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The Urals is a geographical region in Russia, the main part of which is the Ural Mountains. They form the boundary between the European and Asian parts of Russia. The Ural Mountains consist of several “regions”: Northern Urals, Polar Urals, Subpolar Urals, Middle Urals, Southern Urals. They differ in vegetation, terrain and nature. Each time these mountains surprise with their diversity.
Some slopes delight the traveler with taiga forests, others with steppe vegetation. Sometimes these are steep slopes, full of cracks and depressions, and sometimes hills, smoothly flowing into each other. All this is the Ural Mountains.
Their length is about 2000 kilometers, but at the same time they are quite low. Rare peaks have reached heights of more than 1500 kilometers. Let’s get started!
We present you a list of the 10 highest points of the Ural Mountains: the rating of the peaks of the Northern and Southern Urals – their names and height, which is not as easy to conquer as it seems.
10 More-Iz (Wesey-Pe), 423 m
Mountain Sea-From – the northernmost peak of the Ural Mountains and the most important peak of the Pai-Khoi ridge. Vasey-Pe – this is the name that the Germans gave to the mountain, in translation it means “Starikova mountain“. Like all mountains of the Northern Urals, it is not easily accessible.
The northern regions of the Urals are considered the most difficult and underdeveloped. Therefore, there are not so many settlements in this region.
9. Boktybay, 567 m
No shit – the highest point of the Mugodzhary mountain system, located in one of the regions of Kazakhstan. There are a lot of rivers on the slopes of this mountain, but they all dry up in the summer.
The slopes are not covered with forests, on the contrary, the vegetation on the mountain is steppe, more composed of cereals and shrubs. The foot of this mountain is still often used by the locals as pastures for livestock.
8. Kachkanar, 879 m
Mountain Kachkanar is part of the mountain range of the same name in the North of the Urals. At its foot stands a city with the same name – “Kachkanar”. Its slopes are mostly gentle and covered with coniferous forest, but this does not mean the absence of rocks.
The very famous Camel Rock rises on this mountain. It stands next to the Buddhist monastery Shad Tchup Ling. And on the east side is the ski resort “Mount Kachkanar”, which is happy to welcome its tourists. Thanks to these three attractions, it is one of the most famous and visited mountains.
7. Oslyanka, 1119 m
Donkey – the highest peak of the Middle Urals. There are two possible reasons why it was named that way. The first is due to the Oslyanka River, which flows at the foot of the mountain. The second – because of its shape, reminiscent of a log (“donkey“).
The mountain is indeed stretched for 16 kilometers and from a distance looks like a very long elevation above the horizon. The slopes are quite steep, frequent avalanches are possible, and because of this it is marked as quite dangerous.
6. Payer, 1472 m
Payer is the highest point of the Polar Urals. The mountain is rather a mountain range, on which there are three peaks at once: Western Payer (1330 m), Payer – a sharp rocky uplift with a flat top (1472) and Eastern Payer (1217).
The mountain is composed of quartzite, shale and various igneous rocks. The name “Payer” is German and translated into Russian as “Lord of Mountains”, because visually this array is different from the others.
This mountain is not so dangerous if the tourists already have considerable experience, but in this case it is recommended to climb in the summer. In winter, the likelihood of an avalanche is high.
5. Big Iremel, 1582 m
Mountain Big Iremel – one of the most famous mountains of the Southern Urals. A very popular tourist place in Bashkortostan. The second largest mountain in the South of the Urals. There are many myths about it, which guides are happy to tell tourists. For example, according to one legend, earlier there lived a people who hid all their wealth in the depths of this mountain.
It remains the most beautiful place, because it is surrounded by mountain tundra and untouched Ural forests. However, the climate here is not the most favorable, especially if tourists decide to climb the mountain on foot.
Constant rain, fog, and from a certain point, non-melting snow – all this will complicate the path. But at the top, travelers will discover all the splendor of the Urals.
4. Telposiz, 1617 m
Mountain You don’t have to – the highest mountain of the Northern Urals. The title means “Nest of winds“. Its slopes are covered with taiga forest, and it consists of quartz sandstone, schist and conglomerate.
Basically, the mountains of the Northern Urals have flat peaks, because the relief was formed due to the fact that the ancient mountains have long been affected by glaciation and frosty weathering.
3. Yamantau, 1640 m
Mountain Yamantau – the highest peak of the Southern Urals. In Bashkir, the name means “bad mountain” (sometimes “Bad Mountain“). It is named so by the locals for many reasons: difficult slopes do not leave the opportunity to graze herds, severe weather, including heavy fogs, make it difficult to navigate in the forest, a large number of wild animals that have long brought problems not only to the local population, but also to visiting tourists.
It is also problematic to get to the mountain. From all sides it is surrounded by ridges and rivers. For many, this is certainly not a problem. But the congress of various specialists in the 60s brought her special fame. Since then, everyone has been trying to solve the mystery that Yamantau hides. The most common versions are the military base or the president’s bunker, because of which the passage to the top is strictly prohibited.
2. to Manara, 1662 m
Mountain Manaraga is located in the region of the Ural Mountains, which is called “Subpolar Urals Mountains“. This is one of the most beautiful regions of our country. Tourists and travelers come here for the sake of the magnificent mountains and the harsh, but such a beautiful nature.
The difference between the Subpolar Urals is that its ridges are higher, and the relief is more similar to the Alpine. The slopes of the mountains are not symmetrical, and on the way there are deep gorges and high passes.
The mountain yields to the highest point of the Urals by more than 200 meters. Until 1927, it was she who was considered as such, due to her isolation and majestic appearance. Its name can be translated as “Bear paw“, but in the Komi language it is also called Sisymour or Unayuraiz (Seven-headed и many-headed, respectively).
1. Narodnaya, 1895 m
Mountain People’s – the highest peak of the Ural Mountains. In the literature there is no consensus on the name of the mountain, there are two options: Narodnaya or Narodnaya. The first name has a foundation in the form of the Naroda River, which flows at the foot of the mountain. The second is justified by the fact that in the years when they decided to give a name, the discoverers sought to give names in the name of the new state (specifically here – in the name of the Soviet people).
The mountain itself is no different from its neighbors. It is very difficult to climb on it, and it costs hundreds of kilometers to the nearest settlement. Therefore, for the first time it was investigated and described in 1927. Since that year, this peak has been considered the highest point in the Urals, although the final correct height was established later.
Thus, the Ural Mountains deservedly occupy a place in the list of tourist destinations. However, despite their not the largest size, they do not become less dangerous. You need to have experience and skill to conquer some of them. But the effort spent is worth it, since the air that the traveler inhales at the top of the Ural Mountains will never be forgotten by him.