The keeper of ice figures located on the slope of the Uraltau ridge (Bashkortostan) is very modest in comparison with other grottoes, but despite this, it is very popular among tourists.
Askinskaya ice cave is a geological monument of national importance, which is an underground kingdom with an area of one hundred meters and storing ice stalagmites in its heart. It is they who become the objects of close attention of visitors coming from different parts of Russia.
Local attraction
At the entrance to the amazing kingdom of ice everyone is met by a relict glacier, not afraid of hot sunny days and has become a real attraction of the underground labyrinths.
The Askinskaya ice cave, which has a bag-like type of structure, is famous for its beautiful arch-shaped entrance, from which a steep descent goes into the ice hall, equipped with a staircase for the convenience of visitors.
What various forms of stalagmites are not represented in the grotto! The height of many of them reaches about 10 meters, and this amazing spectacle delights and fascinates.
Unique phenomena in the grotto
A high ice pillar, almost reaching the snow-covered ceiling, became a real decoration of the cave. Called the “Snow Queen”, it surprises with its power and plays with a shiny surface in the light.
For the first time, tourists visiting a cave are stunned by its acoustics: even a quiet sound is amplified several times. A half-whispered word turns into a loud polyphonic echo.
Scientific interest
Of considerable interest is the Askinskaya ice cave for the scientific world. Archaeologists and geologists engaged in scientific research work here. Thanks to their efforts, a human skull and the bones of ancient animals, frozen forever in the underground kingdom, were discovered.
Askinskaya ice cave: how to get there?
Cave address: Ufa city, Solonetsy farm (Askin). For those who travel on their own, the reference point will be the village of Arkhangelskoye, from which the road goes along the Beloretsky highway to the villages of Maxim Gorky, Zarya and Solonetsi farm - the end point of the route. Next to it, two kilometers away, is the sought-after Askinskaya ice cave, visitor reviews of which can be read below.
Since the road goes through a ravine, wet even in summer, there are great difficulties with travel. The farm has guarded parking lots for private vehicles to reach the grotto on foot. You can set up a tourist camp in a clearing.
Guest reviews of the ice kingdom
Guests of the cave admire the stunning spectacle and claim that they have not seen anything like it. The ice formations in the gloom appear mystical figures, lurking important secrets.
Adults and children equally enthusiastically react to transparent stalagmites, photos of which will remain for a long memory and will resurrect a catchy sight.
Travel Tips
The best time to visit the cave is winter, when unusual ice figures grow in which everyone sees something of their own, and amazing arches of various shapes form on the arches.
In summer, the temperature rises slightly, the floor turns into porridge, and the formations lose their clear shape and significantly decrease in size.
Although a ladder is installed on the steep descent, it is covered with ice all the time, and comfortable, non-slip shoes are very useful. Yes, and just in case, to be safe with a rope, it will not hurt either.
Visitors note that the grotto is very cold, so you should take care of warm outerwear. In addition, dark rooms are poorly lit, and a working flashlight will be useful.
Contemporary issues
In 2016, a huge problem was ripened, which the local authorities tried to solve. The world-famous Askinskaya ice cave is leased to the Bashkir branch of the geographical society to prevent the threat of the destruction of local attractions.
For a long time, the access of visitors to it was not controlled, until a few years ago an interested caver organized a tourist base in Solonets with his friends. He arranged a rental facility for himself and opened a tourist route, trying to streamline the flow of visitors to the cave.
Keeping track of everyone is troublesome and almost impossible. The trash remaining after the guests freezes into ice, which is very difficult to knock out later, and renting is too expensive, and there are a lot of expenses.
Damage minimization
Even an increase in the temperature of the grotto by one degree is destructive for ice figures. There was a need to preserve the ecosystem for posterity, for this, during the hot summer months, visitors should not be allowed access for several years. Only then will the microclimate that existed in the cave since its inception be restored.
Negotiations are underway regarding the transfer of all documents to the public and a special schedule of visits is being developed to minimize damage to the natural monument.
We hope that the Askinskaya ice cave, whose photos illustrate the amazing beauty of the underworld, will preserve a magnificent picture for posterity.