Discover Uvatsky District: nature trail, crafts and history

The flat, one-kilometre circular route of the ecological nature trail “In a Green Future — a Green Present” runs through Turtas. It begins and ends alongside an operating ski trail at the ski base. Information boards explain the plant and animal species of Uvatsky District. This makes the route a short walk focused on a specific nature theme. Check local conditions before setting out.

Wooden sculptures along the nature trail

The nature trail also features the wooden sculptures “Dinosaur” and “Ancient Man.” Both were created for the international woodcarving competition “Wonderworkers.” The information boards and sculptures offer different points of interest along the same route: the district’s plant and animal species on the one hand, and two named woodcarvings on the other.

History and cultural themes

A prehistoric settlement dating from the 10th to 12th centuries BC was found at Koshelevskaya Gora. The find points to the area’s early settlement history. A different, more recent cultural connection is the “Wonderworkers” wood-park sculpture festival: its eighth edition concluded in Uvat on September 9, 2023. The theme was “History in Myths and Facts.”

Local history museum and birch-bark crafts

The local history museum “Legends of the Grey Irtysh” is part of Uvatsky District’s cultural offerings. A museum description from 2019 mentions the free “Artefact: A Guide to Russia’s Museums” app for visitors with smartphones. It enabled them to identify exhibits bearing the AR logo and access detailed information about them; an audio guide is also mentioned. If you are planning to use these features during a current visit, check in advance whether they are still available.

Birch-bark items are also part of the regional craft tradition. A wide variety of birch-bark products have long been made in Uvatsky District. These include pestery: large backpacks woven from narrow strips of birch bark. They are still made and are now used primarily as souvenirs. This example illustrates both the form of a traditional everyday item and its role as a souvenir today.

Landscape and activities in Uvatsky District

Padalny Mys is a natural monument offering views of the Irtysh. Visitors to Uvatsky District can also fish in its rivers and lakes. So, alongside the nature trail, a named viewpoint and an activity on the district’s waterways can also feature in your trip planning.

Uvatsky District is the northernmost and largest district by area in Tyumen Oblast, excluding the districts of the autonomous okrugs. This geographical context frames the diverse natural, cultural and historical themes of Uvatsky District.

More cultural and natural attractions in Tyumen Oblast

The wider destination of Tyumen Oblast also offers a range of cultural and landscape highlights. The white-stone Tobolsk Kremlin is an open-air architectural monument on a high plateau at the confluence of the Tobol and Irtysh rivers. All its buildings are part of the Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve, which is designated a cultural heritage site of federal significance in Russia. The Kremlin is also home to the Cathedral of St. Sophia and the Dormition, described as the oldest stone church in Siberia.

In Ishim, the P. P. Yershov Museum houses the world’s largest collection of the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse.” The local museum “City Council” explores the Nikolskaya Fair, the development of merchant life and the city’s wartime history. In Yalutorovsk, the Decembrists’ Grove is a natural monument of regional significance. It covers about 90 hectares and is also part of a historical and ecological route.

Discover more destinations: Tobolsky District, Vagaysky District, Tyumensky District, City of Tyumen, Nizhnetavdinsky District, Tyumensky District, Abatsky District.

For the regional travel overview: Tyumen Oblast.