There are a lot of places on Earth that amaze with their beauty and attract with mystery. These include the Zhiguli Mountains. This is one of the most interesting sights not only of the country, but of the whole planet. These mountains are located near Samara. The great river Volga goes around this massif in a loop. Even from a bird's eye view, the beauty of these mountains is visible.
It is still a mystery why the powerful streams of the river do not break through the soft rocks that make up the Zhiguli Mountains, but instead destroy the granite of the rocks between Samara and Togliatti.
It was this sight that gave the name to a series of Russian cars.
For many thousands of years, this unique mountain range has been forming. Having studied the structure that the Zhiguli Mountains have, scientists were able to fully describe the history of their origin. The oldest rocks are dolomites and limestones. Mountains are almost made up of them.
This mountain range got the name "Zhiguli Gate" because of its shape. Around thema unique flora and fauna was formed. Some species are very rare and only found in the area. This is due to the isolation that the Zhiguli Reserve has. The waters of the Volga surround it from almost all sides.
These mountains are also famous for their unique caves. They appeared as a result of the formation of karst rocks. They attract a large number of not only scientists, but also ordinary people. Archaeologists have discovered traces of an ancient city in the caves. Their discovery was confirmed by the legends that exist in these places. Perhaps the ancient inhabitants of the city built a whole network of secret passages and mines that could lead to the Volga coast.
The reserve occupies not only the territory of the peninsula. It also includes two islands: Shalyga and Seredysh.
The height of the Zhiguli Mountains reaches a maximum of 400 meters. Some peaks are presented in the form of rocks or cliffs. The length of the mountains is several tens of kilometers.
The Zhiguli Mountains are an undoubted decoration of the reserve. Despite their small height, from the side of the river they make an impressive impression and look like a real mountain range. Additional beauty of this natural complex is given by the valleys, which subdivide it into separate parts. Some of them gradually turn into gorges, which have both rocky shores without vegetation and forested mountain slopes.
Zhiguli massif has remained unchanged for a long time. Sothe tops of some mountains are hidden under a cap of vegetation. This determines the presence of unique representatives of fauna and flora.
Many hills and valleys of the reserve have folk names that were given to them for certain features. Many legends and tales are connected with the Zhiguli Mountains. So, for example, it is believed that in the Monastery Hill there are many secret caves connected by passages. They still contain the mummies of its settlers. In ancient times, from the depths of the mountain, bells were heard on major church holidays, which barge haulers allegedly heard.
This corner of the planet impresses not only with its beauty and uniqueness. It still carries a lot of unknown and mysterious things, which is why it causes such great interest among scientists and ordinary tourists.
