Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve

The Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve is located on the western slope of the Ural Mountains in the Komi Republic, where the most extensive virgin forests in Europe are preserved. A unique feature of the local area is the neighborhood of two ecosystems: European and Siberian, so here you can see alpine meadows, steppes, and taiga. Here the most beautiful rivers flow. In the upper reach of the Pechora River there are the Medvezhya, Tufovaya, Ledyanaya and Kaninskaya caves. The largest and most famous of them is the Medvezhya cave. Here the northernmost and the largest on the planet cluster of bones of ancient cave lions and bears were discovered. It is believed that it was in these places that the first mines of mankind were located, where they mined flint. The total length of the ways accessible for tourists exceeds 480 m.
The landmark of the reserve is huge stone idols located in the remote area of the Northern Urals on the Manpupuner Plateau. About 200 million years ago high mountains were on the place of stone pillars. Giant statues with a height of 30 to 42 m were formed during 200 million years as a result of weathering.
The Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve is part of the International System of Biosphere Reserves. Together with the national park Yugyd Va located nearby, the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Virgin forests of Komi.

The best time for visit seasonal routes are possible throughout the year.

What to see: The Uninskaya cave, the Paleolithic site in the Medvezhya Cave, the weathering pillars on the Manpupuner Plateau, the Kanin Nos rock on the Pechora River, the "Chameiny ples" geological monument, the Goose Swamp, the Elk Farm, the Nature Museum. For children, there is an ecological trail "Reserve Labyrinth".

How to get to: the nearest cities are Ukhta (300 km) and the capital of the Komi Republic - Syktyvkar (434 km). To get directly to the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve and see all the surrounding beauty at once, you need to get by train or bus to Troitsko-Pechorsk station, then by bus, taxi or transport, preliminary booked in the reserve to Yaksha village, Ust-Ilych or Priuralsk villages.
The weathering pillars on the Manpupuner Plateau are far from settlements, only well-prepared tourists from Perm and Sverdlovsk Oblast can get to them. In the summer it is a hiking tour, in winter - skiing.