Mount Livadiyskaya, Mountain peak in Primorsky Krai, Russia.
Mount Livadiyskaya is a mountain peak in the Livadiysky Range, part of the broader Sikhote-Alin mountain system in Primorsky Krai, close to the Sea of Japan. Its lower slopes are covered in dense forest, while the upper section gives way to open rocky crests with little vegetation.
The mountain's present name dates from 1972, when Soviet authorities replaced Chinese toponyms in the Far East after the Damansky Island conflict; Livadiyskaya comes from the nearby settlement of Livadia. Before that the peak was called Pidan, probably from Chinese pi (great) and dan (rocks). Legends of a sacred role under the Bohai state and of stone guardians are pseudofolklore, attributed to modern authors rather than folk tradition.
The name Pidan is unofficial but the most widespread; it is probably Chinese, from pi (great) and dan (rocks). A popular claim that it means "stones piled up by God" in Jurchen is pseudofolklore with modern authors. The mountain was renamed Livadiyskaya in 1972, after the nearby Livadia, during the campaign to replace Chinese toponyms in the Far East.
The hike up takes around 4 to 5 hours from the trailhead, and the conditions can change quickly, so bringing warm layers is a good idea regardless of the season. Starting early in the day gives you the best chance of clear views at the top before any afternoon weather moves in.
The summit is the windiest in Primorsky Krai: winds above 15 m/s blow on about 139 days a year, and the average annual wind speed is 9.4 m/s. The top is also covered with kurums, blocky stone fields, with a small clearing just before it where tents can be pitched.
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