The 5 most mountainous cities in Russia that will cure you of your digital addiction

The 5 most mountainous cities in Russia that will cure you of your digital addiction

In these locations you can go wild trekking, try rafting and just relax in nature.

Pro-Visioni president, Vinogradov.story kogukonna autor

“Mountain systems occupy about a third of Russia’s territory – and a special place in the hearts of its inhabitants. Despite the challenging conditions, life at altitude attracts and fascinates. I have collected five high-mountain towns from different parts of the country and will tell you what to do and what to see in these amazing and unusual locations, hovering above the clouds”.

Tyrnyauz, Karachay-Cherkessia, Caucasus Mountains

Officially, the highest city in the country is considered to be Tyrnyauz – formerly an industrial giant and now the capital of Balkaria at an altitude of more than 1300 meters above sea level. It owes its unique location to molybdenite, which is indispensable for heat-resistant alloys. In former times, the city was one of the richest in the Soviet Union, but with its collapse it became sharply impoverished and lost part of its population.

Nevertheless, in Tyrnyauz there is something to see, and where to walk – at least along the central Elbrus Avenue, in the architecture and life of which were marked by five fat decades of Soviet power. Most of the routes in the Elbrus region pass through the city, so if you are in these parts, you should definitely stop by Tyrnyauz.

Caucasus Mountains

Zakamensk, Buryatia, Dzhida Ridge

Another high-mountain town with molybdenum past is Buryat Zakamensk. Despite the fact that the local combine was closed in the mid-1990s, the residents still feel the consequences of its work – unfortunately, extremely negative. And while the city’s ecology is going through hard times, its surroundings seem to try to compensate the residents for the inconveniences.

One should come to Zakamensky district to go rafting on the rivers Dzhida and Snezhnaya, go wild mountain trekking and get acquainted with the original culture of Buryatia. And at the same time to try local cuisine and to understand at last why khinkali and buuza are different things.

Kislovodsk, Stavropol Territory, Jinal Ridge

Undoubtedly, the most famous city among the “high” is Kislovodsk. Its fame was ensured by mineral springs and clean mountain air, which turned Kislovodsk into a popular balneological and climatic resort.

Being here is pleasant and easy: you can feel the atmosphere of relaxation and serenity. And the city itself fuels these feelings: it pleases the eye with its ancient architecture and modern infrastructure, which at such heights is more a rarity than a norm of life.

Dzhinal Ridge

Neryungri, Yakutia, Stanovoi Ridge

The capital of Southern Yakutia, the city of Neryungri is located on the slopes and flat tops of the Stanovy Ridge spurs, in the middle of the taiga and surrounded by coal mines. Despite the common latitude with Moscow, the local climate can be frightening: not everyone dreams of seeing -47℃ on the thermometer.

That is why it is better to come to Neryungri in summer: to see how coal is mined, to drive around the surrounding mountains and to visit the local “Actor and Puppet Theater”.

Neryungri

Turan, Tyva, Western Sayan Mountains

Turan was once the first Russian settlement in Tyva, a nomadic land in Central Asia. Nicknamed “the gateway to Tyva”, it was the first to welcome travelers – and many of them decided to stay. Thus Turan became the bearer of two identities – Russian and Tuvan.

Today the Orthodox Church of St. Innocent of Irkutsk and the Buddhist Suburgan are neighbors here, and the local museum treats exhibits representing both cultures with equal respect. The beauty of the Sayan Mountains is worthless to say – it has been described in all languages.

Western Sayan