The wind walks across the steppe, bending waves of shaggy grass to the ground. A cloud on the horizon splits the sky in two, as if separating the cloudy present from the bright future. Guide Lyudmila talks about the life of the inhabitants of Arkaim and energetically mocks the esoteric lovers who come to these places. However, a group of journalists who came as part of the Tutu.ru service’s Media Intelligence project were promised the opportunity to meet with a shaman and make a wish on Shamanka Mountain.
And in the wind, among the steppe grasses, under the sky, changing every second, the menacing rain, the skeptic inside surrenders to the Muscovite, who opens his mouth with pleasure, who finds himself in the steppe for the first time in his life. Who wants to understand why people inclined to believe in magic call Arkaim a “place of power”?
In fact, those who come here fall into two categories. Some people are interested in Arkaim as an archaeological site, a mystery of history. The ancient settlement of the Bronze Age was discovered here by archaeologists in 1987 – they studied the area before the construction of the Bolshekaragan reservoir. The steppe could have been flooded, but scientists managed to defend this area, and in 1989 excavations began here under the guidance of Professor Gennady Zdanovich.
Archaeologists managed to find here an ancient settlement built in the shape of snails, with houses for sunrise and sunset points of the Sun and Moon, wells, sewers, furnaces, pottery. Traces of huge cart wheels were also found here, which gives reason to believe that the inhabitants of Arkaim drive carriages. But the settlement did not last long, according to historians – from 70 to 200 years. And why the inhabitants of the settlement left this place is completely unknown.
History and archeology lovers come to Arkaim to fully get acquainted with the ancient Ural landmark – to see the results of excavations with their own eyes, to visit the museum where the life of the Arkaim people was restored, to attend a master class on construction pottery Esoteric lovers come here for other purposes: astrologer Since Tamara Globa visited here in 1991 and felt the “energy pillar” here, Arkaim has been considered an ideal place for esoteric practices, meditations and self-discovery. And make a wish – on top of a small 40-meter-high mountain called Shamanka, you can ask for the favorite thing by walking along the circles covered with stones. Who posted this? “People,” guide Lyudmila answers with a grin.
And to understand this in two hours, of course, will not work: the visiting traveler opens Arkaim not only with steppes, mounds and excavation sites, but also with one-story houses, tents, communal toilets and numerous souvenir shops with amulets. amulet.
Similar to Goa – only instead of the ocean, steppe grasses sway and rustle on the horizon.
They tell that in the summer, people come to meditate, do yoga, stand on nails and get to know themselves, at the Sarita Arya yoga camp, Arkaim, where only visual impressions can be obtained in a few hours. You can only feel the power of this “place of power” after living here for 21 days. “And then some mystical things begin,” explains Maxim Lapa, one of the camp’s curators, who has been coming to Arkaim for 20 years. For example, he says, the noise of the old Arkaim bazaar can be heard.
But if you set out in a few days to see all the strongholds of the Southern Urals, you will not be able to stay in Arkaim. Yes, and it lies far from large settlements: from Chelyabinsk you can get here by bus in six hours, from Magnitogorsk – in three. And the Southern Urals are not just a steppe, but also mountains. And lakes – the Chelyabinsk region is called the land of 3000 lakes.
One of them – Arakul Lake – attracts travelers not only with the most delicate purity of the water surface surrounded by mountains, but also with the nearby esoteric attraction Arakul Shikhan. It is also referred to as a place of power, telling the legend of a girl crying over a lake out of longing for her lover who was turned to stone by a villain.
This is one of the most picturesque places in the Chelyabinsk region – from a rocky ridge 50 to 80 m high, as if made of giant granite blocks, a magnificent view of Lake Arakul and the Cherry Mountains opens, and dotted rocks depressions and crevices have their own names – Chamberlain , Chicken, Stone head, Tortoise, Old woman, Palm.
A distinctive feature of Arakul Shikhan are stone bowls, as if carved into rocks. It is assumed that they were formed as a result of the destruction of rocks, as bonfires were lit in these places in prehistoric times – but for what purpose is unclear.
There are other sites of the ancient inhabitants of the Urals – in the 2000s, around Lake Arakul, during archaeological excavations, traces of sites and settlements were found, and Iron Age sanctuaries were discovered in the Arakul Shikhans themselves. This is evidenced by melting stones, animal bones, pottery fragments, and a menhir, a vertically standing stone about 1 m high.
Going to Arakul Shikhan is a separate business. You can walk through the forest from the village of Arakul, which is part of the Vyshnegorsk urban settlement. And you can go from the village of Strong using the service “Casting in Shikhan”. Then a pleasant journey will turn into an extreme adventure, because you will be driving a half-broken UAZ over a complete and uncompromising terrain with a screech and a boo.
Although Arakul Shikhan is popular with tourists and rock climbers, locals complain that this natural monument of regional importance is not receiving enough attention.
Volunteers are involved in maintaining order here – in July 2022 alone, 30 kg of garbage was removed from here as part of the Water of Russia campaign. And, according to local historian Elena Drozdova, the lake itself is getting relentlessly shallow as it is the only source of water in the city of Vishnevogorsk.
If it seems that there is nothing more beautiful in the Chelyabinsk region than Lake Arakul, do not rush to conclusions. Turgoyak Lake competes with it that in addition to recreation centers, beaches and fishing there is another place beloved by esotericists. In the middle of the lake is the island of Vera, where ancient, mystical and mysterious lovers flock (or rather swim) on yachts and other watercraft.
The reason for this is in ancient times: There is a sanctuary about 6000 years old on the island of Vera. Rather, the traces unearthed as a result of excavations are megaliths, stone tombs extending from east to west, dolmens and menhirs. But there are no traces of housing here – which gives archaeologists reason to think that the place was used only for ritual purposes.
It is also used by lovers of mysticism who come here for the same purposes: according to the Tatiana guide, esoteric events are regularly held here under the cover of night, and the consequences of which must be eliminated later. However, even the mundane and earthly person, immune to the otherworldly, is fascinated by the mysterious twilight of the forest; it is an echo that answers you from the mountains, megaliths and menhirs on the east side if you shout. You’re already sitting on someone to make a wish against your will.
In fact, the Chelyabinsk region, of course, is not only traces of places where ancient people, rocks and steppes were found.
Moreover: for Russians, this is more of an industrial area, and behind the mountains we go to more popular destinations, Altai and the Caucasus.
In full accordance with this image, industrial tourism is developing in the Chelyabinsk region – excursions are actively organized at the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Plant, where a blast furnace makes an unforgettable impression, master classes are held at the AiR weapons factory, where you can. beating a heart or crushing a knife handle (especially exciting if you are a woman) and not far from the city of Satka on the Bolshaya Satka River, you can see the Porogi hydroelectric power station built here in 1908. However, it is not reaching a wide audience now, but concerts and exhibitions will be held in the next few years at the station, which was discontinued in 2017, and visitors will have a perfect view of the engine room. German equipment preserved since the beginning of the last century.
Now the Chelyabinsk region is actively increasing the flow of tourists. According to the Agency for International Cooperation of the Chelyabinsk Region, more than 3.9 million tourists visited the region in 2021, which is 28% more than in “pre-Covid” 2019. As a rule, they go from neighboring regions – Bashkortostan, Kurgan and Sverdlovsk regions. However, residents of the capitals should also take a closer look at the Southern Urals: after all, flying here is closer than in Altai, and lakes, mountains, fishing and mystical revelations are provided.