The Next Stop is Perm Krai.

We would like to continue the series reporting on various parts of the Urals by telling you about one of the oldest regions of Russia. Perm Krai is situated on the western side of the Ural mountains. The combination of two ecoregions, the forest steppe and the taiga, has made this area incredibly beautiful. Being an interesting place rich in historical and cultural heritage, it is visited by tourists from around the world.

The iconic landmark of Perm Krai is Kungur Ice Cave. It is the only gypsum cave in Russia available for tourists to visit. There grow stalagmites of amazing beauty, and stalactites up to 12 thousand years old hang down from the cave vault. Having appeared without human involvement, this wildlife attraction is surprising and astonishing to the human eye.

The next tourist spot worthy of attention is the Usva rock pillars. It is a rock formation stretching for thousands of kilometers along the banks of the Usva river. The pillars are 120–130 meters high, and were formed about 200–300 million years ago. The pillars may be of interest for rock climbers and mountaineers as well as those who wish to explore grottos and caves of mountainous massifs.

Another site that attracts visitors is museum-reserve “Khokhlovka”. It is an open-air museum on the bank of the Kama River, one of the largest rivers in Russia. Pieces of Russian wooden architecture are displayed on the territory of 35 hectares.

In days past a local citizen would be called “Permyak Salty Ears”. Salt trade used to be the main economic revenue of this place. The only saltworks in Russia remaining in full force is situated in Solikamsk, an ancient town in the North of Perm Krai. On the grounds of this saltworks the Salt Museum was founded. We suggest that you take this landmark into consideration when planning a cultural tour of the region.

In the Ural Federal University Library collection you will find fiction books featuring Perm Krai along with non-fiction literature about its history and tourist attractions.