Altai Mountains, Russia VR 360

Altai is a truly amazing place in Russia, where nature has preserved its pristine splendor and pleases with a variety of colors. The Chui and Kurai steppes are among the most interesting corners of this region. They are located between two majestic mountain ranges and are separated by the Chuya River and its tributaries. The famous Chuyskoye highway (Chuisky trakt) is 968 kilometers long and runs through both steppes. These vast territories are located at an altitude of 1,600-1,900 meters above sea level, which gives the climate a sharply continental character. The average winter temperature reaches about -30℃, but lower values of -60℃ have also been recorded. There are only about 65 frost-free days a year, which leads to the formation of a permafrost layer up to 90 centimeters thick. In both intermountain basins, one can find many archaeological sites from the Stone Age, Iron Age and Turkic period: burial mounds, petroglyphs and the remains of ancient irrigation systems. Despite certain similarities, the Chui and Kurai steppes differ significantly. The Chui steppe is covered with semi-desert vegetation, while the Kurai steppe, located on the right bank of the river, is closer to a desert. In places it is a completely flat plain, but gradually rises and passes into the mountains surrounding the basin.