International Mountain Day

Farmer from the Altai Republic Galina Toptygina
Farmer from the Altai Republic Galina Toptygina

On December 11, at the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society in Moscow a meeting dedicated to International Mountain Day was held. Vladimir Kotlyakov, Honorary President of the Society, Director of the Institute of Geography, RAS, opened the event.

"Few people realize that about half of the territory of Russia is covered with mountains, a variety of mountains actually, - said the Academician. - the Russian Geographical Society traditionally pays great attention to the study of mountain areas."

International Mountain Day is celebrated for the eleventh time - the holiday was established by the decision of the 57th UN General Assembly in January 2003.

Mountains cover about one-fourth of the land surface and are home to a tenth of the world's population. It is a sanctuary for many unique species of plants and animals. All the world’s major rivers have their rise in the mountains.

In Russia, the mountains and hills are located in 43 federal subjects. Our most famous mountain ranges are: the Greater Caucasus, the Urals, the Altai (the highest mountain range of Siberia), the Verkhoyansk (Yakutia), the Western and Eastern Sayan (South Siberia), the Cherskogo ridge (northeast Siberia), the Sikhote-Alin (Far East).

The theme of this year is "Mountain farming - family farming", so owners of well-known Russian farms were invited. 

img_9349.jpg

A meeting dedicated to International Mountain Day
A meeting dedicated to International Mountain Day

So, farmer from the Altai Republic Galina Toptygina shared the story of her farm "Kayran", which at first was an ethno-economic park and now is a diversified farm. "Kayran" is located on the famous Chu tract connecting Siberia and Mongolia, so there is a mini-hotel for tourists and even a small ethnographic museum at the farm.

Mamed Ramazanov from Dagestan shared his experience of family farming in the village of Kurush - the most highland settlement in Russia and Europe.

Farmer Gazinur Ibragimov and President of the Interregional Association coordinating producers and processors of bee products Richat Galeev told about the achievements of family beekeeping in the mountains of southern Bashkiria.

In addition Yury Badenkov, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences presented his book "Study of the mountains" and "Horizons of landscape"

Then the guests were treated to a tea reception with farms gifts.

Photographer Ilya Melnikov

Vladimir Kotlyakov, Honorary President of the Society
Фермер из Республики Алтай Галина Топтыгина
Фермер из Республики Алтай Галина Топтыгина
  • Фермер из Республики Алтай Галина Топтыгина

On topic