Yarlu Gorge. Mystical places of Siberia

Places that are not enough just to see, they must be felt and heard. These areas include the Yarlu Valley. In addition to the amazing beauty of mountains, forests and hollows, the gorge impresses with its sacred power. Here the power of nature is felt physically. You can describe a lot the feelings of travelers to the valley, but to realize the power of the local land is possible only after personal presence. The valley stretched to the left of Lake Akkem. Its height is 2000 m. The name of the valley means “a place with cliffs”. A stream runs along the bottom of the gorge, which is also called Yarlu and flows into the Akkem River.

Magical power and curiosity beckons people to the valley. It was Jarlu who was noted by Roerich. His followers often visit the research sites of the scientist. Here he stopped during his expedition in search of the fabulous Belovodye.

The greatest curiosity is the Roerich stone, marked with his sign. This is a large smooth boulder that has grown into the ground. It is not like the surrounding rocks. According to some statements, the stone “grows” by 5 cm per year. The block is called the Master Stone or the Stone of Wisdom. Around it is built a town of rock fragments. This place is the center of the exit of the most powerful energy, mediums and esotericists come here to restore the biofield, meditate and comprehend the meaning of life.

The upper part of the Yarlu valley is enclosed by a mountain range. This is the watershed of two rivers - the Tekel and the Yarlu. The ridge has a resemblance to a lying woman, her profile is especially clearly visible. It is more convenient to admire the ridge from the Kara-Turek pass. In the chest area of the stone woman, the mountains have a red tint. It seems as if blood is running from the heart. The rock is called Mother's Heart.

Colorful rocks are another feature of the gorge. Multi-colored rocks, clay deposits and minerals are densely compressed by time among sedimentary deposits, which makes the Yarlu valley look unusual. The bright colors of the mountains come alive even more after the rain. The valley changes its appearance depending on the season. The time of day and the intensity of the sun's rays also affect the color of the stones, so Jarlu always feels movement - thoughts, colors, matter and energy. There are many legends about the valley. It is called a place of special power. There is a statement that the valley does not let in people with flawed twisted morality. Such people cannot enter the gorge, they begin to have pains, they find panic fear or important things appear.

It is not surprising that it is in such a magical place that a wonderful flower grows - edelweiss. This plant symbolizes wisdom and mystery. Due to the color composition of the mountains, the streams flowing along their slopes are also multi-colored. They acquire a shade of blue clay or milky limestone. Sometimes the waters have a light blue hue, sometimes slightly emerald.

The easiest way to descend into the gorge is through the lake by boat. They depart from the Ak-Kem weather station. It will cost a small amount of money and take an hour and a half. You can get to the Yarlu Valley for free via a suspension bridge, this road will take about three hours. You can go downstream, it will also take three hours. Near the lower descent, tourist camps are most often set up, since the nearby deciduous forest provides an abundance of firewood for fires.

I want to start my story about the trip to Altai with amazing place- Yarlu valleys. First, it's unrealistic. beautiful place, colorful rocks, sunset spots of light from them - create a fantastic picture. Secondly, it is simply connected with this place great amount legends, myths and stories of particularly impressionable people - from encounters with UFOs to portals to North America. This is where I'll start my story.

1. Our hike lasted 9 days, of which 4 we spent in the base camp near Belukha. And from there they made several radial exits to the most interesting places. One evening we went out to the Jarlu Valley. It was worth going there, if only because of the road along the windbreaks and in the footsteps of a fresh mudflow - just a few weeks ago it significantly changed the approaches to the valley. The path was washed away, and in some places we trodden it again, and in some places we just jumped between the stones along the ruined river.

2. For the general picture, I’ll run ahead and show you a view of the Yarlu Valley from the Karatyurek pass. Looks like a dam. The rocks are mostly bluish-gray in color, which is why they are usually called Blue. The ridge in the center is called the Dragon's Backbone.

3. This valley has long been considered a place of power. Crowds of people flock here to meditate and recharge their batteries. In the center of this stone temple is a stone - "Stone of Wisdom" ("Stone-master") - almost white, unusually smooth for these places.
Many argue that he is 70 cm "rooted" into the ground. Or, on the contrary, that this stone "grows" from the earth, rising 4-6 centimeters above its surface every year.
There are beliefs that the Master Stone has been called the Shaman's Stone or the World Stone since ancient times. When we got to the stone, a couple of women were sitting on it and apparently meditating with their eyes closed. Sometimes you really regret that you don’t feel what other people who are prone to esotericism and mysticism feel. maybe there is a really strong energy place ..

4. From all sides are surrounded by beautiful rocks - bluish-blue, as they almost completely consist of blue clay in combination with layers of other rocks, just as bright and saturated in color. That is why most of the streams here have a milky-turquoise or milky-greenish tint. During the shooting, it rained several times and the rocks just changed color before our eyes - they became either darker or lighter.

5. They say that the upper part of the ridge looks like a lying woman and they call it the Mother of the World. No matter how closely I looked, I didn’t see a woman) But perhaps for a long time the contours were erased. It is noteworthy that on the body of the "lying woman" there is a place with the release of red rock. This part is called the Heart of the Mother, and the reddish exit is the bleeding from the heart. It becomes uncomfortable from such a comparison ...

6. I was very lucky with the weather - it changed every five minutes. From Belukha heavy rain-snow clouds were carried, and the wind drove them downstream along the Akkem valley, only occasionally driving rain into the Yarla. And when the sun peeked out from behind that, it slightly illuminated the slanting stripes of rain. In the photo - the Karatyurek pass in the rain.

7. The Yarlu Valley is also called the Edelweiss Valley. For verification, they turned out to be extremely nondescript colors)) So I was even too lazy to take them off) But then the rocks began to glow, and all attention was riveted on the amazing play of light

8. A little later, I was lucky to see a piece of the rainbow over the rocks. Roerich believed that the entrance to Shambhala was hidden somewhere on the slopes of Belukha. The followers of the Roerichs still flock to the valley in droves. they say that the same white stone serves as the entrance to this mythical country. On the other hand, he does not let people with bad thoughts and a negative attitude into the valley. I don’t know, he let me in)) Although I had only positive in my mind - from what I saw. The place is still magical, but in its aesthetic sense.

9. They say that especially impressionable people feel an influx of strength and an unusual flow of energy. that day we just descended from the Valley of the Seven Lakes and walked a few kilometers to the Jarl Valley, so we didn’t feel anything except fatigue)) Although we had to ask the guys. maybe they got something from cosmic energy ...

The most mystical place in Altai - Yarlu valley. It is not difficult to believe this, even just by looking at the photographs of this corner of nature at the foot of Belukha.

For the first time and on a full scale, we will see the Yarlu valley when descending from the three-kilometer Kara-Turek pass. An unusually beautiful place, primarily due to the multi-colored rocks, the colors of which become especially bright after the rain. They say that the upper part of the ridge that separates the valleys of the Yarlu and Tekel rivers looks like a lying woman and is called the Mother of the World. And the bright purple-red rock, which stands out as a bright spot against the backdrop of the ridge, is called Mother's Heart.

Mother of the World

Surrounded by the Blue Mountains gorge, the array got its name because of its unusual color. During the day it is bluish-blue, as it consists almost entirely of blue clay in combination with layers of other rocks, just as bright and saturated in color. And at sunset, the surrounding mountains take on soft pink-purple hues.

A huge number of legends and myths are associated with these places. Esotericists and mediums claim that the most powerful places of power are located here. Roerich's followers consider him a saint. In 2002, a whole town of stones was built in the Yarlu valley. It is located in the center of the gorge around a monolithic white block of stone, which they call the "Stone of Wisdom" ("Stone-Master")". The Roerichs believe that he has powerful energy, and according to legend, he guards the entrance to Shambhala at the foot of Mount Belukha. You can see them with your own eyes, feel their strength in tour of Gorny Altai.

The Yarlu valley has another name - "Valley of Edelweiss", as here Red Book flowers are found in large numbers. Riddle: in the neighboring gorges of the Altai Mountains, they no longer grow. Edelweiss is often mentioned in ancient legends as symbols of love and wisdom. The Russian name of the flower comes from a transliteration from German, meaning "noble" and "white". The main condition for visiting this unique place is not to pick these rare flowers. You can see the beauty of the Yarlu valley in the Gorny Altai section.

How to get to Yarlu Valley?

cross by boat (pick up at the weather station on the lake);

go to the right bank of the river. Akkem over the bridge above the lake;

make a crossing over the river. Akkem in any convenient place.

Not far from the valley are tourist base"Vysotnik", guest house "Belukha Chendek", hotel "Uymonskaya Dolina".

There are places in Altai that are not enough just to see, they must be felt and heard. These areas include the Yarlu Valley. In addition to the amazing beauty of mountains, forests and hollows, the gorge impresses with its sacred power. Here the power of nature is felt physically. You can describe a lot the feelings of travelers to the valley, but to realize the power of the local land is possible only after personal presence. The valley stretched to the left of Lake Akkem. Its height is 2000 m. The name of the valley means "a place with cliffs". A stream runs along the bottom of the gorge, which is also called Yarlu and flows into the Akkem River.

The upper part of the valley is enclosed by a mountain range. This is the watershed of two rivers - the Tekel and the Yarlu. The ridge has a resemblance to a lying woman, her profile is especially clearly visible. It is more convenient to admire the ridge from the Kara-Turek pass. In the chest area of the stone woman, the mountains have a red tint. It seems as if blood is running from the heart. The rock is called Mother's Heart.

Colorful rocks are another feature of the gorge. Multi-colored rocks, clay deposits and minerals are densely compressed by time among sedimentary deposits, which makes Yarlu look unusual. The bright colors of the mountains come alive even more after the rain. The valley changes its appearance depending on the season. The time of day and the intensity of the sun's rays also affect the color of the stones, so Jarlu always feels movement - thoughts, colors, matter and energy. There are many legends about the valley. It is called a place of special power. There is a statement that the valley does not let in people with flawed twisted morality. Such people cannot enter the gorge, they begin to have pains, they find panic fear or important things appear.

It is not surprising that in such a magical place grows a wonderful flower - edelweiss. This plant symbolizes wisdom and mystery. Due to the color composition of the mountains, the streams flowing along their slopes are also multi-colored. They acquire a shade of blue clay or milky limestone. Sometimes the waters have a light blue hue, sometimes slightly emerald.

On the opposite side of the Ak-Kem weather station, at an altitude of 2000 meters, there is the Yarlu gorge (translated from Altai means "with cliffs" or with "yards"), named after the river of the same name flowing through it, which flows into Akkem.

In the Yarlu gorge from the Akkem lake there are three ways.

The first (1-1.5 hours one way) - for a small amount (about 100 rubles per person) to cross the lake by boat from the weather station. At the same time, one must be careful, the shores of Lake Akkem in the area of the crossing are very warm.

The second way is free, but long (depending on the speed of movement, it will take 2-3 hours one way).

You will have to go up to the suspension bridge across the Akkem River, where the Yarlu flows into Akkem (it is several hundred meters above the last inhabited sites of Akkem Lake, much higher than the base of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (Barrels).

When you cross to the other side, go up to the Yarl River, which flows into Akkem, and go upstream. On the right, you will see a path leading up to the deciduous forest. Get up with her.

The third way to the Yarlu valley is also free and long (the same 2-3 hours one way), but you have to go not up, but down the Akkem, much lower than the Akkem meteorological station.

See the map below (the first and third paths are marked).

Since 2002, the Roerichs and followers of Rikla's teachings have built a whole town of stones around a monolithic stone block located in the center of the gorge that has grown into the ground, which they call the "Stone of Wisdom" ("Stone-Master").

The stone depicts the oldest cosmic symbol of the trinity, the so-called sign of Roerich - "past, present and future in the circle of eternity."

Around the stone city there is usually a deathly silence, rarely when it is bustling there.

In the upper part of the Yarlu valley there is a mountain range that separates the valleys of the Yarlu and Tekelyu rivers, and was called the "Mother of the World" ("face of the Mother of the World") for its resemblance to the profile of the body of a lying woman.

Interestingly, the name of this ridge from the local dialect is translated as "Reclining Woman".

Directly from the Yarlu valley, only the contour of the head is clearly distinguishable.

From one side of the valley, one can see as if blood is flowing from the region of the woman’s heart (a bright purple-red rock in the Yarlu gorge called the “Mother’s Heart”), from the other part of the valley the impression of widely spread wings emanating from the body (the neighboring mountain range) is created.

If you stand on the dividing ridge facing this image, then on the left hand there will be a log overgrown with larches. Tourists usually stop in this wooded slop, coming especially to the Yarlu Gorge for summer pastime, saturating themselves with beauty and practicing maximum unity with nature.

Yarlu Gorge has another name - "Valley of Edelweiss", because. in its valley there is a huge number of these mysterious flowers, listed in the Red Book and not found anywhere else in the neighboring gorges.

Very often they appear in ancient legends about love and wisdom.

Edelweiss is a flower of the genus of dicotyledonous herbaceous plants of the Aster family, or Compositae, growing in the highlands of Europe and Asia.

The scientific name of the flower Leontopodium comes from the merger of the Greek words "lion" and "paw" for appearance inflorescence resembling a lion's paw.

The Russian name of the flower comes from the transliteration of the name of the flower from German, meaning "noble" and "white".

A request to all tourists visiting the Yarlu Valley - take care of nature, do not pick edelweiss.

surrounding gorge mountain range, which has a light blue color in the daytime, was called the "Blue Mountains". This is explained by the fact that the 600-meter cliffs-conglomerates towering above the valley are really bluish-blue, since they almost completely consist of blue clay in combination with layers of other rocks that are just as bright and saturated in color. That is why most of the streams here have a milky turquoise or milky greenish hue.

In general, the surroundings of Yarlu are famous not only for their unusual landscape, but also for their original combination and variety of colors. In the daytime, the slopes of the valley are painted in light blue colors, in the evening, at sunset, the surrounding mountains acquire soft pink-purple hues, and in autumn, the combination of yellow-orange vegetation with the rich colors of the mountains creates simply stunning landscapes. At the same time, after the rain, all the colors become especially bright.

From the peaks surrounding the sources of the Yarlu, a picturesque view of the peaks of the Yarlu, Kara-Oyuk, Ak-Oyuk and the Crown of Altai opens.

The valley is very clearly visible when descending or ascending the Kara-Turek pass.

The Internet is filled with all sorts of legends, myths and fairy tales that attract and lure esoteric tourists to the Jarlu Valley. Let's get acquainted with some of them.

So, the famous philosopher and artist N.K. Roerich seriously believed that somewhere here, on one of the slopes of Belukha, there is an entrance to Shambhala. During his journey through Gorny Altai he sought to get into this valley and it was in it that he established his camp. Until now, the followers of the great artist and philosopher rush to the foot of Belukha and to the nearby Yarlu valley, for which locals they are jokingly called "reerikhnuty".

Many argue that he is 70 cm "rooted" into the ground. Or, on the contrary, that this stone "grows" from the earth, rising 4-6 centimeters above its surface every year.

There are beliefs that the Master Stone has been called the Shaman's Stone or the World Stone since ancient times. According to legend, once upon a time there was a city on the site of Lake Akkem in front of Belukha, and the World Stone was the place where the ancient princes resolved peace issues.

"Knowing" people said that Alexander the Great himself visited Altai and lived for several weeks in the Yarlu Valley, drawing strength and wisdom from the Stone-Master. Or that the legendary fighters of Genghis Khan recharged at this energy stone and that is why they call it the "Stone of Genghis Khan."

Some talk about aliens who brought this Stone from another planet. Others write that Roerich, during his Altai expedition, visited the Yarlu valley and marked this stone with his sign and a blue cross as a place of power.

The followers of the teachings of Rikla they write that the symbolism engraved on the stone is the work of the stone-cutters Allizarkh, Diliitiy and Kami-Dominey, who in 2000 and 2001 embodied Rikl's plan on the form of a megalith .

The Roerichs believe that this stone has powerful energy, and according to legend, it guards the entrance to Shambhala, at the foot of Belukha.

There is a belief that when people with negative energy and bad intentions approach the stone, the stone, as it were, repels them, preventing them from continuing on their way, and people feel sharply and noticeably worse. The rest consider it a great grace to meditate on it or near the stone, or simply touch it, nourished by its powerful energy.

Followers of Rikla's teachings believe that one should climb barefoot on the "energy" stone, sit on it in silence and meditate.