The terrifying legends about Deny-Der or the Lake of Mountain Spirits are passed down by the Altaians from generation to generation. The fabulous beauty of the reservoir inspired the painting of the artist Grigory Choros-Gurkin and the writer Ivan Efremov.
The picture was sent at the time of the author's work on the search for mercury deposits in Central Asia. The famous story, written in 1943, was named "Lake of Mountain Spirits", like the artist's sketch received as a gift.
Fairy tale and reality
The debate about whether this is fiction or truth does not subside to this day. However, no one can refute the facts: the canvases are carefully stored in state museums, and Efremov's work is built on taphonomy, a science new to the country of that time. It was thanks to her that the discovery of a diamond deposit in the USSR was predicted.
People have long sought to admire the striking beauty of the lake hidden in the mountains. Many tried to find the way to the reservoir, but not everyone succeeded.
According to legend, the lake became a haven for the souls of the departed unkind people. The one who finds this place will be able to fight the spirits and emerge victorious from the battle. However, the path to the mountains is too dangerous and long, and few can afford it.
Altai legend
Once Taryn went in search of Dena-Der. He had to walk for a long time. But still the young man made it to the valley. There Taryn saw five reservoirs. The last of them irresistibly beckoned to him. The traveler approached the surface of the lake. Mountain steeps descended to it with giant steps. The water smelled of detachment.
Near the foot of the mountains, a greenish cloud rose, emitting a faint light. In the same place, where the glare of the sun penetrated from behind the mountain peaks, greenish-blue ominous-looking long shadows, similar to people, rose on the shore.
The huge figures either stayed in place, then melted in the air, then moved. The young man looked at the unprecedented sight, fighting with oppressive fear. Feeling a surge of strength, Taryn rushed with a sword to the ghosts, but felt the strongest weakness. Hundreds of spirits dreamed of the hero on the opposite bank.
Source of inspiration
With terrible force, the mountain peaks pressed on the daredevil, light rays danced in his eyes. Suddenly everything disappeared, as soon as the daredevil reached the opposite shore. With the last of his strength, the young man got to his village. He died at the nearest yurt, having managed to tell about the terrible place.
Many hunters tried to repeat his path. But everyone was overtaken by the same fate. Either people were sick for a long time, or they lost their agility and strength. Since then, bad fame has spread everywhere about Deny-Der. People have ceased to be there. Neither birds nor animals live here. On the shore, where spirits are so fond of gathering, even the grass does not grow.
The prototype of the artist Chorosov was made by the Altaian Grigory Choros-Gurkin. Efremov met him in the thirties. In 1910, a stunningly beautiful painting was painted, which inspired the author to create a story. The location of the original painting is unknown. One of the author's copies is kept in the Art Museum of Irkutsk.
The picture amazes with its amazing peace, glowing in the rays of the setting sun with thick colors. The lake surface, which occupied the middle part of the canvas, breathed cold.
Present time
Snow-white mountain peaks in the background drop straight into the reservoir. The center of the composition is the glacial spur, which lowers the firn shaft into the water. A diamond pyramid rose directly above him high in the air.
According to the plot of the story, the painting, seen in the artist's studio in Altai, shocked the geologist. From the story of the author of the picture, it became clear that the mountain lake is known for ill fame.
Comparison of the properties of mercury ore and canvas paints, together with memories of the painter's well-being when creating a sketch on the lake, led the geologist to the unexpected discovery of a mercury deposit in Altai.
Lake of Mountain Spirits is a local attraction at the present time. In sunny weather, the reservoir strikes with the turquoise color of the most transparent surface. Hands immersed in the water will become wet before, it would seem, they reached the lake, the purest liquid is so invisible. And it "appears" only during a light breeze in the form of a silvery-turquoise ripple.
