{tab Overview}
{tab Map}
{zhyandexmap:296}
{/tabs}
Mansi Idols are rock formations, the pillars of weathering in plateau Manpupuner (Man-Pupu-Ner). They are located on a narrow ridge in the North Urals, in the origins of the Pechora River, the main waterway of the Komi Republic and the largest river in the European North. This ridge, covered with multicolored carpet of alpine tundra, is called by Mansi people a Manpupuner (translated from the Mansi "Small Mountain of Idols"). This toponymy originates from seven stone giants, lined up on the flat top of one of the south-western spurs of the mountain range. Their height ranges from 29 to 49 meters. All the pillars consist of the sericitic quartzite shales which is difficult to destruct. Idols on Manpupuner are visible from afar, which is not surprising - because of their height from 30 to 42 meters. About 200 million years ago there were high mountains on the site of the stone pillars. Millenniums have passed. Rain, snow, wind, cold and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and especially weak rock. Solid sericitic quartzite shales, were fewer destroyed and have survived, while soft rock had been destroyed by weathering and demolished by wind and water in the relief depressions. One pillar with height of 34 m, stands apart from the others; it resembles a huge bottle, turned upside down. Six others are lined up at the edge of a cliff. Pillars have bizarre shapes and, depending of the viewers place, resemble the figure of a huge man, the head of a horse or a sheep. No wonder that in the past Mansi deified enormous stone statues, worshiped them. The humanlike shape of pillars and their mysterious origin resulted in creation of many legends about their appearance by the local population - Mansi, Komi and Russian, Climbing to the Manpupuner was considered the greatest sin. When seasons change, the countryside view changes too. The area is very impressive in the winter, when the pillars are completely white, like a crystal. Everyone who saw Pillars of weathering, note that being in close proximity to them, you start to feel an inexplicable feeling of fear. Locals say that there were ancient temples and the place is lured by spirits. According to those who have been on a plateau, the one does not want to talk, eat, drink, superfluous thoughts disappear from the head. The only wish is just to contemplate the surroundings and to feel it. People say that when you approach the poles close, they hoot like talking to each other. In the fall there are fogs and pillars loom through the mist - there is something divine in this spectacle. Plateau Manpupuner is a very magnificent place, and in spite of a vast expanse around here one wants to talk only in whispers. Maybe because you're afraid to awaken the evil spirits from the legends; or maybe because you realize how insignificant are people to the forces of nature.
{oziogallery 525}