#altai

Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus pygargus

Зимний Курай на Алтае — это суровая, но впечатляюще красивая, «пустынная» степь с резко-континентальным климатом, где морозы и сильные ветры сочетаются с ярким солнцем и чистейшим воздухом, предлагающая туристам невероятные пейзажи, возможность увидеть горы Северо-Чуйского хребта, добраться до Актру или «Алтайского Марса», но требует подготовки к холоду, ветрам и возможным трудностям с логистикой, так как это «штучный товар» для подготовленных путешественников.

Здесь же находится одноименное маленькое село Курай, расположенное на высоте около 1500 метров. Несмотря на то, что население села - это менее 500 постоянно проживающих в нем человек (туристы не в счет), в Курае есть все необходимое для жизни. Это школа, администрация, аптека, больница, магазины, почта. Действует сотовая связь операторов Билайн и МТС.

Само название села переводится дословно как "сухой". И это отлично отражает местный климат, особенности местности. Большую часть года здесь сухая и довольно холодная погода, бывают сильные ветра.Земля здесь действительно засушливая. Осадков выпадает мало, пригодных для обработки земель совсем немного (используется искусственное орошение).Местные занимаются разведением животных, ведут подсобное хозяйство, работают на заготовлении леса и в туристической сфере. Наиболее комфортны для туризма май и летние месяцы.

Село Курай часто становится отправной точкой или перевалочной базой для тех, кто отправляется покорять ледники Актру. От села начинается пеший путь, который сложно преодолеть на машине. А дальше заповедная зона и небольшой оборудованный лагерь. Это тщательно охраняемая природная территория, заповедные места. Поэтому останавливаться в горах и окрестностях нельзя. Необходимый комфорт можно устроить как раз, приехав в село Курай в Республике Алтай. А дальше покорение гор и суровая, но необыкновенно красивая природа.

Winter Kurai in Altai is a harsh but impressively beautiful, "desolate" steppe with a sharply continental climate, where frosts and strong winds combine with bright sun and clean air, offering tourists incredible landscapes, the opportunity to see the mountains of the North Chuisky range, to get to Aktra or "Altai Mars", but requires preparation to the cold, winds and possible logistical difficulties, as this is a "piece of goods" for prepared travelers.

The small village of Kurai with the same name is located here, located at an altitude of about 1,500 meters. Despite the fact that the population of the village is less than 500 permanent residents (tourists do not count), Kurai has everything necessary for life. These are the school, administration, pharmacy, hospital, shops, post office. There is a cellular connection between Beeline and MTS operators.

The very name of the village translates literally as "dry". And it perfectly reflects the local climate and the features of the area. The weather is dry and rather cold most of the year, and there are strong winds.The land here is really arid. There is little precipitation, and very little suitable land for cultivation (artificial irrigation is used).Local people are engaged in animal husbandry, farming, logging and tourism. May and summer months are the most comfortable for tourism.

The village of Kurai often becomes a starting point or a transit base for those who set off to conquer the glaciers of Aktra. A walking path starts from the village, which is difficult to overcome by car. And then there is a protected area and a small equipped camp. This is a carefully protected natural area, protected areas. Therefore, it is impossible to stay in the mountains and the surrounding area. The necessary comfort can be arranged just by arriving in the village of Kurai in the Altai Republic. And then the conquest of the mountains and the harsh, but extremely beautiful nature.

Medieval islamic scholars like Kazvini flat out said “The Turks know war well, and Mars is their patron deity.” Even centuries before that, Ptolemy put the Turkistan region under Mars’ rule.

it’s believed that Attila Hun carried Mars’ sword into Europe. Hungarian myths say it was gifted to him by a mythic bird named Tuğrul (the name also represents strong warrior spirit).

As for how ancient this Mars symbolism goes, its VERY old. In one of the petroglyphs found in Kazakhstan, we see a tamga that reads as “AT” (means horse) and it's in the shape of Mars iconography.The petroglyphs date back to the early Saka period, approx 2,700-3000 years ago. Horses symbolize motion, battle, wild, untamed energy. Turks are the first to domesticize horses.

Mars personafies as "Kyzaghan/Kızağan Tengri" in Altaian mythology, a war deity which translates to something like "wrathful/fiery god". his clothing is red, his horse is red, the energy surrounding him is blood and battle. The constellation of Scorpio especially has an interesting place in Turkic cosmology - it's more associated with dragon imagery than scorpion. hero on horseback slaying the scorpion (dragon) is a recurring motif. It represents Mars defeating death, time and fate

In the 13th century Arabic astrological manuscript Kitab al-Mawalid, we see a depiction of a warrior on horseback killing a scorpion which deeply resonates with nomadic Turkic cosmology. Kızagan Tengri, associated with war, scorpion and red horse.

Mete Han (aka Modu Chanyu), Turkic ruler, founder of the world’s first professional army in the 3rd century BCE literally INVENTED military ranks, built the blueprint for modern tactics. The great emperor Genghis Khan later on followed his strategies and tactics to conquer the world.

The Cumans, Turkic steppe warriors controlled trade routes, dominated Eurasia and were so feared the Byzantines hired them as mercenaries - though eventually overshadowed by the Mongols, their blueprint for warfare was also Turks. thats a different topic tho