On August 10-13, 2021 the group of young geologists of the Republican Children's Educational Center for Tourism, Local Lore and Excursions and School № 40 (Ufa) (heads - E.I. Scherbakova and N.N. Filippova) with scientific support of the Institute of Geology UFIZ RAS (G.A. Danukalova) traveled through the geopark "Yangan-Tau". The main aim of the hike was to get acquainted with geological features and landscapes of the south-eastern part of the Ufa plateau and collect materials for school research papers.
The main place of the camping during the trip was the camping site "Munay" (https://vk.com/munay_arkaul), located on the left bank of the beautiful Yuryuzan river, opposite the Arkaulovo village. From this yurt campsite we made radial routes.
Schoolchildren explored the Atavka river valley in the estuary: measured the main parameters of the river - the width of the channel, the depth on the rifts, in the shallow and low-lying parts of the river bends, measured the speed of the river, described low and high floodplains, the first floodplain terrace, shallow, impoundment, roll. The banks, where the erosion processes are intensive, are marked.
In the valley of the river Yuryuzan opposite the village Ust-Atavka got acquainted with the slope form of relief - a powerful landslide.
Young geologists visited the mountain Bagantash near the village of Ust'-Atavka. The young geologists visited Bagantash mountain near Ust'-Atavka village, where they described the deposits of the Sakmara tier of the Lower Permian (Duvan Formation) with paleontological remains; from observation sites on the mountain observations of the Yuryuzan river valley were made and bends, islands, shoals, erosion banks and the main elements of the river valley (channel, floodplain, terrace, native banks of the valley) were marked; in the Ust-Atavskaya-3 cave a cherished treasure was found and in parallel we learned about the terms "karst process" and "cave".
Young geologists and the geopark biologist Paulina Gennadyevna Polezhankina explored the flagstone limestone of the Yuryuzan formation of the Sakmarian layer of the Lower Permian, with numerous paleontological remains and flint shrinkage in the Urmantau ravine. Fusulinids, single and colonial corals, gastropods, bivalves, cephalopods, various brachiopods, bryozoans - this is the list of fossils found! Some of the specimens went to Ufa, some will fill the funds of the Museum of Geology in the geopark, and others will be on display for visitors to the "Munai" yurt campsite.
We were also pleased with the Kuselyarovo quarry, where rocks of Artinsky layer are described - there were found both paleontological remains and beautiful samples of aragonite. Above the Kuselarovsky sulfide springs, the outcrops of rocks of the Yangantau Formation of the Artinian Stage of the Lower Permian are described. And the Kuselyarovsky springs themselves were photographed, for many of them the flow rate was measured and organoleptic characteristics were given. Springs were cleared of algae, fallen leaves and branches.
Each of the trail's sites made a lasting impression on both the young geologists and their leaders. What was explored was only a small part of the geopark, so it was unanimously decided that we should return here to see new objects and try to lift the veil on new secrets of nature.
The materials collected in the cameral time in winter will be processed, supplemented with descriptions and will serve as the basis for research papers, which young geologists will be able to report at competitions and conferences at various levels.