In a country as vast and geographically diverse as Russia, it’s hardly surprising that there are countless incredible natural wonders that remain relatively unknown to the world. One such hidden gem lies deep in the remote wilderness of the Komi Republic, a region located in the northeastern part of European Russia. This area, part of the expansive Ural Mountains range, is home to a mysterious and breathtaking geological formation known as Man-Pupu-Nyor.
Standing tall and proud in the middle of an isolated plateau, seven towering stone pillars rise dramatically from the earth, reaching heights between 30 and 42 meters (98 to 138 feet). These mᴀssive rock monoliths have withstood the test of time and the harsh climate of northern Russia, becoming one of the most iconic landmarks of the region. The name Man-Pupu-Nyor comes from the language of the indigenous Mansi people, and it translates poetically as “Little Mountain of the Gods.” The Mansi are an ancient ethnic group whose language is distantly related to Hungarian, and their culture and mythology are deeply intertwined with the natural world around them.
According to Mansi legend, these seven stone giants were once living beings—giants who dared to cross the sacred Ural Mountains. However, a powerful shaman opposed their journey and cast a spell that turned them into stone, forever freezing them in place. In a twist of fate, the shaman himself was also caught in the magic, resulting in one of the stone pillars standing apart from the others. This lone monolith is said to represent the shaman, eternally separated from the six other petrified giants.
Geologists believe that these formations were created over hundreds of millions of years through the gradual process of erosion. The Ural Mountains are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world, dating back over 300 million years. Wind, rain, frost, and temperature fluctuations wore away the softer surrounding rock, leaving behind these uniquely shaped pillars of harder stone.
Although there are many other curious rock formations scattered across the Urals, none are as famous or as awe-inspiring as the Seven Giants of Man-Pupu-Nyor. Their eerie, almost supernatural appearance, combined with the legends that surround them, has earned them a spot among the Seven Wonders of Russia, a list celebrating the country’s most extraordinary natural and cultural landmarks.
Today, Man-Pupu-Nyor remains incredibly difficult to reach, accessible only by helicopter or a multi-day hike through dense forests and rugged terrain. Yet for those adventurous enough to make the journey, the reward is a stunning encounter with one of nature’s most mysterious masterpieces—where myth, history, and geology come together in a land still largely untouched by modern life.
