The village of Chagan-Uzun, which is located in the Altai Mountains, in former times was one of the most prosperous and wealthy. Thanks to the Great Silk Road passing through it, trade was boiling daily in this settlement. But even in those days, the village was famous not only for its market, visiting which you could buy almost everything. Chagan-Uzun was considered an amazing place where you could admire the color, it would seem, just a magical landscape.
The popularity of this village today has returned completely unexpectedly. It so happened that one of the tourists captured the colored mountains in an amateur film by uploading a video on YouTube. The Martian landscapes of Chagan-Uzun liked the audience so much that many wanted to see them with their own eyes. After that, the village became a popular tourist attraction and was marked on the map of the Altai Mountains as a popular route for travelers.
A bit of history
The foundation time of the village of Chagan-Uzun (see photo below) is considered to be 1801. Initially, the settlement was located on the banks of the Uytu-Terek River on the very edge of the Chui steppe. It was founded by Russian merchants who traded with the Chuiski fortresses, as well as Chinese and Mongolian merchants. A little later, several Altai families settled on the left bank of Chui.
At its current location, the village of Chagan-Uzun began to be built up already during the years of Soviet power. Previously, this territory was occupied by a dense forest, the trees of which went to the construction of houses.
A horse trail ran along the right bank of Chui. In some places, it was expanded by merchants or troops of all peoples and tribes, who advanced deep into Altai along the Chuy valley.
Later, according to the project V.Ya. Shishkova, the horse trail became the basis of the famous tract, which had a huge impact on the development of the village. Three kilometers from Chagan-Uzun, the village of Moshtu-Dzharyk was built, in which road builders lived.
The village was located so conveniently that in the prewar years it attracted the attention of geologists. Not far from him, they pitched their base, calling it Red Hill. From here, geologists could easily go on foot or on horseback to a huge forest, as well as the territory of Upper Chui, which was little explored in those days.
The life of the village of Chagan-Uzun did not stop bubbling during the years of the war against fascism. Not far from it was built the village of Moshtu Airy, designed for miners of mercury.
In the post-war years, when the country experienced a significant upsurge in industry, just two kilometers from Chagan-Uzlun, the village of Sorokovoy, intended for drillers, was erected.
Old-timers say that even a brick factory functioned in the village in former times.
During the war, as well as in the first years after its end, many POW Germans worked on the construction of the Chuysky tract. Many of them were buried near the road.
Geographic location
Chagan-Uzun is a village that is the administrative unit of the Kosh-Agach region of the Altai Republic. It is located in the valley of the Chuya river at an altitude of 1730 m. The geographical coordinates of Chagan-Uzlun for its search on the map are 50 ° 6'6 "N 88 ° 21'44" E. The village is located near the confluence of two rivers - Chuya and Chagan-Uzun. Translated, its name means "The mouth of the Chagan."
The Chagan-Uzun River is considered one of the largest tributaries of Chui. It is here, near the village, that the elevations of the North Chuysky ridge end, and the Chui steppe originates. A little at a distance you can admire the snow-white peaks of the South Chui mountain peaks.
Tourists traveling along the highway near the village of Chagan-Uzun, Altai mountains pleases with the most original landscapes. For example, the territory before the beginning of the Chui steppe is Kyzyl-Tash, or the “red stone”, on which the last sheltered poplar grove suddenly opens.
Climatic conditions
Chui steppe, near which Chagan-Uzun is located, is a very interesting natural site of Altai. Its length is 70 km, and its width varies from 10 to 40 km. This is a slightly wavy, elevated plain along the edges. It is not quite rightly called the steppe. Rather, this area could be attributed to the intermountain basin. It is similar to the highland steppe. The plain is located at an altitude of 1700 to 2000 meters and is surrounded by mountains covered with eternal snows.
Due to its geographical location, the Chui steppe has a special and very harsh climate. First of all, this territory is one of the driest in Russia. On average, no more than 150 mm of precipitation falls here per year. In addition, the steppe is characterized by the presence of permafrost soils.
All this has its effect on the weather in Chagan-Uzun. The average annual temperature here is minus six degrees. In winter, frosts are often up to -50. However, local residents say that recently the climate has become noticeably warmer.
In winter and summer, as well as night and day, a sharp temperature difference occurs in these places. This is explained not only by the high location of the plain, but also by its strong cooling under a cloudless sky. Almost every day, piercing winds blow in the Chui steppe. This is the reason for the absence of snow on the surface of the soil in winter. He just blows.
How to get there
Any road to the Altai Mountains necessarily passes through the city of Biysk. This should be taken into account by those travelers who do not know how to get to Chagan-Uzun. So, the route begins in Biysk, then following to Srostki, Maima, after which it goes to Manzherok and Ust-Sema, Shebalino. Further, the path runs through the Seminsky pass, after which it is necessary to drive Ongudai and Inya, as well as Aktash and Kurai.
The next item will be Chagan-Uzun. The distance to this village from Biysk is 531 km. GPS coordinates: 50.1010223, 88.372449.
In Biysk, you need to get to the bridge, which was built across the river. Biya. Further it is necessary to move directly and not to turn anywhere. This is where the Chuysky tract begins. The road is a well-paved four-strip. But this continues for only 20 km. Further, the tract goes into the usual two-lane road, still distinguished by good quality of coverage.
Approximately one hundred and fifty kilometers after Biysk, a fork is located in front of the village of Ust-Sema. Here you should turn along the main road to Tashanta along the M-52 highway. Then move across the new bridge over Katun and climb to the Seminsky Pass. The road here is technically uncomplicated and, despite the fact that Seminsky is the highest pass on the Chuysky tract, it can be easily overcome at any time of the year by any car. The track here is the same as everywhere - asphalt of excellent quality. After driving another 80 km, the car enters the Chike-Taman pass. It is more complex compared to Seminsky, but at the same time one of the most beautiful.
Further on the road is the village of Kupchegen, and in this place the route follows along the river. Katun. Travelers must drive through the village of Inya. Behind this settlement, there is the place where Chuya flows into Katun. After that, the tract will run along the river. Smelling. Here are the villages of Ak-Bom, Chibit and Aktash.
During the crossing of the Kurai steppe, the tract passes through the settlement of the same name. Then the car enters the Chui steppe. At its very beginning, at 864 km, there is a right turn. Having passed through the bridge, tourists get to the village of Chagan-Uzun.
Martian landscapes
What sights of Chagan Uzun attract tourists especially? Of course, these are the colored mountain peaks of Kyzyl-Chin, located nearby. This is a wonderful place for lovers of beauty, geology, as well as for photographers. Arriving here, it is impossible not to admire the landscape that opens to the eye.
Located near Chagan-Uzun Kyzyl-Chin - Altai Mars! In other words, this area can not be called. It is located 7.5 km from the Chui tract at the very beginning of the Chui steppe. The mountains in the area seem to be painted with colorful stripes that have different shades of green, yellow and red. These are real Martian landscapes of Chagan-Uzun.
Getting to them is easy. You will need to drive from the center of the village to the left, bypassing the poplar grove, drive to the hedge, drive through the gates located in it, which are an ordinary pole, and then after 100-150 m turn left at the fork. After that, a dry riverbed will come across on the way. He should be moved and walked straight all the time. Soon, an amazing view of the colored mountains will open. This is Altai Mars-1. Three kilometers from it, if you move upstream, there is Mars-2.
Appearance version
The formation of colored mountains of Altai occurred in places of large concentrations of sandstone and mineral deposits. It happened millions of years ago. Further, atmospheric precipitation and air took up the matter. Under their influence, these deposits were oxidized, which caused the formation of a mountain range of such an unusual color. In addition, for many centuries, soils have been subject to erosion. In this case, colored clay was applied layer by layer to the soil. She interacted with the soil, which led to the appearance of original forms resembling waves in their appearance. Now they are clearly visible on every slope.
Scientists believe that these mountains were formed in the Mesozoic period. Thus, they must store a huge number of fossils of ancient reptiles and animals.
Tourists note unusual sensations when moving around this area. First of all, the idea comes to mind that you are on the surface of the planet Mars, which is so attractive for the study of earthlings.
Kuehtonar melting furnaces
7.3 km from the village of Chagan-Uzun is another attraction of the area. These are ancient melting furnaces located not far from the small Kuehtonar rivulet, the name of which translates as “tie up armor, attach armor”. All this testifies to the development of iron production in the old days near the village of Chagan-Uzun. And, most likely, it was associated with the manufacture of armor, shells, which were widely used in the Middle Ages by Turkic warriors. On the soil near the furnaces there are still a large number of pieces of ore and slag.
All surviving domnica, most likely, was erected in one period. According to experts, they could work simultaneously, which suggests the presence in this area of a large iron smelting center, which is most likely built in the second half of the first millennium AD or at the beginning of the second. Small pieces of galena near the stoves indicate that with their help they smelted not only iron, but also bronze.
Altar
Among the attractions of Chagan-Uzun (Altai Mountains) is one interesting archaeological site. This is the altar, which is located behind the village of Ortolyk. You can get to it from Chagan-Uzun by covering a distance of 15.7 km.
Here, not far from the Chuysky tract, stone blocks of impressive size are arranged in a circle. In the center is the altar.
Dry waterfalls
What else attracts the attention of tourists visiting Chagan-Uzun? Altai in these places introduces travelers to dry waterfalls. They are located on the right bank of the Chagan-Uzun River and are bathtubs and rounded boilers. These amazing reservoirs are knocked out in a canyon-like channel, most likely, with powerful water streams breaking out of the glacier-dammed failed lakes.
It is believed that approximately 150 million years ago during the Proterozoic period, a huge underwater uplift arose in these places. It started from the current region, where the village of Chagan-Uzun is located, passed through the settlements of Aktash and Kurai, followed through the upper river. Kadrin on the territory of the villages of Maima, Manzherok, Cheposh and Edigan, leaving further north to the village. Dmitriyevka, the city of Anzhey, and ended with the area of the Mountain adit.
Today, on the slopes located in the estuary zone of the Chagan-Uzun river valley, traces of subsidence and uplift in the form of stairs of lake terraces are clearly visible. Similar phenomena occurred from 25 to 30 thousand years ago, when there were fluctuations of such a narrow and long bay of the largest glacial-dammed type in the Altai mountains of the Chuisky lake. At the moment, the structural features of this reservoir are traced in the drawings of tape clay.
Healing spring
The tourists will also be interested in the area located just one kilometer from the village of Chagan-Uzun. Here is the source of the same name, the waters of which have a significant calcium content. This figure is 112 milligrams per liter. This characteristic brings the water from Chagan-Uzun in its healing qualities to "Essentuki-17."
The source is located in a rocky ledge located on the southern fortress of the Kurai ridge. Water at its outlet forms several streams here. Their total width is 15 meters. The main output of the healing fluid is from an iron pipe. The spring water is used by locals. They use it to treat the eyes.