The enigmatic Manpupuner: Russian rock formations that baffle geologists
There are many truly incredible places on planet Earth. One of them is located in Russia, in a region west of the Ural Mountains: the Manpupuner. These are unique natural monuments, so much so that they are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia. Some rock pillars reach a height of 42 meters. How were these wonders formed? In addition to scientific explanations, there is a wonderful legend about their creation.
The Manpupuner rock formations (Man-Pupu-Nyer; Мань-Пупу-нёр) are one of Russia's best-kept secrets.
Tourism, so far, has remained at reasonable levels, preserving the site and keeping it relatively intact.
It is truly a breathtaking natural site: a group of seven gigantic stone pillars with unusual shapes, located in the Troitsko-Pechorsky district, in the Republic of Komi, west of the Ural Mountains.
The monoliths, presumably of natural origin, reach impressive heights, ranging from a minimum of 30 meters to a maximum of 42 meters, standing tall on a hilly plateau on the western slope of the mountain.
The process that led to their formation is not fully understood, but it is generally believed that the monoliths are the result of erosion caused by wind and ice, dating back to the end of the last Ice Age. Some researchers suggest that the pillars could be a karst formation, meaning geological formations caused by the dissolution of soluble rock layers.
The plateau on which the monoliths rest is quite difficult to reach, posing a true challenge for enthusiastic climbers. Most visitors arrive at the site by helicopter, but some of the more adventurous ones undertake the 140 km journey starting from the village of Ust.
Once they reach Manpupuner, the tired hikers set up camp at the base of the gigantic monoliths: images show that, overall, the experience is worth the effort of the journey.
The Legend of the Seven Strong Men
The site of Manpupuner still retains its aura of sacredness, both for modern visitors and for the indigenous Mansi people in ancient times. Many people who visit Manpupuner report feelings of deep fulfillment and a sense of calming energy that permeates the site.
These are effects similar to those experienced at other megalithic sites, such as Stonehenge or during visits to the ruins of pre-Columbian America. The modern descendants of the Mansi people still use the site today to perform ancient shamanic rituals.
Legend has it that the rocks were once a group of ancient Samoyed giants, who were heading to the Vogulski mountains with the intention of destroying the Mansi people.
Once they reached the Manpupuner plateau, the Mansi shaman spotted the group of giants approaching from a great distance (Vogulski means 'bare mountain,' i.e., treeless).
Surprised and frightened by the arrival of the seven giants, the shaman dropped his ceremonial drum, and immediately the giants were turned into the stone pillars we see today.
Despite the clear allegorical nature of the legend, some believe that the Manpupuner rocks are somehow of artificial origin or that they have some connection to the ancient alien contact theory, which forms the basis of the Ancient Astronaut Theory. However, it seems quite obvious that the stone columns are a natural formation with symbolic significance accessible only to the Mansi culture.
The remote location of the site has preserved its integrity, keeping it largely untouched by mass tourism. However, this is bound to change, as many adventurous Westerners are constantly seeking new and interesting places to visit.
With Manpupuner being one of the seven wonders of Russia, alongside St. Basil’s Cathedral and Mount Elbrus, the tourist potential of the place and the consequent economic benefits represent a temptation too great for the residents of the small villages in the area to resist.
The hope is that the preservation of the natural site doesn’t slip out of control for local administrators, as unfortunately happened with Mount Everest in the Himalayas.
