Munku-Sardyk is the highest point of Buryatia and the highest peak of the Eastern Sayans. What are Saiyans? This is the name of a mountain system that unites two large massifs located in the south of Siberia. The territory they occupy belongs to Russia and Mongolia. The Sayans are divided into Western and Eastern. In total, the mountain range has 7 peaks. The eastern system passes completely through our state, stretching for a thousand kilometers between the Yenisei and Baikal. It is here that the highest peak of the Sayan is located.
Hydronym
The name of the peak in translation from the Buryat language means "eternal char". Why did indigenous peoples have such associations? And everything is extremely simple. Mount Munku-Sardyk is constantly covered with ice and snow. And the word “char” is the name of bare rocky peaks used in the Far East.
This mountain had a huge impact on the cultures of local peoples, the massif is mentioned in many old fairy tales, legends and traditions, which now only old people remember, who heard them from theirfathers. Even the 7 peaks of the array got their names for a reason, they were named after the sons of Abai Geser Khan.
Mongolian legends
In many Mongolian tales there is a proverb in which a hero is mentioned, whose father was the sky, and whose mother was the Earth. He lived on the shores of the blue sea, at the foot of the mountain, and had a palace whiter than snow, where the door sills were made of silver and the doors were mother-of-pearl. This hero had a throne with 23 legs, also made of silver. The owner had many subjects and livestock. No one knows where the mythical palace was, or if it even existed. An old legend gave only one more name to the mountain - Silver.
Legends of epic inhabitants
For local peoples, this mountain is a sacred place, the abode of Abai Geser Khan (an epic hero in the culture of the peoples of Central Asia) and other spirits. Entrance here is prohibited, and only men, after asking the permission of the spirits, can climb the mountain, where sacred religious rites are held.
Description of slopes
The height of Munku-Sardyk is 3,491 m. The summit is located on the border of Mongolia and Buryatia. Mountain valleys of glacial origin. Now there are four glaciers on the slopes. The main one, the northern one, is up to 85 m thick and up to 6 m deep. Nowadays, the area of these glaciers is sharply decreasing. The northern slopes of the mountain abruptly break into the valley of the Irkut River, the southern ones, descending to Lake Khubsugul, are more gentle.
Geographic features
Oka plateau (plateau in the Eastern Sayan)located to the northeast of the mountain, it is the source of such rivers as the Oka, Irkut and Kita. To the east of Munku-Sardyk are the Tunkinsky Goltsy. This is a mountain range, the easternmost spur of the Eastern Sayans. Exactly in the north is the glacial lake Aihai, at an altitude of 2613 meters. The local landscapes fascinate and amaze with their beauty. Lake Khuvsgul is located to the south, at a distance of 12 kilometers from the Munku-Sardyk peak. Granites predominate in the composition of rocks, and in river valleys and on the slopes there are forests that can be found up to a height of 2.1 thousand meters.
Tourism
It is not surprising that tourism is very developed in this area. The mountain is located on the border of Russia with Mongolia, so climbing is possible from both sides without a visa, but with registration at the border guards. Group ascents to Munka-Sardyk are often made. Several thousand people can go at once.
Russian naturalist Gustav Radde in 1858 made the first ascent. He conquered Munka-Sardyk from the side of Lake Khubsugula, that is, from the south. Today, many climbing routes of varying difficulty have been laid along the top. From the Russian side, the most difficult way is considered to be a frontal ascent from the icy north, and the easiest way is from the south, where the slope is more gentle.
Popular route for Russians
Most of those wishing to make the ascent in early May from the northern side of the summit. Recently, this tourist route is very popular, especially among Russian citizens. About 5,000 people visit the mountain every spring.people, of whom about 800 climb the massif. They start climbing in the valley of the Bely Irkut River, where the most popular place is the Mugovek gorge, with a narrow canyon of 2 kilometers, where you can see many unusual ice waterfalls and icings with steps. Climbing is greatly complicated by the presence of ice with a large slope, in such cases, claws, ski poles and other climbing tools are required. However, after overcoming this section, you can enjoy a beautiful view from the top, from where you can see the mountain ranges of the Eastern Sayan Mountains and Lake Khubsugul.
Ascent from Mongolia
Mountain peaks attract many people with their unexplored mysteries and enchanting views. For those who want to visit these parts, but are not ready to overcome difficult routes, it is recommended to go the way from Mongolia. Here the ascent is much easier, since the slope is not very steep, almost to the very top. This side of the slope is actively used for skiing or even hang-gliding, because the snow lies here until the end of July. All 7 peaks of Munku-Sardyk are covered with snow, many climbers testify to magnetic storms and difficult weather conditions. At the moment, negotiations are underway with Russia on the creation of a ski base here.
Bayasgalant Peak
At a distance of about 9 kilometers from Khankha (a small settlement) is the mysterious peak of Bayasgalant, where there is a fairly large kereskur (burial structure), with a diameter of about 12 meters. This place is sacred to the locals.residents, and women are strictly forbidden to enter there. None of the old-timers can remember or learn something about the history of this place, it is so ancient. Only the stories of lamas are known about 1944, when they erected an obo here - a religious structure made of stones, decorated with ribbons and flags.
Legend of the Border
Local peoples have a legend about the first drawing of the border between the Chinese and Russians, in which folklore heroes appear. According to legend, from Russia came to divide the territory of Gun-Sava, and from China - Sesen-ugan. They divided the lands, set up borders, and Mount Munku-Sardyk was on the Russian side. The Chinese wished to get the peak for himself and came up with a trick: he asked Gun-Sava to give him a piece of land from this mountain the size of a bull's skin, and when he allowed it, he found the largest bull, took off his skin, cut it into belts and wrapped them all over. mountain and thus the highest peak went to China. But on the mountain, according to legend, the Russian seal remained, the Chinese are carving out the mountain to remove the seal, but they just can’t.
Summarize
As a result, we can say that the mountain peaks of the Sayan massif are undoubtedly a significant attraction. The local places are perfect for a pleasant holiday with he alth benefits. Exploring these territories and conquering the peaks will help broaden your horizons and give you the opportunity to plunge into the rich culture of Central Asia. Those who want to climb to the top should remember that the slopes here are quite dangerous, so you need to have a goodphysical fitness.
Every year, many tourists visit Munku-Sardyk, mainly to relax, enjoy the wonderful views of the Eastern Sayan Mountains and take part in the mass ascent, which is held annually.
