Arakulskie Shikhany

The Arakulskie Shikhany are the southernmost and highest granite rock massif of the Middle Urals: a chain over two kilometres long rises to 563 metres above sea level, 262 metres above the surface of Lake Arakul. Individual walls of the eastern face reach 40–80 metres; from the highest point, the Chamberlen summit, eleven lakes are visible. The archaeology is unusual: nine settlements have been excavated, from the Early Iron Age to the late Middle Ages, with no dwellings or household items found — instead there are ritual objects, stone discs with holes and solar symbolism, menhirs and a Neolithic pictograph. 'Stone bowls' with traces of fire are carved into the rocks; researchers believe the massif served as an ancient 'temple' and lookout post. The name 'shikhan' is Turkic for 'a mountain with rocks on its summit'. The massif has four sectors: the Pioneer Rocks, the Great Shikhan, the Campside Rocks and the Far Supertrasses; the eastern face is an active climbing crag. Unusually for such a site, the rocks carry no formal protection status.