Manpupuner rock formations
The Manpupuner (Manpupunyor) rock formations (Man-Pupu-Nyor; Мань-Пупу-нёр) or the Seven Strong Men Rock Formations or Poles of the Komi Republic are a set of 7 gigantic abnormally shaped stone pillars located west of the Ural mountains in the Troitsko-Pechorsky District of the Komi Republic. They are located on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychski Reserve on the mountain Man-Pupu-nyor (in the Mansi language - "a small mountain of idols"), in the interfluve of the rivers Ilych and Pechory. The second name is "Bolvano-Iz", that from the Komi language - "Mountain of idols". Hence the folk simplified name of the formation in Russian: "Bolvany" (could also be translated as "the Blockheads"). The total number of formations is 7, the height varying between 30 and 42 metres. There are numerous legends associated with Manpunpunyor . Earlier, the formations were considered sacred by local Mansi people. Today, they are included into the Seven Wonders of Russia list.
About 200 million years ago on the place of stone pillars were high mountains. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed mountains and, in the first place, weak rocks. Solid sericite-quartzite schists, from which the remains are composed, were destroyed less and survived to this day, and soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried down by water and wind in relief depressions.
One pillar, 34 meters high, stands somewhat apart from the others; It looks like a huge bottle turned upside down. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff. The pillars have a bizarre outline and, depending on the place of inspection, resemble that figure of a huge man, then the head of a horse or a ram. In past times Mansi deified grandiose stone statues, worshiped them, but climbing Manpupuner was the greatest sin.
Deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Russia, the Manpupuner rock formations are a very popular attraction in Russia, though not well known internationally and relatively unspoiled by tourism.
"In the distant past, in the dense forests that came to the very Ural Mountains, there lived a powerful Mansi tribe. The men of the tribe were so strong that one by one defeated the bear, and so fast that they could catch up with the running deer.
In the yurts of Mansi there were many furs and skins of dead animals. Of them, women made beautiful fur clothes. The good spirits who lived on the sacred mountain of Yalping Nyor helped Mansi, because the leader of the tribe was the wise leader Kuuschai, who was in great friendship with them. The leader had a daughter - beautiful Aim and son Pygrychum. Far behind the ridge was the news of the beauty of the young Aim. She was slender, like a pine, grown up in a dense forest, and sang so well that to listen to her the deer from the valley of Yydzhyd-Lyaga came running.
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Wikipedia