A limestone rock with a ten-metre through arch on the Iset river near Kamensk-Uralsky — a natural 'gate' saved from a quarry and photographed by Prokudin-Gorsky.
Kamennye Vorota Rock
On the right bank of the Iset river, north-west of the settlement of Martyush, rises a twenty-metre limestone rock with a through opening up to ten metres high: the arch narrows to 4–5 metres at the top and spreads to eight at the water. From the opposite bank the rock reads as a monolith with a doorway in the middle — hence the name. The opening is a through karst cave washed by water in the limestone. The rock was described back in 1804 by the historian Nikolai Popov under the name 'Vorotnoy Kamen'; in 1909 it was photographed by Prokudin-Gorsky and Metenkov. In 1934 limestone was surveyed here for industry — a verdict of unsuitability saved the rock. Since 2001 the Kamennye Vorota has been protected as a geomorphological and historical nature monument of 73 hectares. It is part of the karst cluster of Kamensk-Uralsky, together with the nearby Smolinskaya Cave. River excursions reach the rock, and in winter visitors approach it directly across the ice of the Iset.
How to get there
From Yekaterinburg about 95 km along the R354 to Kamensk-Uralsky and the turn to Martyush; then 1.5–2 km on foot along the Iset bank. In summer pleasure boats run to the rock from the city.
Best season
May to September from the water; in winter — across the ice (only after checking its thickness).
Travel tips & stories
The best angle on the arch is from the left bank in morning light.
Do not climb the rock: the stone crumbles and the site is protected.
Combine it with the Smolinskaya Cave — same district.
To sync favorites and plans across devices,
Local guides
- TR
TrueRussia administrator
Added by administrator