Kameni Giganti Urala

The Manpupuner rock formations (Man-Pupu-Nyor; Мань-Пупу-нёр; Bolvano-Iz) are a set of 7 stone pillars located west of the Ural mountains in the Troitsko-Pechorsky District of the Komi Republic. They are located on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychski Reserve on the mountain Man-Pupu-nyor (in the Mansi language - "a small mountain of idols"), between the Ilych and Pechory rivers. They are also known as the Seven Strong Men Rock Formations and the Poles of the Komi Republic. Their name in the Komi language means "Mountain of idols".

The height of the rocks varies between 30 and 42 metres. About 200 million years ago at the location of the stone pillars there were high mountains. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually eroded the mountains. Solid sericite-quartzite schists, from which the remains are composed, were eroded less and survive today. Soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind into depressions.

One pillar, 34 meters high, stands somewhat apart from the others. It resembles an inverted bottle. Six others lie at the edge of the cliff. The pillars are said to resemble the figures of a huge man, or the head of a horse or ram. There are numerous legends associated with Manpupuner.[1] The formations were once considered sacred by the local Mansi people, and climbing them was regarded as a sin.[2]

Deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Russia, the Manpupuner rock formations are a popular attraction in Russia, though relatively unspoiled by tourism.[3]