Often people find themselves captive of certain words, often used in communication and books (encyclopedias, student and school textbooks), without really thinking about their meaning.

For example, it would seem that the word “Ural”... It is so familiar and seems clear and understandable to everyone. But its meaning is most likely ambiguous. What is the Urals? We will try to find out this in this article.

The Urals are like a mountainous country

Few people know what the Urals are. This Mountain chain over 2000 meters long. What is its geographical location? It stretches from north to south, dividing Europe and Asia and the two largest plains - the West Siberian lowland and the Russian steppe.

Description of the mountains

The Ural Mountains are ancient rocks, heavily destroyed by time. The stone belt of these mountains, together with the adjacent plains of the Urals, stretches from the north (from the shores of the Arctic Ocean) to the south to the semi-desert territories of Kazakhstan. So what is “Ural”? What does this word mean if translated from the Turkic language? It means “belt” (more on the meaning of the word below). Amazing nature, fascinating with its unapproachable harsh beauty - all this is the Urals. Where else can you see such splendor?

Many territories of the Urals represent nature reserves, among which the most famous are the following: Zyuratkul, Taganay, Arkaim, Arakul, Denezhkin Stone, Kungur Cave, Kvarkush, Oleniy Ruchi. What other meaning is hidden in the word “Ural”? What is it really and what does it represent to all of us when we encounter this term?

Ural as a region

Officially, the Urals are a geographical region. The main part of this Russian region is represented by the Ural mountain system. IN southern zone it includes part of the Ural River basin, which flows into the Caspian Sea. The region, as noted above, is located at the junction of Asia and Europe. It starts from the shores of the Kara Sea and ends at Mugodzhar (the southern spur of the Ural Mountains in Kazakhstan).

The Trans-Urals and Cis-Urals are economically and historically closely connected with the Urals. These are the territories adjacent to it from the east and west. In all these areas, the following republics, regions and territories of Russia are collectively located: Bashkortostan, Kurgan, Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk and Orenburg regions and Udmurtia, the eastern parts of the Arkhangelsk region and the Komi Republic, the western part of the Tyumen region. In Kazakhstan, two regions belong to the Urals: Kustanai and Aktobe.

Region meaning

Ural - what is it? What does it represent for Russia in economic terms? Since ancient times, the Urals has amazed many researchers with the abundance of a wide variety of minerals, which is the main wealth of these regions.

The Ural Mountains store a huge variety of minerals in their depths. They contain copper and iron ores, nickel and chromium, zinc and cobalt, oil and coal, gold and others gems. These places have long been the largest mining and metallurgical base in Russia. In addition to all this, the riches of these places include huge forest resources. The Middle and Southern Urals have extensive opportunities for the development of agriculture. This natural region is the most important for all of Russia and its citizens.

A little about the toponym

There are a huge number of versions of the origin of the toponym (the proper name of a geographical object) “Ural”. Based on the results of studies of the languages ​​of the peoples living in the region, there is a main version about the origin of the name of the area - this name is derived from the Bashkir language. And in fact, of all the nationalities living in these places, this name has existed for a long time only among the Bashkirs and is supported by the legends and traditions of this people (for example, the epic “Ural Batyr”).

The Urals are multinational. What does he represent to other peoples? In addition to the Bashkirs, the rest of the indigenous peoples of these mountainous places (Komi, Khanty, Udmurts, Mansi) have other names for the Ural Mountains. It is also known that the Russians learned about the name Uraltau from the Bashkirs in the mid-16th century, translating it as Araltov Mountain. In this regard, it is generally accepted that the name of the mountains is associated with the Turkic word “aral” (translated as “island”) or with “uralmak” (translated as “encircle” or “enclose”).

We can talk endlessly about this amazing “country” called the Urals. The works of great writers and poets are dedicated to her, and wonderful paintings were painted by famous artists. a huge number of nature lovers, and its peaks are conquered by brave and courageous climbers. All nationalities living in this region have their own unique history and culture that deserves attention and respect.

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 big rivers like 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, Subpolar or Middle - indescribable. And their greatness, beauty, harmony and clean air charge with energy and positivity, inspire and, of course, leave vivid impressions for the rest of my 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 exactly 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.

No less varied is the animal world"Earth Belt". 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 consists of spruce seeds, and in winter these cute animals with bushy tail They 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 temperate climatic 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 temperature can be 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 Ruchiki” 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 focus 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, in 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 go through full course healing procedures, just 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 its chemical composition their 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 unfold to his full potential.

Yekaterinburg usually impresses its guests strong impression– first of all, many architectural sights. 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 business cards 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 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.

Besides 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, then the route via railway will take a little more than 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.

(the extended Priuralsky region belongs to the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug). In the Urals, as well as in the Cis-Urals and Trans-Urals, are located the Republic of Bashkortostan, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Orenburg regions, Udmurtia and the Perm Territory, making up the Ural Economic Region, the eastern parts of the Komi Republic and the Arkhangelsk Region (Nenets Autonomous Okrug), included in the Northern Economic Region , and the western part of the Tyumen region, part of the West Siberian economic region. In Kazakhstan, geographically the Aktobe and Kostanay regions can be attributed to the Urals. Sometimes, to designate the administrative-territorial units of the Russian Federation, one way or another related to the Urals, the concept is also used Big Ural. The administrative Ural Federal District of the Russian Federation (Ural Federal District) includes Kurgan, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Chelyabinsk regions, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The administrative center of the Urals Federal District and the Sverdlovsk region, the city of Yekaterinburg is usually called the “capital of the Urals” and the “capital of the Middle Urals”.

Origin of the toponym

There are many versions of the origin of the toponym “Ural”. An analysis of the linguistic contacts of the first Russian settlers in the region indicates that the toponym was most likely adopted from the Bashkir language. Indeed, of all the autochthonous peoples of the Urals, this name has existed since ancient times only among the Bashkirs, and is supported at the level of the language, legends and traditions of this people (the epic “Ural Batyr”). Other indigenous peoples of the Urals (Khanty, Mansi, Udmurts, Komi) have other traditional names for the Ural Mountains, adopting the name “Ural” only in XIX-XX centuries from Russian language. E.M. Murzaev reports that the Russians learned this name as Uraltau from the Bashkirs in the middle of the 16th century, passing it on as Araltova or Oraltova Mountain. Therefore, it is generally accepted that the name of the mountain is associated with the Turkic “aral” (island) or with “uralmak” (to encircle, enclose). He also reports that the Bashkirs called the Urals only the watershed ridge, even when it belonged to low mountains.

Legends

“Ural” in Bashkir means belt. There is a Bashkir tale about a giant who wore a belt with deep pockets. He hid all his wealth in them. The belt was huge. One day the giant stretched it, and the belt lay across the entire earth, from the cold Kara Sea in the north to the sandy shores of the southern Caspian Sea. This is how the Ural ridge was formed.

In Greek books written two thousand years ago, you can read about the distant “Riphean Mountains”, where sullen vultures guard countless golden treasures.

Climate

The climate of the Urals is typical mountainous; precipitation is distributed unevenly not only across regions, but also within each region. The West Siberian Plain is a territory with harsh continental climate; in the meridional direction its continentality increases much less sharply than on the Russian Plain. The climate of the mountainous regions of Western Siberia is less continental than the climate of the West Siberian Plain.

Within the same zone on the plains of the Cis-Urals and Trans-Urals, natural conditions differ markedly. This is explained by the fact that the Ural Mountains serve as a kind of climatic barrier. To the west of them there is more precipitation, the climate is more humid and mild; to the east, that is, beyond the Urals, there is less precipitation, the climate is drier, with pronounced continental features.

Fauna

Several centuries ago the animal world was richer than it is now. Plowing, hunting, and deforestation have displaced and destroyed the habitats of many animals. Wild horses, saigas, bustards, and little bustards have disappeared. Herds of deer migrated deeper into the tundra. But rodents (hamsters, field mice) have spread to the plowed lands. In the north you can find inhabitants of the tundra - reindeer, and in the south typical inhabitants of the steppes - marmots, shrews, snakes and lizards. The forests are inhabited by predators: brown bears, wolves, wolverines, foxes, sables, stoats, lynxes. They are home to ungulates (elk, deer, roe deer, etc.) and birds various types, for example, such as eagles or bullfinches (in winter). Otters and beavers are found along the river valleys. The acclimatization of sika deer was successfully carried out in the Ilmensky Nature Reserve; muskrat, beaver, deer, muskrat, raccoon dog, American mink, and Barguzin sable were also settled.

Flora

The differences in landscapes are noticeable as you climb. In the Southern Urals, for example, the path to the tops of the largest Zigalga ridge begins with crossing a strip of hills and ravines at the foot, densely overgrown with bushes and herbs. Then the road goes through pine, birch and aspen forests, among which there are grassy meadows. Spruce and fir trees rise above like a palisade. Dead wood is almost invisible - it burns out during frequent forest fires. In flat areas there may be swamps. The peaks are covered with stone deposits, moss and grass. The rare and stunted spruces and crooked birches that come across here do not in any way resemble the landscape at the foot, with multi-colored carpets of herbs and shrubs. Fires on high altitude are already powerless, so the path is constantly blocked by rubble from fallen trees. The top of Mount Yamantau (1640 m) is a relatively flat area, but it is almost inaccessible due to a pile of old trunks.

Natural resources

Of the natural resources of the Urals, the most important are its mineral resources. Back in the 16th century, deposits of rock salt and sandstone containing copper were known on the western outskirts of the Urals. In the 17th century, quite numerous iron deposits became known and ironworks appeared, with the construction of one of which began the history of the “capital of the Urals”, the city of Yekaterinburg.

Gold placers and platinum deposits were found in the mountains, and precious stones were found on the eastern slope. The skill of searching for ore, smelting metal, making weapons and artistic items from it, and processing gems was passed on from generation to generation. In the Urals there are numerous deposits of high-quality iron ores(mountains Magnitnaya, Vysokaya, Blagodat, Kachkanar), copper ores (Mednogorsk, Karabash, Sibay, Gai), rare non-ferrous metals, gold, silver, platinum, the best bauxite in the country, rock and potassium salts (Solikamsk, Berezniki, Berezovskoye, Vazhenskoye , Ilyetskoe). In the Urals there is oil (Ishimbay), natural gas (Orenburg), coal, asbestos, precious and semi-precious stones.

The riches of the Ural nature also include forest resources. The Southern and Middle Urals provide agricultural opportunities.

Rivers and lakes

Region meaning

The Urals have long been the largest mining and metallurgical base Russian state. Active industrial development of the Urals began under Peter I, who in Yekaterinburg in 1886-1917. there was a monument to “the founder of the mining business in the Urals.” The Ural “mining business” gave rise to a special socio-cultural community, which the famous writer and ural expert Alexey Ivanov called “mining civilization.” “Gornozavodskoy Ural” is the modern name of the association of museums and cultural objects of Nizhny Tagil. The Urals as a resource base played a key role during the Second World War - this, in particular, is reflected by the modern official motto of the Sverdlovsk region - “The stronghold of the state” (a line from Tvardovsky’s poem).

The hydropower potential of the Ural rivers is significant and not fully developed (Pavlovskaya, Yumaguzinskaya, Shirokovskaya, Iriklinskaya and several small hydroelectric power stations operate).

Largest cities

The largest cities in the Urals (with a population of more than 250,000 people):

The Urals in the art and culture of Russia

The contribution of the Urals to the art and culture of Russia is unique.

The foundation on which the decorative and applied arts of the Urals grew is industry. Ural stone-cutting art is a unique variety of Russian decorative and applied art. The Urals are the center of domestic industrial marble processing. The Urals are also known for the industrial production of various cast iron household items, as well as for its artistic casting (Kasli casting). At the beginning of the 18th century, cast iron pots, boilers and cast iron dampers for furnaces were cast at a factory in Yekaterinburg. Later, iron casting began to be used more widely, including in architecture and industry. The production of damask steel was revived, and the metallurgy of alloy steels was born.

The most famous Ural writers are Sergei Aksakov, Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak and Pavel Bazhov (for the first time he performed literary adaptations of Ural tales: “The Malachite Box”, “The Stone Flower”, “The Silver Hoof”, “The Mistress of the Copper Mountain” and many others).

Ural artists such as Alexey Denisov-Uralsky, Vitaly Volovich, Alexey Kazantsev, Misha Brusilovsky, Yuri Filonenko, Valeryan Bakharev, Gennady Mosin and many others also contributed to the art and culture of Russia.

Documentary writer Alexey Ivanov, who studied at USU, at the beginning of the 21st century created a series of works dedicated to the history and culture of the Urals. The main series of texts is called “The Ridge of Russia” (a metaphorical image of the Ural Mountains); on its basis, together with the famous journalist Leonid Parfenov, a series of documentaries of the same name was created.

Ural in politics

The center of Ural autonomism is the Sverdlovsk region. Here, since 1993, regional political movements: Transfiguration of the Urals, “MAY”, and since 2011 the Bazhov Society.

Write a review about the article "Ural"

Notes

Literature

• Arkhipova N. P., Yastrebov E. V.. - Chelyabinsk: South Ural Book Publishing House, 1982.
• Rychkov A.V.. - Director: Malysh and Carlson, 2008. - 50 p. - 5000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-9900756-1-0.
• Murzaev E. M. Dictionary of folk geographical terms. 1st ed. - M., Mysl, 1984.
• Murzaev E. M. Turkic geographical names. - M., Vost. lit., 1996.
• Aleshin B. M., Ivanov Yu. K., Kovalchuk A. I., Koroteev V. A., Prokin V. A.. - Ekaterinburg: Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1999. - 184 p.
• Ural // Great Soviet Encyclopedia: [in 30 volumes] / ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 3rd ed. - M. : Soviet encyclopedia, 1969-1978.

Excerpt characterizing the Urals

“I told you,” Natasha answered, “that I have no will, how can you not understand this: I love him!”
“Then I won’t let this happen, I’ll tell you,” Sonya screamed with tears breaking through.
“What are you doing, for God’s sake... If you tell me, you are my enemy,” Natasha spoke. - You want my misfortune, you want us to be separated...
Seeing this fear of Natasha, Sonya cried tears of shame and pity for her friend.
- But what happened between you? – she asked. -What did he tell you? Why doesn't he go to the house?
Natasha did not answer her question.
“For God’s sake, Sonya, don’t tell anyone, don’t torture me,” Natasha begged. – You remember that you cannot interfere in such matters. I opened it for you...
– But why these secrets! Why doesn't he go to the house? – Sonya asked. - Why doesn’t he directly seek your hand? After all, Prince Andrei gave you complete freedom, if that’s the case; but I don't believe it. Natasha, have you thought about what secret reasons there could be?
Natasha looked at Sonya with surprised eyes. Apparently, this was the first time she had asked this question and she didn’t know how to answer it.
– I don’t know what the reasons are. But there are reasons!
Sonya sighed and shook her head in disbelief.
“If there were reasons...” she began. But Natasha, guessing her doubt, interrupted her in fear.
- Sonya, you can’t doubt him, you can’t, you can’t, do you understand? – she shouted.
– Does he love you?
- Does he love you? – Natasha repeated with a smile of regret about her friend’s lack of understanding. – You read the letter, did you see it?
- But what if he is an ignoble person?
– Is he!... an ignoble person? If only you knew! - Natasha said.
“If he is a noble man, then he must either declare his intention or stop seeing you; and if you don’t want to do this, then I will do it, I will write to him, I will tell dad,” Sonya said decisively.
- Yes, I can’t live without him! – Natasha screamed.
- Natasha, I don’t understand you. And what are you saying! Remember your father, Nicolas.
“I don’t need anyone, I don’t love anyone but him.” How dare you say that he is ignoble? Don't you know that I love him? – Natasha shouted. “Sonya, go away, I don’t want to quarrel with you, go away, for God’s sake go away: you see how I’m suffering,” Natasha shouted angrily in a restrained, irritated and desperate voice. Sonya burst into tears and ran out of the room.
Natasha went to the table and, without thinking for a minute, wrote that answer to Princess Marya, which she could not write the whole morning. In this letter, she briefly wrote to Princess Marya that all their misunderstandings were over, that, taking advantage of the generosity of Prince Andrei, who, when leaving, gave her freedom, she asks her to forget everything and forgive her if she is guilty before her, but that she cannot be his wife . It all seemed so easy, simple and clear to her at that moment.

On Friday the Rostovs were supposed to go to the village, and on Wednesday the count went with the buyer to his village near Moscow.
On the day of the count's departure, Sonya and Natasha were invited to a big dinner with the Karagins, and Marya Dmitrievna took them. At this dinner, Natasha again met with Anatole, and Sonya noticed that Natasha was saying something to him, wanting not to be heard, and throughout the dinner she was even more excited than before. When they returned home, Natasha was the first to begin with Sonya the explanation that her friend was waiting for.
“You, Sonya, said all sorts of stupid things about him,” Natasha began in a meek voice, the voice that children use when they want to be praised. - We explained it to him today.
- Well, what, what? Well, what did he say? Natasha, how glad I am that you are not angry with me. Tell me everything, the whole truth. What did he say?
Natasha thought about it.
- Oh Sonya, if only you knew him like I do! He said... He asked me about how I promised Bolkonsky. He was glad that it was up to me to refuse him.
Sonya sighed sadly.
“But you didn’t refuse Bolkonsky,” she said.
- Or maybe I refused! Maybe it's all over with Bolkonsky. Why do you think so badly of me?
- I don’t think anything, I just don’t understand it...
- Wait, Sonya, you will understand everything. You will see what kind of person he is. Don't think bad things about me or him.
– I don’t think anything bad about anyone: I love everyone and feel sorry for everyone. But what should I do?
Sonya did not give in to the gentle tone with which Natasha addressed her. The softer and more searching the expression on Natasha’s face was, the more serious and stern Sonya’s face was.
“Natasha,” she said, “you asked me not to talk to you, I didn’t, now you started it yourself.” Natasha, I don't believe him. Why this secret?
- Again, again! – Natasha interrupted.
– Natasha, I’m afraid for you.
- What to be afraid of?
“I’m afraid that you will destroy yourself,” Sonya said decisively, herself frightened by what she said.
Natasha's face again expressed anger.
“And I will destroy, I will destroy, I will destroy myself as quickly as possible.” None of your business. It will feel bad not for you, but for me. Leave me, leave me. I hate you.
- Natasha! – Sonya cried out in fear.
- I hate it, I hate it! And you are my enemy forever!
Natasha ran out of the room.
Natasha no longer spoke to Sonya and avoided her. With the same expression of excited surprise and criminality, she walked around the rooms, taking up first this or that activity and immediately abandoning them.
No matter how hard it was for Sonya, she kept an eye on her friend.
On the eve of the day on which the count was supposed to return, Sonya noticed that Natasha had been sitting all morning at the living room window, as if expecting something, and that she made some kind of sign to a passing military man, whom Sonya mistook for Anatole.
Sonya began to observe her friend even more carefully and noticed that Natasha was in a strange and unnatural state all the time during lunch and evening (she answered questions asked to her at random, started and did not finish sentences, laughed at everything).
After tea, Sonya saw a timid girl's maid waiting for her at Natasha's door. She let her through and, listening at the door, learned that a letter had been delivered again. And suddenly it became clear to Sonya that Natasha had some terrible plan for this evening. Sonya knocked on her door. Natasha didn't let her in.
“She'll run away with him! thought Sonya. She is capable of anything. Today there was something especially pitiful and determined in her face. She cried, saying goodbye to her uncle, Sonya recalled. Yes, it’s true, she’s running with him, but what should I do?” thought Sonya, now recalling those signs that clearly proved why Natasha had some terrible intention. “There is no count. What should I do, write to Kuragin, demanding an explanation from him? But who tells him to answer? Write to Pierre, as Prince Andrei asked, in case of an accident?... But maybe, in fact, she has already refused Bolkonsky (she sent a letter to Princess Marya yesterday). There’s no uncle!” It seemed terrible to Sonya to tell Marya Dmitrievna, who believed so much in Natasha. “But one way or another,” Sonya thought, standing in the dark corridor: now or never the time has come to prove that I remember the benefits of their family and love Nicolas. No, even if I don’t sleep for three nights, I won’t leave this corridor and forcefully let her in, and I won’t let shame fall on their family,” she thought.

Anatole recently moved in with Dolokhov. The plan to kidnap Rostova had been thought out and prepared by Dolokhov for several days, and on the day when Sonya, having overheard Natasha at the door, decided to protect her, this plan had to be carried out. Natasha promised to go out to Kuragin’s back porch at ten o’clock in the evening. Kuragin had to put her in a prepared troika and take her 60 versts from Moscow to the village of Kamenka, where a disrobed priest was prepared who was supposed to marry them. In Kamenka, a setup was ready that was supposed to take them to the Warsaw road and there they were supposed to ride abroad on postal ones.
Anatole had a passport, and a travel document, and ten thousand money taken from his sister, and ten thousand borrowed through Dolokhov.
Two witnesses - Khvostikov, a former clerk, who was used for games by Dolokhov and Makarin, a retired hussar, good-natured and weak person, who had boundless love for Kuragin, sat in the first room having tea.
In Dolokhov’s large office, decorated from walls to ceiling with Persian carpets, bear skins and weapons, Dolokhov sat in a traveling beshmet and boots in front of an open bureau on which lay abacus and stacks of money. Anatole, in an unbuttoned uniform, walked from the room where the witnesses were sitting, through the office into the back room, where his French footman and others were packing the last things. Dolokhov counted the money and wrote it down.
“Well,” he said, “Khvostikov needs to be given two thousand.”
“Well, give it to me,” said Anatole.
– Makarka (that’s what they called Makarina), this one will selflessly go through fire and water for you. Well, the score is over,” said Dolokhov, showing him the note. - So?
“Yes, of course, so,” said Anatole, apparently not listening to Dolokhov and with a smile that never left his face, looking ahead of him.
Dolokhov slammed the bureau and turned to Anatoly with a mocking smile.
– You know what, give it all up: there’s still time! - he said.
- Fool! - said Anatole. - Stop talking nonsense. If only you knew... The devil knows what it is!
“Come on,” said Dolokhov. - I'm telling you the truth. Is this a joke you're starting?
- Well, again, teasing again? Go to hell! Eh?...” Anatole said with a wince. - Really, I have no time for your stupid jokes. - And he left the room.
Dolokhov smiled contemptuously and condescendingly when Anatole left.
“Wait,” he said after Anatoly, “I’m not joking, I mean business, come, come here.”
Anatole entered the room again and, trying to concentrate his attention, looked at Dolokhov, obviously involuntarily submitting to him.
- Listen to me, I will tell you last time I say. Why should I joke with you? Did I contradict you? Who arranged everything for you, who found the priest, who took the passport, who got the money? All I.
- Well, thank you. Do you think I'm not grateful to you? – Anatol sighed and hugged Dolokhov.
“I helped you, but I still have to tell you the truth: it’s a dangerous matter and, if you look at it, stupid.” Well, you take her away, okay. Will they leave it like that? It turns out that you are married. After all, they will bring you to criminal court...
- Ah! nonsense, nonsense! – Anatole spoke again, wincing. - After all, I explained it to you. A? - And Anatole, with that special passion (which stupid people have) for the conclusion that they reach with their minds, repeated the reasoning that he repeated to Dolokhov a hundred times. “After all, I explained to you, I decided: if this marriage is invalid,” he said, bending his finger, “then I don’t answer; Well, if it’s real, it doesn’t matter: no one abroad will know this, right? And don't talk, don't talk, don't talk!
- Really, come on! You will only tie yourself...
“Get to hell,” said Anatole and, holding his hair, he went into another room and immediately returned and sat down with his feet on a chair close in front of Dolokhov. - The devil knows what it is! A? Look how it beats! “He took Dolokhov’s hand and put it to his heart. - Ah! quel pied, mon cher, quel regard! Undeesse!! [ABOUT! What a leg, my friend, what a look! Goddess!!] Huh?
Dolokhov, smiling coldly and shining with his beautiful, insolent eyes, looked at him, apparently wanting to have more fun with him.
- Well, the money will come out, then what?
- What then? A? – Anatole repeated with sincere bewilderment at the thought of the future. - What then? I don’t know what’s there... Well, what nonsense to talk about! – He looked at his watch. - It's time!
Anatole went into the back room.
- Well, will you be there soon? Digging around here! - he shouted at the servants.
Dolokhov removed the money and, shouting to the man to order food and drink for the road, he entered the room where Khvostikov and Makarin were sitting.
Anatole was lying in the office, leaning on his arm, on the sofa, smiling thoughtfully and gently whispering something to himself with his beautiful mouth.
- Go, eat something. Well, have a drink! – Dolokhov shouted to him from another room.
- Don't want! – Anatole answered, still continuing to smile.
- Go, Balaga has arrived.
Anatole stood up and entered the dining room. Balaga was a well-known troika driver, who had known Dolokhov and Anatoly for six years and served them with his troikas. More than once, when Anatole’s regiment was stationed in Tver, he took him out of Tver in the evening, delivered him to Moscow by dawn, and took him away the next day at night. More than once he took Dolokhov away from pursuit, more than once he took them around the city with gypsies and ladies, as Balaga called them. More than once he crushed people and cab drivers around Moscow with their work, and his gentlemen, as he called them, always rescued him. He drove more than one horse under them. More than once he was beaten by them, more than once they plied him with champagne and Madeira, which he loved, and he knew more than one thing behind each of them, which to an ordinary person Siberia would have deserved it long ago. In their revelry, they often invited Balaga, forced him to drink and dance with the gypsies, and more than one thousand of their money passed through his hands. Serving them, he risked both his life and his skin twenty times a year, and at their work he killed more horses than they overpaid him in money. But he loved them, loved this crazy ride, eighteen miles an hour, loved to overturn a cab driver and crush a pedestrian in Moscow, and fly at full gallop through the Moscow streets. He loved to hear this wild cry of drunken voices behind him: “Go! let's go! whereas it was already impossible to drive faster; He loved to pull the man's neck painfully, who was already neither alive nor dead, avoiding him. "Real gentlemen!" he thought.
Anatole and Dolokhov also loved Balaga for his riding skill and because he loved the same things as they did. Balaga dressed up with others, charged twenty-five rubles for a two-hour ride, and only occasionally went with others himself, but more often he sent his fellows. But with his masters, as he called them, he always traveled himself and never demanded anything for his work. Only having learned through the valets the time when there was money, he came every few months in the morning, sober and, bowing low, asked to help him out. The gentlemen always imprisoned him.
“Release me, Father Fyodor Ivanovich or your Excellency,” he said. - He’s completely lost his mind, go to the fair, lend what you can.
Both Anatol and Dolokhov, when they had money, gave him a thousand and two rubles.
Balaga was fair-haired, with a red face and especially a red, thick neck, a squat, snub-nosed man, about twenty-seven, with sparkling small eyes and a small beard. He was dressed in a thin blue caftan lined with silk, over a sheepskin coat.
He crossed himself at the front corner and approached Dolokhov, extending his black, small hand.
- Fyodor Ivanovich! - he said, bowing.
- Great, brother. - Well, here he is.
“Hello, your Excellency,” he said to Anatoly as he entered and also extended his hand.
“I’m telling you, Balaga,” said Anatole, putting his hands on his shoulders, “do you love me or not?” A? Now you've done your service... Which ones did you come to? A?
“As the ambassador ordered, on your animals,” said Balaga.
- Well, do you hear, Balaga! Kill all three and come at three o'clock. A?
- How will you kill, what will we go on? - Balaga said, winking.
- Well, I’ll break your face, don’t joke! – Anatole suddenly shouted, rolling his eyes.
“Why joke,” the coachman said, chuckling. - Will I be sorry for my masters? As long as the horses can gallop, we will ride.
- A! - said Anatole. - Well, sit down.
- Well, sit down! - said Dolokhov.
- I’ll wait, Fyodor Ivanovich.
“Sit down, lie, drink,” said Anatole and poured him a large glass of Madeira. The coachman's eyes lit up at the wine. Refusing for the sake of decency, he drank and wiped himself with a red silk handkerchief that lay in his hat.
- Well, when to go, Your Excellency?
- Well... (Anatole looked at his watch) let’s go now. Look, Balaga. A? Will you be in time?
- Yes, how about departure - will he be happy, otherwise why not be in time? - Balaga said. “They delivered it to Tver and arrived at seven o’clock.” You probably remember, Your Excellency.
“You know, I once went from Tver for Christmas,” said Anatole with a smile of memory, turning to Makarin, who looked at Kuragin with all his eyes. – Do you believe, Makarka, that it was breathtaking how we flew. We drove into the convoy and jumped over two carts. A?

The Ural Mountains are located on the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan and are a unique geographical feature that divides the Eurasian continent into two parts.

Direction and extent of the Ural Mountains.

The length of the Ural Mountains is more than 2500 km, they originate from the shores ofArctic Ocean and end in the sultry deserts of Kazakhstan. Due to the fact that the Ural Mountains cross the territory of Russia from north to south, they pass through five geographical zones. They include the expanses of the Orenburg, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Aktobe, Tyumen and Kustanai regions, as well as the territories of the Perm Territory, the Komi Republic and Bashkortostan.

Minerals of the Ural Mountains.

In the depths of the Urals are hidden countless riches known to the whole world. This includes the famous malachite, and semi-precious stones, colorfully described by Bazhov in his fairy tales, asbestos, platinum, gold and other minerals.

Nature of the Ural Mountains.

This region is famous for its incredible natural beauty. People come here to look at the amazing mountains, plunge into clear waters numerous lakes, go down into caves or raft along the stormy rivers of the Ural Mountains. You can travel through colorful places either by walking across the expanses of the Urals with a backpack on your back, or in the comfortable conditions of a sightseeing bus or your own car.

Ural Mountains in the Sverdlovsk region.

The beauty of these mountains is best seen in natural parks and reserves. Once in the Sverdlovsk region, you definitely need to visit Oleniye Ruchyi. Tourists come here to see the drawings painted on the surface of the Pisanitsa rock. ancient man, visit the caves and descend into the Big Gap, marveling at the strength of the river that has carved a path through Holey Stone. For visitors, there are special trails throughout the park, observation decks, cable crossings and places for recreation.

Park "Bazhovskie places".

Available in the Urals natural Park“Bazhovskie places”, on the territory of which you can go walking, horseback riding and cycling. Specially designed routes allow you to explore picturesque landscapes, visit Lake Talkov Kamen and climb Mount Markov Kamen. In winter you can travel here on snowmobiles, and in summer you can go down the mountain rivers in kayaks or paddle boards.

Rezhevsky reserve.

Connoisseurs of the natural beauty of semi-precious stones should definitely visit the Rezhevskaya reserve of the Ural Mountains, which includes several unique deposits of semi-precious, precious and semi-precious stones. Traveling to the mining sites is only possible if accompanied by a reserve employee. The Rezh River flows through its territory, formed by the confluence of the Ayat and Bolshoi Sap rivers. These rivers originate in the Ural Mountains. On the right bank of the Rezh River rises the famous Shaitan stone. Local residents consider it a repository of mystical power.

Caves of the Urals.

Fans of extreme tourism will be happy to visit the numerous caves of the Urals. The most famous of them are Kungur Ice and Shulgan-Tash (Kapova). The Kungur Ice Cave stretches for 5.7 km, although only 1.5 km of it is accessible to tourists. On its territory there are about 50 grottoes, more than 60 lakes and many stalactites and stalagmites made of ice. The temperature here is always below freezing, so you need to dress appropriately to visit it. To enhance the visual effect, special lighting is used in the cave.

In the Kapova Cave, scientists discovered rock paintings that are more than 14 thousand years old. In total, about 200 works by ancient artists were found in its vastness. In addition, you can visit numerous halls, grottoes and galleries, located on three levels, and admire the underground lakes, in one of which an inattentive visitor risks swimming at the entrance.

Some attractions of the Ural Mountains are best visited in winter. One of these places is located in the Zyuratkul National Park. This is an ice fountain that arose thanks to geologists who once drilled a well in this place. Now a fountain of underground water gushes out of it. IN winter time it turns into a bizarrely shaped icicle, reaching a height of 14 m.

Thermal springs of the Urals.

The Urals are also rich in thermal springs, so to undergo healing procedures there is no need to fly abroad, just come to Tyumen. Local thermal springs are rich in microelements that are beneficial to human health, and the water temperature in the source ranges from +36 to +45 0 C, regardless of the time of year. Recreation centers have been built on these waters.

Ust-Kachka, Perm.

Not far from Perm there is a health complex “Ust-Kachka”, unique in its composition mineral waters. IN summer time Here you can ride catamarans or boats. In winter, ski slopes, ice skating rinks and slides are available to vacationers.

Waterfalls of the Urals.

For the Ural Mountains, waterfalls are not a common occurrence, which makes it all the more interesting to visit such a natural miracle. One of them is the Plakun waterfall, located on the right bank of the Sylva River. Fresh water falls from a height of more than 7 m. Local residents and visitors consider this source holy and gave it the name Ilyinsky.

There is also a man-made waterfall near Yekaterinburg, nicknamed “Rokhotun” for the roar of the water. Its waters fall down from a height of more than 5 m. On a hot summer day, it is pleasant to stand under its streams, cooling off and receiving a free hydromassage.

IN Perm region There is a unique place called the Stone City. This name was given to it by tourists, although among the local population this miracle of nature is called “Devil’s Settlement”. The stones in this complex are arranged in such a way that the illusion of a real city with streets, squares and avenues is created. You can walk through its labyrinths for hours, and beginners can even get lost. Each stone has its own name, given for its resemblance to some animal. Some tourists climb to the tops of the rocks to see the beauty of the greenery surrounding the City.

Ridges and cliffs of the Ural Mountains.

Many cliffs of the Ural ridge also have their own names, for example, Bear Stone, which from afar resembles the gray back of a bear glimpsed among the green trees. Climbers use the hundred-meter steep cliff for their training. Unfortunately, it is gradually being destroyed. In the rock, archaeologists discovered a grotto in which there was a site for ancient people.

Not far from Yekaterinburg in the Visimsky Nature Reserve there is an outcrop of rocks. An attentive eye will immediately discern in it the outlines of a man whose head is covered with a cap. They call him Old Man Stone. If you climb to its top, you can admire the panorama of Nizhny Tagil.

Lakes of the Urals.

Among the numerous lakes of the Ural Mountains, there is one that is not inferior in glory to Lake Baikal. This is Lake Turgoyak, fed by radon springs. The water contains almost no mineral salts. Soft water has healing properties. People from all over Russia come here to improve their health.

If you appreciate the virgin beauty of mountain landscapes, untouched by civilization, come to the Urals, to the Ural Mountains: this region will definitely give you a piece of its amazing atmosphere.