Power places: the Lena Pillars
Yakutia is actively developing ecotourism. The Lena Pillars are among the main attractions of the region, they are formed about 400,000 years ago from the so-called Cambrian limestone. Similar limestones dating back to the Cambrian period were first discovered in Cambria in modern British Wales, and they were described and called after this place.
Lena Pillars, a forty-kilometre line of sheer cliffs up to two hundred and twenty metres high, stretching along the right bank of the Lena River, are located about two hundred kilometres from Yakutsk and one hundred kilometres from the town of Pokrovsk.
The outlines of the Lena Pillars - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - resemble ancient castles, magical palaces, and even medieval towns. Locals call them a ‘power place’ because everyone who comes here feels like touching some mystery, feels the power of nature and the strength of the spirit. The Lena Pillars are especially beautiful because they are located on the banks of a large Siberian river and are reflected in its waters as if rising even higher into the sky.
You can get acquainted with this miracle of nature by taking a river trip by boat or small steamer from Yakutsk along the Lena River. However, when people see the Lena Pillars, many of them want to stay here for at least a few more days. Moreover, at different times of the day and depending on the weather, the Lena Pillars look even more intricate and bizarre.
River rafting and more
Today, the Lena Pillars are part of the National Park stretching over 500 thousand hectares where a wide variety of routes for ecotourists have been laid.
Travellers can take a closer look at the rocks and climb up them to enjoy stunning views, as well as take walks both along the green part of the Reserve (many of the Reserve’s flora and fauna are in the Red List of Threatened Species) and along the Turkulan - real sand dunes. Rafting down the Lena River is an amazing experience because on the banks of the Sinyaya River flowing into the Lena River, there are also smaller, but no less beautiful rocky formations, the Sinsky Pillars.
A visit to the National Park is all the more interesting because scientists have found traces of the ancient encampments there, the ancient tools and rock paintings, as well as the remains of mammoths, ancient bison and rhinos. These finds may indicate that the territory of Yakutia is one of the cradlelands of the human civilization. You can get acquainted with these unusual finds at the museums of Yakutsk.
Where to stay overnight?
A walking route goes to the Sinsky Pillars where an ancient encampment was found and now, there are campsites and hunting lodges offered to tourists. And those who prefer more comfortable conditions can stay at the modern Lena Pillars campsite on the banks of the Lena River, right opposite the natural attraction.
This is the first complex of this level built in 2021. And it is the first major object of tourist infrastructure that meets all the modern requirements, it is part of the ‘Lena’ tourist and recreational cluster. It was built to make Yakutia one of the promising ecotourism destinations in the country and to attract Russian and foreign tourists.
It is curious that unusual eco-architectural solutions are implemented in the project. For example, the ‘Panorama’ building was constructed using former shipping containers and it has huge panoramic windows. And the domed houses ‘Constellation’ also help enjoy a view of the endless starry sky.
The tours in the National Park, river walks, hiking trails and cycling routes start from here. After all, most tourists come here to enjoy harmony, to be alone with nature, to absorb the energy and strength of these places. And also - to participate in the rite of worshiping the spirits - their support will be useful if you are hiking or rafting down a rapid river.
Interesting facts
• Yakutia is the largest region of the Russian Federation with the area of more than three million square kilometres.
• The length of the Lena River that originates near Lake Baikal and flows into the Arctic Ocean is 4,400 km. This is one of the longest rivers in the world.
• In Yakutia, completely located in the permafrost zone, there is a ‘cold pole’, where the lowest temperature drops down to almost minus 70 degrees Celsius.
• Frost is one of the Yakutia’s main ‘attractions’. Tourists come in winter to experience unusual weather, as well as admire the ice and snow sculptures, the competition of the ice and snow sculptures is held here at a temperature of minus 45 degrees Celsius.
• If you pour out a mug of boiling water in a frosty day at a 50oC, the water instantly turns into millions of small ice particles sparkling in the air and forming a beautiful plume. The locals call it ‘the Yakut salute’.
• Contrary to expectations, the summer in Yakutia is hot and good for hiking and river rafting. The difference between winter and summer temperatures is about 100 degrees Celsius.
• In Yakutia, you can enjoy not only the polar lights, Aurora Borealis, but also ‘white’ nights. And the capital of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) strikes first-time visitors when they see that all the houses here are built on piles: the city seems to be floating above the ground.
• Every forth diamond in the world is mined in Yakutia. Every year, the Diamond Week is held in Yakutsk where anyone can buy diamonds and also watch how a rough diamond is cut and polished to become a polished diamond, as well as to watch how jewellery masterpieces are made.
• Among the local delicacies are very thin slices of white fish like chir/broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus), omul/Arctic cisco (Coregonus autumnalis), muksun/whitefish (Coregonus muksun), nelma/white salmon (Stenodus leucichthys). The slices of raw frozen fish are served cold. A very thin slice slowly melts in the mouth and tourists can enjoy a really natural taste. The slices of frozen raw horse meat are served cold, too, and many dishes are cooked from horse meat.
Photos courtesy of the Agency for Investment Promotion and Export Support of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
