Names of the Ural mountains. What is the highest peak of the Ural Mountains? Large cities of the Urals

The Urals is a unique geographical region along which the border of two parts of the world passes - Europe and Asia. Several dozen monuments and memorial signs have been installed along this border for more than two thousand kilometers. The region is based on the Ural mountain system. The Ural Mountains stretch for more than 2,500 km - from the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean to the deserts of Kazakhstan.

Geographers divided the Ural Mountains into five geographical zones: Polar, Subpolar, Northern, Middle and Southern Urals. The highest mountains in the Subpolar Urals. Here, in the Subpolar Urals, is the highest mountain of the Urals - Mount Narodnaya. But it is precisely these northern regions of the Urals that are the most inaccessible and underdeveloped. On the contrary, the lowest mountains are in the Middle Urals, which is also the most developed and densely populated.

The Urals include the following administrative territories of Russia: Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Kurgan regions, Perm region, Bashkortostan, as well as the eastern parts of the Komi Republic, the Arkhangelsk region and the western part of the Tyumen region. In Kazakhstan, the Ural Mountains can be traced in the Aktobe and Kostanay regions. Interestingly, the term “Ural” did not exist until the 18th century. We owe the appearance of this name to Vasily Tatishchev. Until this moment, only Russia and Siberia existed in the minds of the country’s residents. The Urals were then classified as Siberia.

Where did the toponym “Ural” come from? There are several versions on this matter, but the most likely is that the word “Ural” came from the Bashkir language. Of all the peoples living in this territory, only the Bashkirs from ancient times used the word “Ural” (“belt”). Moreover, the Bashkirs even have legends in which the “Ural” is present. For example, the epic “Ural Batyr”, which tells about the ancestors of the people of the Urals. “Ural-Batyr” incorporates ancient mythology that existed many thousands of years ago. It presents a wide range of ancient views, rooted in the depths of the primitive communal system.

The modern history of the Urals begins with the campaign of Ermak’s squad, who set out to conquer Siberia. However, this does not mean that the Ural Mountains were nothing interesting before the arrival of the Russians. People with their own special culture have lived here since ancient times. Archaeologists have found thousands of ancient settlements in the Urals. With the beginning of Russian colonization of these territories, the Mansi who lived here were forced to leave their original places, going further into the taiga. Currently, this is an almost extinct people, which will very soon cease to exist.

The Bashkirs were also forced to retreat from their lands in the south of the Urals. Many Ural factories were built on Bashkir lands, purchased from Bashkirs by factory owners for next to nothing. It is not surprising that Bashkir riots broke out from time to time. The Bashkirs raided Russian settlements and burned them to the ground. This was a bitter payment for the humiliation they suffered.

In ancient sources, the Ural Mountains were called Riphean or Hyperborean. Russian pioneers called them “Stone”. The toponym “Ural” was most likely taken from the Bashkir language and means “stone belt”. This name was introduced into use by geographer and historian Vasily Tatishchev.

How did the Urals come into being?

The Ural Mountains stretch in a narrow strip for more than 2000 km from the Kara Sea to the Aral Sea steppes. It is assumed that they arose about 600 million years ago. Some scientists believe that several hundred million years ago, Europe and Asia broke away from the ancient continents, and, gradually drawing closer, collided with each other. Their edges in the places of collision were crushed, some part of the earth's crust was squeezed out, something, on the contrary, went inside, cracks and folds formed. Enormous pressure led to delamination and melting of rocks. The structures squeezed onto the surface formed a chain of the Ural Mountains - a seam that connected Europe and Asia.

Shifts and fractures of the earth's crust have occurred here more than once. For several tens of millions of years, the Ural Mountains were subjected to the destructive effects of all natural elements. Their peaks smoothed out, rounded, and became lower. Gradually the mountains acquired their modern appearance.

There are plenty of hypotheses explaining the formation of the Ural Mountains, but the theory of the seam connecting Europe and Asia allows us to more or less intelligibly link together the most contradictory facts:
- presence almost on the surface of rocks and sediments that can only form deep in the bowels of the Earth under conditions of enormous temperatures and pressures;
- the presence of siliceous plates clearly of oceanic origin;
- sandy river sediments;
- boulder ridges brought by the glacier, etc.
The following is clear: The Earth as a cosmic body has existed for about 4.5 billion years. Rocks that are at least 3 billion years old have been found in the Urals, and none of the modern scientists denies that the process of decompression of cosmic matter is still underway in the universe.

Climate and resources of the Urals

The climate of the Urals can be defined as mountainous. The Ural ridge serves as a dividing border. To the west of it the climate is milder and there is more rainfall. To the east - continental, drier, with a predominance of low winter temperatures.

Scientists divide the Urals into several geographical zones: Polar, Subpolar, Northern, Middle, Southern. The highest, undeveloped and inaccessible mountains are located in the Subpolar and Southern Urals. The Middle Urals are the most populated and developed, and the mountains there are the lowest.

48 types of minerals have been found in the Urals - copper pyrites, skarn-magnetite, titanomagnetite, nickel oxide, chromite ores, deposits of bauxite and asbestos, coal, oil and gas deposits. Deposits of gold, platinum, precious, semi-precious and ornamental stones were also found.

In the Urals there are about 5,000 rivers flowing into the Caspian, Barents and Kara seas. The rivers of the Urals are extremely heterogeneous. Their features and hydrological regime are determined by differences in terrain and climate. There are few rivers in the Polar Region, but they are full of water. The rapids and fast rivers of the Subpolar and Northern Urals, originating on the western slopes of the mountains, flow into the Barents Sea. Small and rocky mountain rivers, originating on the eastern slopes of the ridge, flow into the Kara Sea. The rivers of the Middle Urals are numerous and full of water. The length of the rivers of the Southern Urals is small - about 100 km. The largest of them are Uy, Miass, Ural, Uvelka, Ufa, Ay, Gumbeyka. The length of each of them reaches 200 km.

The largest river in the Ural region, the Kama, which is the largest tributary of the Volga, originates in the Middle Urals. Its length is 1805 km. The general slope of the Kama from source to mouth is 247 m.

There are about 3327 lakes in the Urals. The deepest is Big Pike Lake.

Russian pioneers came to the Urals together with Ermak’s squad. But, according to scientists, the mountainous country has been inhabited since the Ice Age, i.e. more than 10 thousand years ago. Archaeologists have discovered a huge number of ancient settlements here. Now on the territory of the Urals there are the Komi Republic, the Nenets, Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrugs. The indigenous inhabitants of the Urals are the Nenets, Bashkirs, Udmurts, Komi, Komi-Permyaks and Tatars. Presumably, the Bashkirs appeared here in the 10th century, the Udmurts in the 5th century, the Komi and Komi-Permyaks in the 10th–12th centuries.

The Ural Mountains are located on the territory of Kazakhstan and Russia, and are considered one of the oldest mountains in the world. This mountain system is a natural feature between Europe and Asia, conditionally divided into several parts:

• Polar Urals;
• Subpolar Urals;
• Northern Urals;
• Middle Urals;
• Southern Urals.

The highest mountain peak, Mount Narodnaya, reached 1895 meters; previously the mountain system was much higher, but over time it collapsed. The Ural Mountains cover a length of 2,500 kilometers. They are rich in various minerals and rocks; precious stones, platinum, gold and other minerals are mined.

Climatic conditions

The Ural Mountains are located in the continental and temperate continental climate zone. The peculiarity of the mountain range is that the change of seasons occurs differently in the foothills and at an altitude of 900 meters, at which winter comes earlier. The first snow falls here in September, and the cover remains almost all year round. Snow can cover mountain peaks even in the hottest month of summer - July. The wind blowing in open areas makes it even more severe. The temperature minimum in winter reaches -57 degrees Celsius, and the maximum in summer rises to +33 degrees.

Nature of the Ural Mountains

In the foothills there is a zone of taiga forests, but higher up the forest-tundra begins. The highest elevations become tundra. Here locals walk their deer. The nature here is amazing, various types of flora grow and magnificent landscapes open up. There are wild rivers and clear lakes, as well as mysterious caves. The most famous of them is Kungura, on whose territory there are about 60 lakes and 50 grottoes.

The Bazhovsky Places park is located within the Ural Mountains. Here you can spend your time in different ways: walking or cycling, riding a horse or kayaking along the river.

In the mountains there is the Rezhevskaya nature reserve. There are deposits of semi-precious stones and semi-precious stones here. A mountain river flows through the territory, on the banks of which there is the mystical Shaitan stone, and the indigenous people revere it. In one of the parks there is an ice fountain from which underground water flows.

The Ural Mountains are a unique natural phenomenon. They are quite low in height, but contain many interesting natural areas. To preserve the mountain ecosystem, several parks and a reserve have been organized here, which is a significant contribution to the conservation of the nature of our planet.

Basic moments

This mountain system itself, which not only separates both continents, but is also an officially delineated cordon between them, belongs to Europe: the border is usually drawn along the eastern base of the mountains. Formed as a result of the collision of the Eurasian and African lithospheric plates, the Ural Mountains cover a vast territory. It includes the expanses of the Sverdlovsk, Orenburg and Tyumen regions, the Perm Territory, Bashkortostan and the Komi Republic, as well as the Aktobe and Kustanai regions of Kazakhstan.

In terms of its height, which does not exceed 1895 meters, the mountain system is significantly inferior to such giants as the Himalayas and Pamirs. For example, the peaks of the polar Urals are average in level - 600-800 meters, not to mention the fact that they are also the narrowest in terms of the width of the ridge. However, such geological characteristics have an undoubted advantage: they remain accessible to humans. And we are talking here not so much about scientific research, but about the tourist attractiveness of the places through which they lie. The landscape of the Ural Mountains is truly unique. Here crystal clear mountain streams and rivers begin their run, growing into larger bodies of water. Such large rivers as the Ural, Kama, Pechora, Chusovaya and Belaya also flow here.

A wide variety of recreational opportunities open up for tourists here: both for real extreme sports enthusiasts and for beginners. And the Ural Mountains are a true treasure trove of minerals. In addition to deposits of coal, natural gas and oil, mines are developed here that produce copper, nickel, chromium, titanium, gold, silver, and platinum. If we recall the tales of Pavel Bazhov, the Urals zone is also rich in malachite. And also emerald, diamond, crystal, amethyst, jasper and other precious stones.

The atmosphere of the Ural Mountains, regardless of whether you visit the Northern or Southern Urals, the Subpolar or Middle Urals, is indescribable. And their greatness, beauty, harmony and clean air charge you with energy and positivity, inspire and, of course, leave vivid impressions for the rest of your life.

History of the Ural Mountains

The Ural Mountains have been known since ancient times. In sources that have survived to this day, they are associated with the Hyperborean and Riphean mountains. Thus, Ptolemy pointed out that this mountain system consists of the Rimnus mountains (this is the current Middle Urals), Norosa (Southern Urals) and the northern part - the Hyperborean mountains themselves. In the first written sources of the 11th century AD, due to its great length, it was called nothing less than the “Earth Belt”.

In the first Russian chronicle, “The Tale of Bygone Years,” which dates back to the same 11th century, the mountains of the Urals were called by our compatriots Siberian, Poyasov or Big Stone. Under the name “Big Stone” they were also applied to the first map of the Russian state, also known as the “Big Drawing”, published in the second half of the 16th century. Cartographers of those years depicted the Urals as a mountain belt, from where many rivers originate.

There are many versions of the origin of the name of this mountain system. E. K. Hoffman, who developed the so-called Mansi version of this toponym, compares the name “Ural” with the Mansi word “ur”, which is translated as “mountain”. The second point of view, also very common, is the borrowing of the name from the Bashkir language. She, according to many scientists, seems the most convincing. After all, if you take the language, legends and traditions of this people - for example, the famous epic "Ural-Batyr" - then it is not difficult to see that in them this toponym has not only existed since ancient times, but is also maintained from generation to generation.

Nature and climate

The natural landscape of the Ural Mountains is incredibly beautiful and multifaceted. Here you can not only look at the mountains themselves, but also go down into numerous caves, swim in the waters of local lakes, and get a dose of thrill while rafting down wild rivers. Moreover, each tourist chooses for himself how to travel. Some people like to go on independent hikes with a backpack on their shoulders, while others prefer the more comfortable conditions of a tour bus or the inside of a personal car.

The fauna of the “Earth Belt” is no less diverse. A predominant position in the local fauna is occupied by forest animals, whose habitat is coniferous, broad-leaved or mixed forests. Thus, squirrels live in coniferous forests, the main diet of which is spruce seeds, and in winter these cute animals with a fluffy tail feed on previously stored pine nuts and dried mushrooms. The marten is widespread in local forests, the existence of which is difficult to imagine without the already mentioned squirrel, which this predator hunts.

But the real wealth of these places is the fur-bearing game animals, the fame of which extends far beyond the region, for example, the sable, which lives in the forests of the Northern Urals. It, however, differs from the dark Siberian sable in its less beautiful skin of a reddish color. Uncontrolled hunting for valuable furry animals is prohibited by law. Without this ban, it would probably have been completely destroyed by now.

The taiga forests of the Ural Mountains are also home to the traditional Russian wolf, bear and elk. Roe deer are found in mixed forests. On the plains adjacent to the mountain ranges, the brown hare and fox feel at ease. We did not make a reservation: they live precisely on flat terrain, and for them the forest is just a shelter. And, of course, the tree crowns are well inhabited by many species of birds.

As for the climate of the Ural Mountains, the geographical location plays an important role in this regard. In the north, this mountain system extends beyond the Arctic Circle, but most of the mountains are located in the temperate climate zone. If you move from north to south along the perimeter of the mountain system, you will notice how the temperature gradually increases, which is especially noticeable in the summer. If in the north during the warm period of the year the thermometer shows from +10 to +12 degrees, then in the south - from 20 to 22 degrees above zero. However, in winter the temperature between north and south does not differ so sharply. The average monthly temperature in January in the north is 20 degrees minus, in the south it is 16-18 degrees below zero.

Air masses moving from the Atlantic Ocean also have a noticeable impact on the climate of the Urals. And although as atmospheric flows move from the west towards the Urals, the air becomes less humid, it cannot be called 100% dry either. As a result, more precipitation - 600-800 millimeters per year - falls on the western slope, while on the eastern slope this figure varies between 400-500 mm. But the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains in winter fall under the power of a powerful Siberian anticyclone, while in the south during the cold period of the year, partly cloudy and cold weather sets in.

A factor such as the relief of the mountain system also has a noticeable influence on fluctuations in the local climate. As you climb the mountain, you will feel the weather getting harsher. Different temperatures are felt even on different slopes, including those located nearby. Different parts of the Ural Mountains are characterized by unequal amounts of precipitation.

Sights of the Ural Mountains

One of the most famous protected areas of the Ural Mountains is the Oleniy Ruchi Park, located in the Sverdlovsk region. Curious tourists, especially those interested in ancient history, make a “pilgrimage” to the Pisanitsa rock located here, on the surface of which there are drawings made by ancient artists. The caves and the Great Failure are of considerable interest. Oleniye Ruchiye has a fairly developed tourist infrastructure: special trails are equipped in the park, there are observation decks, not to mention places for recreation. There are also cable crossings.

If you are familiar with the work of the writer Pavel Bazhov, his famous “Malachite Box,” then you will probably be interested in visiting the “Bazhov Places” natural park. The opportunities for complete rest and relaxation here are simply magnificent. You can take walks, bike rides or horseback rides. Walking along specially designed and thought-out routes, you will take in the picturesque landscapes, climb Mount Markov Kamen and visit Lake Talkov Kamen. Extreme sports enthusiasts usually flock here in the summer to go kayaking and kayaking down mountain rivers. Travelers also come here in winter, enjoying snowmobiling.

If you appreciate the natural beauty of semi-precious stones - namely natural, not subject to processing - be sure to visit the Rezhevskaya reserve, which combines deposits of not only precious, but also semi-precious and ornamental stones. Traveling to the mining sites on your own is prohibited - you must be accompanied by a reserve employee, but this in no way affects the impressions of what you see. The Rezh River flows through the territory of Rezhevsky; it was formed as a result of the confluence of the Bolshoy Sapa and Ayati - rivers originating in the Ural Mountains. The Shaitan Stone, popular among travelers, is located on the right bank of the Rezhi. The Urals consider this stone to be the center of mystical natural forces that help in various life situations. You can believe it or not, but the flow of tourists coming to the stone with various requests to higher powers does not dry out.

Of course, the Urals are a magnet for lovers of extreme tourism, who enjoy visiting its caves, of which there are a huge number. The most famous are Shulgan-Tash, or Kapova, and the Kungur Ice Cave. The length of the latter is almost 6 km, of which only one and a half kilometers are accessible to tourists. On the territory of the Kungur ice cave there are 50 grottoes, over 60 lakes and countless stalactites and stalagmites. The temperature in the cave is always below freezing, so when visiting here, dress as if you were going for a winter walk. The visual effect of the splendor of its interior decoration is enhanced by special lighting. But in the Kapova Cave, researchers discovered rock paintings, the age of which is estimated at 14 thousand years or more. Approximately 200 works by ancient masters of the brush have become the property of our time, although there were probably more. Travelers can also admire the underground lakes and visit grottoes, galleries and numerous halls located on three levels.

If the caves of the Ural Mountains create a winter atmosphere at any time of the year, then some attractions are best visited in winter. One of them is the ice fountain, which is located in the Zyuratkul National Park and arose thanks to the efforts of geologists who drilled a well in this place. Moreover, this is not just a fountain in our usual “urban” sense, but a fountain of underground water. With the onset of winter, it freezes and turns into a voluminous icicle of a bizarre shape, also impressive with its 14-meter height.

Many Russians, in order to improve their health, go to foreign thermal springs, for example, to the Czech Karlovy Vary or the Gellert Baths in Budapest. But why rush beyond the border if our native Urals are also rich in thermal springs? To undergo a full course of healing procedures, all you need to do is come to Tyumen. The hot springs here are rich in microelements beneficial for human health, and the water temperature ranges from +36 to +45 degrees Celsius depending on the season. Let us add that modern recreation centers have been built on these sources. Mineral waters are also used for treatment in the Ust-Kachka health complex, located near Perm and unique in the chemical composition of its waters. Summer recreation here can be combined with boating and catamarans; in winter, ice slides, skating rinks and full-fledged ski slopes are available to vacationers.

Despite the fact that waterfalls are not so typical for the Ural Mountains, they are present here and attract the attention of tourists. Among them we can highlight the Plakun waterfall, located on the right bank of the Sylva River. It throws down fresh water from a height exceeding 7 m. Its other name is Ilyinsky, it was given by local residents and visitors who consider this source holy. There is also a waterfall near Yekaterinburg, named Rokhotun for its roaring “temper”. Its peculiarity is that it is man-made. It throws its waters down from a height of more than 5 meters. When the summer heat sets in, visitors enjoy standing under its jets, cooling off and receiving hydromassage, completely free of charge.

Video: Southern Ural

Large cities of the Urals

The millionaire Yekaterinburg, the administrative center of the Sverdlovsk region, is called the capital of the Urals. It is also, unofficially, the third capital of Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg and the third capital of Russian rock. This is a large industrial metropolis, especially charming in winter. He is generously covered with snow, under the cover of which he resembles a giant who has fallen asleep in a deep sleep, and you never know exactly when he will wake up. But when he gets enough sleep, then, no doubt, he will definitely unleash his full power.

Yekaterinburg usually makes a strong impression on its guests - first of all, with many architectural attractions. Among them are the famous Church on the Blood, erected on the site of the execution of the last Russian emperor and his family, the Sverdlovsk rock club, the building of the former District Court, museums of various subjects and even an unusual monument... to an ordinary computer keyboard. The capital of the Urals is also famous for its shortest metro in the world, listed in the Guinness Book of Records: 7 stations account for only 9 km.

Chelyabinsk and Nizhny Tagil also became widely known in Russia, primarily thanks to the popular comedy show “Our Russia”. The characters of the program, beloved by viewers, are, of course, fictional, but tourists are still interested in where to find Ivan Dulin, the world’s first milling machine operator of non-traditional sexual orientation, and Vovan and Gena, hapless and drinking-loving Russian tourists who constantly find themselves in frankly tragicomic situations. One of the hallmarks of Chelyabinsk are two monuments: Love, made in the form of an iron tree, and Lefty with a shod flea. The city’s panorama of local factories located above the Miass River is also impressive. But in the Nizhny Tagil Museum of Fine Arts you can see a painting by Raphael - the only one in our country that can be found outside the Hermitage.

Another Ural city that has become famous thanks to television is Perm. This is where the “real boys” who became the heroes of the series of the same name live. Perm claims to be the next cultural capital of Russia, and this idea is actively lobbied by designer Artemy Lebedev, who is working on the external appearance of the city, and gallery owner Marat Gelman, specializing in contemporary art.

Orenburg, which is called the land of endless steppes, is also a real historical treasury of the Urals and all of Russia. At one time, it survived the siege of Emelyan Pugachev’s army; its streets and walls remember the visits of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko and the wedding of the first cosmonaut of the Earth, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.

In Ufa, another Ural city, there is a symbolic “Kilometer Zero” sign. The local post office is the very point from which the distance to other points on our planet is measured. Another famous landmark of the capital of Bashkortostan is the Ufa bronze sign, which is a disk with a one and a half meter diameter and weighs a whole ton. And in this city - at least that’s what the locals say - there is the tallest equestrian statue on the European continent. This is a monument to Salavat Yulaev, who is also called the Bashkir Bronze Horseman. The horse on which this associate of Emelyan Pugachev sits rises above the Belaya River.

Ski resorts of the Urals

The most important ski resorts in the Urals are concentrated in three regions of our country: the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, as well as in Bashkortostan. Zavyalikha, Bannoye and Abzakovo are the most famous of them. The first is located near the city of Trekhgorny, the last two are near Magnitogorsk. According to the results of the competition, which is held as part of the International Congress of the Ski Industry, Abzakovo was recognized as the best ski resort in the Russian Federation in the 2005-2006 season.

A whole scattering of ski resorts is concentrated in the regions of the Middle and Southern Urals. Thrill-seekers and simply curious tourists who want to try themselves in such an “adrenaline” sport as alpine skiing come here almost all year round. Travelers here will find good trails for skis, sleds and snowboards.

In addition to alpine skiing, descents along mountain rivers are very popular among travelers. Fans of such alloys, which also increase adrenaline levels, go for thrills to Miass, Magnitogorsk, Asha or Kropchaevo. True, you won’t be able to get to your destination quickly, since you will have to travel by train or car.

The holiday season in the Urals lasts on average from October-November to April. During this period, another popular entertainment is snowmobiling and ATV riding. In Zavyalikha, which has become one of the most popular tourist spots, they even installed a special trampoline. Experienced athletes practice complex elements and tricks on it.

How to get there

Getting to all the major Ural cities will not be difficult, so the region of this majestic mountain system is one of the most convenient for domestic tourists. The flight from Moscow will take only three hours, and if you prefer to travel by train, the journey by rail will take just over a day.

The main Ural city, as we have already said, is Yekaterinburg, located in the Middle Urals. Due to the fact that the Ural Mountains themselves are low, it was possible to build several transport routes leading to Siberia from Central Russia. In particular, you can travel through the territory of this region along the famous railway artery – the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Here is a detailed map of the Ural Mountains with the names of cities and towns in Russian.

Move the map while holding it with the left mouse button. You can move around the map by clicking on one of the four arrows in the upper left corner. You can change the scale using the scale on the right side of the map or turning the mouse wheel.

In which country are the Ural Mountains located?

The Ural Mountains are located in Russia. This is a wonderful, beautiful place, with its own history and traditions. Coordinates of the Ural Mountains: northern latitude and eastern longitude (show on large map).

Virtual walk