"The Force of Nature"

Tourist sites of the Orenburg region:

The "Andreevsky Cones" nature Monument

This chain of five hills was called cones because of their shape, and Andreevsky – in honor of the nearby village of Andreevka, famous for its monastery and truly amazing nature. The hills are not particularly high – from 160 to 210 meters above the floodplain of the Uskalyk River, so it is not very difficult to climb here. It is much more difficult to descend – the height may be small, but the slope is quite noticeable.

The Andreevsky cones are a geological, geomorphological, landscape and botanical monument of nature. In addition to the amazing beauty and uniqueness of the rocks from which the hills are composed, they are also rich in vegetation listed in the Red Books of Russia and the Orenburg region.
At the top of one of the hills there is a chapel in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. At the foot of the mountain on the other side of the village is the Andreevsky spring with a beautiful gazebo and convenient access to the water. And from the village there is an excellent path leading up to the mountain, serpentine rising to the top, benches for relaxation are installed at some turns.

Kamennaya Mountain and Kamennoe Lake

When it comes to Kamenny Lake and the mountain of the same name, it's not enough to say – this is a beautiful place. A picturesque lake splashes at the foot of a ninety-meter mountain, and from the top there is a stunning panorama of the Saraktash district. The largest outcrops of the Upper Permian red-colored sandstones can be seen on Kamennaya Mountain. The reservoir is a typical floodplain lake of the upland type. Its length is about 700 meters, its width does not exceed 50 meters, and its depth reaches 5.5 meters. At the foot of the mountain, numerous springs flow directly into the lake. Three of them – two with salt water and one with fresh water – are the most popular. Locals believe that salty springs, like the water of Lake Razval in Sol-Iletsk, heal skin ailments. Supposedly, if you sprinkle salt water on wounds, they will begin to heal at an incredible rate.

"Orenburg" State Nature Reserve
Przewalski Horse Reintroduction Center

It is the last large natural area in Russia that has not been plowed, typical grassland steppe, which is beautiful at any time of the year. In May, you will be able to admire the blooming of Schrenk tulips. Since 2015, a program for the conservation of Przhevalsky's horse in Russia has been implemented on the territory of the "Orenburg" State Nature Reserve. This is one of three places in Russia where you can see wild Przhevalsky horses in their natural habitat.

Przewalski's horse is the last wild horse on Earth, according to some reports, to survive the Ice Age! This “child of the steppe” is distinguished by a rare wayward character and wild beauty. More recently, the animals were on the verge of extinction, so now they are listed in the Red Book of Russia.
Reserve website:https://orenzap.ru/

"Salt Lakes" resort

This is the oldest resort in the Urals, specializing in water and mud treatment. Millions of people travel to the small Orenburg town of Sol-Iletsk to swim in the salty waters, inhale the hot steppe air, attend procedures at a local health resort, and improve their health. The resort consists of a complex of 7 lakes, varying in composition and properties. The most important advantage of Salt and Iletsk waters is not their warmth and density, but the healing properties of high concentrations of minerals, including bromine, chlorine, iron and boric acid. According to their characteristics and therapeutic effect, the waters of the lakes are comparable to the waters of the Dead Sea.

The benefits of bathing in salty waters have been known since the ancient world – both Hippocrates and Avicenna wrote about it. Lake salts and mud have a powerful antiseptic and regenerating effect, purify the skin and mucous membranes, enhance cell viability and nourish them. Throughout history, salt and mud have been used to strengthen the bone and nervous system, enhance immunity, treat osteochondrosis, rheumatism, and many gynecological, skin, and respiratory diseases.

The shores of the Sol-Iletsk lakes are also suitable for "pebble massage" — walking on small, smooth, sun-warmed stones. This procedure stimulates blood supply, and is especially recommended for people suffering from epileptic seizures and bronchial asthma.

"Kazachy Kuren" Museum Complex

The ethnographic complex "Cossack Kuren", where they tell about the history of the origin of the local Cossacks and their traditions. It is located in the village of Grigoryevka, on the picturesque bank of the Kurala River. It includes several buildings: residential buildings, barns, and a stable.

Here you will plunge into the atmosphere of the Cossacks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Interactive programs, horse-drawn sledding, boating, relaxing on the banks of a clear river with water lilies, fishing, and photos in Cossack costumes are at your service. You will be offered dishes of Cossack cuisine cooked on the stove, and fragrant tea from a samovar with steppe herbs will cheer up and lift your mood.

Tourist sites of the Republic of Bashkortostan:

"Muradymov Gorge" Nature Park

There are 46 caves on the territory with diverse morphology, sediments, hydrology, microclimate and wildlife. The most famous caves of "Muradymov Gorge" nature Park are: Golubinaya (Golubiniy Grotto), Staromuradymovskaya and Novomuradymovskaya caves, which are the longest and richest cave in the park.

In addition to the caves, you can climb the hills of the park, from where you can enjoy enchanting views of the gorge. The Ik River flows through the park, and there are tent camps and guest houses for travelers.

Nugush reservoir

Lake Nugush is a large reservoir created artificially at the lower reaches of the Nugush River in the "Bashkiria" National Park. Sometimes it is called"the sea of three cities." For decades, the reservoir has been one of the most popular vacation spots in Bashkiria, and not only residents of the republic, but also neighboring regions come here. Numerous recreation centers, rental cabins and children's camps are located on its shores. On hot summer days, the waters of Nugush warm up well, you can swim and ride water attractions here.

Toratau – shihan, the sacred mountain of Bashkirs

Since ancient times, Toratau has been considered a sacred place, a sanctuary. Local residents have preserved traditions that holy seers and religious servants are buried on Mount Toratau and its spurs, in whose memory pilgrimages to graves and collective prayers were made. Shihans are called lonely mountains with a gentle slope. Toratau is translated from Bashkir as "fortress-mountain".

Toratau is one of the oldest mountains on Earth, it is about 285 million years old. To this day, fossils with prints of ancient flora and fauna can still be found on the mountain. There is a well-maintained staircase leading to Toratau, parking and a visitor center near the mountain.

"Voskresenskiy Zavod" Art Center, village of Voskresenskoye

One of the striking sights of Bashkiria, leading its history since the end of the XVIII century. The Voskresensky Copper Smelter, which opened in 1745 and operated until 1902, is located here. This is not the only historical site in the village. Next to the factory was the Church of the Resurrection of the Living, built in 1768 and almost completely destroyed in 1924. The complex of the factory and the church (or rather, what remains of them) is recognized as a monument of urban planning and architecture of federal significance.

In 2020, the cultural and tourist public space project "Art Center Voskresenskiy Zavod", developed by the Institute for Urban Development of Bashkortostan, the Moscow Center for Urban Studies, together with the administration and residents of the village of Voskresenskoye, became the winner of the All-Russian Competition for the creation of the best projects for a comfortable urban environment in small towns and historical settlements, having received federal funding.

Krasnousolsky village, mineral springs

These are some of the most famous mineral springs in Bashkortostan. In a picturesque place, on both banks of the Usolki river, there are more than a hundred springs with mineral water. There is also silt mud containing useful micro- and macronutrients. The healing properties of the springs have been known for more than two centuries and then they were already considered holy. One of them is now dominated by a beautiful Orthodox church, under which there is a grotto in the rock, where a copy of the Tabyn Icon of the Mother of God is kept. Baptismal fonts with healing water are visited all year round.

When visiting Krasnousolsky mineral springs for a single day, you can stay in tents on the banks of the Usolka River, or rent a room or a house from local residents.

There are more than 40 gas stations throughout the tour.https://orenburg.bashneft-azs.ru/network_azs/

"Bashneft" (part of the "Rosneft" gas station network), which allows motorists not only to fill up with high-quality fuel, but also to have a snack on the road, to receive other goods and services.