Lady Siberia
- Jun 22, 2020
- 3 min read

Altai Stone Mushrooms

Updated: Aug 31, 2020

The Akkurum tract with stone mushrooms is one of the wonders of Russia. It is located on the mountainside in the Karusu gorge of the Altai Reserve.

The stone mushrooms of the Akkurum tract are one of the types of kurums, the so-called clusters of stone blocks, formed as a result of weathering and leaching of protruding rock formations.

The stone mushrooms neighbor to the river Chulyshman, which flows at the bottom of the mountain. It springs from the Dzhulukul lake and running to the Teletskoye Lake 15 kilometers far from the Akkurum. The landscape view opening from the mountain is picturesque and breathtaking.

The name “Ak-Corum” (Akkurum) means “White talus” in Altai language.

Altai kurums

The similarity of Altai kurums with mushrooms provided with the stone pillars covered with small stone plates in shapes of hats. These amazing shapes have been caused by the difference between the solidity of pillars and “hats”. The “hats’ are less prone to weathering.

There are two clusters of mushrooms on the steep slope of the Akkurum tract. They consist of both small and big ones. The stone mushrooms are quite tall - from 1 to 7 meters, their diameter reaches 2 meters, and the thickness of the pillars is up to 1.5 meters.

Fascinating facts

One of the interesting facts about Altai kurums is their ability to move down the mountain slope. It happens due to the special structure of the mountain slope in which there is plenty of rubble and clay. Kurum mushrooms are still constantly changing. Some of them continue to “grow”, others are crumbling.

So it turns out this stone meadow with mushrooms may look in a completely different way in a few years. And, in a distant time, the Altai wonder probably will disappear at all. Scientists say this may happen very soon, in some 30-50 years.

Causes of formation and changes

One of the main reasons of the stone mushrooms formation in the Akkurum tract is the peculiarities of the rock. As with the formation of all kurums, one of the foremost reasons is the destruction of the rock due to temperature changes in day and at night. Another important factor of the Altai landmark formation is the flow of water after heavy rainfall, flowing down the steep slope of the mountain and eroding the soil. In addition, weathering may be the most significant factor.

The stone mushrooms clusters in the Akkurum formation are constantly changing – new are growing, old are in the process of destruction. In 2003 some of the “hats” fell down after the earthquake. There is a myth among the local people that on the day when the last stone mushroom “hat” falls, the doomsday will come. Fortunately, this statement hasn’t been confirmed by scientists.

How to get to Altai Stone Mushrooms

It’s impossible to get to the mushrooms by taxi, because the path to them is not quite easy. The slopes of the Akkurum tract are not the busiest place and tourists do not go in crowds here. Nevertheless, excursions are organized here. The distance from Biysk is about 650 km, from Gorno-Altaysk - 490 km, and from the nearest village - about 5 kilometers.

The hiking trail to the natural boundary starts from the Stone Mushrooms camping, which can be reached by car along the following route: from Biysk or Gorno-Altaysk you need to go along the Chuisky tract to the village of Aktash, and then move off the highway onto the gravel road towards the village of Ulagan, continue to the village of Balyktuyul, from which, via the Katu-Yaryk pass, take the dirt road to the campsite. The turn to the campsite is indicated by the banner of the camp site, which is about 500 meters away. Please note that the last time to refuel the car is best in the village of Aktash, since after it there will be no refueling on the road.

Chulyshman river

From the campsite itself, it will be necessary to get on a rented boat to another birch of the Chulyshman River (500 rubles per person - there and back), and then walk about 4 kilometers on the path along the Karas River. Directly to the mushrooms themselves, you must climb 120 meters up the hill.

In addition, you can get to the Chulyshman valley from Lake Teletskoye: from Biysk or Gorno-Altaysk by car or intercity bus, then from the village of Aktybash by boat, boat or ferry to Cape Kirsay, then by car to the campsite.