Toratau, or Toratau (Bashkir: Toratau - "fortress-mountain"), also known as Shikhan, is a shihan, a lone mountain in the Ishimbay region of the Republic of Bashkortostan. He is the symbol of the city of Ishimbay and the Ishimbay region, depicted on their coats of arms and flags. Toratau is also recognized as an archaeological and natural monument a
Lake Tugar-Salgan
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Lake Tugar-Salgan, also known as Tugarsalgan or Dugan-Salgan, is one of the deepest karst lakes in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Its depth reaches 15 meters. In Ural-Altai mythology, a mountain and a lake are considered the core of the world model, representing a symbol of the divine above and below. Mount Toratau is considered as the center of the World, and the surrounding area is considered sacred and forbidden for economic activity. The neighboring lake Tugar-Salgan is considered bottomless, representing an entrance to the underground world and connecting with other bodies of water by an underground river.
The Bashkir name "Tugar-Salgan" is translated as "The lake that swallowed the horse" or "Turned around and lost." The Bashkir legend associated with this name tells the story of a mermaid who saved the riders, but warned that whoever turns around to say goodbye will remain in the lake forever. There is also a legend about how a battle took place near the lake between the Bashkirs and Kalmyks, after which the lake received the name “Men-Kalmyk”, which translates as “A Thousand Kalmyks”.
Lake Tugar-Salgan is included in the list of specially protected areas of the Republic of Bashkortostan.