Since ancient times, Altai has been considered the land of magnificent mountain peaks, beautiful lakes and numerous majestic passes, of which there are many on the territory of mountain Altai. Most of them are suitable for crossings, and many are natural monuments and are included in protected areas. The most famous among them are: Seminsky, Katu-Yaryk and Chike-Taman.
The article presents photos of Altai mountain passes, which are the most impressive in beauty and the most popular among tourists. Information is also offered about the Seminsky pass, which many travelers liked.
General information
The landscapes of the Altai mountains, their diversity and grandeur are able to impress anyone. This is a real mountain kingdom. And where the mountains are located, there are certainly passes that stretch between the tops of the ranges. In total, there are more than 2,000 different passes here, among which many, as noted above, are suitable for crossings. The most famous passes: Seminsky, Katu-Yaryk, Ulugan, Chike-Taman and Kara-Turek.
At the mere mention of Altai, the imagination draws excellent views of mountain ranges stretching to the horizon. And the majestic two-headed Belukha, which is the highest peak of the Altai mountains (4506 meters), dominates all of them.
Below is a summary of the most impressive passes.
Katu Yaryk
This mountain pass, the photo of which is presented in the article, is a unique section of the Altai Mountains. In these places (in the vicinity of the village of Balyktuyul) the Balykcha-Ulagan highway is located, which is a serpentine with fairly sharp turns. It was built on the mountain slopes with cliffs, the height of which is several hundred meters.
Today this road is suitable only for vehicles with a fairly high cross. It should be noted that it can take you to the famous Teletskoye Lake.
Kara-Turek
One of the highest passes in Altai. It rises to a height of 3100 meters above sea level. It is located on a ridge separating the valleys of the Kucherla and Akkem rivers. This pass connects two beautiful lakes - Akkemskoye and Kucherlinskoye.
The Kara-Turek pass is the only one in the region that can be overcome without special equipment.
Chike Taman
No less popular among the mountain passes is Chike Taman, which is often visited not only by Russian, but also foreign tourists. If you look in the direction of Mongolia, then it is the second after the Seminsky pass. Chike Taman, located at an altitude of 1460 meters, is unusually beautiful. Its name in translation from the Altai language means “flat sole”.
It is not the highest, but thanks to its rather steep mountain slopes, tourists have the opposite opinion. The road passing along it is rich in steep cliffs and steep cliffs, from which are breathtaking.
Ulugan Pass
Another of the highest passes in the Altai Mountains. It is located on the Ulugan plateau (the 26th kilometer on the highway from Aktash to the village of Ust-Ulugan). Its height is 2080 meters above sea level. It is pretty cool all year round.
There are many lakes on the territory of the pass, including Uzun-Kol. On its shore is the hostel of the same name. It operates year round.
Seminsky mountain pass of Altai
Photos of this natural monument cannot convey all its grandeur. This is the most popular part of the Altai Mountains among tourists who decide to visit this region. It is the Seminsky pass on the famous Chuysky tract that is the highest (1700 meters). Chuysky tract is the main highway of the Altai Republic. The pass is located in the southwestern part of the Seminsky ridge. It is located in the middle of the mountain peaks of Sarlyk and Tiyakhta. This is a very popular holiday destination among tourists.
Since ancient times, the route has been the main strategic point for driving along the Altai Mountains. The magnificent mountain ensemble is complemented by the Ural Valley and the Sema River, which are located at the very foot of the mountain peaks.
Ascent to the Seminsky mountain pass along the northern slope begins from the village of Topuchi. The route is going over a distance of 9 kilometers. The descent takes place along the southern slope and stretches for 11 kilometers. In the south, the pass has a border with the Ursul valley, in the north - with a basin of the upper reaches of the Sema River.
Nature and attractions
The vegetation of the Seminsky Pass in the Altai Mountains is striking in its diversity. You can meet here representatives of the flora of the mountain tundra, alpine meadows, cedar forests. In total there are 335 varieties of vegetation, including tree species, flowers and herbs.
In 1956, at the highest point of this natural monument, a monument was dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the region's entry into Russia. This place is popular as an observation deck. From the pass there is an excellent view of the entire Altai Mountains, the cedar forest on the mountain slopes and the majestic peaks of Tiyakhty and Sarlyk (the highest peak of the Seminsky ridge is 2506 meters). At this point, at the top of the forest, runs the P-256 highway. While moving along it one can see how deciduous and pine forests are replaced by cedar taiga, where juniper islands flash in places. On the territory of the pass you can find 4 endemic species of plants: a sharp-pointed rose, a frosty rhodiola, an arboreal dendrant, a Azovtsev’s blood chorionic. These places are also fishing places - pine nuts are collected here.
Near the pass (at an altitude of about 1780 meters) on the mountain slopes is the ski and training center "Seminsky". A huge amount of snow, often lingering on the pass until the end of May, allows athletes to conduct full-fledged workouts, as well as extend the rest season to all lovers of skiing.
On the left side of the Seminsky pass, a large gravel road leads to Mount Sarlyk. It is impossible to drive it by car, and walking without sparing time for a long climb uphill to the fabulous Tuyuk lakes is quite easy.
How to get to the Seminsky mountain pass
The distance to the Seminsky pass from the city of Biysk is 239 km. It is about 150 kilometers from Gorno-Altaysk, and about 370 kilometers from Barnaul.
To get to the pass by car is the most convenient way, but you can also take a bus (a flight from Barnaul or Gorno-Altaysk to local communities passes through these places) with the obligatory check with the driver about the presence of the Seminsky Pass stop on the route.
It is necessary to tell a little about the roads. The old route was laid ten kilometers west of the modern one and went around Mount Tiakhta, after which it went down to the source of the Peschanaya river. Then she walked along the Kamenny Saddle Pass to Lake Tenginsky, and then went to the village of Tenga. Construction work to improve throughput and improve the terrain on the Seminsky Pass was carried out in 1920. In recent years, Altai Mountains and the pass have changed. Not without the help of road engineers and highly skilled workers. The roadway along the entire length of the Chuysky tract (including the area of the Seminsky Pass) was completely updated in 2013. However, a year later, due to severe flooding that occurred in the Altai Mountains in 2014, part of the route was destroyed.
Conclusion
Seminsky Pass, being the first on the M-52 highway, is a gateway to the country of exotic tourism. It is an ideal place to relax in nature. It has long been loved by lovers of amazingly beautiful alpine landscapes and supporters of active tourism. Here you can endlessly admire the diverse high-mountain landscapes of various shades and shapes.
Finally, I want to note the weather in these fabulous lands. Often, even in the summer, when it is very warm in Altai, the Seminsky Pass is pretty cool. The temperature is kept within +10 ° C. Despite this, the nature of this amazing region fascinates with its unique beauties, attracting travelers and tourists from all over the world.