Sinia Yaju National Park
On the banks of the Lena River in Yakutia lies the Lina River Pillar Rock Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its uniqueness and a familiar name for all nature lovers and travellers. However, the park actually includes two types of "pillars": not only the columnar rocks of the Lena River, but also the Sinia pillars. The AirPano team completed a shooting mission here, and this photo walk allows you to admire the scale and grandeur of these landscapes.
Situated on both sides of the river, the columnar rocks of the Lena River are 40 km (25 mi) long and 200 m (656 ft) high, resembling a stone forest or a Gothic castle with spires. Over millions of years, with erosion, weathering, crustal movements and drastic changes in temperature, nature has creatively shaped Cambrian limestone into this impregnable wall!
Paleontologists have found the bones of mammoths, hairy rhinos and other prehistoric animals in this area, and continue to study the sites of ancient people, as well as their tools, jewelry and petroglyphs, it's no wonder that the columnar rocks of the Lena River have always been shrouded in legend. Locals believe that the pillars of the Lena River are frozen gods: they stand still, waiting for the moment so that they can one day return to people and teach them how to live in harmony with nature. Another story is related to a dragon that legend has it that a young warrior fought against it in order to save a beautiful girl. The dragon was almost all defeated, but at the last moment, its tail hit the ground, turning everything around it to stone. Finally, there is also a story of Bigfoot living here, called "Urmesh" by the Yakuts, which can attack hunters and help hunters.
The Sinyaa pillar is named after the Siniaa River, a tributary of the Lena River. The Sinia Pillars are as beautiful as the columnar rocks of the Lena River, and their reflection is especially spectacular in the early morning silence. The arches, stone bridges and red sandstone towers are all so strangely constructed that it's hard to believe that nature didn't create them and not some eccentric architect.
During the day, the Sinia sub-columns will look different depending on the light. And in the foggy season, they become a fairytale fortress. In autumn, fog often blankets the Sinia pillars, but AirPano's photographers were lucky enough to complete the assignment, and now you can see the foggy stone pillars in July.
As with many nature parks, getting to the Lerna River Pillars and Sinia Columns is not easy and cannot be done without a boat. As for the Sinyia River, due to its shallow water depth, you can only get there by kayak or jet boat. Our virtual tour is much easier and may even inspire you to see this beautiful place for yourself!