Chatyr-Tau - the highest mountain of Tatarstan

Chatyr-Tau is one of the highest mountain formations of Tatarstan. It is a flat plateau with a height of about 320 meters above sea level, along with the slopes of the ridge. The highest mountain of Tatarstan in the east of the republic is located 5 kilometers from the nearest settlement - the city of Aznakaevo. "Chatyr-Tau" in translation from one of the dialects of the ancient Türkic language means "tent-mountain". Its appearance from afar and indeed resembles a tent - a traditional dwelling near the eastern peoples. At the foot of the mountain there flows the Styrle River, into which many underground springs flow.

Features of Chatyr-Tau

Despite the fact that geographical maps often designate Chatyr-Tau as a ridge, in its historical essence it is not so. This relief formation is the only one that rises on the territory of the state under the name of the Republic of Tatarstan. High mountain was formed due to erosion of nearby valleys. While mountain ranges arise due to the movement of lithospheric plates, the appearance of folds on their borders or the activity of the bowels of the earth.

How did Chatyr-Tau happen? This mountain is distinguished by its height among the dales surrounding it. This was facilitated by several factors, in particular, soil erosion, which led to the collapse of the valleys. And the place where there is a high mountain (Tatarstan), a photo of which is in the article, remained undiluted. Currently, the relief education occupies an area of 41.5 square kilometers.

Flora and fauna

The flora of the reserve is interesting. The variety of flowering plants, such as the bubbly astragalus with bright lilac petals, the primrose Adonis, attracts travelers and tourists from all over the region.

Since the surrounding mountains of the lowlands are usually considered steppes, the animal world is characteristic of such climatic zones. Rodents predominate, such as marmots, gray hamsters, a blindfold and a steppe variegated. Chatir-Tau is the highest mountain of Tatarstan, which is considered the northern border of the limits of the habitat of these animals. Here in large numbers there are small snakes. Together with the adjoining plains, Chatyr-Tau forms a regional nature reserve.

Sacred animal

The colony of marmots that inhabit all the slopes of the mountain is the largest in the republic. Among the nationalities preaching Islam, this species is considered something of a sacred animal. Harmful urbanization does not bring them, despite the search for oil works, which are held nearby. High mountain (Tatarstan) is great for their existence. Natural animals have few animals. Rare specimens of burial eagles appear at the foot of the mountain, which pose a threat to this species.

Let's take a look at the story

Three centuries ago copper was extracted on the slopes of the mountain. They lived in the local surroundings, who were engaged in the ennobling of this metal, the Kazan Tatars. They formed a small settlement with religious mosques. In the large cities of that time, roads for the movement of freight transport were laid from these places.

Unique places

There are unconfirmed, but not refuted myths that for some time the highest mountain of Tatarstan was a haven for the troops led by the peasant Emelian Pugachev. They built a parking lot on its slopes.

Abandoned galleries attract to this day lovers of all kinds of extreme tourism, the essence of which is to spend time underground, and the mountain itself is used as a launch pad for para- and hang-gliders of the republic.

Another legend says that in the depths of the mountain are hidden weapons treasures, possibly related to the era of the Golden Horde. The status of the reserve does not allow us to conduct full-scale archaeological excavations here, but this place attracts fans of this kind of ethnic group.

What is hidden in the depths Chatyr-Tau?

Among the useful resources, which are rich in the highest mountain of Tatarstan, apart from copper mines and oil deposits, it is worth noting such important steppe in arid conditions as underground water. Having a characteristic copper flavor, according to a number of other beliefs, it cures various diseases. This fact can be fully explained from the medical, that is, the scientific point of view: copper from ancient times was famous for its curative properties. Unfortunately, the main deposits of this natural wealth are also located deep in the bowels of the mountain, therefore it is not possible to organize a resort zone here on the example of the Caucasian Mineral Waters area.

Since Chatyr-Tau was separated as a separate mountain as a result of the disintegration in this place of the Ural ridge more than 250 million years ago, here there are minerals characteristic for the Urals mountains . These are ornamental and semiprecious stones: lapis lazuli, malachite. On the stones, whose age is several tens of millions of years, the imprints of prehistoric plants, characteristic for these places in the Permian epoch of the planet's development, have been preserved.

Let's sum up the results

Despite the ethnographic, ecological and simply aesthetic appeal of these places, organized tourism here is poorly developed. Remoteness of settlements and lack of infrastructure attracts mostly single lovers of outdoor activities. The highest mountain of Tatarstan is surrounded by virgin nature. Here you can meet tourists with tents and other enthusiasts of their business.

A special contribution to the description of the natural attractiveness of Chatyr-Tau belongs to the geographer and traveler PS Pallas, who in the XVIII century spent a lot of time in these places, studying not only the geographical features of the complex, but also collecting legends and legends from local residents.