Gallery

Explore Altai’s beautiful and diverse landscapes and people. View some of our hands-on projects and travel with Altaian partners around the world.

Happy 150th birthday to Grigory Choros-Gurkin!

December 14th, 2020

For every Picasso and Rembrandt, there are many more lesser-known artists; this is the case with Grigoriy Choros-Gurkin (1870-1937). He is one of Altai’s greatest artists and most important cultural figures.  The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of Choros-Gurkin’s birth and an ideal time to draw attention to the man and his work. Regarded…

Multiple glacier tongues leading up to craggy mountain peaks. A small brilliant turquoise lake is visible.

Conservation of the sacred Ukok Plateau

December 4th, 2020

Ukok is unlike any other place in the world…pristine, magical, and spectacular.

Camel nomads walking past in Mongolian Altai

Preserving Altai Cultural & Natural Heritage

December 1st, 2020

Read about our recent initiative to protect the cultural and natural heritage of Greater Altai

Steppe eagle with GPS tracker on its back

Altaian Raptors in Action

October 26th, 2019

Here are some images of Altai’s many different raptor species and a few other special appearances.

Graduate internship in snow leopard research

November 15th, 2016

Enjoy this video created by The Altai Project’s 2016 intern, Audrey Jost. In it, she documents her collaboration with a local snow leopard expert and his team at Altaisky State Nature Reserve. You can read her article about her time in Altai here.

Some of our delegation during the Congress. Photo by Toby McLeod.

Gathering of Indigenous Leaders in Hawaii

October 20th, 2016

Traveling from deep in the center of the Eurasian landmass to the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean

Two Altaian indigenous delegates fascinated by all stages of the coconut palm's development.

Altai leaders in Hawaii – 2016

October 20th, 2016

Enjoy a brief tour of The Altai Project’s participation in a “‘No Go’ zones in sacred landscapes” international delegation to Maui, Kaho’olawe, and Oahu Islands and the IUCN-World Conservation Congress in August and September 2016. Read more about the event here.

Children in Argut village (Photo L. Ivashkina)

2015 in Argut village

December 28th, 2015

Let’s revisit the year in Argut village.

On Our Mind in May

May 15th, 2015

We all love Altai dearly, and this is why…

Climbing up above the lake (photo by A. Rhodes)

Lake Kindyktykul

February 19th, 2015

Lake Kindyktykul (“Kin-dik-tik-kool”) borders Chikhachev Ridge in southeastern Altai and is home to over 20 species of endangered birds.

Mergen bundled up and ready to ride out

2015 Field report and photos

January 14th, 2015

Sergei Spitsyn and his team returned from a field expedition with new snow leopard evidence, incredible photos, and the successful removal of poachers’ snares.

Mountain pass sacred offering spot en route to Ulagan

October 2014 trip to Altai

December 3rd, 2014

Jennifer’s photo journal of her October trip to Altai provided some excellent insight into the culture.

Wild Altai Expedition 2013

July 19th, 2013

A sampling of images taken during our 2013 Wild Altai Expedition

October in the Argut River valley

October 31st, 2012

Here are a few pictures from the beautiful expedition The Altai Project participated in along with SUNY-ESF, Altaisky Nature Reserve, and WWF-Altai-Sayan. We hiked down the stunning but isolated middle Argut River to visit cabins frequented by local herders, hunters, and poachers and to investigate the area’s potential for hiking tourism.

Snow leopards in Argut

September 22nd, 2012

These are the first images of wild snow leopards in the central southern Argut region of Altai Republic. In an area that was previously home to dozens of cats, just a handful of snow leopards remaining due to intense snare-poaching.

Snow leopards on camera in Altai Republic

July 10th, 2012

Images of snow leopards and a manul (Pallas) cat photographed using camera traps in Altai Republic –

US, Spain, and Russian biologists survey Altai’s argali population

December 21st, 2011

And along the way, they encounter incredible landscapes as well as argali. The survey took place in Altai’s Kosh-Agach District, immediately adjacent to the borders of Mongolia and Russia’s Tuva Republic. Read the trip’s press release.

Photo Travel Diary – Altai Sept-Oct 2011

October 28th, 2011

Travel along with Jennifer to a beautiful autumn in Altai, where she attended Sosnovka (an important strategy meeting for Siberian and Far Eastern activists), visited the Karakol Valley and climbed to Uch Enmek’s final peak on horseback, and attended meeting while enjoying Gorno-Altaisk and Barnaul culture and scenery.

Altai Culture & History

August 5th, 2011

A variety of local indigenous culture and history photos, with a few shots of traditional Russian culture as well.

Camera-trapping in the Argut River watershed

August 4th, 2011

These pictures were all taken using camera traps during the winter months in 2010-2011 in the lower (northern) half of the Argut River watershed.  

Ukok Plateau

May 22nd, 2011

Pictures of the Ukok Plateau taken during a 2005 visit.  

Altai Natural Building and Alternative Energy

January 14th, 2011

Pictures of Altai architecture in general as well as pictures of two strawbale construction projects led by The Altai Project in 2005 and 2009.

Altai Places

January 13th, 2011

Snapshots taken around Altai Republic  

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