The federal highway R256 “Chuysky Trakt” (968 km), the oldest route from Siberia to Asia, begins in Novosibirsk and ends at the border with Mongolia, passing through the territory of the Novosibirsk region, the Altai krai and the Altai Republic.

In 2014, National Geographic magazine included the Chuya Highway in the list of the 10 most beautiful highways in the world. Photos by: Alexey Zhirukhin.

take a ride

Tags: Altai krai · Altay Republic · Novosibirsk oblast

Gorno-Altaysk is a city with a population of about 62,000 people located in the south of Western Siberia of Russia, the capital and the only city of the Altai Republic.

The city is located in the northwestern part of the Altai Mountains, in the intermontane basin, surrounded by low hills, at an altitude of 270-305 meters above sea level. Let’s look at Gorno-Altaysk from Mount Tugai (641 meters) located on the territory of the city. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

one autumn afternoon in Gorno-Altaysk

Tags: Altay Republic · Gorno-Altaisk city

Geyzernoye Lake, also known as Blue Lake, is a unique body of water in Siberia located in the Ulagan district of the Altai Republic, near the village of Aktach.

The main feature of this clean and ice-free lake is thermal springs that bring the blue silt to the bottom forming colorful and bizarre pictures – various concentric circles. Geyzernoye Lake on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

lake with geysers at the bottom

Tags: Altay Republic

The tract of Akkurum (Ak-Korum) is located on the right bank of the Chulyshman River, about 15 km from its confluence with Lake Teletskoye, in the Ulagan district of the Altai Republic.

Akkurum, meaning “white rockslide”, is a very picturesque place which main attraction is the group of so-called “stone mushrooms” – stone pillars formed as a result of wind and water erosion and reaching a height of 7 meters. Akkurum on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrei Kireev.

beautiful nature monument

Tags: Altay Republic

The following beautiful autumn photos were taken in the area of Lake Akkem at the foot of the northern slope of Mount Belukha.

It is the highest peak of the Altai mountains (4,509 m) located in Ust-Koksinsky district of the Altai Republic. Lake Akkem on Google Maps. Photos by: Anton Petrus.

magnificent colors of autumn

Tags: Altay Republic

Altai is a true sanctuary of wild flowers. You can easily find large flower meadows of all colors – from bright orange to sky blue.

Most of the following photos were made during a trip on the Ukok plateau located in the extreme south of the Altai Republic, on the border of Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and Russia. Photos by: Anton Petrus.

Forget-me-nots.

beautiful Altai scenery

Tags: Altay Republic

Multi-colored mountains of Kyzyl-Chin, located near the village of Chagan-Uzun in the Altai Republic, is a great place for photographers, lovers of geology and natural beauty. Clays of different colors create unique natural scenery.

The local mountains look as if they are painted in stripes of different shades of red, yellow and green. This place situated at the beginning of the Chui steppe, about 7.5 km from Chui tract, looks like a real Mars. Kyzyl-Chin on Google Maps. Photos by: Anton Petrus.

awesome alien landscape

Tags: Altay Republic

Ukok is a plateau located in the south of the Altai Republic, on the border of Kazakhstan,China, Mongolia, and Russia.

It is a unique and beautiful place that keeps a lot of secrets and unsolved mysteries, with hundreds of lakes and rivers and snowy mountains. Ukok Plateau on Google Maps. Photos by: Anton Petrus.

beautiful remote place

Tags: Altay Republic

Akkem is a lake situated in Altai mountains, at the foot of the northern slope of Mount Belukha, in the territory of Ust-Koksinsky district of the Altai Republic. Ak-kem means “white water” in the Altai language.

The lake, elongated from north to south, is fed by melt water of Akkem glacier. The length of the lake is 1,350 meters, the width – 610 m., the average depth – 7.8 m. Lake Akkem is a natural monument and part of the National Park “Belukha” created in 1997. Lake Akkem on Google Maps. Photos by: Anton Petrus.

explore the beautiful lake

Tags: Altay Republic

Lake Teletskoye is a lake located in the south of Western Siberia, in the Altai Republic, to the south-east of Gorno-Altaisk. It is the largest lake in the Altai Mountains.

Indigenous peoples call it Altyn Kol (Golden Lake). The length of the lake is 77.7 km, the width – 2-3 km, the depth – up to 325 meters.

Lake Teletskoye during snowfall

Tags: Altay Republic