Mount Otvazhnaya

Mount Otvazhnaya is a 303-metre peak of the Zhiguli Mountains on the edge of Zhigulyovsk in Samara Oblast, within the Samarskaya Luka National Park. Locals call it the "TV Tower" after the radio relay mast on its summit, and it is one of the best-known natural viewpoints over the Zhiguli Sea.

Name and landscape

According to a common account, the mountain takes its name from the village of Otvazhnoye that once stood at its foot; after the Zhiguli hydroelectric dam was built, the area was flooded by the Kuibyshev Reservoir. The popular name "TV Tower" comes from the relay mast, which can be seen from far away and serves as a landmark for the whole area.

The mountain is formed by the steep slopes of the Zhiguli Upland, with many outcrops of carbonate rock. Seen from the left bank of the reservoir, Otvazhnaya looks inaccessible, although a road leads to the top. Next to it rises the conical Mount Shishka, slightly lower than Otvazhnaya, and Mogutova Mountain is also nearby.

The view from the top

The summit looks out over the Zhiguli Sea, the town of Zhigulyovsk, the Zhiguli hydroelectric dam, the settlement of Shlyuzovoy and Mount Shishka. Across the Volga you can see Tolyatti and its Komsomolsky district. The climb is possible in any season, and each one gives the landscape its own look.

Getting there

You can walk up or drive almost to the viewpoint. The road starts in Zhigulyovsk, in the G-1 microdistrict at the end of Parkovaya Street; it is paved at first and then turns into a dirt track. The footpath from town runs through woodland, with some steep stretches. An eco-trail on the slopes was set up by the Samarskaya Luka National Park together with RusHydro.

Good to know

The mountain lies within the protected Samarskaya Luka National Park, and the park's rules apply. The slopes are sheer, so do not go close to the edge of the viewpoint. A walk up the TV Tower is often combined with a climb of neighbouring Mount Shishka.