What is so beautiful about Toratau? Over 200 millions years of its story told through the everlasting life on it, geology, plants, animals and birds? Yes, that is fascinating. The story of humans living nearby in this area and their relationship to nature. Of course, the views from the top, but also from the footpath and the stairs coming up to it, surrounded by fields and woods. The beauty is in the journey itself.
On 14 August 2025 Nicole and I visited Toratau.
I have been planning to take `Nicole to this place for years, considering that she goes to school from September till early July, and althought it is near our house in London, the schedule is very strict and preparation for exams is also a factor, then, during holidays she sometimes goes abroad to the US, and for this journey to Bashkortostan we needed a few weeks. Summer is easier for travelling there as we have to consider that in winter temperature often gets to -20 to -30 C. The trip happened in August 2025. This is a unique and sacred natural space.
By the entrance to the path, there a few cafes, so we decided to get the local lemonade, one of the best ones. Nicole got to try out the taste known to many of us, who grew up in the USSR. Yes, as it is said, the taste made to ‘GOST’, very healthy indeed.
Getting to the top took about an hour and a half, only because of a very relaxed walk while taking pictures of the scenery and stopping to enjoy the views, drink some kvas (traditional drink from bread). Having a good time can take time.
It says ‘Live Kvas’, only 35 rubles or 30 pence for 0,2 litre and up to 200 rubles or £4 for 1,5 litre, very refreshing on this summer day.
Chorus:
I was thinking about my song ‘Home’ which I wrote in 2018, from my album ‘Legends On The Map’.
That world you always wanted
On doorstep you all once had
That world you always wanted
On doorstep you all once had
You’ve been calling home
You are not alone
On the top of Toratau I took the time to relax, looking at the lands around with the forests, crops, some buildings within the Toratau geopark area.
Around two thousand years ago, the nomadic Sarmatians used to have their camps. Sarmatians were a large confederation of ancient nomadic peoples, and their daggers were found there in 1980s.
It was a sanctuary, a place of sacred rituals.
The view from here is so fascinating.
From XIV century the people known as Yurmati, a very respected Bashkir clan, have lived nearby. Ethnographer Ivan Lepekhin wrote in 1769, that without fulfilling the oaths which they have given to the mountain, they would not go to the top of the mountain, unless ‘one would want to act as a villain to themselves’.
Yurmati are the Turkic Yugra people. Yugra was a collective name for lands and peoples near Ural Mountains according to the Russian chroniclers.
On 6 September 2025, the geopark ‘Toratau’ has been officially recognised as a place of global significance by UNESCO.
