Poklonnaya Mountain

Poklonnaya Mountain, also known as Lysaya (Bald) Mountain or Golden Mountain, stands on the outskirts of the town of Karabash in Chelyabinsk Oblast, in the Karabash urban district. The summit rises to 597 meters above sea level. The slopes are made of dark rock and the top is almost bare of vegetation, which gave the mountain one of its nicknames.

History

On top of the mountain stands a large Orthodox worship cross (poklonny krest), one of the tallest of its kind in Russia. It was erected in May 2005. The cross is built from a metal frame about 12 meters tall with a span of about 7 meters, is clad with mirror panels, and is held up by steel guy cables; the structure weighs several tons. The mirrored cladding makes the cross visible from a distance, catching the sunlight.

The mountain itself is linked to a copper-gold ore deposit known locally as "Zolotaya Gora" (Golden Mountain) — the source of one of its unofficial names.

Legends and the name

The name Poklonnaya ("worship" or "bowing" mountain) took hold after the cross was put up, drawing pilgrims and tourists who climb to it to pay their respects. The other name, Lysaya (Bald), is linked to the mountain's appearance: according to one version, dark scatters of rock on its slopes resemble the outline of a human head or a Bashkir hat when seen from a distance, hence the comparison to baldness.

What to see

The cross itself is a landmark visible from afar: its mirrored cladding stands out against the mountain and the roads around the town. A dirt trail runs along the ridge, taking visitors from the base up to the summit.

Getting there

The mountain rises right next to the town of Karabash: from the "Yubileyny" bus stop it is about a half-hour walk to the base. From there a trail climbs at roughly a 30-degree angle to the cross; the ascent takes 30 to 40 minutes.

Karabash can be reached by bus, private car or taxi. The distance from Chelyabinsk is about 110 km, and from Yekaterinburg about 190 km.