The village of Kosh-Agach is located in the south-east of the Altai Territory and is the administrative center of the district of the same name. The area has a rather harsh climate, so not many tourists can be found here. Of particular interest to the Kosh-Agach region is historians, archaeologists and nature lovers. For worshipers of the Buddha, this region is considered a sacred place of power.
Description of Kosh-Agach district
The area, located near the village of Kosh-Agach, has a diverse and interesting landscape. The main part of the region is a semi-desert, spread among the snowy peaks, whose height is about 2000 meters above sea level. The variety of natural resources of the Altai Territory is impressive. Here you can see the steppe zone, the tundra, as well as coniferous forests, which are located near the Jazator River. In forests, such trees as cedar, larch and spruce are most often found.
The winter period here is very long, the cold can last up to 7 months, and this is not at all surprising, because the most severe climate of the region is in the Kosh-Agach region. The Altai Republic is one of the coldest regions of Siberia; there are places where permafrost has been preserved. The temperature difference is very noticeable; during the day, the thermometer can vary significantly.
Village Description
The history of the settlement has more than 200 years. Kosh-Agach was founded by Russian merchants in 1801. This place was a shopping center in the south of Altai Mountains. Until the end of the 1880s, Mongolia belonged to the Chinese Empire and was a trading partner of the Kosh-Agach merchants.
The village is located on an elevated area, the height is approximately 2000 meters above sea level. The Chuya River flows on the banks of which Kosh-Agach stands. The village is located at a distance of 438 km from the main administrative center of Altai Krai - Barnaul, but the distance to the border of Mongolia is no more than 50 km. The main population of this region is Altai and Kazakhs. There are practically no Russians in the village.
The name of the village is of Kazakh origin, it translates as "a pair of trees." Surprisingly, the village itself is located in the desert area of the Chui steppe and there are no trees in the district at all. Flocks of feathered predators soar in the sky. There is almost no rainfall in the village, and the weather is mostly sunny.
In 2003, an earthquake occurred in these places, and the village itself was at the epicenter of the elements. During the natural disaster, some houses were destroyed.
The area is located in the border zone, therefore, in order to visit the Ukok plateau, you need to get permission from the border service, which is located in the village.
The village has a number of social facilities: a market, shops, a recreation center, a gas station, cafes and hotels. Kosh-Agach until the beginning of the 90s had its own, small airfield, on which planes arrived from Barnaul. In 2003, the construction of a whole microdistrict of cottages began in the village. In 2014, a solar power station was launched in this area - the first in the country.
Ukok Plateau and other area attractions
Despite the fact that the tourist infrastructure is not developed in the village, these places attract numerous groups of foreign and Russian travelers. Of particular interest is the unique nature and plateau of Ukok. In the Kosh-Agach region there really is something to see:
- Chuya River with numerous rapids.
- Shawlensky lakes.
- Aktru - pristine glaciers.
- Blue Lake.
Tourists can also visit one of the two museums that are located in neighboring villages: Kokorya and Zhana-Aul.
The most important and significant attraction of these places is the Ukok Plateau, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The plateau is located on a hill among the mountain ranges, at an altitude of 2000-2500 meters above sea level. Several dozen rivers cross it. Getting here is extremely difficult. Mountain passes are difficult to access, and you can use them for several months. But those tourists who show perseverance will get an unforgettable experience. They will open:
- untouched by man nature;
- pristine lakes;
- variety of Red Book animals and birds;
- evidence of living in these places of ancient civilization (cave painting).
On the plateau, many historical artifacts and architectural monuments were found. The burial ground of Ak-Alakh-3 is the most famous object. Here in the early 90s, the mummy of the Altai princess was discovered, whose age is more than 2500 years.
Where to spend the night in Kosh Agach?
If you are determined to visit this unique corner of nature, it will be useful for you to find out where you can stay for the night. Although the village of Kosh-Agach is small, there is a decent Rasul hotel, which can accommodate 30 people at a time. Near the hotel there are car service establishments: tire fitting, car wash and gas station.
The hotel has rooms:
- Junior Suite - 3;
- four-seater - 2;
- double - 8;
- six-seater - 1.
You can park your car next to the hotel for free. The common lobby is equipped with a TV. On the floor there is a bathroom and shower. In a specially equipped kitchen, visitors can cook their own meals. The hotel has a sauna, it is possible to use an iron. As an entertainment - billiards.