The southern Urals is famous for its picturesque nature, and its amazing rivers, surrounded by rocky shores, deserve special attention. Our today's story is about the beautiful river Ai, “Lunar Beauty” (this is how its name is translated from the Bashkir language).
basic information
So, the Ai River originates between the ridges of the Southern Urals - on the slope of Elauda in the Cranberry Swamp at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, not far from Zlatoust.
Conventionally, it can be divided into two parts: mountainous - from the source to the village of Lakly, and flat - from Lakla to the mouth. Ay falls into the Ufa river.
The total length is about 540 kilometers, half of which the Ai river flows through the Chelyabinsk region, and half through the republic of Bashkiria. The average depth is only 1 meter.
Its main tributaries are the rivers Ik, Kigi, Melekes, Kusa, Lemazy, Big Arsha and Big Satka. But nevertheless, she receives her main food from melting snow.
The Ay River, for some reason, is always muddy. Perhaps the answer lies in its swamp origin or in special rocks of the coastal soil.
Another interesting feature is the frequent change in water level. So, in extreme heat, the river becomes completely smaller, and during rains its level rises rapidly, and the water becomes even more cloudy.
Rafting on the Ay River
Fans of extreme sports will surely appreciate this unforgettable adventure - rafting along dangerous mountain rapids, stunning coastal views, cliffs and caves that meet along the way. By the way, along the course of Ay there are 38 unique caves, of which the most famous are Laklinskaya and Kurgazanskaya.
Another attraction is the Karst Arch, a 15-meter high rocky ledge on the right bank of the river near the village of Novaya Pristan. Scientists believe that this is the remnant of a very ancient cave, which was destroyed by water and time.
The Ay River is also a meeting with the past, because it is not in vain that archaeologists from all over the world strive here. The right bank is literally strewn with various historical monuments. For example, a few kilometers from the village of Vanyashkino there is the famous Korotaevsky Stone, on which ancient hieroglyphs are visible - images of the Sun, people and animals running.
Mountain lovers will also find something to do here. The most popular place with them is the 80-meter rock "Devil's Finger", sheer and very dangerous. It is located a kilometer from the village of Petropavlovsk.
Fishing on the Ay River
Rafting along the river, you can entertain yourself with good fishing. Pikes, chubs, bleak, minnows, perch are found here, more rarely - gerichs.
And the Ay River is famous for its unique fish - grayling, which you can’t catch anywhere else in the Urals. This species is found infrequently due to adverse ecology and arid years.
The main prey for fishermen is small chubs weighing up to a kilogram. You can catch something larger, but for this you need to experiment with the bait and fishing method.
Fish in Ae constantly migrates, so it is difficult to choose a permanent place for a successful bite. It happens that one day brings a rich catch, and on another in the same place you can stay empty-handed.
Perch, chubs, chubs are caught here for spinning, and perch and grayling are well pecked at the float.