Nature of Russia. Altai. Katun river. Taimen lake. Chui tract. Journey to Belovodie.

Journey to Belovodie. The first mention of Belovodye dates back to the 10th century, when a wise man came to Prince Vladimir and said that in the east there is a country where no one needs anything. This country is hidden from evil people and opens only to people with a pure heart. Since then, the legend of Belovodie lives. At the beginning of the 20th century, the traveler Nicholas Roerich was engaged in the search for Belovodye. Judging by his diaries, Belovodie was found by him. We also decided to try our luck. At first, our path will pass along the famous Chuisky tract. The route passes through the entire Altai Republic to the border with Mongolia. Its length is 617 kilometers. For a long time, the Chuisky tract goes next to the Katun. Ust-Koksinsky district is the very heart of Gorny Altai. On its territory is Mount Belukha - the highest peak of Altai and all of Siberia. Behind the Gromotukha pass is the regional center - the village of Ust-Koksa. The village was founded by the Old Believers near the confluence of the Koksa River with the Katun. From Ust-Koksa we got to the village of Maralovodka. Here, having boarded a boat, we set off up the turbulent Katun River. From the mouth of the Ozernaya River, it is possible to get to the source of the Katun only on horseback. It's about ninety kilometers. Our path lay to Mount Belukha.