Sarlyk, Mountain summit in Altai Republic, Russia
Sarlyk is a mountain summit in Russia's Altai Republic and rises to 2507.5 meters above sea level. It marks the highest point of the Seminsky range and sits at the boundary between forested slopes below and open alpine terrain above.
Soviet military forces built an air defense base at the mountain's base during the Cold War to monitor airspace. The installation was later abandoned and its concrete remains are still visible along the hiking trail.
The name Sarlyk comes from the Altai language and refers to the wild yaks that once roamed these mountain slopes. Local stories about these animals connect visitors to the long relationship between people and wildlife in this region.
The hike to the summit follows a roughly 7-kilometer trail from the mountain's base, with conditions varying by season. Summer and early fall offer the most stable weather, while winter winds can make the route impassable for most visitors.
The mountain sits in a zone of intense air currents that creates extreme wind patterns, particularly in winter when speeds rise far above typical values. These powerful winds shape distinctive snow and ice patterns on the summit that make it visually striking.
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