At the top of one of the taiga-covered mountain ranges of the Gremyachinsky district of the Perm Territory, there is a powerful rock mass cut up by deep cracks. Crossing it crosswise, large and not very clefts form a bizarre labyrinth, reminiscent of the streets, alleys and squares of some long abandoned settlement. This is the so-called stone city, one of the most popular tourist places modern Prikamye.

Three names for one place

Today Stone Town is widely known not only to Permians, but also to many guests of the region. Here, despite the remoteness, a constant flow of travelers stretches all year round. However, this was not always the case: a couple of decades ago, only a few local residents knew about Stone Town, and even then under completely different names.

Cracks in the rock mass of the Stone Town form a network of large and small "streets".

The fact is that this place has already been called the Stone Town modern tourists, and earlier for half a century it was called "Turtles". This name was given to it in the middle of the 20th century due to the characteristic shape of the two highest remnant rocks by residents of the neighboring mining villages of Shumikhinsky and Yubileiny, founded in 1953 and 1957, respectively. However, this name was not the original: the old-timers of the most "age" locality local places - the village of Usva - have long known these rocky outcrops as the Devil's settlement.

Such a name is not uncommon for the Ural toponymy. Not far from Yekaterinburg, for example, there is a spectacular mountain of the same name, very popular with tourists and rock climbers. In addition, objects with a similar name are also found in other regions of Russia, since rocky massifs and unusually shaped stone ridges were usually called devilish settlements. Obviously, people, not knowing the true geological reasons, attributed their construction to evil spirits.

History of appearance

How did the Permian Stone Town actually arise?

Scientists have established that 350 - 300 million years ago there was a delta in this place major river. Its mighty streams brought with them large masses of sand, which eventually turned into powerful sandstone deposits. Later, as a result of the movement of tectonic plates that caused the formation Ural mountains, the territory of the future Stone Town turned out to be raised high above sea level and began to undergo weathering.

Quartz sandstone of the Stone Town. The brown color is due to the admixture of iron hydroxides.

Over long millions of years, water, wind, temperature changes and chemical processes have deepened and expanded the cracks in the rock that appeared during the tectonic uplift. This led to the appearance of the current "streets" and "lanes", the width of which is this moment can reach eight, and the depth - twelve meters. In other words, from a scientific point of view, the Permian Stone City is an accumulation of weathering remnants composed of fine-grained quartz sandstones.

Road to Stone Town

Given today's great popularity of the Stone Town, it is hard to believe that it is not even mentioned in the old guidebooks around the Kama region. Nevertheless, this is true - the rush demand for the Gremyachinsky remnants appeared among Perm travel lovers only in the last one and a half to two decades, and before that, due to poor transport accessibility were practically unknown to the mass tourist.

Fortunately, the situation has changed since then, and today Stone Town can be easily reached by car. The general route is as follows: first, the road to Usva (188 kilometers from Perm, 383 from Yekaterinburg), then about two more kilometers along the highway towards Kizel. Then turn right to the villages of Shumikhinsky and Yubileiny and five kilometers along the forest dirt road to the car park. Further, turning to the left from the road, about one and a half kilometer long march along a well-marked path and among the trees the first remnants of the Stone Town will begin to be seen.

At the top of the Rudyansky spoy

Since the Stone Town is located near the main peak of the Rudyansky spoy mountain range (526 meters above sea level), the path from the dirt road to the remains goes up a small slope. The ridge begins on the outskirts of the village of Usva and stretches 19 kilometers north to the city of Gubakha. It is named Rudyansky because of the Rudyanka river flowing in its southern part, in the basin of which at the beginning of the 19th century they mined iron ore. Spoils in the Perm Territory used to be called forest-covered long mountain ranges without pronounced peaks.

Rocky outlier Turtle - main character Perm Stone Town.

The stone city (not counting the numerous single stones scattered around it) is divided into two unequal parts. The first rock outcrops that tourists go to belong to the so-called Big City. It is in it that the two largest local remnants rise - the Big and Small Turtles, because of which the Devil's Settlement changed its name in the 1950s.

The smaller of these remnants, due to its similarity in shape to a perched bird, is today better known to tourists as the Feathered Guardian. The larger one, accordingly, is now more commonly referred to simply as the Turtle. Between him and the Feathered Guard there is a vast and almost horizontal platform - the so-called Square. Tourists get to it along the Prospekt - the widest (up to four meters) and the longest crack in the Stone Town. The almost sheer walls of the Prospect in places reach eight meters in height.

The feathered guardian, as well as the Turtle seen behind him, often becomes the object of annual rock climbing competitions held in the Stone City between rescuers of the Ministry of Emergencies, mountain tourists and speleologists of the Perm region.

To the right and to the left of the Prospect narrow cracks-streets depart. One of them (the one that goes around the Turtle) has the highest - up to 12 meters - walls in the city. On the other two, you can climb above the rocky massif and from there in all its glory you can see both the Stone Guard and the Turtle in front of you.

About 150 meters north of the Bolshoy is the Small Town. Despite a much smaller area compared to its neighbor, it is also very interesting and picturesque. Its main "street", for example, is even more spectacular than the Prospect described above. In addition, there is a curious stone ridge with a through hole in the base. The only problem is that there is no clear path to the Small Town, and it is not always easy to find.

You can come to Stone Town at any time of the year, but it is especially beautiful here on sunny autumn days. At this time, you can wander endlessly through its streets immersed in bright colors. That is why at the end of August and at the beginning of autumn in the Stone Town there is the largest influx of visitors.

However, many tourists come here in winter, when both the remnants themselves and the trees growing right on them are effectively covered with snow-white caps of snowdrifts. Therefore, going to Stone Town in winter months, do not be afraid that the local paths will be impassable due to deep snow. They will certainly be well trodden by groups of previous visitors.

Stone Town is located immediately to the west of the main peak of the Rudyansky spoy ridge. From here, unforgettable views of the boundless ocean of the Ural taiga open up.

Before visiting the Stone Town, you need to stock up on water, as there are no large water sources in it. Also, since since 2008 this landscape natural monument of regional significance has received the status of a specially protected natural area, certain rules of conduct should be followed.

Firstly, it is possible to make fires in the Stone Town only in specially equipped places, using only dead wood and deadwood for this (it is forbidden to cut down living trees and shrubs). Secondly, you can not litter and leave unextinguished fires behind. Thirdly, it is forbidden to disturb animals and make inscriptions on rocks, stones and trees. Violation of these rules threatens with a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles.

Stone Town is not the only natural attraction in the vicinity of Usva village. Not far from it is, for example, such a "flagship" of the tourism industry in the Perm Territory as the Usva Pillars - a huge and extremely photogenic stone ridge with a picturesque remnant of the Devil's Finger. Rafting on the Usva River is also very popular among Permians.

In general, the remnants of weathering, similar to the Stone City, associated with the selective destruction of mountain ranges, are one of the most spectacular geomorphological objects of the Kama region. There are especially many of them on the flat peaks of the Northern Urals, such as the Chuvalsky stone, Kuryksar, Larch ridges and on the Kvarkush plateau.

On January 17, 2001, by decree of President Bill Clinton, the rock-tents of Kasha-Katuwe received the status of a national monument of the United States. Not too well known before to the general public, they have since managed to gain considerable popularity. Today at this beautiful place with an area of ​​​​almost 22 km 2 in the north of New Mexico, a constant stream of tourists stretches.

Having lost a solid top, the rocks-tents begin to quickly (by geological standards) collapse.

The purpose of creating the Kasha-Katuwe Rocks-Tents National Monument was to protect its geological, landscape and cultural riches. The current conservation status ensures that more than one generation of travelers will be able to see the local beauties, but the objects found here cultural heritage will not be destroyed.

Since many archaeological finds of the monument belong to the ancestors of the Indians still living on these lands, the "Crags-tents of Kasha-Katuwe" are under the supervision of not only the Bureau of Land Management of the US Department of the Interior, but also the tribal administration of the village of Pueblo de Cochiti ("the capital" of a small local reservations). Its head is even endowed with the right to close the monument for tourists at its own discretion.

Opening hours of the Kasha-Katuwe Rock-Tent National Monument depend on the season. From November 1 to March 10, it is open from 8:00 to 17:00, and from March 11 to October 31, from 7:00 to 19:00. Visitors are closed one hour before closing time. Days off - every fourth Thursday of November (Thanksgiving Day), December 24 - 25 and January 1; on Easter, the monument is open from 13:00.

Since there is no public transport to Kas-Katuwe, you can only get here by private car or tourist bus. The distance from the city of Santa Fe to the monument is approximately 56 kilometers, from Albuquerque - about 84.

Eight kilometers from the rock tents, the road passes through Pueblo de Cochiti, a small Indian village with a population of just over half a thousand inhabitants. There is a store and a gas station, and there is a strict ban on photography and filming (and even freehand sketching!), as this is contrary to the traditions of the local Native Americans.

At the entrance to the monument there is parking, equipped with picnic tables and toilets. Entrance to the territory costs $ 5 per car.

For tourists in Kasha-Katuva, two hiking trails have been laid. The first is the ring road, stretches for 1.9 kilometers, is considered simple and accessible to wheelchair users. After passing the first 800 meters along it, you can turn onto the second, more difficult route 1.6 kilometers long, which runs through a small picturesque gorge and then leads to the top of a 192-meter hill. From it open great views to the mountains of Sangre de Cristo, Jemes and Sandia, as well as to the valley of the Rio Grande.

The gorge (proudly called a canyon in the National Monument) is so narrow that in many places you can touch both walls at the same time.

While in the monument, visitors are prohibited from setting up tents and staying overnight. It is also forbidden to enter its territory with dogs, alcohol and glass containers, make fires here, shoot and collect any plants and stones. In particular, you can’t take with you the so-called “Apache tears” - beautiful rounded pieces of obsidian (translucent brown-black volcanic glass), which are often found here.

Finally, the most important rule is the requirement to always stay on the hiking trails and in no case try to climb the local remains and rocks. This is not only dangerous for visitors, but also leads to the destruction of the local unique geological formations.

And lastly, it is important to remember that there is no drinking water on the territory of the Kasha-Katuwe Rocks-Tents National Monument, and therefore it must be taken with you.

Stone City one of the main natural sights of the Perm region. Another name for these rocks is Devil's Settlement. The locals usually call them Turtles.

Description

This is a truly unique monument of nature, located on one of the peaks Ridge Rudyansky Spoy(526 meters above sea level). Moreover, this place gained wide popularity relatively recently - less than two decades ago. Since then, the flow of tourists here has been growing every year. Even travel agencies arrange regular weekend tours here.

Stone City famous for its bizarre remnant rocks, for which this place got its name. The rocks are composed of fine-grained quartz sandstone. The rock mass is cut by numerous deep cracks (up to 8-12 meters). The width of the cracks is from 1 to 8 meters. Due to this, in their outlines, the rocks and cracks in them are very reminiscent of the houses and streets of an old, abandoned city.

The remains have their own names - Turtle(she really bears a striking resemblance to a tortoise), Feathered Guardian etc.

In the center - a stone Turtle

There are also names for cracks - "streets". The biggest street Avenue. The length of the "streets" reaches 80 meters. There is also one here Square.

Tourists also share Stone City on the Large and Small which differ in their size. On these rocks it is good and beautiful at any time of the year: even in summer, even in winter.

Scientists believe that this miracle of nature was formed thanks to the ancient river that once flowed here. But keep in mind that on Stone City There are no water sources, so you will have to bring water with you.

Weekend itinerary

Close to Stone City there are many other attractions that can also be visited as part of this exciting route weekend: numerous rocks on, caves, abandoned coal mines in and much more.

How to get there?

get to Stone Town (Devil's Settlement) of the Perm Territory very simple. By car through Chusovoy, Gremyachinsk, Usva. turn on Stone City located behind the kilometer post of the 4th km of the Usva road -

Stone Town is one of the best sights of the Perm Territory, leaving tourists with a lot of unforgettable impressions and photos for memory. This landscape monument of nature occupies an area of ​​more than 30 hectares and is composed of a whole complex of remnants of various sizes. The unique arrangement of stones creates a picture of a real settlement, with streets, avenues and squares.

The history of the Stone Town

The landscape attraction Stone Town, or, as the locals call it, "Devil's Settlement", is the result of the impact of time and nature on local rocks, consisting of quartz sandstone. It is located on one of mountain peaks the Rudyansky Spoy ridge and was subject to the action of a glacier, wind and water, which created cracks 8 to 12 meters deep in the rock massif.

Rudyansky Spoy and was exposed to the action of the glacier, wind and water

Despite the fact that scientists associate the creation of the Stone Town with the influence of the river that once flowed here, the locals have formed their own legendary version of the origin of this place.
It is believed that in the past there was a present blooming city, whose inhabitants were distinguished by kindness and justice. Only the local ruler was unhappy, because his only daughter could not see all the beauty surrounding her - she was blind. But one day an evil wizard appeared to the king, promising to give the child sight, and, of course, the loving father agreed. However, at the moment of healing the princess, the sorcerer turned the beautiful settlement into stone, leaving the girl to admire only the boulders.

Excursions to Stone Town (Perm Territory)

Perm travel agencies often organize weekend tours to one of the main landscape natural monuments of the Kama region. The cost of such an excursion is approximately 1500 rubles and it includes a visit to the Stone Town, the Yermak Museum and the Chusovsky ethnopark.
In addition to the usual excursions, the rocks of the Stone Town attract the attention of professional climbers. This place annually hosts competitions between local speleologists and professional rescuers.
Every summer, a unique festival with a theatrical performance of "Secrets of the Cross Mountain" is held in the Devil's Hillfort. The scenery for the actors are local rocks and boulders.

Festival "Secrets of the Cross Mountain"

The sights of the Stone Town are gaining more and more popularity among tourists every year. This is facilitated by both the convenient location of this natural monument and the possibility of visiting it for free.

Sights of the Stone Town

The main attractions of the Devil's Settlement are various bizarre blocks that form city blocks and local residents. In total, there are several stone “idols” on the territory of the settlement: the Feathered Guardian, the Seal, the Turtles, the Rat.

Stone Idol Turtle

In addition, the human imagination draws bizarre architectural forms in this place: arches, gates, houses.
The entire territory of this landscape natural monument is conditionally divided into two parts - the Big and Small cities.
AT big city you will find the two largest remnants, called the Little and Big Turtles because of their resemblance to these animals, as well as the main avenue - a huge crevice with eight-meter walls.
small city located 200 meters from his big brother. Finding it is quite difficult, since only one inconspicuous path leads to it. This corner consists of 4 outliers, the most interesting of which are Proschelok and Leaky Stone.
In the vicinity of the Stone Town there are several other natural attractions, the visit of which is often combined with a trip to this place:

• ethnographic park of the Chusovaya river;
• dry log caves;
• Usva pillars.

Usva pillars

Did you know? Like many sights of the Perm region, Stone Town is especially beautiful in winter. At this time of the year, its snow-capped peaks look like the houses of a fairy-tale kingdom.

How to get there

By car:

How to get there by car

The easiest way to get to the Devil's Settlement is by private car.

• Leaving Perm, you will drive about 200 kilometers along the Perm-Kizel highway.
• Passing the village Usva, continue driving for another 1 kilometer.
• Then turn in the direction of the village of Yubileiny and move another 5 kilometers until you see the sign "Stone City".
• Near the turn to the Devil's Settlement, you will have to leave the car in the parking lot and walk about one kilometer along the path.

By public transport:

You can get to the Stone Town:

• On buses following the route Perm - Kizel or Perm - Gubakha. Stop village Usva.
• By train from Perm, having made a change in Chusovoy to the village of Usva.

How to get there by public transport

Travel on public transport complicated by the fact that from Usva you will have to walk about 1 km along the Kizelskaya highway, then turn towards the village of Yubileyny and walk another 5 km, and then turn towards Stone Town and continue moving for another 1 km.
You can save energy by reaching the turn to Stone Town by minibus Usva - Yubileyny village. But she goes only once a day at 14.00 and returns only early in the morning.

Important! When visiting the Stone Town, take care of comfortable shoes. There is no access to this attraction, and you will have to get there on foot.

Video review of the Stone Town in the Perm Territory

Stone Town in the Perm Territory will certainly appeal to fans . And after watching a video specially selected for you by us, you can make sure that it is a rather interesting place.

Perhaps our readers have already visited Stone Town? Be sure to share your impressions in the comments!

Stone Town - amazing rock outcrops located on the territory of the Perm Territory, built by nature in the form of large and small streets, squares and intersections, two-level transitions between monolithic houses.

The stone city is located on the top of the Rudyansky spy ridge of the Ural Mountains. Currently, the rocks are classified as a landscape geomorphological natural monument of the Perm Territory.

It is believed that once upon a time, millions of years ago, a river flowed on the territory of the city, from year to year making its way among impregnable stone monoliths. Over time, the mountains rose higher, and the river continued to make its way, building entire streets and intersections among the stone massifs, building labyrinths of roads. Centuries later, the river finished its work, and its waters weakened until they dried up completely.

The sun, wind and rain waters completed their work, and the Stone City appeared before us in all its glory. A city that has real straight streets, smooth, as if polished intersections, small cozy squares, and even two-level passages - bridges between stone houses.

There is a beautiful, but very sad legend about the origin of the city.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, this place was built amazingly beautiful city. The fame of the city, its intelligent and hard-working inhabitants, of the kind and just king, spread for thousands of miles around. Two giant turtles guarded the peace of the city from any misfortune. But, to the great grief of the king, the only daughter of the king could not see the beauty that the inhabitants of the city created with their work. The girl was blind from birth, and no one, even the most skillful doctor, could cure her illness.

Then the good king prayed, promised to give everything for the recovery of his daughter. A sorcerer came to the rescue, offering to cure a young girl. But the evil sorcerer deceived the king. The price that had to be paid for the recovery of her daughter turned out to be terrible - as soon as the girl began to see, the city with all its inhabitants turned into stone...

Stone remains are interesting not only for their straight-lined streets and crossroads. You can easily go upstairs, from where you can see a great view of the whole city and the surrounding forest.

It does not leave the feeling that we are walking through a fabulous ancient stone labyrinth. The feeling of fabulousness is also added by stone figures in the form of huge turtles, frozen thousands of years ago, and the unusual coloring of some of the remains, beautifully playing in the sun, and even trees growing in a bizarre shape.

Perm Stone Town is a place actively visited by tourists. A trip to the Stone Town will be interesting for both children and adults, the best time to visit summer and autumn.

How to get to Stone Town, GPS coordinates:

Stone City coordinates: N 58º43,307´; E 57º37.997'.

The route is designed for standard cars. The exception is a small section, about one and a half kilometers, from the Usva-Shumikhinsky road to the rocks.

From the city of Yekaterinburg we leave towards the city of Serov. Moving along the highway, having passed the city of Verkhnyaya Tura, following the signs we go towards the city of Chusovoi, Perm Territory, focusing on the village of Promysla.

We are passing Promysla - Gremyachinsk - pos. Usva. Having passed the village Usva, follow the signs to turn right, towards the village. Shumikhinsky.

The distance from Yekaterinburg is about 385 km.

From the city of Perm we leave in the direction of the city of Chusovoy - the city of Gremyachinsk - the village. Usva. Having passed the village Usva, follow the signs to turn right, towards the village. Shumikhinsky.

Approximately in the middle of the road between the villages of Usva and Shumikhinsky, we are looking for a left turn towards Stone Town. There is a sign on the road.

Stone City- one of the main attractions of the Perm region. It is located at a distance of 6 kilometers from the village of Usva. Another name for these rocks is Devil's Settlement. The locals usually call them Turtles.

Once, millions of years ago, the waters of the Perm Sea splashed here, which, retreating, left behind an amazing phenomenon - a spur of the Ural Ridge.

If you believe legend, then once upon a time, a rich city stood here - beautiful people lived in it, built beautiful houses and performed beautiful deeds. And everything would be fine, but only the ruler of the city could not rejoice at all this - his daughter was blind and could not see in what a wonderful place she lives ... Once the ruler turned to the sorcerer to ask him to return his daughter's sight. The sorcerer agreed, but with only one condition - the city would be turned to stone. The ruler agreed to everything, and the magician kept his word. But instead of the city, the girl saw boulders ...

Who built the Devil's Settlement?

stone city is a purely natural creation. But it looks like it was built by someone on purpose. There is also a gate with arches, and a large central square, spacious avenues and narrow lanes, there are also dead ends. The devil's settlement is famous for its unusually shaped remnant rocks. Scientists suggest that such bizarre forms appeared under the influence of the fast waters of a mountain river that flowed here several million years ago. And then the mountains rose higher, forming the Rudyansky Spoy range, and the river disappeared.

Landscapes of the Stone Town.

The rocks are composed of fine-grained quartz sandstone. The rock mass is cut by numerous deep cracks (up to 8-12 meters). The width of the cracks is from 1 to 8 meters. Due to this, in their outlines, the rocks and cracks in them are very reminiscent of the houses and streets of an old, abandoned city.

The giant stone reserve is conditionally divided into Large andsmall town . It has its own streets (and even an avenue - the largest crack between rocks with sheer walls 8 meters high). In the Big City there are two of the highest remnants, called, due to their resemblance to animals in shape, Large andSmall Turtles .

Turtles of the Stone City.

Numerous streets, paths, lanes and dead ends of the city are addictive, like a huge labyrinth from which there is no desire to get out. For those who dare to climb one of the peaks, an amazing view of the surrounding territories opens up. It is very beautiful here on sunny autumn days, when the forest and the field around are covered with gold and from the height of the rocks a person feels like a real crown of nature.

Stone Town is popular with rock climbers - every year there are competitions between employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and local speleologists. The number of tourists visiting this amazing monument is constantly growing - and there is a simple explanation for this, hidden in the incredible beauty and originality of this amazing place.

At any time of the year, you can come to Stone Town and spend the night in a tent. The most significant inconvenience is the complete lack of water. You have to take it with you.

Rock climbers.

How to get there

By car:

About 200 km: along the Perm-Kizel highway past the village of Usva for about 1 km, then turn to the village of Yubileyny and another 5 km before turning right at the sign "Stone Town". We leave the car near the turn and walk about 1 km along the path. There will be many paths, but they all lead to Stone Town.

By public transport:

By bus Perm-Gubakha or Perm-Kizel, or by train from Perm with a change in Chusovaya to Usva. From Usva, walk 1 km along the Kizelskaya highway, turn to Yubileinye and another 5 km, and then turn to Stone Town and another 1 km.

You can get to the turn to Chertovo Gorodishche by minibus Usva - pos. Anniversary, she walks once a day at about 14.00. But back all the same on foot, or on a ride to Usva. Because this minibus returns early in the morning.

• Near the Stone Town there are many other sights that you can also visit: numerous rocks on the Usva River, Usva pillars, caves, abandoned coal mines in Usva and much more. Come, it's worth seeing!

• 25 September, 2015