The Seven Giants or Manpupuner Russia-A Geological feature that unsolved by science
The Seven giants or Manpupuner
Also known as Seven Strong Men of Russia or The Little Mountain of the Gods, are behemoth stone pillars, created by frost and snow over many years. The heights of Seven rock formations vary from 30 to 42 meters and are a mystery as yet unsolved by science. The seven rock is a set of 7 stone pillars located west of the Ural mountains in the Troitsko-Pechorsky District of the Komi Republic. They are located in the Pechoro-Ilychski Reserve on the mountain Man-Pupu-nyor, between the Ilych and Pechora rivers. Seven giants or Manpupuner is one of the Seven Wonders of Russia and is a popular attraction, though relatively unspoiled by tourism.
How seven giants forms
Nearly 200 million years ago at the location of the stone pillars, there were high mountain ranges. Many factors like Rain, snow, wind, frost, and heat gradually eroded the rock sericite-quartzite schists and form these pillars. Soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind into depressions. Some research revealed that the pillars could be of karstic origin, or formations caused by the dissolution of rock layers.
A 34 meters high pillar, stands apart from the others and resembles an inverted bottle. 6 others lie at the edge of the cliff. The pillars resemble the figures of a huge man or the head of a horse or ram. There are numerous legends associated with Seven giants or Manpupuner. The seven giants can be accessed by road from the Komi Republic, hiking or skiing over the Dyatlov Pass from the Sverdlovsk region, or by helicopter ride.
The seven giants stand atop which mountain range
Man-Pupu-Nyor or Seven giants is a magical geological place sculpted deep within the Ural mountains. Impressive rock formations are situated over a solitary mountain plateau in an inhospitable and remote region in the Komi Republic. Access to Man-Pupu-Nyor is reserved for very well-prepared travelers and usually requires helicopters or snowmobiles.
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Snow White and the Seven giants
It is not easy to reach the pillars, as the place is located isolated, surrounded by tundra, steppe, and mashes. In winter the Seven giants or Manpupuner rock is covered with a snow blanket with snowfall. Travelers come by helicopter, while other more adventurous types face a 3-day journey head-on from the nearest village. This is a place of unforgettable charm and despite it being quite a tourist attraction, it still remains unknown among mass tourism. The place has various names-Manpupuner, Weathering pillars, Bolvano-iz, and Mansi blocks, while locals named it Belly buttons.
How to get The Seven giants or Manpupuner
To get to Seven giants or Manpupuner, one must first obtain permission from the nature reserve. The best time for a hiking trip is in August, but some tourists go to see the wintry rocks in February-March when the first spring sun is overhead. There are two main ways to the sacred pillars- the “classic” route, as walked by Pechishchev, starts from the Sverdlovsk Region, and is 180 km long. The path is running through some highly picturesque places, including the infamous Dyatlov Pass. Many tourists combine the return journey with river rafting, which gives an awesome experience.
The other route is from the Komi Republic, which is a shorter and easier trail, but the logistics are complicated. First, take a train from Salekhard to the town of Trinity-Pechorsk, then a car or bus to the village of Yaksha, where you can find a boat and sail almost 200 km along the Ilych river. From there to Manpupuner, it is “only” 38 km on foot. If you don’t want a multi-day excursion, there is always an express trip by helicopter. Flights depart from the town of Nyrob in Perm Territory.
