How to get to Camel Mountain. Camel mountain in the Orenburg region

We know from school: Russia is 1/6 of the land (17,125,187 square kilometers). It borders on 18 countries (the largest in the world). It is washed by three oceans and 13 seas. But you really realize the scale of the expanses of Russia only when you think about its natural diversity.

If near the coast of the Black Sea the temperature rarely drops below 0 ° C in winter, then in Siberia and the Arctic at this time of the year there are frosts below -40 ° C. Russia has steppes and forests, plains and mountains. It has one of the largest reserves in the world fresh water. A Ural mountains divide it into European and Asian parts. At the same time, natural endemics are found in every corner: Baikal omul, fir, Siberian Cranes and others.

Today we are going to unusual monument nature - camel mountain.

camel mountain

If you drive 300 kilometers from Orsk to the southeast, you will find yourself in the village of Vostochny (Svetlinsky district of the Orenburg region).

This is a small, at first glance inconspicuous locality, of which there are thousands in Russia. Once it was a prosperous state farm with a population of about 700 people. Today, agriculture in the village is carried out by individual farmers, the population is barely 400 people. But in 7-10 kilometers from it lurked unusual mountain covered in ancient legends.

According to one of them, a long time ago a caravan of nomads passed through these places. People were looking for fertile lands where they could live in peace and raise children in abundance. They walked for a long time, but there were only steppes around. From the heat and lack of water, people and livestock fell dead. In the end, there was only one, the most stubborn, camel. He kept going, despite being tired and thirsty, until at last he saw in the distance blue ribbon rivers. The camel breathed a sigh of relief, lay down to rest before the last jerk ... and it turned to stone under the scorching steppe sun.

The river, which, according to legend, the camel saw, is the Aschesu stream (“ Salty water"). It flows in the east of the Orenburg region and flows into the Tobol. But you won’t find it on the map: in May it partially dries up, leaving only a few stretches fed by springs. By the middle of summer, these “lakes” are overgrown with snow-white water lilies and bright yellow egg-pods.

At 7–10 kilometers from the mouth of the Aschesu, there is a grayish-white 20-meter rocky outlier, shaped exactly like a lying camel. Once it was a quartzite rock, but over time it collapsed. Orenburg nature has a bizarre fantasy: the winds “carved” a camel out of a rock. For similarity with a two-humped locals and called this hill Camel Mountain.

To date, Camel Mountain - unique monument nature of the Orenburg Trans-Urals. There is another legend about her. It was as if there lived in the world an arrogant camel who roamed the world in search of adventure. Once he learned about the Ural Mountains. Their height hurt the pride of the animal, and the camel decided to measure his strength with Ural ridge. He came to the place of battle, but at the same moment he froze and turned to stone.

What to do at Camel Mountain?

Imagine the steppe, and in the middle of it - a majestic stone camel. Those who have seen Camel Mountain with their own eyes say that this is a very impressive sight.

Camel Mountain is considered a geomorphological monument of nature. The rock consists of multi-colored quartzite crystals - from dark gray to pale pink. Therefore, this place will be especially interesting for people who are fond of geology.

Around Camel Mountain you can see another amazing phenomenon: birch trees grow among the stones. There are not many of them in the district, about 50, but an ancient belief is also associated with them. It is believed that birch trees grown on stones are the souls of people who once lived in these parts.

Approximately 300 meters from Camel Mountain there is a spring with the purest drinking water.

Biologists won't be bored either. Extraordinary nature Orenburg Trans-Urals is worth it to equip an entire expedition to the East. Camel Mountain is part of the Akkarga Rocky Range (but Camel Mountain is separated from it by the Aschesu Stream). Around the original steppe vegetation, there are many birds, including birds of prey. You can see roe deer, moose, marmots, foxes, corsacs. Flora and fauna lovers will be able to study for hours natural features these places.

But the main thing, going to Camel Mountain, is not to forget the camera. The stone bactrian animal will willingly pose for you until you find the best angle. And, of course, not taking a selfie with a giant camel is a crime. :)

Getting to Camel Mountain is not easy, so some consider it their duty not only to take pictures, but also to “perpetuate”

Finally, the surroundings of Camel Mountain - beautiful place for a hike. Take a tent with you to spend the night in the steppe and feel the romance of such places. They say that there the stars descend to the earth and the passage of time is heard.

How to get to Camel Mountain?

Camel Mountain is located in the east of the Orenburg region, near the border with Kazakhstan. Getting to her is not easy. There are three options.

Public transport

First you need to get to Orsk (from Orenburg they go Shuttle Buses). From Orsk, take a bus ticket to the village of Vostochny. It runs daily, departing from the Orsk bus station at 15:45 local time. Travel time is about 5.5 hours. From East to Camel Mountain public transport does not go - you have to ask for a ride from local residents.

Another option is to get from Orsk to the regional center Svetly. Several buses go there a day (schedule), as well as the train Orsk - Rudny Klad. It is most convenient to take a taxi from Svetly to Camel Mountain (the distance is about 100 kilometers, so it is important to understand that it will not be cheap).

Personal car

Driving your own car is the most convenient option, as it allows you to get to Camel Mountain without transfers, at a comfortable pace and stay overnight.

You can lay any route convenient for you, but the most optimal route in terms of road infrastructure is: Orenburg - Orsk - Yasny - Svetly - Vostochny - Camel Mountain. From Vostochny to the rock, you will have to drive by country roads across the steppe.

Airplane

From Orenburg to Svetloye can also be reached by plane. Orenburg Airlines organizes flights three times a week. Travel time will be only 2.5 hours (almost three times faster than ground transport). You can again take a taxi from Svetly to Camel-mountain.

Why is it worth seeing Camel Mountain?

Visiting natural monuments is almost always a gamble for which one must decide, for which one must prepare. But if you do this, there is an additional reason to be proud of yourself: “I did it!”.

According to scientists, the formation of the "camel" remnant belongs to the Paleozoic period. Think about it, these rocks have stood on Earth for several hundred million years - they are silent witnesses of evolution and the entire history of mankind. To see them with your own eyes means to become a little closer to understanding the universe.

Mount Camel is located in the northeast of Pyatigorye, 3 km south of the village of Orbelyanovka. It has the shape of an oval elongated to the northwest with an area of about 6 km2. The mountain got its name due to the presence of two peaks resembling the humps of a camel. The southeastern peak is pointed, with absolute altitude 885 m, and the northwestern one - 803 m high, has the shape of a truncated cone with a crater-shaped recess. Both peaks are composed of beshtaunites, which break through the Eocene marls, limestones and mudstones developed in the lower part of the slopes.
Since 1961, it has been a natural monument of regional importance. In addition, in 2001 the territory of the natural monument was included in the boundaries of the state nature reserve regional value "Beshtaugorsky".
A regime of special protection has been established on the territory of the natural monument. In this regard, it is prohibited:
- soil plowing;
- destruction of soil-protective vegetation;
- extraction of building materials;
- carrying out construction work that could cause soil erosion and destruction of the monument;
- travel and parking Vehicle off public roads;
- any other forms economic activity, recreational and other nature management, preventing the conservation, restoration and reproduction natural complexes and their components.
In the bowels of the mountain, in the layers of Cretaceous deposits, wells revealed sulfate-hydrocarbonate and chloride-hydrocarbonate sodium waters with a mineralization of 1-6 g/l. By medicinal properties they are close to mineral waters located northwest of the Nagutskoye deposit and are included in the reserve of balneological resources of the resorts of the CMS.
Forest, meadow and steppe vegetation with relict phytoassociations grows on the mountain. The forest stand is dominated by Caucasian hornbeam, common ash, pedunculate and sessile oaks. At the foot of the southern slope, fragments of a virgin turf grass-forb steppe have been preserved. The peaks are covered with shrubby meadows with prickly rose hips and meadowsweet.
Of the rare plants on Mount Camel, there are: different types feather-grass, narrow-leaved peony, spring adonis, hawthorn, Siberian sprout, pre-flower poppy, katran, Stavropol gully, Marshall and Caucasian corydalis, netted saffron, iris fake, tamus-like hablitzia, Caucasian belladonna. Lots of valuable medicinal plants.
Mount Camel is picturesque from all sides, but western slopes at the foot of the "sharp" peaks, they amaze with an abundance of rocky outcrops that have bizarre shapes. In this place you can see huge multi-ton stones that rolled down, impregnable bastions, polished by wind, water and time, here you can also find monoliths with trough-shaped recesses resembling tombs. The southeastern slopes of the "blunt" peak are replete with picturesque rocky outcrops with bizarre grooves, as if processed by a skilled chisel of a master.
Tourist information Center Stavropol Territory/ stavtourism.ru

On July 7, we also went across the Volga to look at the beauty of mother nature. But then I didn’t post it right away, and then I somehow forgot.
According to the plan, there was a trip first to Mount Strelnaya, then to the Stone Chalice, and then, if there was time left, to drive to Mount Camel.
We drove two Land Rovers. We (our family and girlfriend with a child) are on and Alexander and his family are on Land Rover Freelander 2.

We met directly in front of the hydroelectric power station and drove off. It was Saturday morning. Therefore, there were no traffic jams anywhere. The road was of good quality everywhere. We quickly reached Zolny.

There, at the next sharp turn (it seems there was still a shop nearby), they turned onto the road to Strelnaya. There the road was not so good. But we are still on Land Rovers! We passed the checkpoint. Travel is paid.

The car in front of the checkpoint. When we were on our way back.

And they began to climb up the mountain in cars. There is already a gravel road to a greater extent, in some places the roots of trees destroy the road. But you can drive by any car, carefully. The higher, the narrower the road became. We were very lucky - we went in the morning, there were almost no oncoming cars. A couple of times I just had to go sideways.

There are two parking lots at the top: the first, the lower one is for buses, the second one is directly in front of the entrance for cars. If a lot of cars arrive, there will not be enough space. But when we arrived, we were practically alone. From the lower parking lot, walk 400 meters, but I think it will be nice to walk the extra meters through the forest.

Passed the entrance, went down the paved wide path slightly down. We reached the stairs. Just recently made this staircase with railings. On the one hand, it's good. Elderly people will be more comfortable visiting this place. But on the other hand, the feeling of freedom of movement on the mountain became limited. If a lot of people come there and even 30 people stay at the same time, it will no longer be comfortable and cramped. Because there is a ladder, but it is designed for the width of 2 people, and Observation deck- No, well, 5-6 people are fine. And more - it will be uncomfortable! This "bandwidth" is a little alarming.

Those. done tourist facility, but did not think about the high attendance of this object. But it is necessary to strive to increase attendance. But how can this be achieved if there are physical restrictions on visiting this object, which they themselves erected?

And we were alone there! And we had a great time there! Beautiful views native lands! Volga-beauty, Zhiguli mountains. Very beautiful! From the site it was possible to go down through the gate to the stones directly. Although the gate was closed 🙂 But this did not stop us. And only there you feel all the freedom and spaciousness of our Motherland. A little . Breathe in the fresh air and move on. The kids loved it, so did we!

We bought tickets and a map (for information) and drove to the checkpoint.

Free Lander 2, which was driven by the second crew

Before that, there were rains, but probably not very strong. Therefore, we drove to the parking lot at the Stone Bowl with almost no problems. Many drivers of passenger cars did not take risks, leaving them long before the Stone Bowl. By the way, since there the place was all closed by mountains, it was not as fresh to breathe there as on Strelnaya 🙂

It was hot and there was no fresh breeze. The difference was palpable. Having already arrived in dirty Land Rovers to the parking lot, we decided to have a bite to eat and feed the children. We ate and went up to the Stone bowl. We got some water and stayed there for a while. (we probably ate longer 🙂) Let's go further. I had no special expectations from this place, I just wanted to visit here.

We left the Stone Bowl again for Shiryaevo - there was still time and energy left. And we decided to go to Mount Camel. We drove along the road past the Repin Museum. But they did not go there - according to the plan, it was not included. Next time! And we went along the road along the Volga and the rocks. The road was very narrow, rocky and not very comfortable. I wouldn't go there in a BMW. It needs a jeep suspension. Otherwise, after the trip, you can go immediately to the service 🙂 It was extremely difficult and difficult to leave there. I don't know because bad road perhaps the path seemed very long and tiring. Sometimes we felt like we were passing by. Because they drove and drove, where is Mount Camel? 🙂 But there was nowhere even to turn around.

But finally we got to the Camel!

They climbed the mountain. They even climbed in with the children - they took pictures. Went slightly to the side. Found galleries there. It was +30 outside, and there it was probably +20 at best. It was even cold.

We went to the slope - they also took a photo of the Volga and our coast there 🙂

Having had enough of the mountains, they went down to the Volga. The shore is rocky - not like ours 🙂 We threw pebbles with the children into the Volga, we had a little fun. It's already starting to get dark. The children began to whine (the guys were tired) and we decided to go home.

By the way, along the Volga, when we were driving back, we noticed a lot of tents. People are resting. Well done!

The day was great! I write about it in November, but I still remember everything well! Not typical for me 🙂

Photos from Sasha's camera. My team photographed quite a bit, and photographed only themselves 🙂 And I was driving 🙂

All photos about the trip to Mount Strelnaya, Stone Chalice, Mount Camel can be found in the section.

Camel mountain in the Orenburg region (Orenburg region, Russia) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.

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The Orenburg region is famous not only for thin downy shawls, which is sung in songs, and not only for the variety of wheat, from which the most delicious white bread is obtained. There is also rich nature, endless steppes, high cliffs, emerald forests, fresh and salty reservoirs (and on the latter, by the way, you can also improve your health perfectly). Going on excursions to the natural attractions of the Orenburg region, do not be surprised if you meet camels along the way, or rather one camel, and even then a stone one. It's famous in the area and beyond natural wonder called Camel Mountain.

From a distance, and close too, to be fair, the rock surprisingly resembles a camel, but not standing upright, but lying down to rest. It seems that he is about to get up from his knees (which can also be perfectly seen) and move on the path, where he is looking, raising his muzzle. This camel is one-humped, and according to historians, in ancient times, caravans of one-humped animals really passed here, because they are closer to these territories in terms of habitat than two-humped camels.

In general, two beautiful legends. The first one is very short and concise, and it tells about a arrogant camel who wanted to measure his strength with the Ural Mountains, the rumor about the height and majesty of which flew to his ears. He came to the place of battle, and the ancient gods told him that only stone with stone, and not with a living being, can be measured by strength. They turned the camel into stone, and since then he has been trying to surpass the Ural Mountains, if not in height, then in durability.

The second legend of Camel Mountain is more like real story, but still, the camel-shaped rock is so much larger than the average animal that it's hard to believe.

The story tells of a caravan that moved through these territories in search of fertile land where they could settle. But the steppes were endless, and the sun was scorching mercilessly, and every day the caravan lost both people and animals. In the end, only one camel remained from the cattle and only a few people from a large caravan. It was the camel who first saw the ribbon of the river in the distance, and its banks were covered with lush greenery. The animal, exhausted, sank to the ground, wanting to rest before the last jerk to the saving moisture ... But it turned to stone under the scorching sun.

The river that the legendary camel saw is most likely the Aschesu stream, located about 8 km in the direction where the camel's head "looks", and which almost completely dries up in summer. But in fact, Camel Mountain, with which so many legends are associated due to its unusual shape, is a remnant of a quartzite rock that collapsed over time under the influence of steppe winds.

Practical information

It is not difficult to get to Camel Mountain, it is located near the border with Kazakhstan, in the east of the Orenburg region. The most convenient way to get to this natural attraction is by car: you will need to follow from Orenburg to Orsk, then to the regional center Svetly, and from there - towards the village of Vostochny. Public transport is represented by buses (it runs once a day from the Orsk bus station to the village of Vostochny).

We continue to travel little known places Russia, and today we will go with you to Orenburg region. There, almost on the border with Kazakhstan, tired of long road, "lie down to rest" stone camel.

If you drive 300 kilometers from Orsk to the southeast, you will find yourself in the village of Vostochny (Svetlinsky district of the Orenburg region).

This is a small, at first glance, inconspicuous settlement, of which there are thousands in Russia. Once it was a prosperous state farm with a population of about 700 people. Today, agriculture in the village is carried out by individual farmers, the population is barely 400 people. But 7-10 kilometers from it, an unusual mountain hid, covered with ancient legends.

According to one of them, a long time ago a caravan of nomads passed through these places. People were looking for fertile lands where they could live in peace and raise children in abundance. They walked for a long time, but there were only steppes around. From the heat and lack of water, people and livestock fell dead. In the end, there was only one, the most stubborn, camel. He kept walking, tired and thirsty, until he finally saw the blue ribbon of a river in the distance. The camel breathed a sigh of relief, lay down to rest before the last jerk ... and it turned to stone under the scorching steppe sun.

Camel Mountain is located in the Svetlinsky district of the Orenburg region.

The river, which, according to legend, the camel saw, is Aschesu stream (“Salt water”). It flows in the east of the Orenburg region and flows into Tobol. But you won’t find it on the map: in May it partially dries up, leaving only a few stretches fed by springs. By the middle of summer, these “lakes” are overgrown with snow-white water lilies and bright yellow egg-pods.

Aschesu Creek.

At 7–10 kilometers from the mouth of the Aschesu, there is a grayish-white 20-meter rocky outlier, shaped exactly like a lying camel. Once it was a quartzite rock, but over time it collapsed. Orenburg nature has a bizarre fantasy: the winds “carved” a camel out of a rock. For the similarity with the two-humped, the locals called this hill Camel Mountain.

To date, Camel Mountain is a unique natural monument of the Orenburg Trans-Urals.

There is another legend about her. It was as if there lived in the world an arrogant camel who roamed the world in search of adventure. Once he learned about the Ural Mountains. Their height touched the pride of the animal, and the camel decided to measure his strength with the Ural Range. He came to the place of battle, but at the same moment he froze and turned to stone.

What to do at Camel Mountain?

Imagine the steppe, and in the middle of it - a majestic stone camel. Those who have seen Camel Mountain with their own eyes say that this is a very impressive sight.

Camel Mountain - geological monument nature.

Ancient quartzite.

Approximately 300 meters from Camel Mountain there is a spring with the purest drinking water.

Biologists won't be bored either. The extraordinary nature of the Orenburg Trans-Urals is worth it to equip an entire expedition to the East. Camel Mountain is part of the Akkarga Rocky Range (but Camel Mountain is separated from it by the Aschesu Stream). Around the original steppe vegetation, there are many birds, including birds of prey. You can see roe deer, moose, marmots, foxes, corsacs. Lovers of flora and fauna will be able to spend hours studying the natural features of these places.

Unusual steppe vegetation.

Finally, the neighborhood of Camel Mountain is a great place to hike. Take a tent with you to spend the night in the steppe and feel the romance of such places. They say that there the stars descend to the earth and the passage of time is heard.

How to get to Camel Mountain?

Camel Mountain is located in the east of the Orenburg region, near the border with Kazakhstan. Getting to her is not easy. There are three options.

Public transport

First you need to get to Orsk (buses run from Orenburg). From Orsk, take a bus ticket to the village of Vostochny. It runs daily, departing from the Orsk bus station at 15:45 local time. Travel time is about 5.5 hours. Public transport does not run from Vostochny to Camel Mountain - you will have to ask local residents for a ride.

Another option is to get from Orsk to the regional center Svetly. Several buses go there a day (the schedule is here), as well as the Orsk-Rudny Klad train. It is most convenient to take a taxi from Svetly to Camel Mountain (the distance is about 100 kilometers, so it is important to understand that it will not be cheap).

The most convenient way to get to Camel Mountain is by car.

Personal car

Driving your own car is the most convenient option, as it allows you to get to Camel Mountain without transfers, at a comfortable pace and stay overnight.

On the outskirts of Camel Mountain.

Airplane

From Orenburg to Svetloye can also be reached by plane. Orenburg Airlines organizes flights three times a week. Travel time will be only 2.5 hours (almost three times faster than by land transport). You can again take a taxi from Svetly to Camel-mountain.

Why is it worth seeing Camel Mountain?

Visiting natural monuments is almost always a gamble for which one must decide, for which one must prepare. But if you do this, there is an additional reason to be proud of yourself: “I did it!”.

The Orenburg camel lay down to rest in the middle of the steppe.

So far, only a few expeditions of professional travelers and school excursion groups from the surrounding villages.

In addition, you can see how people live in the steppe Trans-Urals, and admire the unique nature Svetlinsky district(there are no forests at all, but there are many lakes in the district).