Welcome to 'granite town': The bizarre 65ft-tall rock formations just discovered in Siberia (they haven’t even been reviewed on TripAdvisor yet!)
By Harriet Mallinson For Mailonline
Published: 05:48 EST, 5 September 2016 | Updated: 07:03 EST, 5 September 2016
The rocks tower up above the ground, jostling together like granite skyscrapers as they keep watch over the vast Siberian landscape.
These breathtaking images are among the first ever taken of the unusual rock formations in the Ulakhan-Sis mountain range - a natural wonder as yet undiscovered by the tourist market.
No hint of the impressive scenery can be found on TripAdvisor or booking.com, but now, thanks to two photographers, the magical destination above the Arctic circle can finally be put on the map.
+17
These breathtaking images are among the first ever taken of the unusual rock formations in the Ulakhan-Sis mountain range - a natural wonder as yet undiscovered by the tourist market
+17
No hint of the impressive scenery can be found on TripAdvisor or booking.com, but now, thanks to two photographers, the magical destination above the Arctic circle can finally be put on the map
The rocks were first snapped by biologist and photographer Alexander Krivoshapkin as he flew overhead in a helicopter whilst counting wild reindeer herds around Ulakhan-Sis in the north-east of Siberia, the Siberian Times reported.
His images are believed to be the first ever taken of the structures, known as Sundrun Pillars.
Inspired by the striking images, noted wildlife photographer Sergey Karpukhin from Moscow decided to visit the site himself, financed by crowdfunding.
Karpukhin said of Krivoshapkin's original images: 'Right in the middle of the bare tundra were buttes some 10 to 20m high [up to 65ft], standing in groups and alone, like some warriors on a march, who were suddenly petrified with malicious intent of a local shaman centuries ago or like the ruins of an ancient city, which was inhabited by a hitherto unknown people.
'At the time, Alexander could only take some pictures through the porthole. It was not a photographic expedition, but only for aerial counting. When I saw these these pictures, I was fascinated.'
Karpukhin continued in a blog post about the 'granite civilisation' he visited: 'Many heard about my project called Unknown Landscapes of the Planet - Yakutia.
+17
The rocks were first snapped by biologist and photographer Alexander Krivoshapkin as he flew overhead in a helicopter whilst counting wild reindeer herds around Ulakhan-Sis in the north-east of Siberia
+17
Inspired by the striking images, noted wildlife photographer Sergey Karpukhin from Moscow decided to visit the site himself, financed by crowdfunding
+17
Karpukhin described the buttes as 'like some warriors on a march, who were suddenly petrified with malicious intent of a local shaman centuries ago'
+17
'At the time, Alexander could only take some pictures through the porthole. It was not a photographic expedition, but only for aerial counting. When I saw these these pictures, I was fascinated'
+17
'What I saw was way above my most optimistic expectations,' Karpukhin said. 'It was something unbelievable. It was a true wonder of nature'
+17
'There are buttes which we named that were like granite towns and there were some that had such clearly defined and pronounced structure that you didn't need fantasy to help you complete the image,' Karpukhin said
+17
The towering rock formations dwarf humans in their impressive size and have been likened to Easter Island
+17
The strange formations aren't exactly on the tourist trail - they're in one of the most remote areas of the world
'We have been to an expedition to one of the most inaccessible and practically unknown areas of Yakutia, the mountain ridge of Ulakhan-Sis.
'The expedition was partially crowdfunded. So does this butte landscape in the western part of Ulakhan-Sis in the polar area of the Indigirka River basin really exist?
'Yes it does - and it is stunning! I might sound too excited, but I cannot find less emotional words.
'What I saw was way above my most optimistic expectations. It was something unbelievable. It was a true wonder of nature.
'There are buttes which we named that were like granite towns, and there were some that had such clearly defined and pronounced structure that you didn't need fantasy to help you complete the image.
'My education gives me a clear understanding of how exactly this landscape form appeared (geologically), yet even this did not stop me feeling as if this wonder was hand-made.
+17
'We have been to an expedition to one of the most inaccessible and practically unknown areas of Yakutia, the mountain ridge of Ulakhan-Sis,' Karpukhin said
+17
'The expedition was partially crowdfunded. So does this butte landscape in the western part of Ulakhan-Sis in the polar area of the Indigirka River basin really exist? Yes it does - and it is stunning!'
+17
'I might sound too excited, but I cannot find less emotional words,' said the photographer who was overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the remote spot
+17
'My education gives me a clear understanding of how exactly this landscape form appeared (geologically), yet even this did not stop me feeling as if this wonder was hand-made,' Karpukhin continued
+17
The photographer enthused: 'I don't think this is an overstatement to say that this part of Ulakhan-Sis should become a part of the world landscape heritage, just like Cappadocia [in Turkey]'
+17
The stone sentries are known as 'kisilyakhi', in the local Yakut language from the word 'kisi' meaning man
+17
Karpukhin explained that even the locals know very little about the landscape but the shapes are believed to have been sculpted by relentless freezing and thawing of the granite and surrounding sandstone
'I don't think this is an overstatement to say that this part of Ulakhan-Sis should become a part of the world landscape heritage, just like Cappadocia [in Turkey].'
The stone sentries are known as 'kisilyakhi', in the local Yakut language from the word 'kisi' meaning man.
Karpukhin explained that even the locals know very little about the landscape. The shapes are believed to have been sculpted by relentless freezing and thawing of the granite and surrounding sandstone.
But the site many not be receiving hoards of eager tourists too soon as it's somewhat off the beaten track - nearly 2,000 miles north-east of the republic's capital Yakutsk, one of Russia's most secluded - and coldest - cities.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3774157/Welcome-granite-town-bizarre-65ft-tall-rock-formations-just-discovered-Siberia-haven-t-reviewed-TripAdvisor-yet.html#ixzz4LyA3UmHg
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3774157/Welcome-granite-town-bizarre-65ft-tall-rock-formations-just-discovered-Siberia-haven-t-reviewed-TripAdvisor-yet.html
- Unusual scenery was first spotted from a helicopter by biologist and photographer Alexander Krivoshapkin
- Moscow wildlife photographer Sergey Karpukhin was inspired to visit the site, financed by crowdfunding
- He took the first ever photographs of the rock towers, which reminded him of petrified 'warriors on march'
- The 10-20m high rocks are 2,000 miles away from one of Russia's most secluded - and coldest - cities
- It's believed freezing and thawing of the granite and sandstone erosion sculpted the 'granite town'
By Harriet Mallinson For Mailonline
Published: 05:48 EST, 5 September 2016 | Updated: 07:03 EST, 5 September 2016
The rocks tower up above the ground, jostling together like granite skyscrapers as they keep watch over the vast Siberian landscape.
These breathtaking images are among the first ever taken of the unusual rock formations in the Ulakhan-Sis mountain range - a natural wonder as yet undiscovered by the tourist market.
No hint of the impressive scenery can be found on TripAdvisor or booking.com, but now, thanks to two photographers, the magical destination above the Arctic circle can finally be put on the map.
+17
These breathtaking images are among the first ever taken of the unusual rock formations in the Ulakhan-Sis mountain range - a natural wonder as yet undiscovered by the tourist market
+17
No hint of the impressive scenery can be found on TripAdvisor or booking.com, but now, thanks to two photographers, the magical destination above the Arctic circle can finally be put on the map
The rocks were first snapped by biologist and photographer Alexander Krivoshapkin as he flew overhead in a helicopter whilst counting wild reindeer herds around Ulakhan-Sis in the north-east of Siberia, the Siberian Times reported.
His images are believed to be the first ever taken of the structures, known as Sundrun Pillars.
Inspired by the striking images, noted wildlife photographer Sergey Karpukhin from Moscow decided to visit the site himself, financed by crowdfunding.
Karpukhin said of Krivoshapkin's original images: 'Right in the middle of the bare tundra were buttes some 10 to 20m high [up to 65ft], standing in groups and alone, like some warriors on a march, who were suddenly petrified with malicious intent of a local shaman centuries ago or like the ruins of an ancient city, which was inhabited by a hitherto unknown people.
'At the time, Alexander could only take some pictures through the porthole. It was not a photographic expedition, but only for aerial counting. When I saw these these pictures, I was fascinated.'
Karpukhin continued in a blog post about the 'granite civilisation' he visited: 'Many heard about my project called Unknown Landscapes of the Planet - Yakutia.
+17
The rocks were first snapped by biologist and photographer Alexander Krivoshapkin as he flew overhead in a helicopter whilst counting wild reindeer herds around Ulakhan-Sis in the north-east of Siberia
+17
Inspired by the striking images, noted wildlife photographer Sergey Karpukhin from Moscow decided to visit the site himself, financed by crowdfunding
+17
Karpukhin described the buttes as 'like some warriors on a march, who were suddenly petrified with malicious intent of a local shaman centuries ago'
+17
'At the time, Alexander could only take some pictures through the porthole. It was not a photographic expedition, but only for aerial counting. When I saw these these pictures, I was fascinated'
+17
'What I saw was way above my most optimistic expectations,' Karpukhin said. 'It was something unbelievable. It was a true wonder of nature'
+17
'There are buttes which we named that were like granite towns and there were some that had such clearly defined and pronounced structure that you didn't need fantasy to help you complete the image,' Karpukhin said
+17
The towering rock formations dwarf humans in their impressive size and have been likened to Easter Island
+17
The strange formations aren't exactly on the tourist trail - they're in one of the most remote areas of the world
'We have been to an expedition to one of the most inaccessible and practically unknown areas of Yakutia, the mountain ridge of Ulakhan-Sis.
'The expedition was partially crowdfunded. So does this butte landscape in the western part of Ulakhan-Sis in the polar area of the Indigirka River basin really exist?
'Yes it does - and it is stunning! I might sound too excited, but I cannot find less emotional words.
'What I saw was way above my most optimistic expectations. It was something unbelievable. It was a true wonder of nature.
'There are buttes which we named that were like granite towns, and there were some that had such clearly defined and pronounced structure that you didn't need fantasy to help you complete the image.
'My education gives me a clear understanding of how exactly this landscape form appeared (geologically), yet even this did not stop me feeling as if this wonder was hand-made.
+17
'We have been to an expedition to one of the most inaccessible and practically unknown areas of Yakutia, the mountain ridge of Ulakhan-Sis,' Karpukhin said
+17
'The expedition was partially crowdfunded. So does this butte landscape in the western part of Ulakhan-Sis in the polar area of the Indigirka River basin really exist? Yes it does - and it is stunning!'
+17
'I might sound too excited, but I cannot find less emotional words,' said the photographer who was overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the remote spot
+17
'My education gives me a clear understanding of how exactly this landscape form appeared (geologically), yet even this did not stop me feeling as if this wonder was hand-made,' Karpukhin continued
+17
The photographer enthused: 'I don't think this is an overstatement to say that this part of Ulakhan-Sis should become a part of the world landscape heritage, just like Cappadocia [in Turkey]'
+17
The stone sentries are known as 'kisilyakhi', in the local Yakut language from the word 'kisi' meaning man
+17
Karpukhin explained that even the locals know very little about the landscape but the shapes are believed to have been sculpted by relentless freezing and thawing of the granite and surrounding sandstone
'I don't think this is an overstatement to say that this part of Ulakhan-Sis should become a part of the world landscape heritage, just like Cappadocia [in Turkey].'
The stone sentries are known as 'kisilyakhi', in the local Yakut language from the word 'kisi' meaning man.
Karpukhin explained that even the locals know very little about the landscape. The shapes are believed to have been sculpted by relentless freezing and thawing of the granite and surrounding sandstone.
But the site many not be receiving hoards of eager tourists too soon as it's somewhat off the beaten track - nearly 2,000 miles north-east of the republic's capital Yakutsk, one of Russia's most secluded - and coldest - cities.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3774157/Welcome-granite-town-bizarre-65ft-tall-rock-formations-just-discovered-Siberia-haven-t-reviewed-TripAdvisor-yet.html#ixzz4LyA3UmHg
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3774157/Welcome-granite-town-bizarre-65ft-tall-rock-formations-just-discovered-Siberia-haven-t-reviewed-TripAdvisor-yet.html
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