Altai Republic, Russia

The Altai Republic, the least populated republic in Russia, is home to the indigenous Turkic Altay people, who make up 35% of its population. Many regard the land as sacred, and it’s easy to see why: lofty alpine peaks, forested valleys, and mountain lakes dominate the landscape. Many of its beauty spots are also steeped in history and mythology — from Mount Belukha, believed by some to be the location of Shambhala, to the Ukok Plateau, where the 5th-century BCE Siberian Ice Maiden was discovered — one of Russia’s most significant 20th-century archaeological finds. These Russian Altai photos were taken during a six-week trip, including a trek to the base of Belukha.

For historical photographs of the Altai Mountains, see Sergei Borisov’s 1907-1911 collection, with additional images available through the Library of Congress. Born into a slave family before Russia’s 1861 emancipation, Borisov later moved to Barnaul, opened a photographic studio, and used its income to fund his ambitious Altai project, creating more than 1,500 images over four years.

Beyond Belukha and the Ukok Plateau, other highlights include Teletskoye Lake, the largest in the Altai Mountains, located within the Altaisky Nature Reserve. Fed by more than 70 rivers, its name originates from the Teleuty people, who once called it Altyn-Khol (Gold Lake). The lake is a hub for fishing, trekking, and kayaking. For something more demanding, experienced paddlers can take on the Katun River, a nearly 700km waterway known for its powerful rapids, whirlpools, and fast-flowing currents.

Wide angle view of a crystal clear alpine lake with white, wispy cirrus clouds in the sky.
Wide view of a hiker ascending a hill out of a remote alpine valley.
An Altai man rides on a horse, towing a chain of pack horses behind him through a pine forest.
A Tatar man and woman wearing traditional hates.
The alpine bowl and glacier beneath Belukha's pyramid-like face.
A hiker from Kazakhstan poses with hiking poles and a big backpack.
Wide view of Mount Belukha and its surrounding peaks.
A chain of horses carrying equipment descends down a steep snow slope.
A green and forested flat mountain top with a little sunshine, near to Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.
A black rock mountain face partly covered in snow.
Alpine mountains at sunset with peaks far in the distance.
A young Russian man with a weathered face and kind smile in front of a red cargo train carriage.
An orthodox Russian priest crouches over a pail of water to wash himself.
Close-up portrait of Russian man with short brown hair.
A wide angle view of a few houses next to a big lake and mountain valley near Belukha.
A wide, heavily vegetated alpine valley with a large lake at the end.
Black and white photo of clouds casting shadows on Mt. Belukha's main valley.
A speedboat driver stood beside his boat wearing a red lifejacket and green camouflage clothing.
A forested ridgeline in the foreground and snowy alpine Altai peaks in the background.
Black and white photo of a Siberian family on board a river ferry in the Yenisei.
The snow-covered and steep alpine face of Mount Belukha.
Turquoise coloured Altai Mountain alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks.
Black and white portrait of a Russian man stood beside Trans-Siberian Railway wearing a white t-shirt.
A white Russian and Mongolian woman pose for a photo in front of a train.
A train conductor stood next to a train carriage and passengers, looking at her paperwork.
A straight asphalt road cuts through green Russian pastureland.
Wide view of green alpine valley beneath puffy white clouds and bright blue sky.
A collection of peaks in the Altai Mountains, partly covered in snow.
A white cat sits on a green fence outside of a log cabin with blue window frames.
A truck crosses a wooden bridge over a small, fast flowing river leading to a village.
Black and white photo of a serious looking train conductor stood beside her train carriage.
A red cross country cargo train travelling through the Altai Mountains.
An forest covered hillside overlooks higher snow-covered mountains enshrouded in cloud.
Two hikers descending down a big hill and into a deep valley.
A man and woman, one with a colorful shirt and another with a bandana, posing for a photo.
Portrait of an older Trans-Siberian train passenger with grey hair and cheeky smile.
A girl with white and black polka dot sweater releases butterflies from her hands.
A Russian man smiling with short hair and a red t-shirt.
A hiker walking through alpine mountains in the summer.
A group of walkers ascend over grassy hills and beneath blue skies.
Black and white photo of an orthodox priest performing a ceremony inside of a church.
A young woman wearing denim poses while resting on the edge of a car ferry.
A wide view of a large, green valley descending into a quiet alpine basin.
A section of the Yenisei River near Krasnoyarsk.
Close-up look at a steep and treacherous ice and snow-covered mountain.
Three boys in the distance play next to an abandoned red hulled fishing vessel that's aground.
A wide view of an alpine valley shot from a rocky outcrop in the Altai.
A large, ice-covered face leading up to a high, pointy summit.
Altai horsemen riding on horseback ascending up a mountainside.
Black and white photo of a snow-covered mountain ridgeline with faint half moon in sky.
A crystal clear alpine lake, blue skies, white clouds and rocky ridges in the distance.
Two Russians and one Mongolian sit on a bunk beds on the Trans-Siberian Express train.
A traditional wooden Russian orthodox church with multiple spires and crosses.
The top of a Russian Orthodox church framed through an old wooden window frame.
Two groups of horseback riders carrying equipment through rocky alpine terrain.
Side-view of green truck crossing over a wooden bridge.
An old trading house made of horizontal logs in Yeniseysk.
Close-up of a large serac-covered mountain face.
A group of hikers walk into a lush and green alpine meadow beneath Mount Belukha.
A glacial blue alpine lake with forest either side.
A historian in Yenisei sits in a museum, explaining the artefact he's holding.
Four horses carrying equipment are led by one man through rocky terrain.
Large groups of passengers stretch their legs on a train platform somewhere in Siberia.
Black and white photo of an old woman at a train station in Russia looking tired and laden with bags.
An old man stands in front of an ornate orthodox Christian shrine.
Looking down from atop a mountain into a small village nestled in a wooded valley.
A vast plateau of yellow flowers overlooks rocky hills bathed in late afternoon sunshine.
A shirtless mountain guide wearing sandals walks across a narrow footbridge spanning a glacial river.
A man in a white track suit stands in front of the world's largest collection of hand planes.
Russian woman in Yeniseysk wearing brightly-coloured traditional clothing and one swinging a whip.
An Altai horseman wearing khaki clothing rides past the camera as his horse chews leaves.
A green Soviet-era truck crossing an old suspension bridge formed out of wooden planks.
Green pastures and shadows cast by small hills with rocky mountains in the background.
An Soviet-era truck drives over a rusty bridge suspended over the Biya Rivers in the Altai Republic.
A Russian hiker with moustache poses for camera wearing a grey hoody top.
Wide view of a river valley leading out of Mount Belukha.
A far shot of a large group of hikers ascending up a hill into the mountains.
Black and white photo of Belukha's white snow covered mountain face surrounded by dark and ominous clouds.
Wild-looking alpine peaks in the Altai Mountains.
Altai Mountains covered in snow.

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