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The Altai range of mountains at the center of Asia separates an extensive
taiga region in the north and a vast desert in the south. It consists of
different climatic zones forming a unique nature area. This is a region of
a mixture of different cultures and religions, which acquired unusual
forms. The geographical position of Altai did not allow its industrial
development, and due to its small population nature has been preserved
almost in its original form. The Turkic tribes form the native population
of Altai. These tribes have mainly preserved their tribal structure until
the present time. The generation that led a nomadic life is still living.
Even now the yards of many houses have an ail (the dwelling of a nomad).
The Altai population has several tens of tribes (called seoks in the Altai
language) consisting of 40-50 to 3000 people. In the course of centuries,
the Altai population was involved into great historic events, in which it
never played a dominant role. Altai was often a province of great States.
Scythians, Huns, ancient Turkic Khanates, the invasion of Chingis-Khan,
the Dzungarskoye Khanate, the Russian Empire - all this affected the
culture of the Altai tribes. Altai is a natural phenomenon. This region
has a wide variety of natural landscapes, plants, and animals. It has
virgin nature. Here landscapes change quickly, and many climatic zones
overlap. This is unusual, and leaves a strong impression. For instance,
only here glaciers are lower than the forest boundary. Climbing the
mountains, anyone can pass in two-three days through all climatic zones,
from steppes and semi-deserts to the zone of arctic desert, and see all
this with his or her own eyes. This would be a trip of several thousand
kilometers in the meridional direction. Altai is a peculiar fascinating
world; it surrounds you and takes you in. Here you forget about your
problems. You cannot see this world from the windows of a bus. You cannot
feel it in a hotel's room. Climbing mountains is not always easy. The
hardships of ascent are quickly forgotten, but impressions of the
mountains remain for life. Naturally, you cannot get any good thing
without efforts. The participants of the conference are invited to make a
trip to one of the most attractive regions of Altai. Experienced guides
will show interesting sites, minimize the hardships of the trip, and tell
you about special features and the history of the region. You will be in
taiga, tundra, on the glacier, see mountainous rivers and lakes and, if
you are lucky, you will also see the bear - the master of this region. The
program proposed is an ideal way to take off the fatigue from the
civilization, to escape from the hard rhythm of everyday life, to be alone
for a time, to feel totally isolated from the outside world, and to get a
store of impressions.
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Altai is famous for its beautiful nature,
marvelous landscape and mountains covered with virgin forests. The final place of our
journey has the height of 1000 m above the sea level. It is planned to visit a special
optical laboratory of the Institute of Laser Physics for laser geophysical monitoring.
The first variant is Black Anyi.
You are supposed to stay at the camping place in small cottages with all conveniences
(showers, toilet rooms, a bar etc). Meals will be organized at the restaurant. Here you
can visit archaeological digs, Denisov Cave, local folklore village where you may acquaint
yourself with cultural traditions and life way of Altai people.
The second one is the trip to Ust
Kokskii region. It's planned to visit the special optical Laboratory of the Institute
of Laser Physics, which carries out the Laser geophysical monitoring. You are stay
at the hotel of our Institute in baths, double rooms. For your services there are showers,
the Famous Siberian toilet-rooms, a dining room etc. If the weather is fine it will be
possible to have fantastic flights by helicopter to lake Akkem that is situated near the
highest Altai Mountain Belukcha. You are also welcome to climb to Glacier. Besides, you
are invited to take part in 1-day hikes, horse riding and rafting on the river KATUN, if
you express your wish. So you should take necessary clothes: sports wear (better
waterproof), coat, woolen cap, warm sweater, hat, sunglasses goggles and shoes (better
waterproof). At the beginning of August the day temperature in Altai may be for about 25oC
degrees during the day in valley and 20 in Mountings. But it can easily change. It
might be cool at night-time (near 10o -15oC), so you are to take
some warm clothes.
The price is 180 USD per person (including transport, meals and
living expenses). |
