Manpupunyor Plateau

Manpupunyor is a geological monument located on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve in the Komi Republic. The natural landmark represents irregularly shaped pillars on a moss-covered mountain. Local Mansi people considered them divine and allowed only shamans to climb Manpupunyur. Since the Manpupunyur plateau was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Russia in 2008, its popularity among tourists has increased dramatically. Travelers who want to touch the pillars are not stopped by the cost of travel, nor the difficulty of crossing the deserted terrain, nor the restrictions on visits set by the reserve.

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Video: Manpupunyor

Contents

Geologic history of Manpupunyor

The rocky mountains that stood on the site of the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve 200 million years ago were eroded over time by natural factors. Weathering primarily affected soft rocks, while sericite-quartzite schists proved to be more stable. The surviving pillars consist of them – seven vertical blocks 32-40 meters high. One of them stands alone, the others are lined up in a row on the edge of the mountain. Due to the lack of nearby objects for comparison, from afar they do not seem too high, but up close tourists realize all the greatness of the giant pillars of Manpupunyor.

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Legends about the origin of the pillars

‘ Manpupunyor Plateau in winter
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Tourist requirements

The area around Manpupunyer became protected back in the first half of the twentieth century, when the population of sable, whose fur was exported, declined sharply. At the end of the twentieth century, the “Virgin Forests of the Komi” Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve and its surroundings were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List – that is why visiting the plateau is strictly limited, hiking is possible only by permission of the administration or through official tour operators. If gamekeepers find a violator, he faces a fine of 4,000 rubles.

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Excursion routes

Officially there are three routes to Manpupunyur. The most popular of them, hiking from the source of the Pechora River, is available from June through September and from January through March. In summer one group of up to 10 people is allowed every two days, in winter – every three days. The task of travelers is to reach the tourist module in the east of the reserve on their own, where they will be met by guides. The ten-kilometer route will pass through moss-covered tundra, birch sparse forest, coniferous forest with a crossing of the Pechora River.

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The second route, a five-day route, requires more serious preparation, once every two weeks a group of up to 6 people goes on it. The journey begins from the village of Yaksha, where tourists are accommodated at a moose farm or hotel. The next day they go by boat to the Shezhim cordon, spend the night in a hotel to complete the journey by water to the tourist camp. The next steps are the same as the first route.

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The third route, starting from Ust-Lyaga, the third cordon of the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve, is traveled by only 3 groups of 10 people in the summer season. The way passes along the abandoned Sibiryakovsky tract through the forest with streams, on the twentieth kilometer the group overnight, on the second day completes the 36-kilometer crossing, climbing to the plateau of Manpupunyor.

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‘ Manpupunyorreterte Manpupunyer from the height

Paid services

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‘ Syktyvkar or Ukhta, railroad tickets to Troitsk-Pechorsky, transfer by car to Ust-Ilych, where boats are hired if the group moves without the help of a tour operator. A one-day route by helicopter from the Perm side, from Nyrobsky airfield, will cost about 30,000 rubles per person, which is comparable in cost to other ways of traveling.

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How to get there

If hiking and helicopter tours are not suitable and you want to get to Manpupunyor on your own, then you need to:

  • get to Syktyvkar;
  • get from Syktyvkar by train or car to Troitsko-Pechorsk (about 500 km);
  • from Troitsko-Pechorsk take a hitchhiker to the village of Yaksha (about 120 km);
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  • from Yaksha travel 200 km by motorboat;
  • then walk about 40 kilometers.
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Important!

Contact the administration of the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve before hiking to Manpupunyur. This will help to avoid unnecessary problems, to coordinate the route, also you will learn about the current rules of visiting the reserve.

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  • Website: https://www.pechora-reserve.ru/
  • Email: pechora_ilych@mail.ru
  • Tel: +7 (82138)9-56-99