Lena Pillars: how amazing rocks were formed in Yakutia

In our country there are many corners where you can admire the pristine beauty of nature and admire its grandeur. One of such amazing places is the Lena Pillars Natural Park in Yakutia. Hundreds of stone rocks, like ancient idols guarding the peace of the great Siberian river, lined up along the Lena channel. How did these bizarre geological forms form?

Lena pillars are located in the southern part of Yakutia, in the upper reaches of the Lena River. Vertical cliffs are composed of bedrock of Lower Cambrian limestones, whose age is about 530 million years. But the beginning of the formation of the pillars themselves began about 400 thousand years ago. During this period, as a result of vertical movements of the Siberian platform, faults arose, and rivers, making their way to the sea and crashing into bedrock, began to form deep valleys. Karst processes, water and wind erosion gradually led to the emergence of such bizarre geological formations along the Lena channel. The height of the rocks in the region of Lena Pillars is more than 200 meters and they stretch for 40 kilometers.

On the territory of the natural park, the pillars are located in three places: directly Lena pillars, Buotam pillars and Sinsky pillars. Buotam pillars are not inferior in height to Lensky and are very picturesque due to the different shades of rocks from which they are composed. Sinsky pillars are lower in height, about 100 meters, but they are also picturesque, like the other groups of vertical rocks in the park.

In addition to the pillars, the park has another unique place - toukulans. When sand dunes appear before travelers who have traveled many kilometers in the Siberian taiga, they simply cannot believe their eyes. Tuculans are the local name for large sand massifs and dunes. On the territory of this unique ecosystem, everything is like in a real desert: a sea of ​​sand and the lack of vegetation.

The Lena Pillars Natural Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Paleontological and environmental studies and expeditions are regularly conducted on its territory, including with the participation of foreign scientists. The national park has developed several routes for eco-tourism, there are observation platforms that offer stunning views of the poles. In order to get to the Lena Pillars Park from Yakutsk, you need to drive southwest about 200 km along the Umnas highway. In winter, the park is also open to the public.

Watch the video: The Lena Pillars in Yakutia (May 2024).