's angelica are not thinner than young trees. Burdock leaves often reach a diameter of 1.5-2 meters. You can also find Eleutherococcus and Magnolia here. Wild berries are diverse: redberry, lingonberry, cloudberry, blueberry, raspberry, currant. On the southern slopes of the hills, you can see bright blue carpets of wild irises, meet thickets of orange lilies or amazing Glen lilies with one and a half meter stems, from which beautiful salad-yellowish flowers the size of a glass hang.

Conclusion #3: In harsh terrain where the wind blows strong winds and whipping sea surf, vegetation and fertile layer is absent. And in places where the climate is not so severe, the mountains have lush vegetation.

4. The height of the mountains.

If we consider mountains with the same position on the ground, we can see that there may be no vegetation on their peaks. The higher you climb, the rarer the forest becomes, then shrubs and dwarf pines remain. And then only low-growing grass, mosses and lichens. Therefore, if you go to the forest for mushrooms, you can collect them at the foot of the mountains, and if you go for berries, you need to climb higher. There are also loaches in our mountains. These are treeless mountain peaks rising above the upper border of the forest, which are characterized by bare peaks and stony placers, high-altitude, so-called bald vegetation (by its nature of mountain-tundra type), formed by mosses and lichens, thickets of undersized birch and elfin cedar. Why is this happening? Temperatures in the mountains drop by about 0.6°C for every 100 m of elevation. The disappearance of vegetation cover and the deterioration of living conditions high in the mountains are explained by such a rapid drop in temperature. Cold winds, cloudiness and hurricanes also contribute to lower temperatures. If you watch the mountains at different times of the year, you can see that in spring, when the trees are already blooming in the valleys, the grass is green on the tops of our hills, there is still snow. And even in June, when the guys are already starting summer holidays, at Chekhov Peak it is still winter with snow. And in autumn, when my friends and I are still riding bicycles, the hills around the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk are covered with snow caps.

Conclusion No. 4: the vegetation cover of mountains depends on their height.

Conclusion

The appearance of mountains in the same area will depend on its environment. If this is a harsh sea coast, then the mountains look the same, with rocky impregnable slopes. If this is a flowering valley, then the mountain is dressed up in a multi-colored outfit. The height of the mountain is also important. Rich and beautiful below, it can become dull and lifeless at the top near the clouds. But having conquered any mountain, each person is rewarded with an amazing spectacle and unforgettable impressions.

And what about our three mountains, which I spoke about at the beginning.

First, our giants - Bolshevik Mountain, Chekhov Peak, Russian Mountain. They are located in the center of the island, far from the sea coast and do not experience the force of sea winds and sea surf, and therefore their outfits consist of a whole variety of flora our island. The height of Bolshevik Mountain is 601 meters above sea level, the Russian Mountain is 1609 meters and the Chekhov Peak is 1045 meters. Relative to the world giants with a height of more than 8500 meters. Our fells may seem like hills. But from the foot almost to the very peaks, they are always beautiful and elegant. And only closer to the clouds do they show their warlike and stone heart.

Now Peak Bold. Despite its small growth of only 232 meters above sea level, the Bold Peak is always harsh. It will not meet you with bright colors or wild vegetation, because it is located on the shores of the harsh Sea of ​​Okhotsk. Both in winter and summer, strong winds blow here, sometimes with rain, and sometimes with snow. The vegetation here and on the shore is stunted, bizarrely bent by the winds. And even less on the slopes of the mountain. The location of the mountain completely determined its "inner world" and appearance.

And finally, our most mysterious friend is the remnant Frog.

It is located far from the harsh sea forces, and therefore its appearance is beautiful and diverse. Not the smallest among our heroes - 310 meters above sea level. Well, its stone top leaves us a mystery: is it a scientifically based change in the plant world, taking into account changes in height and, as a result, climatic conditions; whether the witchcraft of an ancient shaman who keeps the secrets of the world; Or the tricks of aliens.

And yet, as scientists say, the formation of mountains never stops. Mountains grow from about 1 to 7 cm per year, and wind and water change them beyond recognition over time. So, returning to the old and familiar mountain, you conquer a new peak.

Bibliography:

A popular geographical sketch of SAKHALIN ISLAND SL Lutsky.

Bosom Sakhalin region Editor-compiler A.V. Tarasov, 2013

The mineral resource base of Sakhalin and Kuril Islands at the turn of the third millennium V. Evseev, 2000.

Sakhalin Kuriles website https://skr.su/news/post/4443/

Website Go to the forest https://idilesom.com

Website of the Sakhalin Regional public organization Club "Boomerang" http://boomerangclub.ru/

There are many places on our planet, the origin of which a person is not able to fully explain. Around such objects, many legends and tales are born, explaining what is difficult to rationally explain. Kigilyakhs, or kisilyakhs, are one of such objects.

They are high pillars formed from rocks that are usually located on the tops of rocks during weathering. It is not surprising that high pillars, resembling the frozen figures of giants, have become the heroes of many legends in Yakutia, where they are located.

HISTORY OF FORMATION OF KIGILYAKH

The largest number of Kigilyakh pillars is located in northern Yakutia, the most impressive stone figures are located on the New Siberian Islands, this is where most tourists come. It is interesting that from the Yakut "kisily" literally translates as "a place where there are people", since the very word "kis" - "man". It is known that the Yakut kisilyakhs arose about 120 million years ago. Approximately at this time, the Verkhoyansk and Chersky ridges were formed as a result of the collision of the North American continental plate with the Eurasian one. It was after the formation of folds on these ridges that kigilyakhs began to form. True, they owe their origin to weathering, which, in conditions of frosty weather and location (tops of rocks), forms stone pillars. The material of which the kigilyakhs are made is hard rocks, mostly granite.

There is another version of the origin of these rocks, which, as usual, is associated with otherworldly forces. The legend says that once the earth was not yet covered with snow and permafrost, then people lived mainly in mountainous areas. But over time, the climate also changed, the dwelling in the rocks became unsuitable, as a severe cooling began. At the moment when life became completely impossible, people decided to move to the south, to descend from the mountains. But during the crossing of the Kisilakhsky Range, many of them, unable to withstand the cold, froze. Over time, they turned into stone pillars, which, being covered with more and more layers of stone, reached their real sizes.

LOCATION

Kigilyakhs are quite common all over the world, they are in Kazakhstan - the Koitas massif is known, there are mountain ranges in Transbaikalia. IN different countries stone pillars are called differently, somewhere - "stone monks", due to the fact that they resemble frozen praying clergymen. In Russia, the most famous kigilyakhs are located in Yakutia, where tourists interested in magic stones come every year. The most famous locations for stones are the Kisilakhsky Range, the Medvezhy and Lyakhovsky Islands. In general, the word "kigilyakh" itself began to be used by geologists all over the world relatively recently, this happened after the discovery of the Lyakhovsky Islands, when Cape Kigilyakh and the peninsula of the same name were discovered and named. Two islands that are part of the Lyakhovsky group - Chetyrekhstolbovoy and Stolbovoy - are located mainly in the Laptev Sea. Another famous place"Habitats" of the Kigilyakhs - Mount Kisilyakh-Tas, it is located 100 kilometers from the coast East Siberian Sea, on the banks of the Alazeya River flowing through the tundra. It is on this mountain that the Kigilyakhs form the so-called ridge, since a ridge of pillars stretches along the entire top of the mountain. It is also important to be able to distinguish kigilyakhs from nunataks (from the Eskimo "nun" and "tak", which literally means "lonely peak"). These various stone pillars are very similar, nunataks are rocks that stand alone, or rocky peaks that form on the surface of a glacier. This is their main difference from the Kigilyakhs - nunataks are formed not only as a result of weathering, their appearance is also influenced by rocks collapsing by the glacier. But if the ice around disappears and the nunatak remains standing on a bare rocky surface, you will hardly be able to distinguish this stone pillar from the kigilyakh. Perhaps only geologists can accurately determine the cause of the formation of stone pillars.

KISILYAKH RIDGE

The Kisilakhsky Ridge is one of the most scenic spots habitat of the Kigilyakhs, it is located on the watershed of the Adycha and Yana rivers. Besides, in mountain system Chersky, this ridge is one of the smallest. Its length is about 80 meters, and the most high peak reaches a mark of 1548 meters. The ridge consists of many different rocks, which allows us to consider it complex, it includes: shales, Jurassic sandstones, mudstones and other minerals, scientists believe that all these granitoids belong to the Cretaceous period in age.

It is these sedimentary rocks that form kigilyakhs, some of which can reach a height of 30 meters. They are located on the main crest of the ridge and, in addition, stretch along the entire watershed. Interestingly, it is on the Kisilyakh Ridge that the Kigilyakhs sometimes form impenetrable walls or labyrinths with small passages between the pillars. The lower the kigilakh is, the lower it is, but at the same time, perfectly even pillars are located on the top, and below they acquire interesting and bizarre shapes. Kigilyakhs are assigned the same strange names, which talk about what the pole looks like. In general, many tourists consider it their duty to somehow unusually name their favorite kigil. Therefore, if you read travel notes different travelers who have visited the same place will not find the same names of stone pillars. Everyone will give them names at their discretion, focusing on what the stone reminded them of. The Kisilyakh range is covered with many cracks and crevices, and its northern side is completely covered with lichens and mosses. Many researchers note another feature of the Kigilyakhs - the presence of a leg. The well-known geologist G. Meidel wrote in his research that the foot of stone pillars is a base as tall as a person, while it is slightly thinner than the kigilakh itself. At the same time, the exact age of the stones remains unknown: how many scientists, so many guesses.

EXPEDITIONS TO STUDY KISLYAKHI

Many scientists in different time made expeditions to the islands of Yakutia in order to find out the true origin of the Kigilyakhs. So, in 1921–1923, F.P. Wrangel conducted an expedition during which his group explored the Bear Islands, which are located in the East Siberian Sea. The group of these islands included the island of Chetyrehstolbovoy, it was on it that Wrangel discovered the Kigilyakhs for the first time, in his notes on the campaign he sought to find out the reasons for their formation. “It can be concluded that the three now separated stones were once one large cliff: gradually splitting and collapsing from the force of frost or other physical problems, it lost its primitive appearance,” he wrote, the first to note weathering as the main factor in the formation of new kigilyakhs.

And in 1935 on the same island with new expedition the geologist S. Obruchev arrived, who also explored the Kigilyakhs. In his memoirs, he described not only the theory of the formation of stones, but also told the story of their discovery. According to him, the Bear Islands were discovered as early as 1702 and first visited in 1720. Another fact noted by him is interesting: the pillars collapsed very quickly. Obruchev wrote that if in 1720 there were four pillars, then only three were found in 1935, and the fourth turned into a stone placer and lay at the foot of the rest. At the same time, the geologist notes that only 200 years are enough for all the kigilyakhs on Chetyrekhstolbovy to be destroyed. But Obruchev's research was not taken seriously, as he made too many inaccuracies in his notes. So, in the same 1935, another expedition visited the island - the researcher Vorobyov, who discovered and described all four kigilyakhs. However, on this moment it is known that the pillars located on the Kisilyakh Range are covered with vertical cracks and therefore are rather unstable. But, despite the existing danger of collapse, local residents since ancient times consider kigilyakhs the best place recreation. Sitting with them, according to legend, you can gain mental strength and peace of mind. And in 1986, at the foot of the Kisilakhsky Range, archaeologists discovered more than 68 sites of ancient people and a burial place. These finds indicate that the mountainous area of ​​Yakutia was quite densely populated in ancient times. And perhaps the locals are right, believing that the Kigilyakhs carry the powers of their ancient ancestors.

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It is believed that Numi-Torum - the main Mansi god who created people and gave them land - threw his belt here to make the land stable. This belt keeps her from drowning in the ocean. Such is the sacred mission of the Ural Mountains - the belt stone.

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On the western slope of the Belt Stone, Ydzhit Iz (Big Stone), as the ancient Komi called the Urals, Pechora originates from a tiny stream very close to sacred place Voguls - Mount Manpupuner. "Small mountain of idols" - this is how it is translated compound name from the Mansi language. The Komi call them Bolvans, and tourists often call them Navels.

This plateau rises on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve in the Komi Republic and is under the protection of UNESCO. You can get to Manpupuner with the permission of the administration of the reserve by helicopter or on foot through wild forests, streams, small rivers and swamps.

This place became famous after it was included in the list of seven wonders of Russia in 2008. Since that time, tourists have been drawn here. Those who come to the plateau on foot treat amateurs with a certain amount of contempt. air transport. They believe that only those who have reached the Doodles, overcoming difficulties, are worthy to see them.

Our starting point is northern settlement Troitsko-Pechorsk. From Syktyvkar (the capital of the Komi Republic) a little more than 400 km. Further along the dirt road we go to Ust-Ilych - the place where the Ilych river flows into the Pechora. A 200 km long waterway begins here. The journey takes two days with overnight stays at the Izpyred and Ust-Lyaga cordons.

The most difficult part of the path is the forest path. It starts right behind Ust-Laga. The path to the plateau is not easy, it requires physical endurance. The pillars are 36 km from here. There are several equipped parking lots where you can relax and refresh yourself. There are many swamps along the way, so the best shoes for the transition are rubber boots.

Manpupuner opens up to the eyes of travelers unexpectedly. The forest somehow suddenly thins out: crooked birches, cedars and stones on a multi-colored slope no longer block the view, the wind rises, dispersing hordes of mosquitoes, and these giants suddenly grow on the mountainside. Huge pillars stand guard over their possessions, blocking the way for unwanted guests.

Nature itself worked hard to create giants. The remnants are pillars of weathering, which were formed due to the long work of the wind and a sharp temperature drop: the weaker rock was destroyed, and the stronger one, over which the elements were not in control, has survived to this day. The height of these pillars is from 32 to 40 m, they are almost like 15-story buildings, and people next to them seem like tiny creatures.

Stretched out in a line, these six giants stand side by side, and the seventh is a little further away. Mysterious figures amaze with bizarre shapes. Imagination immediately draws images of monsters with the head of a camel or horse, who guard their ancient secrets here. They really resemble huge giants, who rise menacingly on a flat top, led by their leader - a stern shaman. He seemed to raise his hand, trying to stop the travelers who violated their eternal peace.

There is a beautiful Mansi legend about the pillars: once the Samoyed giants (Nenets) decided to destroy the Voguls. They drove the ancestors of the Mansi from these lands with a formidable tread. But, having risen to the plateau, they retreated and froze in fear, seeing Yalpyng-Ner in front of them - a mountain sacred to all Voguls. Their leader dropped his tambourine, which immediately turned into the top of Koit (drum). The giants also petrified, frozen forever.

Another legend about the beautiful Aim, who was escaping from her pursuers - the giant brothers. Trying to protect the girl, her brother Pygrychum turned the shiny shield so that the sunlight hit the giants in the eyes and blinded them. Then one giant dropped his tambourine and turned to stone along with his six brothers.

The Komi people have their own legends about stone heroes. They say that they lived a long time ago and wanted to turn the earth over, putting it on its edge. But one of the main gods of the Komi Yong did not let them do this and turned the giants into stone. Stone idols stand guard over their possessions. Therefore, deep grave silence always reigns in these parts.

The silence and the truth here is such that it seems almost implausible. But as soon as the wind changes direction, a rumble arises, as if it were giants talking among themselves, dissatisfied with being disturbed again.

• Huge, Giant, Neutral
• Armor class: 17 (natural armor)
• Hits: 126 (11d12 + 55)
• Speed: 40 ft.
• Saving Throws: LOV +5 , TEL +8 , MDR +4
• Skills: Attentiveness +4 , Athletics +12
• Feelings: dark vision 60 ft., Passive mindfulness 14
• Languages: giant
• Danger: 7 - 2900 op.
• Source: « Monster manual»

• Capabilities

  Stone camouflage. The giant has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.

• Actions

  Multiattack. The giant makes two mace attacks.

  Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

  Stone. Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 60/240 ft., single target. Hit: 28 (4d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be knocked prone.

• Reactions

  Catching stones. If a stone or similar object is hurled at the giant, the giant can, on a successful DC 10 Dexterity saving throw, catch the projectile and not take bludgeoning damage from it.

• Description

  Stone giants are reclusive, quiet and peaceful as long as they are not disturbed. Their granite gray skin, emaciated features, and black, sunken eyes give stone giants a stern expression. They love solitude, hiding their lives and art from the world.

  Inhabitants of the stone world. Secluded caves serve as a home for stone giants. Cave networks are cities, rock tunnels are roads, and underground streams are waterways. Mountain ranges are their continents, with vast expanses of land between them, like oceans, which stone giants rarely cross.

  In their dark, silent caverns, the stone giants silently work on intricate carvings, measuring time with the echoes of water dripping into underground pools. In the deepest chambers of the stone giants' settlements, far from the noise of bats and cave bears allied to the giants, are holy places where silence and darkness are perfect. Stone takes on the holiest qualities in these cavernous cathedrals, and their buttresses and columns are so beautifully carved that they shame legendary dwarven stonecutters.

  Carvers and prophets. Among the stone giants, craft is considered the greatest asset. They create intricate murals on cave walls, paint these murals, and engage in other forms of art. They regard stone carving as their greatest skill.

  Stone giants strive to reveal forms from raw stone that they believe reveal meaning inspired by their god, Scoreus Stonebone. The giants appoint the best carvers as their leaders, shamans and prophets. The holy hands of such a giant during work become the hands of a god.

  Graceful athletes. Despite their large size and musculature, stone giants are lithe and graceful. Skilled stone throwers occupy a high position in the ordnung of giants, testing and showing their ability to throw and catch huge boulders. Such giants are at the forefront when the tribe needs to defend its home or attack its enemies. However, even in combat, the main thing is skill. Rock giant throwing is a display of not just brute strength, but stunning balance and athleticism.

  Dreamers in the open. Stone giants perceive the world outside their underground dwellings as a realm of dreams, where nothing is truly true or real. On the surface, they behave as humanoids may behave in their dreams, with little awareness of their actions and never fully trusting what they see or hear. A promise made above the earth need not be kept. An insult can be made without an apology. Killing prey or a sentient being does not cause guilt in an open-air dream world.

  Some giants, lacking the grace of athletes or artistic prowess, live on the fringes of society, serving as border guards or wandering hunters for the tribe. When intruders penetrate too deep into the stone giant clan's mountainous territory, these guards greet them with flying boulders and a shower of shattered stone. The survivors tell stories of the brutality of the stone giants, never realizing how little these dream-world brutes resemble their quiet, artistic lineage.

• • The material is taken from the pdf version of the translation "Monster Manual" from the studio

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