Since ancient times, Altai has been considered the land of magnificent mountain peaks, beautiful lakes and numerous majestic passes, which are numerous in the Altai Mountains. Most of them are suitable for crossings, and many are natural monuments and are included in protected areas. The most famous among them are: Seminsky, Katu-Yaryk and Chike-Taman.
The article presents photos of the Altai mountain passes, which are the most impressive in beauty and the most popular among tourists. It also offers information about the Seminsky pass, which is loved by many travelers.
General information
The landscapes of the Altai mountains, their diversity and grandeur can impress anyone. This is a real mountain kingdom. And where the mountains are located, there are necessarily passes stretching between the peaks of the ridges. In total, there are more than 2,000 different passes here, many of which, as noted above, are suitable for crossings. The most famous passes are Seminsky, Katu-Yaryk, Ulugansky, Chike-Taman and Kara-Turek.
With oneAt the mention of Altai, the imagination draws superb views of mountain ranges stretching to the very horizon. And the majestic two-headed Belukha, which is the highest peak of the Altai Mountains (4506 meters), dominates all of them.
Below is a summary of the most spectacular passes.
Katu-Yaryk
This mountain pass, the photo of which is presented in the article, is a unique section of the Altai Mountains. In these places (in the vicinity of the village of Balyktuyul) there is the Balykcha-Ulagan highway, which is a serpentine with rather sharp turns. It was built on mountain slopes with cliffs, the height of which is several hundred meters.
This road is currently only suitable for vehicles with a fairly high traffic. It should be noted that it can take you to the famous Teletskoye Lake.
Kara-Turek
One of the highest passes in Altai. It rises to a height of 3100 meters above sea level. It is located on a ridge separating the valleys of the Kucherla and Akkem rivers. This pass connects two most beautiful lakes - Akkemskoye and Kucherlinskoye.
The Kara-Turek Pass is the only one in the region that can be overcome without special equipment.
Chike-Taman
No less popular among the mountain passes is Chike-Taman, which is often visited not only by Russian, but also by foreign tourists. If you look in the direction of Mongolia, then it is the second after the Seminsky pass. Chike-Taman, located onheight of 1460 meters, extraordinarily beautiful. Its name, translated from the Altai language, means "flat sole".
It is not the highest, but thanks to its rather steep mountain slopes, tourists have the opposite opinion. The road passing through it is rich in steep cliffs and sheer cliffs that take your breath away.
Ulugan Pass
Another of the highest passes in the Altai Mountains. It is located on the Ulugan plateau (26th km on the highway from Aktash to the village of Ust-Ulugan). Its height is 2080 meters above sea level. It is quite cool here almost all year round.
There are many lakes on the territory of the pass, among which Uzun-Kol. On its shore is the camp site of the same name. It operates all year round.
Seminsky mountain pass of Altai
Photos of this natural monument cannot convey all its greatness. This is the most popular section of the Altai Mountains among tourists who decide to visit this region. It is the Seminsky Pass on the famous Chuysky Trakt that is the highest (1700 meters). The Chuisky tract is the main trunk road of the Altai Republic. The pass is located in the southwestern part of the Seminsky Range. It is located in the middle of the mountain peaks Sarlyk and Tiyakhty. It is a very popular holiday destination among tourists.
Since ancient times, the route has been the main strategic point for driving through the Altai Mountains. The magnificent mountain ensemble is complemented by the Ural Valley and the Sema River, whichlocated at the very foot of the mountain peaks.
Ascent to the Seminsky mountain pass along the northern slope starts from the village of Topuchi. The length of the path is 9 kilometers. The descent is made along the southern slope and stretches for 11 kilometers. In the south, the pass has a border with the Ursul valley, in the north - with the basin of the upper reaches of the Sema River.
Nature and attractions
The vegetation of the Seminsky Pass of Gorny Altai is striking in its diversity. Here you can meet representatives of the mountain tundra flora, alpine meadows, cedar forests. In total, there are 335 varieties of vegetation, including trees, flowers and herbs.
In 1956, at the highest point of this natural monument, a monument dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the region's entry into Russia was erected. This place is popular as a viewing platform. The pass offers an excellent view of the entire Altai Mountains, the cedar forest on the mountain slopes and the majestic peaks of Tiyakhty and Sarlyk (the highest peak of the Seminsky Range - 2506 meters). In this place, at the level of the upper edge of the forest, the R-256 highway passes. While moving along it, you can see how deciduous and pine forests are replaced by cedar taiga, where juniper islands flicker in places. On the territory of the pass, you can find 4 endemic plant species: sharp-needle rose, frosty rhodiola, marrow-leaved dendrantema, Azovtsev's burnet. These places are also commercial - pine nuts are harvested here.
Closerpass (at an altitude of about 1780 meters) on the mountain slopes there is a skiing and training center "Seminsky". A huge amount of snow, which often lingers on the pass until the end of May, allows athletes to conduct full-fledged training, as well as extend the holiday season for all ski lovers.
On the left side of the Seminsky pass, a coarse gravel road leads to Sarlyk Mountain. It is impossible to drive along it by car, but it is quite easy to walk, sparing no time for a long climb up the mountain to the fabulous Tuyuk lakes.
How to get to the Seminsky mountain pass
To the Seminsky pass from the city of Biysk, the distance is 239 km. It is about 150 kilometers from Gorno-Altaisk, and about 370 km from Barnaul.
"".
It is necessary to tell a little about the roads. The old route was laid ten kilometers west of the modern one and went around Tiyakhta Mountain, after which it descended to the source of the Peschanaya River. Then it passed along the Stone Saddle pass to Lake Tenginsky, and then went to the village of Tenga. Construction work to improve the throughput and improve the area on the Seminsky Pass was carried out as early as 1920. In recent years, Gorny Altai and the pass have changed. Not donehere without the help of road engineers and highly skilled workers. The roadbed along the entire length of the Chuisky tract (including the Seminsky Pass area) was completely renovated in 2013. However, a year later, due to a severe flood that occurred in Gorny Altai in 2014, part of the route was destroyed.
Conclusion
Seminsky pass, being the first on the M-52 highway, is the gateway to the country of exotic tourism. This is the perfect place to relax in the middle of nature. It has long been loved by connoisseurs of amazingly beautiful alpine landscapes and supporters of active tourism. Here you can endlessly admire the diverse alpine landscapes of various shades and shapes.
Finally, I would like to note the peculiarities of the weather in these fabulous lands. Often even in the summer, when it is very warm in Altai, it is rather cool on the Seminsky Pass. The temperature is kept within +10 С°. Despite this, the nature of this amazing region fascinates with its unique beauties, attracting travelers and tourists from all over the world.
