WEATHERING PILLARS ON THE PLATEAU MAN - PUPU - NER.

On the Manpupuner plateau in the Troitsko-Pechora region of the Komi Republic there is one of the natural wonders of Russia - seven huge stone giants with a height of 30 to 42 meters, which are also known as weathering pillars or Mansi logs. It is believed that these pillars were formed by selective weathering and erosion of soft rocks.

Once upon a time, stone sculptures were objects of Mansi cult. It was believed that spirits lived on the plateau, and only shamans were allowed to visit them on the mountain. Manpupuner (Man-pupy-nyer) is translated from the Mansi language as “Small Mountain of Idols.” According to one of the local legends, six giants were chasing the Voguls (Voguls are another name for the Mansi people) and had almost caught up with them, when suddenly a shaman with a white face named Yalpingner appeared in front of them. He raised his hand and managed to cast a spell, after which all the giants turned to stone, but Yalpingner himself also turned to stone. Since then they have stood against each other. Travelers who visited the plateau say that the energy of the place is truly unusual; all thoughts subside there and peace sets in.

Photo by Peter Zakharov:

From the plateau there is a beautiful view of the virgin nature of the Northern Urals.

Photo by Peter Zakharov:

Photo by Sergei Makurin:

Despite the fact that Manpupuner is located in a remote area, this place is gaining increasing popularity among travelers and is becoming one of the actively visited sports tourism sites. To get to the plateau, tourists have to walk for three days through the taiga or hire a helicopter.
The growing popularity of the pillars is explained by the fact that in 2008 they took 5th place in the 7 Wonders of Russia competition and 1st place among the wonders of the North-Western Federal District.

On the way to Manpupuner:

To preserve the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve (on the territory of which the pillars are located) in its original form, only 12 travelers will be allowed to visit Manpupuner at a time, while the total number of visits to the plateau should not exceed 4 per month. If previously tourists could come freely in winter, now it will be possible to see the wonder of the world only from mid-June to mid-September. To control the number of people coming to the plateau, a wooden house 5x8 meters was built, where a reserve employee will constantly be present to check the availability of permits for visits. Tourists can stay in this house in case of bad weather. The house is heated with an economical stove, the firewood for which will be delivered in the winter by snowmobile.

Russian miracle:

WEATHERING PILLARS

Weathering pillars, or as they are also called “Mansi blockheads,” are giant stone idols that are located on Mount Man-Pupu-ner in the territory of the Trinity-Pechersk region of the Komi Republic. These pillars are a geological monument created by nature about 200 million years ago!

Previously, there were high mountains in this territory; under the influence of rain, snow and wind, over many millennia the mountains were gradually destroyed, first soft rocks, then hard ones. However, some of the hard rocks of the former mountains have survived to this day, forming seven huge pillars that impress with their severe grandeur.

The height of the pillars ranges from 30 to 42 meters (10-14 floors).

Despite the fact that this unique miracle was created by nature, there are still legends that people associate with the appearance of these pillars on Mount Man-Pupu-ner.

According to legend, once upon a time, seven Samoyed giants walked through the mountains to Siberia to destroy the Vogul people. But when they climbed Man-Pupu-ner, their leader-shaman saw the sacred Vogul mountain in front of him. In horror, he threw his drum, which fell on a high peak, now called Koyp, which means “drum” in Vogul. Both the shaman and all his companions were petrified with fear.

There is another version of the appearance of the Pillars. Mighty giants pursued the Mansi tribe, leaving behind the stone belt of the Ural Mountains. At the source of the Pechora River at the pass, the giants had almost overtaken the tribe. But their path was blocked by a small shaman with a face as white as lime and turned the giants into stone pillars. Since then, every shaman from the Mansi tribe was sure to come to this sacred place and draw their magical power from it.

The mountain on which the “stone giants” stand means “Small Mountain of Idols” in the Mansi language.

In the old days, the Komi and Mansi peoples were forbidden to approach the stone pillars; today, in order to look at this natural monument, tourists are ready to make a difficult climb up the mountain. According to their testimonies, the pillars make them acutely feel the insignificance of man before the greatness of nature. And if you come close to the pillars, you can hear that they seem to be humming quietly - they are talking about something in a language that is unclear to humans.

Man-Pupu-ner plateau is located in the Northern Urals, this is the territory of the Russian Federation. You can get there by plane or train. You need to fly or drive to the city of Syktyvkar - this is the capital of Komi. From the capital of Komi there are buses to the village of Troitsko-Pechorsk, and from there it’s not far to the weathering pillars co. But only well-prepared tourists can get to them without a guide.

Coordinates: 62°15′00″ n. w. 59°20′00″ E. d. /  62.25° N. w. 59.333333° E. d.(G)62.25 , 59.333333

Weathering pillars(Mansi boobies) is a unique geological monument in the Troitsko-Pechora region of the Komi Republic of Russia on Mount Man-Pupu-ner (which in the Mansi language means “Small Mountain of Idols”), in the interfluve of the river. Ichotlyaga and Pechory. There are 7 outliers, height from 30 to 42 m. Numerous legends are associated with it, before the Weathering Pillars were objects of the Mansi cult.

It is located quite far from inhabited areas. Only trained tourists can get to the pillars. There is a walking route from the Sverdlovsk region and Perm region. The pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia.

About 200 million years ago, there were high mountains in place of the stone pillars. Millennia passed. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and especially weak rocks. The hard sericite-quartzite shales, from which the remains are composed, were destroyed less and have survived to this day, while the soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind into depressions of the relief.

The closer you get to them, the more unusual their appearance becomes. One pillar, 34 m high, stands somewhat apart from the others; it resembles a huge bottle turned upside down. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff. The pillars have bizarre outlines and, depending on the place of inspection, resemble either the figure of a huge man, or the head of a horse or ram. It is not surprising that in past times the Mansi deified grandiose stone sculptures and worshiped them, but climbing Manpupuner was the greatest sin.

The time of year changes, and the appearance of the area changes. The area is very impressive in winter, when the remains are completely white, like crystal. In autumn there are fogs there, and the Pillars appear through the haze - there is something divine in this spectacle. They were created by nature, but looking at them, it’s hard to believe that something like this could be repeated by a person.

Ancient Mansi legend

“In ancient times, in the dense forests that approached the very Ural Mountains, lived the powerful Mansi tribe. The men of the tribe were so strong that they defeated a bear one on one, and so fast that they could catch up with a running deer.

There were a lot of furs and skins of killed animals in the Mansi yurts. Women made beautiful fur clothes from them. The good spirits who lived on the sacred mountain Yalping-Nyer helped the Mansi because the wise leader Kuuschai, who was in great friendship with them, was at the head of the tribe. The leader had a daughter, the beautiful Aim, and a son, Pygrychum. The news of the beauty of young Aim spread far beyond the ridge. She was slender, like a pine tree that grew in a dense forest, and she sang so well that deer from the Ydzhid-Lyagi valley came running to listen to her.

The giant Torev (Bear), whose family hunted in the Kharaiz mountains, also heard about the beauty of the daughter of the Mansi leader. He demanded that Kuuschai give him his daughter Aim. But Aim, laughing, refused this offer as well. An angry Torev called his giant brothers and moved to the top of Torre Porre Iz to seize Aim by force. Unexpectedly, when Pygrychum and part of the warriors were hunting, giants appeared in front of the gates of the stone city. The whole day there was a hot battle at the fortress walls.

Under clouds of arrows, Aim climbed onto a high tower and shouted: “Oh, good spirits, save us from death!” Send Pigrychum home! At the same moment, lightning flashed in the mountains, thunder roared, and black clouds covered the city with a thick veil. “Insidious,” Torev growled, seeing Aim on the tower. He rushed forward, crushing everything in his path. And only Aim managed to descend from the tower when it collapsed under the terrible blow of the giant’s club. Then Torev again raised his huge club and struck the crystal castle. The castle crumbled into small pieces, which were picked up by the wind and blown throughout the Urals. Since then, transparent fragments of rock crystal have been found in the Ural Mountains.

Aim and a handful of warriors disappeared under the cover of darkness into the mountains. In the morning we heard the sound of a chase. And suddenly, when the giants were ready to grab them, Pigrychum appeared in the rays of the rising sun with a shiny shield and a sharp sword in his hands, which the good spirits had given him. Pygrychum turned his shield towards the sun, and a fiery sheaf of light hit the eyes of the giant, who threw the tambourine aside. Before the eyes of the astonished brothers, the giant and the tambourine thrown aside began to slowly turn to stone. The brothers rushed back in horror, but, falling under the beam of Pigrychum’s shield, they themselves turned into stones.

Since then, for thousands of years they have stood on the mountain, which the people called Man-Pupu-Nier(Mountain of stone idols), and not far from it rises the majestic peak Koyp (Drum).”

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See what “Weathering pillars” are in other dictionaries:

A reserve in Russia, near Krasnoyarsk, on the right bank of the Yenisei. Founded in 1925. Area 47,154 hectares. Unique granite-syenite remnants “pillars”, height up to 100 m. Dark coniferous (fir) taiga predominates; cedar trees Brown bear, lynx, roe deer... encyclopedic Dictionary

Name in Siberia and the Urals, rocks or cliffs formed as a result of weathering and denudation. Geological Dictionary: in 2 volumes. M.: Nedra. Edited by K. N. Paffengoltz et al. 1978 ... Geological encyclopedia

pillars- rocky peaks, outcrops, ridges of outcrops, often very beautiful and picturesque, columnar in shape, formed as a result of weathering of crystalline rocks (Nizhneudinsky Pillars, Lena Pillars, Krasnoyarsk Pillars and others) ... Geographical names of Eastern Siberia

pillars- rocky peaks, outcrops, ridges of outcrops, often very beautiful and picturesque, columnar in shape, formed as a result of weathering of crystalline rocks (Mikhailovsky Pillars in the Blagoveshchensk region) ... Toponymic Dictionary of the Amur Region

"Krasnoyarsk pillars"- KRASNOYARSK PILLARS (or Pillars) state. reserve, organization in 1925. Located near the city of Krasnoyarsk (the northern border comes close to the suburban zone) on the spurs of the East. Sayana, so-called Kuysumsky Range, which overlooks the Krasnoyarsk steppe basin.... ... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

Manpupuner.

Also Weathering Pillars, “Seven Giants”, “Mountain of Stone Idols”, stone pillars, Mansi blockheads — this mysterious place, steeped in many myths and legends, has quite a few names .
Manpupuner Plateau, perhaps - the main attraction of the Urals, a unique natural monument, which is more than 200 million years old. Manpupuner is much older than the Egyptian pyramids and the Sphinx; much older than the English Stonehenge and the Roman Colosseum. This is the most beautiful natural attraction of the Ural Mountains, and, probably, of all of Russia. A centuries-old ensemble of huge stone pillars-idols standing on the sacred mountain, about which legends have been formed for centuries. Place of power and energy anomalies. 40-meter Mansi dummy, which are sacred idols for all generations of the Komi and Mansi peoples. Unique and inimitable.

The pillars are recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Russia.

Information about the Manpupuner plateau, Komi Republic:

Coordinates: GPS: 62°15′28.44″ N. 59°17′52.8″ E.;
A country: Russia;
Region: Komi Republic, the border of the Northern Urals and the Subpolar Urals;
Mountain system: Manpupuner Ridge(Man-Pupu-Ner, Man-pupy-nyer, Man-pupyg-ner, Manpupygner);
Top height: 42 m.

In 2008, the weathering pillars on the plateau took fifth place in the “7 Wonders of Russia” competition and first place among the wonders of the Northwestern Federal District.

Manpupuner- a unique miracle of nature, giant stone idols. Weathering pillars (Mansi logs) are a geological monument in Russia, the Troitsko-Pechora region in the southeast of the Komi Republic on the territory of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-Ner (from the Mansi language this name is translated as “Small Mountain of Idols”).

Video from the expedition to Manpupuner 2013	7 wonders of Russia. Manpupuner. Seven Wonders of Russia

Video films - trailers about expeditions of members of the "Wild North" club with a helicopter transfer to Manpupuner .

Where are the weathering pillars located? Manpupuner, Ural Mountains, Russia.

One of the most amazing natural attractions of Russia - weathering pillars Man Pupu Ner - is located in a remote area in the Northern Urals, on the western slope of the Ural Mountains in the interfluve of the Pechora and Ichotlyaga (Ydzhydlyaga) rivers.
The mountain plateau Manpupuner (Man pupu ner, Man-Pupu-Ner, Man-pupy-nyer, Man-pupyg-ner) or the plateau with Weathering Pillars (Mansi boobies) is a geological monument. The natural monument of weathering pillars is located on the territory of the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-ner (translated from the Mansi language as “small mountain of idols”), in the interfluve of the Vychegda and Pechora rivers in the Troitsko-Pechora region of the Komi Republic of Russia. The second name of the stone pillars is “Bolvano-iz”, which in the Komi language means “Mountain of Idols”. This is where the simplified popular name for the remnants came from - “Blockheads”. There are 7 outliers on the plateau, their height is from 30 to 42 m. In fact, on the Manpupuner plateau there are more than seven weathering pillars, just one group of seven pillars stands more closely together.

Numerous legends are associated with the stone pillars. Previously, the slope where the weathering pillars are located was the object of cult of the local Mansi peoples.

This is an amazing place, shrouded in many secrets and mysteries, a place with extraordinary and very powerful energy.
Such a natural phenomenon as weathering pillars on the Manpupuner plateau, which cannot be called anything other than a Miracle, is a must-visit.

Weathering pillars (remnants) on the Man-Pupu-Ner plateau are the hallmark of the Urals.
Man-Pupu-Ner is located quite far from inhabited places.
The Manpupuner plateau is a popular sports tourism site. Only very prepared tourists can reach the pillars on foot. To visit it you also need a pass from the reserve administration.

Manpupuner -one of the 7 wonders of Russia.

Since 2008, the Seven Pillars of Weathering, located on the Ural Range, have been officially recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Russia. About two hundred million years ago, on the site of the plateau where these weathering columns are located, there were huge mountains consisting mainly of weak rocks. These rocks were exposed to various natural phenomena. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains and, first of all, weak rocks. The hard sericite-quartzite shales, from which the remains are composed, were destroyed less and have survived to this day, while the soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind into depressions of the relief. And only the weathering pillars remain today in their original form. The geological name of the pillars on the Manpupuner plateau is remnants. Their composition is mainly represented by sericite-quartzite schists, which are more resistant to the vagaries of nature and time. Geologists believe that the seven weathering pillars are rock kekurs.

The stone pillars were formed by selective weathering of rocks. Some of them are even narrowed at the base and look like an inverted bottle. How could this be born... From a scientific point of view, these pillars are the result of the weathering of soft rocks. About 200 million years ago, in place of the stone pillars there were full-fledged high Ural mountains. They stood proudly on the young planet Earth and witnessed many grandiose events. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and especially weak rocks. And today the Ural Mountains are among the lowest in the world. But there were places in the Urals where nature could not cope with the stone. The hard, beautiful sericite-quartzite schists, from which the remains were composed, were destroyed less and have survived to this day, while the soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind to the foot of the mountain. This is where the name came from - Weathering Pillars. Thanks to this, we can admire the weathering pillars on the Manpupiner plateau.

Natural monument Weathering pillars.

Geologists call them remnants. On Manpupuner, the outcrops are huge stone pillars with a height of 30 to 42 m. This place is truly mystical, because the Weathering Pillars, as the outcrops are also called, are so ancient that even the Mansi during the pagan period worshiped them, and in translation from the Mansi language Manpupuner means "small mountain of idols" Mansi, unlike geologists, know the true origin of the stone pillars. There are a total of 7 stone sculptures on Manpupuner. The pillars have a bizarre shape and, from different angles, can resemble either the head of a horse or the figure of a giant. They say that stone sculptures even change their location. In reality, of course, they are simply easy to confuse due to their changing shape. The most ancient stone sculptures as tall as a 15-story building can in themselves amaze the imagination, and if we add to this the uninhabited nature of this place, then one can imagine what pristine silence and purity will greet travelers on this majestic plateau. Here, more than ever, you understand that time is just a convention.

One tall pillar, 34 m high, stands somewhat apart from the others; it resembles a huge bottle turned upside down. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff. The pillars have bizarre outlines, and depending on the point of view, resemble the figure of a huge man or the head of a horse or ram. In past times, the Mansi deified grandiose stone sculptures and worshiped them, but climbing to the top of Mount Manpupuner was the greatest sin for Mansi families.

Until recently, only geographers and fans of sports tourism knew about the Manpupuner plateau. But after the Mansi idiots took 5th place in the “7 Wonders of Russia” competition, many heard the strange word. The tall majestic pillars really look like idols - on the relatively flat highlands there are giant stone sculptures with 10-17 storey buildings. The plateau offers magnificent views of pristine nature at any time of the year. This spectacle is simply breathtaking.

Seeing this Miracle of Nature is not at all easy. Around, within a radius of one hundred kilometers, there is no human habitation, roads or railways. The rivers nearby are small streams, only one of them is destined, having absorbed a mass of tributaries, to become the full-flowing Pechora and bring its waters to the Arctic Ocean.
The Man-pupu-Ner plateau on the Ural ridge is the most iconic. Location Man-pupu-ner - Northern Urals, 10 km east of the plateau, the Pechera River originates. A person, arriving on a plateau, cannot help but feel the mystical and mysterious influence of this unique place, especially close to the stone giants. When these gigantic stones appear before your eyes, such a definition as a geological monument or the reasons for their occurrence, named by geologists, seem like a myth, and legends, on the contrary, seem like truth.
In the Northern Urals, not only the Manpupuner plateau deserves epithets " magical" And " magical", but undoubtedly it is the most beautiful and impressive.

Manpupuner: how to get there.

There are several options to see this incredible creation of nature: fly here in summer or autumn by helicopter, come in winter or spring on a snowmobile, or walk many kilometers through completely uninhabited places.

What we saw is impressive; no photographs or videos can convey the living power of the giants...
Very quickly you begin to believe in real power, to feel it emanating from this place. It is no coincidence that this place is considered one of the places of Power.

Opinions differ about the best time of year to conquer Manpupuner. Some people believe that the best way to travel to the end of the world is in winter, on skis. At this time, there are no mosquitoes, midges or gadflies, the swamps freeze, and the pillars themselves, covered with frost, look incredibly beautiful. And the speed of movement on skis is higher than on foot. There is only one minus and it is obvious - the temperature in the Ural mountains in January drops to minus 40 degrees Celsius.

We recommend choose to visit this area in summer or winter, arriving here in summer on our Mi-8 helicopter, or traveling in winter on a reliable snowmobile .
The best summer month to visit the plateau is probably August. This is the warmest time of the year, there are fewer insects, and the water in the rivers decreases. It is at this time that from a bird’s eye view you can observe the pleasant red-yellow taiga, the piercing blue sky, rivers as clear as tears, breathe in the air sharp as a razor blade and enjoy the view of the majestic Manpupuner.

Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve.

The Manpupuner plateau is located on o specially protected area Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve. The reserve has its own task - to preserve vegetation and other components of ecosystems. A regulated schedule for visiting the reserve regulates the tourist flow: the schedule is planned in such a way that there are not many people on the territory of the reserve at the same time. There may also be bans on visiting due to the risk of forest fires. To make visiting the Manpupuner Plateau accessible and controllable, the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve built a frame house for rangers on the ridge, the partners of the reserve poured and put into operation a helipad, and special crushed stone paths were laid out with crushed stone in order not to disturb the ecosystem of mosses growing on the plateau .
The reserve workers, however, are trying to make tourism on the Manpupuner plateau more “cultural” and environmentally friendly.

Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve: official website.

Manpupuner. Ural mountains.

It should be noted that such a phenomenon as remnants and weathering columns is a very typical phenomenon for the Urals. The Ural Mountains are among the oldest on earth, and over the millions of years of their existence, bad weather and elements have battered them quite badly. So, no less beautiful and significant stone remains can be admired on the Torre-Porre-Iz plateau, in the Northern Urals near Krasnovishersk you can look at the Pomyanenny stone, you can also climb the Chuval, Kuryksar or Listvennichny ridges. Similar weathering pillars can be found everywhere. Of course, not as large-scale and pronounced as on Manpupuner, but no less picturesque.
In the immediate vicinity of the Manpupuner plateau there are several more Mansi sanctuaries - 20 km to the north - the stone city of spirits Tore-Porre-Iz, 100 km to the south - Dyatlov Pass (Kholat-Chahl ridge, Mountain of the Dead or Dead Mountain), where, according to legend, they died nine Mansi hunters. The legendary group of UPI students under the leadership of Igor Dyatlov died there (February 1959). The Yalpyngner ridge is located nearby, and the Molebny Stone ridge (on the territory of the Vishera Nature Reserve), where there was also a temple and a sacred cave of the Voguls and Mansi, was located relatively close.

The weathering pillars are located quite far from inhabited areas. Only trained tourists can get to the pillars. From the Sverdlovsk region and Perm region there is a walking route - first by car, then by boat, the rest of the way on foot. It will take at least a week to cover more than 400 kilometers in this way.

If you don’t have enough time for hiking in the taiga or you can hardly endure long treks on foot over rough terrain, mountains, swamps and impassable taiga, then this is ideal for you our option- exciting way get there to the Weathering Pillars by helicopter. The Wild North club offers both one-day and . In addition, organization is possible.
This will be a most interesting journey through the Ural northern taiga on snowmobiles. Difficult and extreme. The final goal is sparkling in the sun, covered sparkling ice and snow- winter Manpupuner.

Helicopter transfer is a very fast way to get to the Manpupuner plateau, and is also more gentle on the local ecosystem. Throughout the flight, as well as approaching Manpupuner, you will be able to enjoy the mesmerizing panorama of the Northern Ural taiga. A winter trip is more than a tour. This is a real expedition that allows you to make an unforgettable trip to the mountains through snow-covered remote areas and frozen rivers, see a continuous series of uniquely beautiful mountain landscapes that shock you with their uniqueness even in the most remote taiga regions of the Arctic Circle and see with your own eyes The Seventh Miracle of Russia and touch the legendary idols - weathering pillars on the Man-Pupu-Ner plateau, which served as cult idols for representatives of ancient civilization.

In fact, on the Manpupuner plateau there are more than seven weathering pillars, just one group of seven pillars is more crowded.
In autumn there are fogs there, and the Pillars appear through the haze - there is something divine in this spectacle. They were created by nature, but looking at them, it’s hard to believe that something like this could be repeated by a person.

However, this is just a scientific version of the origin of the pillars on the Manpupuner plateau. The Voguls, the local population of the Urals, have other points of view. There are legends that explain
the origin of the Small Blockheads (this is exactly what Manpupuner sounds like in the translation from the Mansi language).

The Mansi worshiped the remains as idols and created legends about them. Even now, looking carefully at the pillars, you can see images of fantastic animals or giant giants. Previously, this place was considered sacred, and climbing the mountain was strictly prohibited.
It is not surprising that the indigenous people surrounded this place with legends.

The Man-Pupu-Ner mountain plateau has always been a sacred place for the Voguls, but its power was negative. It was strictly forbidden for an ordinary person to climb the Manpupuner plateau; only shamans had access there to recharge their magical powers.

Six of the seven weathering pillars are located along the edge of the cliff, and the seventh is located further away from them. Each of the Mansi Blockheads has a unique and bizarre shape. Moreover, if you look at the weathering pillars from different sides, then each time you see different images. People, animals, objects may appear. One pillar, 34 meters high, stands somewhat apart from the others; it resembles a huge bottle turned upside down. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff. The pillars have bizarre outlines and, depending on the location of inspection, resemble the figure of a huge man, the head of a horse or a ram. In past times, the Mansi deified grandiose stone sculptures and worshiped them, but climbing Manpupuner was the greatest sin.

Manpupuner: legends about weathering pillars.

Legends and Mansi versions of the formation of stone pillars of the Small Mountain of Idols:

1 . The Voguls, who roam here with their herds of reindeer, say that these stone pillars were once seven Samoyed giants who walked through the mountains to Siberia to destroy the Vogul people. But when they climbed to the top, now called Man-Pupu-Ner, their leader, the shaman, saw in front of him Yalping-Ner - the Sacred Vogul Mountain. In horror, he threw his drum, which fell on a high conical peak rising south of Man-Pupu-Nyor and called Koip, which means drum in Vogul. And the shaman and all his companions were petrified with fear.

2 . Based on another of the versions, behind the Younger Brothers, i.e. The Voguls were being chased by six Samoyed giants while they were trying to escape beyond the Stone Belt. At the source of the Pechora River at the pass, the giants had almost caught up with the Vogulichs, when suddenly a white-faced shaman, Yalpingner, appeared in front of them. He raised his hand and managed to cast one spell, after which all the giants turned to stone. Unfortunately, Yalpingner himself also turned to stone. Since then, they have stood against each other.

3 . The next legend says that seven giant shamans went beyond Riphean to destroy the Voguls and Mansi. When they climbed Koyp, they saw the sacred Vogul mountain Yalpyngner (the most holy place for the Voguls) and understood the greatness and power of the Vogul Gods. They were petrified from horror, only the leader of the giants, the chief shaman, managed to raise his hand to shield his eyes from Yalpyngner. But this did not save him - he also turned into stone.

4 . An ancient Mansi legend.
“In ancient times, in the dense forests, approaching the very Ural Mountains, lived the powerful Mansi tribe. The men of the tribe were so strong that they defeated a bear one on one, and so fast that they could catch up with a running deer.
The Mansi yurts contained a lot of furs and skins of hunted animals. Women made beautiful clothes from furs. The good spirits who lived on the sacred mountain Yalping-Nyer helped the Mansi because at the head of the tribe was the wise leader Kuuschai, who was in great friendship with the spirits. The leader had a daughter, the beautiful Aim, and a son, Pygrychum. The news of the beauty of young Aim spread far beyond the ridge. She was slender, like a pine tree that grew in a dense forest, and she sang so well that deer from the Ydzhid-Lyagi valley came running to listen to her.
The giant Torev (Bear), whose family hunted in the Kharaiz mountains, also heard about the beauty of the daughter of the Mansi leader. He demanded that Kuuschai give him his daughter Aim. But she refused, Aim laughing at this proposal. An angry Torev called his giant brothers and moved to the top of Torre Porre Iz to seize Aim by force. Unexpectedly, when Pygrychum and part of the warriors were hunting, giants appeared in front of the gates of the stone city. The whole day there was a hot battle at the fortress walls.
Under clouds of arrows, Aim climbed onto a high tower and shouted: “Oh, good spirits, save us from death!” Send Pigrychum home! At the same moment, lightning flashed in the mountains, thunder roared, and black clouds covered the city with a thick veil. “Insidious,” Torev growled, seeing Aim on the tower. He rushed forward, crushing everything in his path. And only Aim managed to descend from the tower when it collapsed under the terrible blow of the giant’s club. Then Torev again raised his huge club and struck the crystal castle. The castle crumbled into small pieces, which were picked up by the wind and blown throughout the Urals. Since then, transparent fragments of rock crystal have been found in the Ural Mountains.
Aim and a handful of warriors disappeared under the cover of darkness into the mountains. In the morning they heard the sound of a chase. And suddenly, when the giants were ready to grab them, Pigrychum appeared in the rays of the rising sun with a shiny shield and a sharp sword in his hands, which the good spirits had given him. Pygrychum turned his shield towards the sun, and a fiery sheaf of light hit the eyes of the giant, who threw the tambourine aside. Before the eyes of the astonished brothers, the giant and the tambourine thrown aside began to slowly turn to stone. The brothers rushed back in horror, but, falling under the beam of Pigrychum’s shield, they themselves turned into stones.
Since then, for thousands of years they have stood on a mountain that the people called Man-Pupu-Nier (Mountain of Stone Idols), and not far from it rises the majestic peak Koip (Drum).”

Every shaman from the Mansi tribe necessarily came to the sacred tract and drew his magical power from it.
Climbing Manpupuner as a mere mortal was the greatest sin.

The time of year changes, and the appearance of the area changes. The area is very impressive in winter, when Mansi boobies are completely white, like crystal.

Local peoples claim that in pagan times there was a holy temple on the plateau.

In all legends, one constant motif remains - the presence of giants who wanted to destroy the Vogul tribe and the magical help of Yalpyngner. Man-Pupu-Ner has always been a sacred place for the Voguls, but its power was somewhat negative. It was strictly forbidden for an ordinary person to climb the Manpupuner plateau; only shamans had access there to recharge their magical powers. Very close to the Manpupuner plateau there are several more Vogul sanctuaries - Tore-Porre-Iz, Kholat-Chakhl (Mountain of the Dead or Dead Mountain), where, according to legend, nine Mansi hunters died. The legendary group of UPI students under the leadership of Igor Dyatlov died there (February 1959). By the way, Dyatlov’s group also consisted of nine people.

Yalpyngner itself is also not far away, and relatively close is the Prayer Stone (on the territory of the Vishera Nature Reserve), where there was also a temple and a sacred cave of the Voguls and Mansi.

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“Weathering pillars on the Man-Pupu-Ner plateau, a geological monument, located in the interfluve of Ichotlyagi and Pechora, Troitsko-Pechora region, Northern Urals. Weathering pillars are one of the winners of the “Seven Wonders of Russia” competition.”

Weathering pillars are one of the most striking sights of the Komi Republic and Russia, one of the wonders of Russia.

There are many legends surrounding the origin of these monumental stone giants, and indeed the Komi Republic itself is a land of mysteries, legends, and mystical coincidences.

In Russia, every place is a complete mystery, a world covered with a veil of understatement. Is at least one legend about the origin of mountain idols true or fiction? We will never know, but, you see, it becomes uninteresting if we accept that these are simply naturally formed rocks? Need a riddle!

According to one of the legends - a long time ago, an old shaman wanted to marry a young girl, she refused him, rebelled, he went to fight her family in order to kidnap her, but her brothers came to the girl’s defense, their sister prayed that everything they miraculously escaped in this battle, and now all of them - the girl and her brothers - turned into stone monuments, according to legend, their souls were saved, etc.

A beautiful fairy tale, isn't it? So, you walk among these blocks, you approach one, imagine that it is a person, and the other - that it is a beautiful girl...

Before moving on to a detailed story about our geological monument, it is worth first remembering what the Komi Republic is.

“The Komi Republic (Komi Komi Republic) is a republic within the Russian Federation, a subject of the Russian Federation, part of the Northwestern Federal District.

The capital is the city of Syktyvkar.

Region area 416,774 km²

Population - 856,631 people,

Population density: 2.06 people/km²

The climate is temperate continental. Winters are long and cold, summers are short, warm in the south and cool in the northern regions.

Average January temperature: −20 °C (in the northern part) and −17 °C (in the southern part)

Average July temperature: +11 °C (in the northern part) and +15...+17 °C (in the southern part)

Precipitation: from 700 mm per year.

Here, depending on the region, it can be very frosty (below 50 degrees Celsius), but rarely hot, even on the busiest summer days.

There are many natural and geological monuments on the territory of the republic (as of 2009, there were 95 natural monuments), for example: “Ruins of an ancient city” on the plateau of Mount Torre Porre Iz, several caves, “Ring” on the Sharyu River, etc. The republic also has many beautiful places, virgin forests, protected rivers, national parks, nature reserves, “spirit habitats,” etc.

“In the Northern Urals, 32,800 km² are covered with virgin forests. A unique territory is the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve.

Such virgin forests, unaffected by human activity and technogenic influence, no longer exist in Europe.

In 1985, the reserve was included in the list of biosphere reserves.

Ten years later, by decision of UNESCO, the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve with protective and buffer zones and the Yugyd Va National Park, united under the general name “Virgin Komi Forests,” were included in the list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites.

Yugyd Va National Park is located in the Northern and Subpolar Urals in the southeast of the Komi Republic. In the south it borders on the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve.”

Komi is a place where there are no rats, as the rural residents themselves assure. Shamans also rule here, crocodiles live and there are many manifestations of the other world (UFOs, anomalous phenomena, fireballs, etc.). The Mountain of the Dead, or the famous Dyatlov Pass, is not far from here.

NTV film. Mysterious Russia “Komi Republic. Baseextraterrestrialcivilizations?»:

The people in whose language many objects on the territory of the republic are designated - Mansi - are pagans, among them there are many shamans, mountains and places for them are not just nature, but the home of spirits and idols.

“Weathering pillars are located on the territory of the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-ner (in the Mansi language - “small mountain of idols”), in the interfluve of the Vychegda and Pechora rivers. Outliers - 7, height from 30 to 42 m."

The official version of the appearance of stone idols says that they were formed through natural changes from the mountains that were in this place as much as 200 million (!) years ago.

“Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains and, first of all, weak rocks. The hard sericite-quartzite shales, from which the remains are composed, were destroyed less and have survived to this day, while the soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind into depressions of the relief.

One pillar, 34 meters high, stands somewhat apart from the others; it resembles a huge bottle turned upside down. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff.

The pillars have bizarre outlines and, depending on the place of inspection, resemble either the figure of a huge man, or the head of a horse or ram. In past times, the Mansi deified grandiose stone sculptures and worshiped them, but climbing Manpupuner was the greatest sin.”

Documentary film “The Eternal Beauty of Upper Pechora” (in the second part there is a little about the Weathering Pillars):

Getting to the geological monument is not easy; it is located far from inhabited areas and you need permission from the administration. There is a fine for illegal entry into the territory of the reserve; for example, in 2014, 95 violators were caught.

“Only trained tourists can get to the pillars. To do this, you need to obtain a pass from the administration of the reserve. From the side of the Sverdlovsk region and the Perm Territory there is a walking route, from the side of the Komi Republic there is a mixed route - road, water, walking route.”

However, as the information on the reserve’s website states, in 2016 the reserve is closed to visits on foot, it is impossible to get into it on foot, and movement by vehicle is also prohibited. Helicopter excursions have become an alternative, and the helipad is being prepared.

When walking routes were opened, tourists first got to Syktyvkar, then by train or car to Troitsko-Pechorsk, then to the village of Yaksha, from Yaksha 200 km by motor boat, then on foot 40 km...

Video guide for a helicopter expedition to the plateau of Mansi stone idols Man-Pupu-Ner. "Northern Urals. Manpupuner. Small Mountain of Idols. Man-Pupu-Ner":

Manpupuner is a hard-to-reach, uninhabited natural object, but combined with its unforgettable beauty - its remoteness from infrastructure creates an extraordinary egregor around the stone boulders.

The virgin forests surrounding the reserve, the legends in the air that the pillars are idols and the habitat of various spirits, leave a truly fabulous, inexplicable impression of the greatness of this place. Time stops here, there is no fuss, as if these 200 million years are frozen in an eternal pause.

“The Man-Pupu-Ner plateau is called the Ural Stonehenge. And indeed, seeing the pillars of weathering, this is the word that comes to mind. There are beliefs that the plateau is a refuge for spirits.

Who knows whether this is true or not, but a special energy is felt at the top. Many who have visited Man-Pupu-Ner say that at the top, consciousness becomes clearer, and you don’t want to eat or drink. Perhaps it’s all the clean mountain air and impressions of what he saw, or perhaps this place really has some kind of power...

Such a unique place has acquired its own myths and legends. One of these stories tells about seven giants who walked across the plateau with the goal of destroying the Vogul people. But when they reached the top of Man-Pupu-Nera, they saw in front of them the sacred Vogul mountain Yalping-ner.

The sight of her horrified the giants, and they turned to stone. There are about a dozen similar stories. The main motive in them is the obligatory presence of bloodthirsty giants.”

Tourist impressions:

«.. I was on the plateau and saw the pillars. impressions overshadowed the bad road, even when the snow didn’t start right away, it didn’t lead to panic. Nuno to see the pillars and become the chosen person who visited the plateau. This is not available to everyone.

I can't tell you about the stones, you have to see them, touch and if good weather is your traveling companion, what you see will return you to this place again and you will find money for the journey, accumulate patience to touch these stones.”

« For a long time since we set foot on the plateau, the feeling of something powerful has not left us., it’s not for nothing that stone pillars in Komi are called “places of power.” There is definitely a certain energy here.

The closer you get to the stone pillars, the more unusual they seem. One of them looks like an upside-down bottle, and the remaining six are located on the edge of a cliff. It is not surprising that the Mansi people deified giant statues and worshiped them. However, climbing the Man-Pupu-Ner plateau was considered the greatest sin.”

Weathering pillars have a special energy. Alexander Borovinskikh, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Komi Republic:

“The energy there is somehow not simple, you leave there and understand how small you, a person, are in this world...”

Mikhail Popov, surgeon, tourist:

“The closer we got to these idiots, the more horror and fear gripped us, especially since we had read a lot of legends of the Komi and Mansi peoples...”

Of course, Manpupuner is not a place for those who are pampered by a glamorous life and are looking forward to exciting entertainment and trips to restaurants. Even at a time when hiking routes were allowed, tourists lived in tents, and they had to take impressive supplies of something edible with them.

Today excursions are prohibited, according to the administration - people have already violated the integrity of the territory and left a lot of garbage. Even those who love such places, admire the stone idols, as we see, behave very piggishly, in connection with this, those who know how to preserve nature are temporarily deprived of communication with this place.

This is a very beautiful natural monument, definitely worth a visit.