!!!Altai, Chuya and Kuray steppes

Photos by Stanislav Sedov,
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

26 June 2019

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Altai, Chuya and Kuray steppes. Russia

Altai is a truly magical place in Russia. Its nature has almost stayed
untouched by the impact of the human and is absolutely amazing with its
diversity and clear colours. AirPano carries on with the panoramas
showing this wonderful corner of the earth, namely the Chuya and Kuray
steppes. Being located between two majestic mountain ranges, they are
divided by the Chuya River and its tributaries. The famous Chuya Highway
(Chuysky Trakt) has a length of 968 kilometres and crosses both steppes.

[{Image src='01_Kuray steppe. Chuya River.jpg' caption='Kuray steppe. Chuya River\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='351'}]

These vast territories found themselves at the altitude of 1,600~1,900
meters, so these geographical features have created a dry, sharply
continental climate. The average winter temperature is around -30?, but
the -60? temperature records were also registered. Only around 65 days
without frosts can occur here so the layer of the permafrost can reach
90 cm.

Both intermountain basins have archaeological monuments of the Stone and
Iron Ages and the Turkic period in abundance: burial mounds, petroglyphs
and the remnants of the ancient irrigation systems. But even having
certain similarities, these two neighbouring steppes vary significantly:
the Chuya steppe is covered with semi-desert vegetation, while the Kuray
steppe located on the right bank of the river is closer to a desert by its nature. 
Some places represent an absolutely flat plain, but it
gradually rises and turns into the mountains that encircle the basin.

The Kuray steppe is a home for foxes, hares and only a few species of
birds, while the neighbouring Chuya steppe is the habitat for Pallas's
cats, jerboas, badgers, lynxes and wolverines. Among rare species of
birds, there are black vultures and saker falcons.

[{Image src='02_Maliy Aktru glacier.jpg' caption='Maliy Aktru glacier\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='426'}]

In the intermountain basin between the North-Chuya mountain range and
the Chuya river, there is an exceptionally picturesque area named
Yoshtykel with two lakes of the glacier origin. One of these lakes, the
Kara-Kol, is famous for its sunsets. In addition, this area is a rare
steppe place with the brown bear inhabiting it.

The Kara-Kol laying in the north-western part of the area is so much
hidden from the eyes that the discoverers of the neighbouring lake, the
Djangyskol (located in the north-east part), have named it "Lonely lake"
(Eshtu-Kol, and Dhangys-Kol in the Altai language). The Djangyskol is
shaped in the form of a rectangular trapeze with its acute angle
pointing to the south. It is 700 meters long, 500 wide and up to 2,5
meters deep.

[{Image src='03_Djangyskol Lake, Yoshtykel area.jpg' caption='Djangyskol Lake, Yoshtykel area\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='339'}]

The southern side of the lake is surrounded by the highlands of the
North-Chuya rang, including the famous "four-thousander" Aktru (also
spelt as "Akturu" meaning the "white house" in the Altai language). The
neighbouring mountains, Karatash and Kupol Trekh Ozer ("The dome of
three lakes") initiate the valley covered with the Maliy Aktru glacier
stretching for 3 kilometres. Its upper part lies at the altitude of
3,200 meters and is rather flat. Then the glacier curves at an acute
angle and becomes flat again only in the area of the ice tongue (a
narrow part located under the equilibrium line of the glacier).

[{Image src='04_Bolshoi Aktry glacier.jpg' caption='Bolshoi Aktry glacier\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='554'}]

At the foot of Kupol Trekh Ozer mountain, there is the Aktru river
flowing between the surrounding snowy mountains. In comparison to many
other Altai places, this area is easily accessible and it makes this
valley a rather popular tourist destination. Skies appreciate the
opportunity to ski in both winter and summer. A meteorological station
also functions here, the scientists of the Tomsk State University
conduct studies, while the rescue team has arranged a base here.

Another natural landmark of the Chuya river valley is the Geyzernoye
lake. It is not so big: only 30 meters in diameter and 2 meters deep.
The area of the surface is 500 sq meters.

[{Image src='05_Chuya River Valley. Chuya Highway (Chuysky Trakt).jpg' caption='Chuya River Valley. Chuya Highway (Chuysky Trakt)\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='361'}]

It is the only non-freezing lake in the whole Altai region: the reason
for that is 6 springs functioning under the water and not allowing it to
freeze. It also raises the mixture of sand and blue clay creating
colourful patterns on the surface. But the water itself is very clean
and turquoise-coloured.

Have a virtual trip to this remote and fascinating area!

AirPano team would like to express gratitude to the Saylyugemsky
National Park and personally Valentina Semenchenko for help with
organisation of shooting the Altai Mountains.

\\ \\
[14 panoramas of Altai, Chuya and Kuray steppes|Geography/Asia/Russia/Pictures/Altai,_Chuya_and_Kuray_steppes]

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