Rock with the name " stone tents"There are a lot of them in the Urals. As a rule, they are united by the mattress-like shape of the slabs, formed as a result of weathering of granites. The most famous stone tents are the Shartash ones. They are located right within the city of Yekaterinburg.
These stone tents got their name from Lake Shartash, 800 meters southwest of which they are located.
The Shartash stone tents consist of several rocky outcrops, stretching from west to east for about 80 meters. The height of the rock outcrops is from 5 to 18 meters. The height above sea level is 299 meters, and above the level of Lake Shartash - 24 meters. They belong to the Shartash granite massif, which is 300 million years old.
In the distant past, our ancestors had an altar in this place. At the top of the rock (on the western side) you can see a round stone bowl, presumably used for sacrifices.
The first archaeological research was carried out on the Shartash stone tents in 1889 by N.A. Ryzhnikov. The following year, the study was continued by S.I. Sergeev, A.F. Comes et al.
Numerous fragments of ceramics, stone tools, arrowheads made of stone, bones and metal, crystal beads with traces of drilling, bronze figurines, an iron knife, small burnt bones, metallurgical slag, pieces of sheet copper, etc. were discovered here.
We also came across finds between rock slabs. Researchers late XIX centuries, this prompted the assumption of the artificial origin of stone tents.
Just a century ago, getting to the stone tents was not so easy. They were located in hard to reach place, surrounded by forests and swamps. In those days they were called “Talatki Tract”.
Painting depicting Shartash tents, author I.K. Slyusarev, 1931
There are also Small stone tents located on the shore of Lake Maly Shartash.
How to get to the Shartash stone tents in Yekaterinburg
Stone tents are located at the entrance to the Shartash Forest Park, in the ZhBI microdistrict. You can get to them by public transport in Yekaterinburg. For example, on one of the trams going to “40 years of the Komsomol” (No. 8, 13,15, 23, 32, “A”). The stop you need is called “Stone Tents”. To get to the rocks, you just need to cross the road. GPS coordinates of the Shartash stone tents: N 56° 50.578, E 60° 40.720.
© Pavel Raspopov
Just two kilometers from the center of Yekaterinburg there is a unique natural monument, beloved by all citizens and tourists - the Shartash stone tents. The structure has historical and cultural value and is a granite rock outcrop located near Lake Shartash, which is where they owe their name. The cliffs face an east-west direction and have a flat top that is easy to climb. Three buildings stand in a row, but have no connection with each other. The most monumental is in the center. The place is connected to the Shartash Forest Park, and in the middle of the two existing green areas is the beautiful Lake Shartash.
The monumental and picturesque monument has a mattress-like shape, which was formed under the influence of weather conditions. The height of the rocks is 12 m, and the total height, including the earthen hill, is 25 m. At the foot of the formation on its northern part there is a granite amphitheater.
The main entrance to the park is shaped like a sphere cut in half. Having passed through it, travelers find themselves in front of a staircase leading directly to the tents.
Previously, visitors entering the rocks from the city side could see a memorial plaque installed here, a reminder that before the Great October Revolution this site became the site of illegal workers' meetings, May Days and gatherings of the Bolsheviks in 1905-1917, at which the leader often spoke Ural Bolsheviks Ya. M. Sverdlov. This memorial plaque has now been demolished.
Currently, stone tents belong to the Kirov district of Yekaterinburg and are considered one of the favorite vacation spots of citizens. Hiking, cycling or skiing take place here regularly, local residents have picnics and relax with children in the fresh air. Not long ago, stone tents were located in the forest outside the city, but since Yekaterinburg began to grow in the 1980s, they have entered it.
Story
The Urals are rich in rocks called stone tents. They all have a common slab shape, which was formed due to the weathering of granites. The most famous are Shartashsky. They consist of several rocky outcrops stretching from west to east for approximately 80 m.
Modern archaeological data report that the shores of Lake Shartash were home to ten settlements, and there were also sites here ancient man, the earliest of which date back to the 3rd century BC. e. Their conditional center, sacrificial place and so-called “metallurgical base” was a ridge of impressive granite boulders, today called the Shartash stone tents. On the top of the western side of one of the rocks is a round stone bowl, which was presumably used for sacrifice.
For a long time, Ural local historians had a version that the place served as a sanctuary, built more than a hundred thousand years ago by the Atlantean giants.
The place has attracted scientists and amateur enthusiasts throughout its history, but only in 1889 N. A. Ryzhnikov became the organizer of the first archaeological research. A year later, his work was continued by S.I. Sergeev, A.F. Comes and other interested people. As a result of the excavations, a huge number of fragments of ceramics and stone arrowheads were found, as well as iron knives and bronze figurines, pieces of sheet copper, stone tools and burnt bones. Some of the finds were obtained between rock slabs, which prompted scientists of the late 19th century to think about the artificial origin of the monument.
Even 100 years ago, getting to the stone tents was quite difficult. They were in an inaccessible place and were surrounded by forests and swamps. At that time they were called “Talatka Tract”.
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the stone tents were under threat of destruction: the granite layers of the monument could be used as slabs for foundations and sidewalks, and they also wanted to build another quarry on this site. The rocks were saved through the efforts of the Ural Society of Natural History Lovers.
In the summer of 1914, Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna, who was visiting the holy places of the Urals, became familiar with the Shartash granite tents, which at that time had already become a regular gathering place for workers. Photographer N. N. Vvedensky captured a group photograph of this event.
In the 1970-1980s, the area next to the stone tents, where the Clean Swamp had previously been located, began to be built up. After being formed new area, The Shartashsky monument entered the city limits.
Now
Currently, stone tents have been given the status of a natural monument in the Sverdlovsk region, and they are also an object cultural heritage because of the archaeological finds made here.
Next to the newly installed entrance portal there is a stone amulet dedicated to nature education. Wishes are written on it for everyone entering the park through the portal; the amulet sign also contains several symbols that communicate the origin of the world from chaos and the foundations of the perfection of all existence - love, knowledge and justice.
At any time of the year, life is in full swing here; The place has long been loved by the townspeople, which is explained by the convenient transport interchange: a stop is located a few tens of meters from the monument public transport. Just below the stone tents you can find a granite amphitheater; pioneers used to gather at this place. It has nothing to do with antiquity, however, it fits very organically into general landscape. Some of the destroyed elements of the amphitheater were restored not so long ago, as evidenced by the relatively fresh concrete inserts.
Walking near the natural monument, you can stumble upon a no longer functioning triangulation tower, which rises 14 meters above the ground. At its top there is a small platform, a staircase leads to it.
Clean fresh air, an abundance of pines and ferns, as if transporting you to a fabulous past, gigantic slabs of rocks - all this becomes another reason to look into a wonderful place.
A park
The Shartash Forest Park is a specially protected natural area; it encircles Lake Shartash on the southern side like a huge horseshoe. Pine trees grow here, you can find planted poplars and wild apple trees. The forest area is inhabited by rodents, there are many birds, tourists and local residents often meet squirrels, which are not at all afraid of people and take food from their hands.
The areas of the park that are accessible to visit are equipped with a road and path network; the park has trail markings and information boards; guests of this place can relax on numerous benches.
In the vicinity of the village of Palkino, located almost within the city limits of the city of Yekaterinburg, there are many stone rocks- outliers that are excellent for weekend hikes both in summer and winter time of the year.
At the same time, perhaps the most accessible for both autotourists and pedestrian travelers were stone outcrops, stone tents located on the banks of the Iset River, not far from EKADA, practically at the crossroads of EKADA and the road leading to the village of Palkino.
Due to their location, the stone outcrops are surrounded by swamps on almost all sides; in a number of sources, stone tents are called stone islands. In the winter season, you can get to them without any problems - along a well-trodden path; in the summer, especially after rains, you will need rubber boots to get through.
The stone outcrops appear before us in the form of three small stone ridges, reaching no more than 40 meters in length (the longest). The height of the rock remains is also small - no more than four meters. The rocks are easily accessible; you can get to the top from almost any direction.
On a rock ridge that looks like a stone wall, you can see a rock painting of an ancient man, looking like a rhombus, with a segment going upward - the tail. It is believed that this drawing was painted on the rock in the third millennium BC.
In the territory stone island have been held since 1977 archaeological excavations. Numerous devices for fishing, stone tools (arrowheads, knives, axes), and numerous household items were found.
How to get to Stone Tents (stone island), GPS coordinates
GPS coordinates of Stone tents (stone island): N 56º53,653´; E 60º24.861’To travel by car: we go to the EKAD, either from the Moskovsky tract or from the Serovsky tract. Next we drive towards the intersection to Palkino station and turn towards Stone Tents.
You can easily get to the rocks without a car. To do this, you need to take a train (Kuzinskoye or Druzhininskoye direction) to Palkino station. Walk about two kilometers along the forest road, focusing on the Montazhnik garden, walk along the garden, and exit onto the EKAD bypass road.
When crossing the EKAD, be careful - the highway is busy, there is a constant, rather dense flow of cars in both directions. Not far from the intersection there are “Pedestrian crossing” signs; it is better to walk to them and only then cross the EKAD.
The route is suitable for standard passenger cars, the distance from the city center is no more than 30 km.
Shartash stone tents
The Stone Tents Park is located within the city of Yekaterinburg.
Megalithic structures consist of three stone “buildings” standing next to each other - granite rock outcrops. At the top of one of them there is a stone depression in the shape of a bowl.
The Shartash stone tents consist of several rocky outcrops, stretching from west to east for about 80 meters. The height of the rock outcrops is from 5 to 18 meters. The height above sea level is 299 meters, and above the level of Lake Shartash - 24 meters. They belong to the Shartash granite massif, which is 300 million years old.
According to modern archaeological data, on the shores of Lake Shartash there were up to 10 settlements and sites of ancient man, the earliest of which date back to the 3rd millennium BC and even to earlier periods. These settlements had elements of ancient religious cult and commodity production.
The conditional center, sacrificial place and “metallurgical base” of these ancient settlements was a ridge of huge granite boulders, which today is called the Shartash stone tents.
The first archaeological research was carried out on the Shartash stone tents in 1889 by N.A. Ryzhnikov. The following year, the study was continued by S.I. Sergeev, A.F. Comes et al.
Numerous fragments of ceramics, stone tools, arrowheads made of stone, bones and metal, crystal beads with traces of drilling, bronze figurines, an iron knife, small burnt bones, metallurgical slag, pieces of sheet copper, etc. were discovered here.
We also came across finds between rock slabs. This prompted researchers at the end of the 19th century to assume that the stone tents were of artificial origin.
Just a century ago, getting to the stone tents was not so easy. They were located in a remote place, surrounded by forests and swamps. In those days they were called “Talatki Tract”. The first detailed publication about the Shartash stone tents was written by Onesimus Kler in 1896.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, a threat loomed over the stone tents. Another quarry was supposed to appear here. The granite beds of the tents were very suitable for use as slabs for sidewalks and foundations. These rocks were saved from destruction only by the efforts of the Ural Society of Natural History Lovers (UOLE). Currently, stone tents have the status of a natural monument of the Sverdlovsk region and an object of cultural heritage (thanks to archaeological finds made here).
Nowadays the Shartash stone tents are full of life. They have long turned into favorite place recreation for city dwellers, young and old. And it’s not surprising - there is a public transport stop just a few tens of meters from the rocks.
Behind the stone tents, a little lower, there is a granite amphitheater - a former gathering place for pioneers.
There are also Small stone tents located on the shore of Lake Maly Shartash.
How to get to the Shartash stone tents in Yekaterinburg:
Stone tents are located at the entrance to the Shartash Forest Park, in the ZhBI microdistrict. You can get to them by public transport in Yekaterinburg. For example, on one of the trams going to “40 years of the Komsomol” (No. 8, 13,15, 23, 32, “A”). The stop you need is called “Stone Tents”. To get to the rocks, you just need to cross the road. GPS coordinates of the Shartash stone tents: N 56° 50.578, E 60° 40.720.
Shartash stone tents (Ekaterinburg, Russia) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.
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Shartash stone tents are a unique natural monument, 2 km from the very center of Yekaterinburg. The funny name hides huge rock formations that appeared many years ago. Where does this come from? strange name at the outlier stones? It turns out that it comes from the rare mattress-like shapes of the rocks, which they acquired due to the weathering of granite rocks. They are called Shartash because of their proximity to Lake Shartash, located just a kilometer away. The Shartash rocks are very ancient; they belong to the granite massif of the same name, which is more than 300 million years old.
For example, it is difficult not to notice the rounded indentation on the stone where sacrifices most likely took place. Back in the 19th century, researchers found here a huge number of household items, weapons, jewelry, traces of metal processing and much more. Interesting finds were also discovered between the rocks. It was this fact that led researchers to the version about the artificial origin of the breed.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, there was a danger of destruction of a unique natural monument - it was planned to create quarries here. However, members of the Ural Society of Natural History Lovers managed to defend the complex. Nowadays, the Shartash stone tents have a special environmental status and are protected by the state.
After World War II, a prison and a camp for German prisoners were located near the monument. In the 70s something big happened here housing construction, and houses were erected not far from the Shartash tents. Since then, this territory has been part of Yekaterinburg.
What to see
Today, stone Shartash tents are a favorite vacation spot for city residents. Here you can walk, enjoying the wonderful air, ride a bike, or simply contemplate the fascinating landscape, as if preserved from prehistoric times - gigantic slabs of rocks, pine trees and ferns. And nearby there is a public transport stop, which will take you to a modern, rapidly developing city in a few minutes.
Walking through the expanses of the forest, you can stumble upon an amphitheater, which, however, has nothing to do with antiquity, but fits into the landscape quite organically. Or go to the shore of the lake, where children love to swim and seasoned fishermen love to fish throughout the summer.
Practical information
Address: Ekaterinburg, st. Vysotsky. Web site .
You can get there from Yekaterinburg by tram or bus to the “Kamennye Tent” stop. By car you must follow the street. Malysheva, which turns into st. Vysotsky, where the tents are located. The entrance is opposite the end of the Rossiya Kosk.
