Chests are the unusual mountain ridge stretching on border of Shirinsky and Ordzhonikidzevsky districts of the Republic of Khakassia. These mountains are interesting not from geological, and and from the archaeological point of view. There are ancient barrows, burial grounds, caves with rock paintings. The Khakass Chests are the Russian natural and historical monument.
Location of mountains of Chests in Khakassia
The Republic of Khakassia is a part of Siberian Federal District, it is located in the southern part of Siberia on left banks of the Ob Rivers and Yenisei. Through Ordzhonikidzevsky and Shirinsky districts which are in the North of the region the unusual mountain ridge from the northwest on the southeast is stretched. Its length – about ten kilometers, and width is from one to two kilometers. This mountain system Chests is called, in its territory there is a reserve of the same name.
Chests – not a continuous ridge, it consists of several independent mountains: in total their eight, are also called they by numbers – the First Chest, the Second Chest and so on. Before them the extensive glade is located. Chests cannot brag of height, it is difficult to call them mountains is rather heights. Their main feature – unusual appearance: they represent the correct form of a pyramid with the square basis. Archeologists consider that this strange complex of barrows was in the ancient time used for observation of the star sky. In a word, Chests are the ancient observatory created by hands of the person.
Sights of Chests
The most northern height – The first Chest, to the south of everything is the Fifth. Scientists consider that all in this place there were about twenty such formations, but only eight are known today, and five them a bottom are available to tourists and therefore are popular. The First is considered the most significant of all Chests: it has the most equal and beautiful form and in the ancient time was of the most great importance for astrological ceremonies. There is an ancient sanctuary, the temple of priests and observatory. On plumbs of the Fourth Chest it is possible to see groups of drawings or petroglyphs which narrate about heroic life of inhabitants of this earth: about the birth and education of soldiers, about wars and fights, about victories. Age of these pictures – more than two thousand years. A row found ancient burials. The fifth Chest is called Time Chest: here ceremonies meetings of the New Sun were held, and nearby there were astronomical platforms. In the neighborhood of Chests there is a set of other cultural and historical complexes, ancient burials, rock paintings and other sights. This mountain ridge is famous also for the unique nature: here many endemic plants grow and rare birds are found. It allowed to give to Chests the rank of a natural and historical monument.