Urals

The first human settlements in the Ural Mountains appeared 14,000 years ago. In the southern Urals is the ‘sun-town’ of Arkaim, while in the north polar region you can meet groups of Khanty and Mansi, reindeer-herding peoples. Cities in the Urals are industrial centres serving the whole country. Here is also the legendary ‘Uralmash’ Works, the industrial plant that beats all others, which attracts flocks of industrial history fans, along with spiritualists, mountaineers and skiers. The Urals is also a paradise for fans of paranormal – there are endless legends about UFO-sightings, and people come to follow in the footsteps of the lost Dyatlov Group expedition. At the same time, the region looks forward with a progressive rock-music scene that has succeeded in gaining a huge following all across the country.