The Altai Katun River is widely known intourist circles. She enjoys equal respect among lovers of water rafting on various means, and among those who prefer less extreme types of recreation on its coast.
Geographical information
The Katun River, the total length of which from the source tothe slope of the greatest Altai peak, Belukha Mountain, to the confluence with the river Biya is 688 kilometers, is the main waterway of the Mountain Altai. The river breaks its course downstream through many obstacles. This causes a large number of thresholds throughout its upper and middle currents. Throughout its entire length, the Katun River is divided into three main sections, distinguished by the strength of the stream, the width of the channel and the character of the surrounding area. Upper Katun - from the source on the Göbler Glacier on the southern slope of Belukha Mountain to the mouth of the Cox River. The length of the site - 210 kilometers. The middle Katun is a two hundred kilometer stretch from the mouth of the Coke to the mouth of the Smulta. And Lower Katun - 280 kilometers to the geographical point Biya-Katun, the confluence of two equally-sized rivers. This place is considered to be the beginning of the great Siberian river Ob, which has two whole sources. In the lower reaches, the Katun acquires a predominantly flat character.
Historical background
Gorny Altai, Katun, like many othersremote areas of Siberia, traditionally considered inaccessible areas. They were separated from the capitals and large industrial centers by long distances and the absence of main lines of communication. These circumstances significantly complicated the economic development of the region’s wealth. And the undoubted positive consequence of this situation is the relatively prosperous state of the natural environment, which the Altai region has at the beginning of the twenty-first century. To appreciate this - it is enough to compare it with the Urals. In the Soviet period of history there were numerous plans for the construction of dams and hydroelectric power plants on Katun. These plans evoked objections in scientific circles and protests from those who are not indifferent to the ecology of their native land. And today we can only be glad that the hydropower potential of the main Altai river has remained untapped.
On Altai
The Katun River has traditionally attracted thosewho, under various circumstances, sought to temporarily or permanently sever his relations with the civilized world. In past centuries, these were the Old Believers and other persecuted religious minorities. They fled to the Gorny Altai from persecution and founded their secluded settlements on the banks of the Katun. Traces of their existence can be found in the Altai today. And now Katun attracts the attention of various extreme tourists from all over the world, as well as ordinary connoisseurs of untouched nature. Gorny Altai does not deceive the expectations of either one or the other. To make sure of this, it is enough to open any tourist media and read reviews. Katun is marked on the tourist forums with the most enthusiastic responses. It is difficult to find another similar route for travel, where the pristine nature on the coast serves as a backdrop for extreme rafting through rapids and whirlpools.
For a dose of adrenaline
It is lovers of extreme mountain rafting.rivers make up the most significant part of the flow of tourists, each summer rushing to the shores of the main waterway of the Altai. Rafting on the Katun is traditionally carried out in two ways. On light and maneuverable kayaks or on more stable (and less agile) inflatable multi-chamber rafts, referred to as "rafts". In each of the two possible variants of the alloy there are advantages and disadvantages. The kayak is designed for a trained rafter who, before reaching the Katun shore, managed to go through simpler tracks. This is a prerequisite. Without it, the Katun rafting has a high probability of becoming the latest in a sports career. Therefore, a large part of the unskilled public is melted on inflatable rafts, under the guidance of an experienced instructor in the group. Sometimes the alloy is carried out on catamarans, designs of two hulls. They are quite difficult to manage and require high coordination from the crew. But with any kind of rafting, overcoming the rapids on a mountain river is very exciting. Those who have ever experienced this adventure, usually feel the desire to continue such extreme travel. And the Altai Mountains traditionally pleases with a variety of possible rafting routes along its waterways.
What not to do?
You should not try to raft on the Katunon their own. And all the more alone. This can only be done by extreme extreme sportsmen, who have experience of passing difficult tracks. But, first of all, there are not so many such people, and secondly, they do not need advice and certainly know the level of complexity of the Katun alloy. For all other tourists, such an adventure will be close to suicidal. Rafting on the Katun - this is the case when you should not save on the services of an experienced instructor, team leader. The Katun River does not forgive a dismissive attitude, for many tourists it was the last rafting. This is evidenced by memorial tablets, which can be found on the coastal cliffs. This should be remembered, heading for Altai. Katun, by the way, is not the only dangerous river. Some of its tributaries are not inferior in extremity to the main stream.
Katun, tourist route map
Any serious journey decided to start withvisual routing on a topographic map. In this case, the case is complicated by the fact that the number of natural attractions and simply beautiful places on both banks of the river is difficult to calculate and map. But when rafting on the river, the location of the rapids and other obstacles must be known. This is vital, do not rely only on the alloy instructor. Fortunately, all the thresholds available on Katun have been thoroughly studied and mapped with small details of the approaches to them. Generations of tourists have done this work. In addition, the map displays significant natural objects on both banks, which should not be missed, being carried away by overcoming obstacles in the river bed. Also, do not neglect the advice of experienced people on the tactics of overcoming thresholds. Each of them requires an individual approach.
Middle Katun
In the upper reaches of the river there is practically no fusion.carried out. Sometimes walking groups of non-walking paths go to these hard-to-reach places. The main routes of the alloy are located in the middle course. It is here that most of the rapids for which the Katun is famous are located. Photos that illustrate how to overcome these obstacles were certainly seen by everyone. These bright visual images are familiar even to those who have not yet been fortunate enough to visit the Altai Mountains. Most of the tourist structures that offer clients rafting on the Katuns under the guidance of experienced instructors build their routes along the middle course of the river. Where, by the way, is relatively easy to get to, both to the starting point of the route, and to return home from the point of completion of the rafting. Those who are planning a rafting on the Katun, should remember that the inflatable rafts, although not drowning, turn over very steep rapids.
Lower Katun
In the lower reaches of the river loses its stormymountain character and gradually becomes flat. It is even navigable throughout the thirty-kilometer section, from the confluence with Biya to the settlement of Shulginka. The calm nature of the current makes it possible to raft on kayaks and light boats. Despite the fact that high mountain ranges with snow-white peaks are left behind, the nature on the shores of the Katun is expressive in its lower course. Places here are more habitable. Among the attractions should be noted the village Srostki, the birthplace of an outstanding Russian writer and film director Vasily Shukshin. In the lower reaches of the river there is a significant number of recreation centers and tourist sites.
Chui path, how to get to Katun
This is the main highway linking the Altai Mountains.with the outside world. The historic Chuisky Tract, which is today part of the federal highway from Novosibirsk to the Mongolian border, runs for a considerable distance in close proximity to the Katun. It is along this road that the rafting tourists get to the starting points of the route. And on it they return back to the city of Biysk, located on the river Biya, two dozen kilometers from its confluence with Katun. Biysk is located on the railway, which is relatively easy to reach from any point of the Russian Federation. True, it will most likely have to be done with transfers. Since Biysk is located on the periphery of the main directions. But in the city it is easy to find trucking companies specializing in the delivery of tourists in the direction of Gorny Altai. Travel time along the Chuisky tract to the starting point of the Katun route can be several hours.
