What to see in Khakassia? Republic of Khakassia What is interesting in Khakassia in the summer

Khakassia is a real find and a mystery for the traveler. Here you can see beautiful nature, as well as get acquainted with famous sights and features of ancient culture.

The Republic of Khakassia in 1727, after the conclusion of a border treaty between Russia and China, was completely assigned to the Russian Empire. It differs from other regions of Russia in its unique climate, unique topography, as well as special flora and fauna. This territory is filled with a unique flavor that attracts tourists and fans of outdoor activities from all over Russia and the world.

Lake Bulankul

This natural landmark of Khakassia is surrounded by mysterious traditions and mysterious legends. According to legend, mountain spirits lived in the small picturesque lake Bulankul. Local residents bowed to them and made sacrifices. In ancient times, this lake was sacred among the Khakassians.

Tuimsky failure

In the pre-war period, deposits of molybdenum and tungsten ores were discovered on the territory of Khakassia. After a while, active underground mining of these minerals began, which were widely used in the defense industry. For unknown reasons, the mines were blown up in 1954. As a result, a picturesque lake with emerald-colored water was formed - the Tuimsky Gap. This landmark is a solid vertical monolith. The lake reaches 100 meters in length, 250 meters in width, and 50 meters in depth. This place is especially popular among fans of extreme jumps.

Kazanovka Museum-Reserve

On the territory of Khakassia there is the famous open-air museum-reserve Kazanovka, created on the initiative of archaeologist Leonid Eremin. The main goal of the employees of this landmark of world significance is the preservation, study and restoration of the unique natural, historical and cultural landscapes of the region. The museum-reserve occupies an area of ​​18,000 hectares, where there are about two thousand valuable archaeological monuments. The boundaries of the museum-reserve are marked by settlements where the indigenous population lives. Khakassian speech is always heard here, national rituals and cultural traditions are supported.

Salbyk Kurgan

In Khakassia there is the Salbyk mound, built about three thousand years ago and today it is the largest in the world. This attraction consists of stone blocks of impressive size, installed in a vertical position, and has a height of about 35 meters. The mound is distinguished by its pyramidal shape and the presence of a burial chamber where human remains were discovered. Tourists call the Salbyk mound the “Valley of Dead Kings” and consider this place magical and mysterious.

Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP

In the southern part of the republic, in the famous Western Sayan Mountains, the largest and most powerful hydroelectric power station in the world is located - the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Station. This unique creation is located on the Yenisei River and is the basis of the industrial complex of the republic. At the same time, the cost of generated electricity is very low.

Ivanovo Lakes

The most picturesque and vibrant places in Khakassia are the Ivanovo Lakes, which include a cascade of four lakes with waterfalls. The lakes are of karst origin and are fed only by meltwater from the snowfields and the glacier. These lakes are home to various species of fish. But in some of them the water is so cold that fish cannot be found there. On the banks of this natural attraction you can see rare plants and trees, many of which are protected by law.

Cave Pandora's Box

In the village of Malaya Syya there is the largest cave in Khakassia with the interesting name Pandora's Box. The depth of the cave is 182 meters, and its length is about 11 km.

Lake Bele

This lake is the largest in the republic, as its area is 80 square meters. m, the length of the coastline reaches about 60 km, and the depth is several tens of meters. The steppe terrain of this lake is distinguished by its unique landscape, asymmetrical hills and hills. Tourists often compare this natural attraction with the African landscape or Sicily. The water in this lake has healing properties, as it contains a certain percentage of Glauber's salt.

Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas

On the territory of Khakassia, in the center of the Askiz burial ground, there is a stone statue three meters high. According to archaeological data, the stone deity Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas was placed in the ground about 6,000 years ago. If we literally translate the name of this attraction, we get “big stone old woman.” The elders of the Khakass clans are sure that the stone statue emits a special energy that can heal infertility.

Khakassia is a land of a large number of historical and cultural attractions and natural beauties. There are more than 30 thousand different monuments with ancient and modern history and global cultural value. Come to Khakassia to walk the Path of your ancestors, visit the mysterious corridors of Tarpiga, and learn the secrets of the Tuimsky failure.

The region preserves the ruins of ancient buildings, large-scale citadels, burial mounds, and burial grounds. Rock paintings, various archaeological finds, and stone sculptures are of great interest to scientists and tourists. Throughout its history, the region has known pages of devastation and eras of rapid development. Monuments of historical events throughout Khakassia.

Sights of Khakassia: what to visit as a tourist

Hospitable Khakassia is made up of fabulously beautiful mountains, at the foot of which lie steppes with picturesque steppe and mountain lakes. There are reservoirs here with healing water (fresh and salty), and the rivers are swift. The region has natural sites with a unique flavor that attract travelers seeking fresh experiences.

On vacation in Khakassia, you will see unique museums in the open air and hidden under the soil. They contain exhibits created by history and nature: objects of cultural heritage, archeology, unique landscapes, dungeons. The “archaeological Mecca” in Siberia is Khakassia. The region is famous for thousands of stone sculptures and burial mounds.

Interesting natural objects: caves. There are many of them in Khakassia. Tourists are definitely recommended to visit Pandora's Box. The length of the underground corridors here is more than 35 km. Only the Oreshnaya cave is larger. Those who step into the kingdom hidden from the sun see galleries and halls magnificently decorated by nature itself, cascades and grottoes, wells, lakes with the purest water. It is estimated that there are about four hundred reservoirs in the cave.

A mystical, cult place - the Kashkulakskaya cave or, otherwise, the “Cave of the Black Devil”. Here at the entrance there is a giant stalagmite, which was previously worshiped as a symbol of procreation and fertility. Not far from the frozen “guard” there is a fireplace. It is believed that the fire burned here several thousand years ago. In the cave they prayed to the gods, performed rituals and sacrifices.

Lake Shira is not only a resort of local importance. The healing effect of the local waters is ensured by a special composition with magnesium sulfate and Glauber's salt. There are three more analogues to Lake Shira in the world. The reservoir and natural complex around the lake are rightly called the pearl of Southern Siberia. In total, there are more than two dozen mineralized reservoirs in Khakassia. Here they take baths for health benefits, drink water, etc.

In addition to naturally formed natural attractions, Khakassia has many man-made objects that have become natural monuments. The Tuimsky failure is a stunning formation that arose as a result of mining. Tungsten, copper, and molybdenum ores rose from the ground in tons, thousands of trolleys. In the mid-20th century, the mine became dangerous for the people working here. The mothballed shaft (roof) sank, the funnel reached several meters in diameter.

Currently, the Tuimsky chasm is 200 meters wide, at the bottom there is a beautiful bright blue lake. The color of the reservoir has no mystical explanation, although there are many legends in the area. The high copper content in the soil affects the color of the water. This unusual place attracts many fans of active recreation. TV shows are filmed here. The organizers of the popular show “Fear Factor” organized one of the tests in the Tuimsky failure.

Ancient fortresses of Khakassia

In ancient Khakassia, people built fortresses. The most famous of them: Chebaki and Khara-tag, Sokhatin, Tarpig. Each citadel has its own history. At different times, studies of defensive structures were carried out.

On the right bank of the Black Iyus River, the top of Mount Svetakh is decorated with the Chebaki fortress. The fortification was first explored by archaeologist Clements back in 1888. The walls, up to 1.8 meters high, are made of massive sand slabs, mostly dilapidated, in some places the masonry is perfectly preserved. Excavations after more than a hundred years have revealed new secrets of the fortress. This is a unique architectural monument and fortification structure dating back to the 2nd millennium BC. (Bronze Age).

The Sokhatin fortress rises on Mount Sokhatin, on the left bank of the Bely Iyus river. The maximum height of the walls is 1.6 meters, and the thickness reaches 2 meters. The masonry is preserved quite well. Competent and careful ancient masters worked on the creation of the citadel. The entrance to the building is from the east.

The Khara-tag fortress adorns the mountain of the same name, which is several kilometers southeast of the Podkamen ulus (Ordzhonikidze district). Fortress structures with internal compartments-sections, between which there are powerful stone walls up to 2 meters high. The sandstone slabs that make up the walls are laid flat with dry masonry. In the fortress, the sections are isolated from each other and are absolutely independent, which is explained by the different periods of their construction.

Ridge Chests

The unique natural monument of Khakassia, the Sunduki mountain range, is classified as an object of federal significance. To the north of Abakan there are strikingly shaped mountain formations with which many legends are associated. The length of the Chests is more than four kilometers. Ufologists and esotericists compare the mountain range with the European Stonehenge.

Local shamans are convinced that Chests are the abode of power and connection with the world of spirits. At the same time, geologists very simply explain the shape of the hills and assure that in the Khakass-Minusinsk Basin it is not at all uncommon for mountains and hills to have a flat western side and a cliff on the east.

Each of the five Chests is numbered and called: First, Second, etc. The hills also have their own names in Khakass. They are no less original than the appearance of the mountains: Krest-Khaya, Orto-Khaya. One of the hills at the top has the remains of an ancient fortress wall. There is a fragment that is actually identical in shape to the chest. They say that the treasures of the hero Khokho-Babai are hidden here. An entire exposition of the local history museum in the village of Shiry is dedicated to chests.

You can talk about the sights of Khakassia for a long time. Mounds are a different story. Let us mention the largest archaeological monument of Khakassia - the Great Salbyk Kurgan or Salbyk Basin. The pyramid of earth and stone rises 30 meters and is the burial place of the Dinlin ruler and his family. The monument was first described in the first half of the 18th century.

In one trip around Khakassia it is impossible to see even half of the interesting objects here. This is also the largest Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station in Russia, another pearl of the region. A grandiose building with a 30-year history still amazes with its scale. You can learn about the history of the hydroelectric power station by visiting a special museum.

Come to Khakassia! Summer is a great time for active and educational tourism. But in other seasons, the Republic of Khakassia confirms the comparison with “Siberian Switzerland”. Original holidays, national celebrations – ethnic tourism with its unforgettable atmosphere await you. And getting to know local attractions will bring many vivid impressions.

Khakassia is called the “enchanted country”. The sights of the republic, located in the center of Asia, amaze with their diversity - national customs and cuisine, petroglyphs, stone sculptures, fortresses. Khakassia also has incredibly beautiful nature - lakes, rivers, mountains, forests.

It is believed that people settled in this part of Asia 300 thousand years ago. Burial mounds and menhirs are an integral part of steppe landscapes; archaeologists have discovered about 30 thousand of them. There are petroglyphs preserved on the rocks - drawings of spirits, animals, and magical objects.

The culture of the Khakass developed under the influence of trade exchanges and wars with numerous neighbors.

300-400 BC, the state of the Dinlins was formed in the region, then they were conquered by the Huns, who were replaced by the Kyrgyz Kaganate by the 6th century AD. Caravan routes connected Khakassia with Tibet, China, India, Mongolia, and runic writing appeared already in the 7th century.

The Kaganate fell under pressure from the Mongol tribes in 1293, and new feudal estates, uluses, appeared on the lands of Khakassia only 400 years later. The region's entry into Russia began with the construction of a fort in 1707. Officially, Khakassia became Russian land in 1727. Within 100 years, 90 Russian settlements were created in Khakassia.

The abundance of mineral resources has led to economic development: mines are opened and processing plants are built. In the middle of the 19th century. The “gold rush” began, gold was mined at 127 mines. Local residents were engaged in cattle breeding, primarily horse breeding, and fur trading.

With the advent of Soviet power, schools appeared in the region and industrialization intensified. Khakassian mineral deposits are unique in their diversity and richness. Molybdenum, barite, coal, bentonite, facing stones, jade, gypsum, lead and zinc are mined from the depths of the republic.

Cedar forests are another Khakassian treasure. Nature reserves occupy almost 8% of the entire republican area. The tourist complex has great potential, because the region has a variety of climatic and natural zones: glaciated highlands, tundra, forest-steppe and steppe. Khakassia is a distinctive region with a unique culture that has absorbed and preserved the heritage of its ancestors.

Capital

The history of the city of Abakan, located along the banks of the river of the same name, goes back centuries. The origin of the name “Abakan” has not been precisely established; legend connects the name of the river with the victory of a hero over a terrible bear; “Abakhan” is translated as “bear’s blood.”

The place near the river, surrounded by mountains, attracted the attention of the Iranian, Mongolian, Finno-Ugric and Turkic peoples who lived here 100-150 thousand years ago. Under Mount Samokhval near the mouth of the Abakan River, archaeologists found the remains of a Huns fortress. In the 1st century BC. e. The area was controlled by the Chinese Han dynasty, and a palace was built on the river bank for the commander Li Ping.

But the city of Abakan traces its history back to the village of Ust-Abakanskoye, which arose in the 80s of the 18th century. to control foreigners - the Khakass.

After the revolution, in 1925, a railway was built between Minusinsk and Achinsk to transport mined coal and other minerals, and the Abakan station was opened on it. There were more and more residential buildings built between the station and the village of Ust-Abakanskoye, the number of residents increased, and in April 1931 the area received the status of a city and the name Abakan.

Since May 1992, Abakan has been the capital of the Republic of Khakassia. As of 2018, 184 thousand people live in the city. Industry is developed in Abakan, electricity comes from the Abakan Thermal Power Plant and a solar power plant (SPP).

Most famous cities

The republic has 4 cities and a capital. 75 thousand people live in Chernogorsk. The city was created on the site of coal mines; 86% of the production capacity in the city is coal enterprises. The third largest city in the region (47 thousand people) is Sayanogorsk, which is located on the left bank of the Yenisei.

The city is famous for the nearby Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station, as well as for enterprises producing aluminum and its alloys. Ski tourism is developing. 15 thousand people live in Abaza. 11 thousand - in Sorsk. There are 20 settlements in the republic, where more than 3 thousand people live.

Dimensions

61.5 thousand sq. km of Khakassia is 0.3 of the territory of Russia. This area is occupied by impenetrable taiga, mountains, and steppes. There are many large stormy rivers in the region, such as the Abakan, Yenisei, as well as the Bely and Cherny Iyus, which are part of the Ob basin.

The area of ​​lakes in Khakassia exceeds 10 hectares, there are about 500 of them in total, and 100 are salty. Lake Itkul is the largest, measuring 6.5 by 5.5 km. 2/3 of the territory of the republic is occupied by mountain ranges; at the highest (up to 3000 m) there is snow even in summer. The spaciousness of Khakassia is given by the steppes, on which sparse hills and mounds rise.

Population

As of 2019, more than half a million people live in the republic, with almost 70% being urban residents. Although Khakassia is considered a multinational region, its residents predominantly consider themselves Russian (80%). About 12% are Khakass.

Where is Khakassia

Khakassia is easy to find on the map of Russia; it occupies the left bank of the Yenisei, a significant part of the Sayan-Altai Highlands and the Minusinsk Basin.

Khakassia is part of the Siberian Federal District and is surrounded by Altai, the Republic of Tuva, the Kemerovo Region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Coordinates 53°30′ N. w. 90°00′ E. d.

How to get there

Khakassia, the sights and natural monuments of which are increasingly attracting tourists, is located in Siberia, so it is easier for travelers from the European part of Russia to get there from Moscow.

Air traffic

Khakassia International Airport is located on the outskirts of the capital at 59 Druzhby Narodov Ave.

Which cities are connected by air:

The flight from Moscow takes 4 hours. You can get from the airport to the center by bus, trolleybus or taxi.

Trains

The railway station is located in the center of Abakan on the street. Vokzalnaya, 17.

The schedule changes depending on the season, but there are always flights connecting Khakassia with cities such as:

• Moscow;
• Barnaul;
• Novosibirsk;
• Krasnoyarsk

Long-distance trains from Moscow travel for 3-4 days, passing through Omsk, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Tyumen (80 stops in total). Ticket price from 7500 rub. From Krasnoyarsk the train takes 12 hours, making 30 stops. The train to Barnaul takes 16 hours to travel. In winter, a train to Novosibirsk is added to the schedule.

Road transport

The Yenisei highway R-257 connects the capital of Khakassia with Krasnoyarsk and leads to the border with Mongolia. A road trip from Moscow to Abakan takes at least 50 hours, because... the distance is more than 4400 km.

Bus transportation

There is a bus station in Abakan (T. Shevchenko St., 62), the most popular destination is Krasnoyarsk. You will have to spend 7.5 hours on the way. The ticket price is 960-1100 rubles. Bus routes depart to Minusinsk, Sayanogorsk and Askiz directions.

Weather and best time to travel

A sharply continental climate prevails throughout the republic. This means that winters are cold, with temperatures often dropping below -400. During the winter, at least a meter layer of snow falls. From April to early May the snow melts. In spring, the air temperature is characterized by sharp changes in night and day values. Air currents from the southwest bring multi-day dust storms.

Summer is hot, the swimming season opens in early June and lasts until mid-August. The average during the day is +190. Summer weather is unpredictable: clear days alternate with rain and wind. In August the largest amount of precipitation falls in a year, the annual norm is 300-600 mm.

September is characterized by a gradual decrease in air temperature: from +160 at the beginning of the month to frost at the end. The foliage completely leaves by October, and then the first snow falls.

Attractions

Khakassia, whose attractions are like a bridge between past and present, attracts about half a million tourists a year.

Religious buildings

The miraculously preserved megalith of the Okunev culture (3rd millennium BC) can be seen in the open-air museum “Ulug-Khurtuyag-Tas”. It is assumed that the 3-meter stone was dug into the ground at the site of a geological fault and the release of a powerful flow of energy; it is an object of female cult.

The stone has a name - Mother of Khakassia; it is believed that pilgrimage to it cures women of infertility. Shamanic rituals are held near it. Ulug-Khurtuyag-Tas is located nearby, 50 km from Abakan, coordinates 53`00.867 E 90`19.012. Most Khakassians profess Orthodoxy, but for a long time there was no cathedral in the capital that could accommodate all the parishioners.

Only in 1994 the construction of the Transfiguration Cathedral began. Now the 49.2 m high cathedral is visible from afar thanks to domes covered with a shiny nitrite-titanium alloy. In the temple you can venerate the holy relics and stone from Mount Tabor. A cathedral mosque was built for Muslims in Abakan (Torosova St., 1).

Museums

In Abakan on the street. Pushkina, 28a, there is the Khakass Museum of Local Lore. Its collections contain more than 20 thousand archaeological objects. Among them, petroglyphs carved 5 thousand years ago are especially interesting; stone steles called “Idols of the Yenisei” - they are covered with images of fantastic animals and figures.

Ethnographic collections are beautifully presented: household items of the Khakass, settler and old-timer collections. The geological hall displays gems and mineral samples.

The total collection of the museum consists of 147 thousand items. The museum has 6 permanent exhibitions and 2 exhibitions, and there is a Children's Museum Center.

Monday is a day off. Ticket prices are 50-150 rubles. It is worth visiting the art gallery in Abakan (Schetinkina St., 65), because it is the only art museum in the republic. 2500 graphic, painting and sculptural works are presented. Tickets cost 50-100 rubles.

In a picturesque valley located in the foothills of the Abakan Range, there is the Kazanovka Museum-Reserve. Natural landscapes and about 2 thousand archaeological sites have been preserved on 18 thousand hectares.

The museum offers 7 thematic and 2 sightseeing tours. While traveling through the expanses of Kazanovka, guests can see almost a thousand petroglyphs 6 thousand years old, burial grounds and mounds, irrigation canals, remains of ancient settlements and ancient smelting furnaces.

Visitors are attracted by the opportunity to touch real Khakass life. Near the Kyug stream, the ethnographic complex “Khakassian Aal” was formed, where wooden yurts and huts in which the Khakass lived were reproduced. Here you can see ritual and shamanic dances and try national dishes.

The place of attraction for many guests of “Kazanova” is White Stone. Many legends and traditions are associated with the block of white granite, called Ah Tas; people come to him to ask for health and well-being. The reserve is located 140 km from Abakan in the village of Kazanovka, st. Novaya, 18.

In Abakan (Tsukanova St., 164) a museum of the Khakassky Nature Reserve has been opened (tickets cost 60-100 rubles). Nature reserve clusters are scattered throughout Khakassia, so visiting them takes a lot of time. But you can briefly get acquainted with the museum exhibition, and it is worth paying attention to the exhibition “Zaimka Lykov”, representing the place where the family of Old Believers lived.

In the city of Abaza there is an open-air landscape exhibition, walking trails are laid out on the territory, and a museum of Siberian crafts is open. The complex in Abaza is open on weekdays.

What other interesting museums can you visit in Khakassia:

• Hoya Hoos Rock Art Museum;
• "Shirinsky Archaeological Park";
• reserves "Chests" and "Sulek";
• open-air museums “Ust-Sos”, “Arby” and “Boyars”.

Architectural structures and monuments

In 2007, the museum “Ancient Mounds of the Salbyk Steppe”, or Valley of the Kings, was created. Located 15 km from the village. Vershino-Bidzhatel. Tourists come to see 56 unique ancient burial places of the nobility of the Tagar kingdom.

Main objects:

In the Valley of the Kings you can see ancient sites for astronomical observations, quarries, and petroglyphs. The museum is open from May 15 to September 15, closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Not far from the village. Troitskoye (Bogradsky district) is an architectural monument of the 2nd-1st centuries. BC. — “Boyarskaya pisanitsa.” Scenes from ancient life carved into the rocks are preserved here: drawings of yurts and huts, people, dishes, animals. A lot of similar writings have survived in Khakassia.

Although Abakan is a relatively young city, it already has its own identity, formed, among other things, by city monuments. The symbol of Abakan is the monument “Lora” - a sculpture of a woman welcoming guests. The monument was erected in 1980 near the airport and is visible to everyone entering.

In 1996, near the Cultural Center of Khakassia, a sculpture of a folk storyteller, a haiji, appeared with a musical instrument, a chatkhan, in his hands. The monument became a symbol of the continuity of the spiritual life of the people.

The Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station is one of the top 10 most powerful hydroelectric power stations in the world. The length of the dam is more than 1 km, the height of the concrete arc connecting the banks of the Yenisei is 245 m. Here you can see the hydroelectric power station museum, admire from the observation deck the view of the river, taiga forests on the slopes of the Sayan Mountains, the marble rock Kibik and the sacred mountain of the Khakass Borus.

Natural attractions

The Dream Gardens park of topiary art in Abakan was the only one in Russia for a long time.

Bizarre forms are given to boxwood, laurel, privet, and cypress. The park is divided into 13 parts, each with its own style and name. The park has a wonderful collection of exotic plants. Animators work with children, there is a cafe, a library, and you can rent board games or a bicycle. Ticket price is 100-160 rubles. Entrance from the street Katya Perekreshchenko.

The remnant mountains “Chests” stand out on a plain covered with bright grass. The mountains are the remains of ancient volcanoes; in ancient times, the Khakass used them for rituals and solar observations. The steep cliffs are decorated with ancient drawings and writings.

Ergaki Park in the Western Sayan Mountains is one of the most visited places in Khakassia. From the top of the Dragon's Tooth, Mirror, Star mountains, from the Artists Pass there are beautiful views. Fans of relaxation are attracted by the Valley of the Left Taigish, the Lake of Mountain Spirits and the Lake of Artists.

Another pearl of the region is Ivanovo Lakes, located in the Sayan highlands. The lakes are located in 4 cascades in the currents of the rivers Izbass, Sarala, Black Iyus. The lakes attract ski lovers because... in the surrounding area the snow does not melt even in summer, as well as fishermen who catch grayling.

Holidays in Khakassia

Active and inquisitive tourists go to Khakassia to get new experiences, relax and gain strength.

Shopping

From a trip to Khakassia, you should definitely bring original souvenirs and gifts.

Most of these products are presented in Abakan. There are several souvenir shops on Lenin Avenue. At house 73 there is the Eco Khakassia store, which offers a variety of natural cosmetics, taiga sweets, herbal infusions and teas. The most popular product is a hydrolate for skin rejuvenation, which contains sagan-dailya. Cost from 250 rub.

In the Ethnostyle salon (Lenina Ave., 61a), silver jewelry attracts attention; their patterns have a sacred meaning. Such jewelry is a talisman and a talisman. A set of pendants and earrings will cost 2,700-6,000 rubles. The store has many interesting pendants made in the style of traditional Khakass pogo beads.

Siberian furs are a great gift, but you shouldn’t count on a cheap purchase. The Altyn Chir store (83 Telman St.) presents original fur products. For 3500 rub. You can buy fox mittens for 4,000 rubles. - fox muff. A handbag made of sable costs 5,000 rubles, and a handbag made of squirrel costs about 4,000 rubles.

You can purchase stuffed animals and skins, as well as shamanic amulets - claws of a lynx, bear, muskrat or kite. Original ceramic products of the author's work are also presented here.

T-shirts with ethnic prints can be bought at the Call of the Ancestors store (Pushkin St., 126).

The musical instruments of the peoples of Khakassia – khomys and chatkhan, and dolls in folk clothes – are of interest to tourists.

Interesting places to relax with children

Abakan Zoo (200 Pushkin St.) is the largest in Eastern Siberia, home to more than 600 animals, reptiles and birds. The zoo features such rare animals as Pallas's cat and leopard, Bengal and Amur tigers, ocelot, puma, Cape lion, falcons, saker falcon, swan goose and others. 40 species of animals are listed in the Red Book.

The zoo is open seven days a week; in spring and summer it opens at 9 am, in winter at 10 am. Tickets cost 100-250 rubles. There are quests throughout the area. The fascinating museum "ExperimentUm" on the street. Vyatkina, 63, invites children and adults to open up the world of science to them. Ticket price is 170 rubles.

Children will enjoy going to the Skazka puppet theater (K. Marx St., 5). The repertoire includes tales of different nations, including Khakass folk tales.

Leisure

Khakassia, whose sights are explored by fans of antiquity, also attracts lovers of active recreation. Here you can try almost any type of tourism. In 1954, near the village of Tuim, an underground mine was blown up in which iron, copper, and gold were mined. A lake more than 200 m deep formed at the site of the workings.

Nowadays, the place is chosen by rope jumpers, and speleo excursions around the mine are held. People come to Lake Shira to relax and gain strength. The healing power of mineral water and silt mud is recognized by official medicine, so on the banks of the Shira there are sanatoriums that offer physiotherapy, hydromassage, and visits to pools with healthy water.

In summer, the villages around Lake Shira turn into resorts, life becomes more fun: cafes and restaurants, night discos and bars open.

There are several bases for skiing in Khakassia. The trails are prepared for alpine skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and are divided into professional and beginner skiing. Equipment rental is available. A one-day ticket for 1-5 climbs will cost an average of 700 rubles.

Sports centers with equipped slopes are located near the city of Sayanogorsk:

1. "Smooth." The length of the slopes is 10,000 m, the height difference is 930 m, 4 lifts. There are snow cannons.
2. "Mine". The drop is 400 m, suitable for freeride.
3. Ergaki. Lifts, slopes 1200-1400 m. Elevation difference 350 m.
4. "White Crown" length 1200 m. Lift.

In Khakassia you can ride snowmobiles and dog sleds, dive into caves and paraglid into the sky, rafting down rivers, fishing, hiking of varying difficulty, and traveling by bicycle.

Excursions

Local travel agencies organize interesting programs with visits to popular tourist destinations.

Khakassia, whose attractions are quite far from each other, can be better recognized on a multi-day tour. The “Golden Ring” program is designed for 7 days with visits to caves, mountain lakes, shamanic rituals, river rafting and evening bonfires. Cost from 42,000 rub.

The “Sayan Voyage” lasts 6 days, during which time tourists get acquainted with the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Khakassia, visit Abakan, Shushenskoye, Ergaki. Price – 28,000 rub. For 3 days in the “Lakes of Khakassia” program you can admire Itkul, Shira, Tus and Bele. Cost 3400 rub.

Boat trips along the Yenisei, visits to deer farms with the opportunity to take antler baths and trout farms are of interest. Excursions around Khakassia are conducted on foot, by bus and in combined formats.

Specialized programs are also offered:

• speleological;
• horse-drawn;
• alloys;
• fishing and hunting.

Route for exploring Khakassia on your own

It will take more than one day to see all the sights that exist in Khakassia.

Option 1:

Option 2:

1. Arrival in Abakan, getting to know the city, visiting the topiary art park and the local history museum.
2. Transfer to the Shirinsky district, along the way, inspection of the Salbyk mound.
3. Hiking along the Path of Ancestors along the Togyz-Az ridge along the White Iyus River.
4. Excursion to the Tuimsky failure and the Chests complex.
5. Climbing Mount Svetag, Khurtuyakh Tass Museum. Transfer to the Kyug valley.
6. Excursion to the Casanova Museum.
7. Return to Abakan.

Hotels

There are a sufficient number of hotels in Abakan to suit every taste and budget:

Renting a one-room apartment in Abakan will cost from 1,500 rubles. In resort villages, the price depends on the season; you can rent an apartment, a cottage or a trailer. The price varies from 1000 rubles.

How to get around Khakassia

You can move around Khakassian cities using public transport. Buses run on schedule, the fare is 22 rubles. From the bus station you can go to another city by intercity bus. Another option for quick and comfortable travel is a taxi service. There are many companies operating in Khakassia, such as Maxim, Almaz, Yandex; fares start from 50 rubles.

An inveterate car enthusiast can rent a car from Abakan limousines, Riocar, Verossa, Abakanprokat. Khakassia is amazing and diverse. Such sights have not been preserved anywhere else in the world; only here you can touch real antiquity, admire the powerful beauty of the Sayan Mountains and endless steppes.

Article format: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about the sights of Khakassia

What is the Republic of Khakassia famous for:

When choosing a suitable vacation spot, many of our compatriots give preference to foreign countries and popular resorts. At the same time, they forget that in Russia there are a huge number of corners that are in no way inferior to foreign landscapes in their originality and charm. Our country has no less historical remarkable places that deserve special attention, but only a few know about them.

One of these corners is Khakassia - a marvelous land with a rich history. He remembers both the inglorious defeats and the time of rapid rise. The sights of Khakassia are represented by more than 30,000 monuments of cultural and historical value.

Cultural and architectural sights of Abakan

In the capital city of the republic there are many interesting places that are worth seeing:

• Laura's stele;
• Transfiguration Cathedral;
• Museum of Local Lore;
• Topiary Art Park;
• zoo.

Laura's stele is located at the entrance to the city, warmly welcoming guests. The sculpture symbolizes the goodwill and hospitality of the local residents. The monument is created in the form of a young beautiful Khakass girl who holds out a cup to everyone who visits this place. Laura's stele has long become a symbol not only of the capital, but of the entire region.

The Transfiguration Cathedral is located on Cathedral Square. Despite the fact that the temple is very young, it was built in 2001, the city residents love it very much and consider it their main architectural monument. The cathedral is made in a laconic classical style, using white on the outside of the facade. Inside there is an iconostasis, consisting of 5 tiers and decorated with gilded carvings. At the bottom of the structure there is a baptismal hall. The bell tower is equipped with 12 bells.

The local history museum is considered one of the largest in Siberia. There is a huge collection of exhibits here, reflecting the historical development and formation of the republic. By studying the exhibitions, you can learn about archaeology, ethnography, and the history of the region. One of the most valuable exhibits is considered to be the “Idols of the Yenisei” - these are sculptures made of stone about 5,000 years ago. Historians still cannot understand what they depict: gods or some kind of fantastic animals.

Topiary Art Park is one of the most popular attractions to visit in the summer. The art of creating topiary involves cutting trees and shrubs to give them an original shape. The result is fantastic animals, cars, birds. The park is located on a small area with a pond, cozy gazebos, and miniature gardens, which are populated with floristry products. Visitors to this place will find many beautiful exhibits: a huge eagle with a ten-meter wingspan, an outlandish car and even a small copy of the famous Eiffel Tower.

A visit to the zoo, spread over 5 hectares of territory, will definitely appeal to all animal lovers. The number of rare pets, including birds, reptiles and animals, is 193 species. In this well-equipped corner you can see leopards, tigers, pumas, pelicans and other representatives of the animal world.

Sights of Shirimsky district

The uniqueness of this area lies not only in the natural landscapes, but also in the huge variety of historical monuments left behind by the peoples who have replaced each other in this territory for thousands of years. Most of the attractions of the entire republic are located in the Shirinsky district.

Among them are ancient settlements and sites of primitive people, stone sculptures, ritual sites, samples of rock paintings, ancient defensive buildings, ruins of ancient civilizations and burials. Among the most popular attractions of the Shirinsky district it is worth noting the following:

• Lake Shira;
• Tuimsky failure;
• "Pandora's Box";
• Kashkulak cave;
• Chebaki Fortress;
• Mountain range "Chests".

Shira

It is the largest body of water in the entire country. The water here is not simple, but mineral with unique healing properties. From the second half of the 19th century, resort and health facilities began to appear in this place, where you can live and improve your own health. Silt mud collected at the bottom of Lake Shira is used for medicinal purposes. It, as well as mineral waters, can fight diseases of the nervous, genitourinary, and digestive systems. Many come here to recover from glaucoma, skin and gynecological problems.

Within the Shira reservoir, its own special microclimate has formed. In summer, the air temperature here rises to +23ºС, in winter it drops to -17ºС. However, even in the heat of the day, the area around the Shire is cool in the evenings. The local swimming season lasts from mid-June to mid-August. It is at this time that the reservoir warms up to the optimal temperature.

The shores of Lake Shira are very convenient for swimming, the bottom is flat, and the water is clean and transparent. On the central beach there is a slide, a volleyball court, and bicycle rentals. Everything you need for an active holiday is offered here: catamarans, banana boats, jet skis, scooters. Fishing on Lake Shira will not be possible, because due to the salinity of the water, there are no fish in the reservoir.

Tuimsky failure

This is a natural monument created by human hands on the territory of the Shirinsky district. Almost 100 years ago, ore was mined in this place. Over time, the mine began to pose a danger to workers and was abandoned. Currently, the width of the hole is 200 m, and at its bottom there is a picturesque lake with bright blue water. There are many legends about the origin of such an unusual color, but the mystery lies in the high copper content. Tuimsky Proval is a place where connoisseurs of natural beauty and lovers of active recreation come.

"Pandora's Box"

This is the famous cave of the Shirinsky district, 11 km long. It resembles a labyrinth with a huge number of grottoes, halls, difficult descents and galleries. Anyone who decides to come here and go all the way will be able to see a beautiful lake with clear emerald-colored water. “Pandora’s Box”, despite its difficult terrain, is very popular among tourists. This is a place where desperate daredevils strive to discover new secrets of the mysterious cave.

Kashluk Cave

It is one of the most interesting sights in the area. Here, according to local legends, ghosts and evil spirits reign. The cave is shrouded in mystical stories and mysteries. Despite the rumors, there are many people who dream of visiting this place. Here you can look at unique rock inscriptions, wonderful stalactites, sacred places where shamans of the past performed their rituals.

Chebaki Fortress

This is an architectural and historical landmark of the Republic of Khakassia, where a huge number of scientists and tourists come every year. The building was built in the Bronze Age and served a defensive function. This structure, located on the top of the mountain, amazes with its massiveness and grandeur. From the top of the tower you can admire beautiful scenic views of the surrounding area.

Mountain range "Chests"

This is another mysterious place in Khakassia. “Chests” are a massif consisting of several mountains reaching a height of 200 m. The mountain range includes rock carvings, burial grounds, as well as special buildings that, according to archaeologists, were used for observing the stars.

To see all these attractive and mysterious sights with your own eyes, you need to go to the Republic of Khakassia. The architectural, cultural, and historical monuments located in Abakan and the Shirinsky district will not leave anyone indifferent.

The main attractions of Khakassia are its unique nature and preserved historical monuments, of which there are many.

In addition, mountain and extreme tourism, including water tourism, is actively developing here.

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Historical sights of Khakassia

The Chebaki fortress is a structure that has come down to us from the Bronze Age (second millennium BC). In total, about 45 such historical fortresses have survived, but only 3 of them have been most explored, one of them is Chebaki.

Scientists and researchers became interested in similar structures in this region back in the 19th century, but full-scale archaeological excavations began only in the 90s. Thanks to them, a cultural layer was identified, in which scientists discovered numerous remains of human activity of that time. Most of the fragments of ceramics from the Okunev culture were found. Despite careful study, it was not possible to determine the exact purpose of the construction and use of such a structure. Among the assumptions: a fortress, a refuge, a hunting settlement during the season, etc.

The Oglakhtinsky mountain range is a whole complex of historical monuments and cultural heritage, among which the fortress of the same name, Oglakhtinsky, is very famous.

In ancient times, in the VI-XII centuries, there was a state here, the population of which was about 2 million inhabitants. A little later, closer to the 9th century, it was divided into separate principalities, which began to quarrel. Therefore, the purpose of the fortress is known for sure - defensive.

This is a stone wall, which is lined with sandstone. Its width is 2 meters and its height is 1 meter. Stretching for 25 kilometers along a steep cliff, it is equipped with ditches and bastions.

Note: The period of construction of the Oglakhta fortress is considered to be the 10th century, but it began to be used only in the 11th – 12th centuries.

Now it does not look as impressive as before, as can be seen from the photographs, because over time, part of the wall has sunk into the ground and is overgrown with grass. But it is worth considering that this is only a small part of the defensive complex in these mountains.

The construction of another Tarpig fortress, which is located on the mountain of the same name, dates back to the same time of internecine wars.

It is a massive structure, consisting of as many as three lines of walls necessary for defense.

Mount Chalpan, which rises almost 600 meters, is crowned with a similar structure.

In addition to the defensive structure located at the top, 5 writings were found here, which appeared here about 4000 years ago.

The Safronovsky burial ground is known primarily for its age - about 2.5 thousand years. In a relatively small area there are dozens of burial mounds, which are fenced with stones with drawings.

The nobility and wealth of the deceased determine the size of his grave and the boulders around it, the largest of which reach 7 meters.

The famous Valley of the Kings in Khakassia, which includes as many as 56 mounds, can boast of a large number of burials.

The largest of them is the Great Salbyk Kurgan, erected in the 7th century BC.

All of them are located on an area of ​​about 5 square kilometers in the Salbyk Valley.

It is called the Valley of the Kings because the leaders are buried here. All these burials are combined into one museum complex.

Churches and cathedrals of Khakassia

The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral is the second largest after the main Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Russia. Its construction lasted almost 11 years and was completed only in 2005.

The idea of ​​its construction was reconciliation in memory of the soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War in these places.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was founded back in 1859, but the wooden building was rebuilt in 1862-1864. Then he imagined a small room in the shape of a quadrangle, covered with a dome. Like most churches, during the years of Soviet power, in 1930, it was closed. But due to the war, which saw some easing of the persecution of the church, in 1944, the temple was reopened, and it is still in operation.

Until the late Soviet period, it was the only functioning Orthodox center in Abakan. In 1980, the building was built entirely in stone, without changing the structure itself or its appearance. His address: Abakan, st. Mostovaya, 9.

The modern church can be found in Chernogorsk, at st. Lenina 10A, where the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is located. At this place, the residents of the town independently founded a prayer house in a private house, and some time later, in 1992, they rebuilt an entire temple.

Monuments and statues of Khakassia

Abakan is considered the historical and cultural center of Khakassia. Here, monuments and sculptures begin to be found already at the entrance to the city. For example, the stele “Lora”, which is depicted as a Khakass woman.

She holds a cup on her raised hands, which symbolizes the hospitality and generosity of the Khakass people.

An interesting sculpture called “Granite of Science” is located on the territory of the Khakass Technical University in Abakan. It is made of black granite in the form of a cube, on which various mathematical formulas are applied.

A small part of the cube is missing, which gives teachers hope that students are still trying to “gnaw on the granite of science.”

The recently erected monument to Peter and Fevronia in Abakan symbolizes the solemn beginning of marital relations, since it is located not far from the place where the newlyweds close the locks and throw away the keys.

Other monuments and sculptures that attract tourists include a monument to the polar bear cub Umka, a statue of a Scythian deer in the Khakass style and a statue of the world famous Little Prince. All of them are located in the city of Abakan.

Natural attractions of Khakassia

Most of the most famous attractions of the republic are natural. One of these is Mount Kunya, sacred to local residents, or “Mountain of the Sun”. It is located near the town of Ust-Abakan.

This rock is a cult place where rites and ceremonies dedicated to the Sun God were held. In fact, there is no mountain as such in the usual sense here. This is a hill about 400 meters high, from which there is a view of the river valley. In past times, about 2 thousand years BC. e., local residents used it as a natural fortress, where they took refuge from enemies.

The “Chests” mountain range remains famous, which has the status of a natural historical monument, where a museum-reserve of the same name opened in 2011.

Note: the only hot spring in the area is called “Hot Key” or “Abakansky Arzhan”. This is a thermal spring, the water temperature of which is 37-40 degrees. It is recommended for external use, but some people drink it. Locals use this place as a “wild” resort.

Given the large number of mountain ranges and lakes, this area is also rich in caves.

The length of the mapped passages of the Pandora's Box cave is about 11 km, the depth is more than 180 m

The most interesting of them have no less interesting names: Pandora's Box, Kashkulakskaya or the Black Devil's Cave, Borodino.

With the aim of preserving objects of historical and natural heritage, the Khakass Republican National Museum-Reserve “Kazanovka” was created, which collected more than 100 square kilometers of protected lands.

The Park of Topiary Art called “Dream Gardens” in Abakan deserves special attention, where there are many trees and shrubs that have acquired bizarre shapes after topiary.

Lakes of Khakassia

Extreme tourism and travel occupy a special place in the tourist destination of the Republic of Khakassia. These beautiful places are especially famous for their numerous clean lakes, which differ from each other in flow and salinity. Looking at the map of Khakassia, you can find that there are about 1000 of them in this region.

Freshwater is often wastewater, and rivers originate from them. Salty ones usually have no drainage. Most of them filled large pits. The largest of the fresh ones is Itkul.

Its area is about 23 square kilometers and its depth reaches 17 meters.

Lake Balakul is interesting.

In ancient times, it was considered sacred among local peoples. Now there are a large number of recreation centers and children's camps nearby.

Some of them have healing water or mud. For example, Lake Shira, the healing power of which is described in ancient legends.

Back in the 19th century, a sanatorium for vacationers was opened here. Now it is open all year round.

Lake Tus is classified as bitter-salty. There are also sanatorium and resort facilities on the shore. The depth here is no more than 2 meters.

Black Lake got its name in ancient times, when they believed that the reservoir had a “black character.” Only the bravest swam here. Now we know what explained such superstitions.

The lake water is saturated with radon, which has a relaxing effect on the human body. Previously, this was explained by the fact that the depths of a reservoir take away a person’s strength. Lake Dikoe is also saturated with radon deposits.

Ivanovo lakes amaze with their beauty. This is a network of four lakes that are connected to each other by small rivers and streams, surrounded by mountains.

The depth of the largest of them reaches 140 meters, and the water filling them is icy.

Among other famous and not so famous lakes, one can highlight lakes Khankul and Marankul, Shunet and Firkal, Ulug-Kol and Matarak.

Architectural sights of Khakassia

The Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station is the largest in Russia in terms of installed capacity and the 9th in the world. It is located on the Yenisei River, in the place where Khakassia borders on the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Rising to a height of 242 meters, it remains the highest dam in Russia and one of the highest in the world. Its construction began in 1963. It officially ended only in 2000, when almost all the shortcomings and problems that occurred during operation were eliminated.

Not far from here there is an observation deck, which allows you to look a little at the hydroelectric power station itself, since you cannot get close to it - it is a protected area.

Here, in 2008, a monument dedicated to the “Conquerors of the Yenisei - the first builders of the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station” was erected.

Due to man-made activity, the Tuimsky failure, known throughout Khakassia, was formed. In its place, earlier, during the years of the USSR, underground mining of various ores was carried out. Gradually, the soil subsided and later completely collapsed, forming a pit with water accumulated in it.

The height of the steep cliffs along the edges reaches 120 meters.

They can also offer ski resorts that welcome guests for 9 months a year - this is the Gladenkaya ski complex.

Its name comes from the mountain on which it is located. It is equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay, relaxation and, of course, skiing.

Unusual and mysterious places in Khakassia

There are unsolved mysteries not only in Egypt at the ancient pyramids. The lands of Khakassia also keep similar secrets, because so far no one has been able to determine how huge slabs weighing about 50 tons were lowered from the mountains. Researchers have been studying this issue here since the 18th century. They are called menhirs of Khakassia.

They come in various shapes, in the form of pillars or slabs. But they have one thing in common - they are all located in anomalous zones, in places where the earth’s tectonic plates are broken, where colossal energy comes out. Ceremonies and rituals have been held here for a long time, and people come in the hope of being healed of illnesses and illnesses.

Menhirs Great Gate

One of the most visited menhirs are the Big Gate and Ulus-Khurtuyakh-Tas (Stone Old Woman).

Very interesting from a historical and cultural point of view are pisanitsy - mountains or rocks on which ancient drawings are applied. For example, the Sulek pisanitsa appeared in the second millennium BC during the period of the Okunev culture.

It is located on Pisannaya Mountain, which is one of three hills that are dotted with similar designs.

The rocks depict ordinary everyday scenes from the life of the local population: horsemen, hunting, domestic animals.

The Boyarskaya Pisanitsa, located on the Boyar ridge, is also full of similar scenes from life. In addition, there are many images of dwellings.

One of the unusual places in this region is the Lykov settlement on the Erinat River.

This is the place where a family of 6 Old Believers, who did not know modern civilization, lived for many years. They were discovered only in 1978, and since then only 1 woman has remained alive. All the others died soon after their discovery, largely due to contact with previously unknown microbes.

What to bring from Khakassia as a gift

Most often, souvenirs from Khakassia are not particularly original, but, of course, they correspond to the local flavor and folk crafts. First of all, these are various printed products with local views and attractions.

Local folk art also produces birch bark pieces and glass, pottery and dolls. Local musical instruments are popular: chatkhan and khomys, as well as shamanic tambourines. There are many offers for keychains and crafts made from deer horns.

Food products will be no less desirable: pine nuts, lingonberries, blueberries or fish, as well as herbal teas.

As you can see, Khakassia is rich in a wide variety of attractions. Everyone can take a walk, learn something new, relax and enjoy nature here.

We bring to your attention a video about the most interesting routes in Khakassia; this small presentation will allow you to see some of the beauties and attractions that we described above: