Altai Republic is a beautiful and picturesque region located in Western Siberia. It has a long and difficult history. What is she famous for? What nationalities inhabit it? What historical and cultural monuments of the Altai Republic have survived to this day? We learn about everything in order.
A brief historical excursion
The history of Altai begins in ancient times - the first settlers settled on this territory in the 3rd - 2nd centuries. BC. Centuries of reign of the Mongols, Turks, Tibetans and other nationalities inhabiting the countries of Central Asia and China followed. They were mainly nomads, conquerors, who liked the land here, so their camps and settlements were based here. The map of the Altai Republic has changed many times.
Only around the 17th century did the territory of the present Altai Republic become part of the Russian state. The transformation process took more than three hundred years, the names of this region have repeatedly changed.
Altai on the map of Russia
Looking at the borders of the republic on the map, you can understand that the neighboring countries are Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China, and in the inner part there is the autonomy of Khakassia, Tyva, Kemerovo region and Altai Territory. Over the centuries, Altai experienced territorial changes, and only in 1992 did the territory gain constancy.
The abundance of neighbors explains the multinationality of this region and the huge layer of diverse cultural heritage. These places are interesting to both archaeologists and connoisseurs of high art. The map of the Altai Republic is rich in recreational areas. Clean air and magnificent landscapes make these places ideal for ecotourism.
A look through the centuries: the historical transformation of Altai
The history of the republic has several millennia. During this period, many cultures and nationalities inhabited the territory of the modern republic. There remained a large number of archaeological sites of antiquity, which are still interesting both to archaeologists and lovers of antiquity. Altai is an inexhaustible source for research. Archaeological monuments of the history and culture of the Altai Republic - mounds, caves, burial grounds, "stone women", rock paintings - and now attract the attention of numerous scientists.
For example, petroglyphs that can be seen on rocks, stones, sculptures of sanctuaries, inscriptions, or as scientists correctly call them - petroglyphs, this is a symbiosis of letters and drawings similar to Chinese characters - all this wealth attracts tourists from all over the world.
Looking at the cultural monuments of the Altai Republic, pictures from the past appear before my eyes. Studying and deciphering these ancient messages give an idea of the life of people in antiquity, their beliefs, conquests and other events. Excavations of settlements on the territory of Altai provide an opportunity to observe many important finds that reflect the life and culture of different historical eras. Currently, archaeological research and scientific expeditions are continuing in the republic.
The formation of the republic
Among the historical monuments of the Altai Republic there are many familiar, familiar monuments to eminent personalities: V.I. Lenin, A.S. Pushkin, as well as the tragic events that the Soviet people survived: memorials and obelisks to war heroes of the Great Patriotic War, Afghanistan warriors, victims repression and famine.
Most of the attractions belong to tracts, mounds, burial grounds and caves, the number of which cannot be counted. These monuments receive traditional names, which depend on the location or the name of the archaeologist who found this monument.
Consider the most famous monuments and attractions of the Altai Territory: with. Barangol, Vaskin log tract, Biryulinskoye settlement, Urlu-Aspak village, the coast of the Kutash river, Kyzyk-Ozek village, Maima village, Manzherok village, the right bank of the Ulalushki river, Urlu-Aspak village, Chultukov village and others. This list is constantly updated and expanded, as the lands of Altai keep in their bowels an endless number of ancient relics.
Cultural Monuments of Altai
When studying the past Republic of Altai, a connection is traced between historical events and the appearance of monuments. The culture of the Altai people was formed and developed under the influence of other civilizations and nationalities inhabiting the territory of the republic at different time periods, and of the states that included Altai. Most of these monuments are not only historical and cultural monuments of the Altai Republic, they are monuments of national and international significance. For example, numerous statues called stone women.
General concept of stone broads
Stone women represent a valuable cultural heritage that has been preserved, has an ancient history. In the Altai Republic there are more than 250 such statues. Stone sculptures are magnificent and unprecedented art for modern man. Lumps of stone are silhouettes of human bodies of various shapes and sizes. On average, their height ranges from 1.5 m to 4 m. Stone women are located in groups in different territories, tracts and villages. Their origin is associated with important historical events taking place on the territory of the republic.
The similarity of the sculptures can be traced in the character of the image of the features of human faces. At the same time, other traits inherent in the human body are weakly traced - arms, trunk and legs. Women - this is a relative concept, in fact, these are men - strong and brave warriors. These monuments left a big mark in the history of mankind and in the culture of the Altai Republic.
Gorno-Altaysk - the capital of the Altai Republic
One of the main attractions of the Altai Republic is its capital Gorno-Altaysk. In connection with historical events, this is the only city in the Altai Republic. Gorno-Altaysk is a fairly young city that appeared less than a hundred years ago. The appearance of the capital of the Altai Territory is tied to 1928, for its short history Gorno-Altaysk was renamed in 1948 to Oirot-Tura. The status of the capital of the Altai Republic was assigned to Gorno-Altaisk in 1992.
Sights and monuments of Gorno-Altaysk
Gorno-Altaysk is a small city that has a number of attractions. This is a large number of monuments, square stones, the Palace of Justice, the area to them. Lenin, an old fountain, Victory Park and the National Museum. At the National Museum. A.V. Anokhina presents more than 50,000 exhibits of archaeological, ethnological, paleontological and other finds, it contains finds and relics of a world scale, for example, the mummy of Princess Ukoka. The cultural attraction of Gorno-Altaysk is the Temple of the Macarius of Altai and the Church of the Transfiguration.
Every year the city grows and develops, the population increases and the territory expands. But it cannot be called a close and noisy metropolis, despite the fact that it is Gorno-Altaysk, in fact, the only scientific, cultural and industrialized center of the republic.
Gorny Altai: history and features
Mountain Altai deserves special attention. This was the name of the Altai Republic itself, but now this name means part of the Altai Mountains, which is located on the territory of the republic. This area is truly picturesque. The mountainous terrain - massifs, intermontane plateaus, winding rivers - preserves the monuments of the history of the Altai Republic . Altai mountains are called golden, information about them can be found even in the UNESCO cultural heritage list. Within the mountain range there are also places of worship, archaeological sites of Altai, for example, the Ak-Alakh burial mound located on the Ukok plateau.
The Ukok Plateau is another attraction of the Altai Territory, which has more than 155 archaeological sites belonging to different time periods. The value of these places is very important for scientists, due to the fact that archaeological finds were stored in stunning conditions of cold and ice. The frozen state made it possible to preserve many valuable memos, even substances of organic origin: food, mummies and people's bodies, their hair, nails. And now, using knowledge in the field of genetics, scientists decipher the picture of life and life of ancient people.
Tourism in Altai
Undoubtedly, the historical and cultural monuments of the Altai Republic attract the attention of a large number of people. First of all, these are people closely connected with the sciences - history, archeology, paleontology, ethnography, as well as experts - experts in religion, culture, and military affairs. On the territory of the Altai Republic, magnificent nature captivates you: mountain air, clear rivers and lakes, plains rich in vegetation.
Due to the underdevelopment of the industrial sector, natural beauty remains untouched, pristine. Therefore, people tired of city noise, bustle, soot and smog from factories and cars, come to this region. They come to enjoy the beauties of nature, to see cults and monuments of antiquity, to touch the relics of history, to recharge with energy and inspiration. And tourism, in turn, gives development to the Altai Republic itself. Currently, many tourist camps have been built here, providing a diverse list of services. Among them are excursions to historical places, an overview of interesting and significant archaeological finds: ancient sites, burials, burial grounds. Visits to the Bolshoi Chulchinsky waterfall, Lake Teletskoye, Edelweiss Valley are also popular.
The value of the Altai Republic
Altai Republic on a map of Russia is a unique place. The land here is not paved with railways and endless pipelines. There are no mines extracting minerals, gold and diamond deposits. There are no oil and gas wells. But there is something that other places and regions are sorely lacking - fabulous nature, unsurpassed landscape, terrain, historical, cultural monuments and attractions. Monuments of history and archeology in the territory of the Altai Republic have a value of world significance. Therefore, many of them are included in the list of objects protected by the state.
It is impossible to tell about all the charms and attractions of Altai. It is also difficult to convey in words how the handsome Altai appears before his visitors. Everyone who visits the republic will not remain indifferent to the unprecedented beauty, picturesque area and pictures of the antiquity of this region.