One of the pearls of the Samara Luka National Park, located in the Samara region, is Mount Camel. The park itself is part of the Sredne-Volzhsky reserve - a special territory on which natural resources are protected by the state.
The park is rich in monuments of nature and culture. This Molodetsky mound, Mount Popova, the landscape complex Stone Bowl and, of course, the Camel is a mountain.
Name history
One of the most recognizable and famous attractions of the Samara Luka National Park is Mount Camel. Almost every tourist who has visited the Samara region has a photo with this unique natural monument. It is located in the very north of the Zhiguli Mountains, near the village of Shiryaev.
It seems to an ignorant person, where does the camel? Indeed, in these places these animals have never happened. The secret lies in the imaginative thinking of a person from the Russian hinterland. The magnificent mountain for many years resembled the local inhabitants of the steppe camel, and so they decided to christen it.
The name Camel Mountain received due to its shape. It resembles a camel who has rested and rested on the ground. True, in our days the shape of the mountain has undergone significant changes, so the shape of the animal is guessed with great difficulty. The mountain was part of the rocks of the Goat Horns. However, in 1952 they were almost destroyed, while they were used for industrial purposes.
A tourist route
In order for everyone to visit this unique mountain, a separate excursion and tourist route is organized in the national park. In addition to Mount Camel, you can see the historical site - the village of Shiryaevo, located at the mouth of the Shiryaevo Valley, as well as Monastery Mountain and Mount Popova.
We should also talk about the village of Shiryaevo. This settlement carefully preserves traces of history. There are many buildings built in the 19th century. The village itself appeared in 1647. At that time, it was first mentioned in the census. This means that the real age of the village is even greater.
Burlak refuge
Any schoolchild knows Repin's famous painting “Barge Haulers on the Volga”. This work of art was created in these places. In 1870, Repin lived in the area of the village of Shiryaevo. From ancient times these places were used for a short rest of the barge haulers.
Today, the Repin Museum is opened in the village, in which you can see the conditions under which the famous artist lived and worked, what conditions surrounded the painter during the creation of one of the most famous masterpieces.
Not far from here is the visitor center of the national park, where you can get all the necessary information, as well as the observation deck of Mount Popova, which offers a magnificent view of the Zhiguli Mountains and the memorial sign of the Volga Bulgaria. This is an ancient state that existed on this territory in the past centuries.
Unique nature
These places are also famous for their special nature.
The Zhiguli mountains pass into a plateau that rises above the Volga at an altitude of about 40-50 meters. It is interspersed by ravines, rocks and hollows.
Among tourists, an object named as follows: Mount Camel. The Samara region attracts more and more visitors every year. Railway tracks have survived to this day, along which about 100 years ago they drove wheelbarrows with limestone.
The unique local attractions attract here not only ordinary travelers. Camel Mountain has long been a favorite place among professional climbers and cavers. They are attracted here by a unique natural landscape. Climbers develop a variety of routes. Both experienced athletes and beginners can cope with them. For lovers of extreme pastime there is the opportunity to go routes at night.
Animal world
A camel (mountain) is a great place to meet a wide variety of animals and even rare species of plants. In the bowels of the underground galleries you will find salvation from the heat even on hot days. Nowadays, bats love to fly here, and in artificial caves one of the largest bat colonies even remains to winter.
You may get the impression that you were in a fairy forest, the nature surrounding the tourist is so unusual. Once here, you will want to come back again and again.
How to get there
To get to this natural attraction, you need to go to the Samara region, on the right bank of the Volga. It is best to go on weekdays, as there are a lot of people on holidays and weekends, you will not be able to enjoy the beauty of nature.
If you do not travel by car, you can get from Samara by bus number 1 or number 50. Get off at the Electroshield stop and head to the boat station. From there, by water you can reach the mountain itself or first swim to the village of Gavrilova Polyana, and from there walk a bit.
If you decide to go on a trip, then positive impressions will certainly prevail. The favorite place for tourists is Camel Mountain. Samara will become a transit point to this unique natural monument.
However, it is worth remembering that this object is extremely popular among travelers, so do not be surprised if you meet mountains of garbage. There are many who can’t resist not to leave an autograph on one of the stones. All this, of course, does not adorn the unique natural attraction. The behavior and actions of such unfortunate tourists are irritating for many, especially because it is most often not possible to reason them.