Discover Aurgazinsky District

• The 15.9-hectare Ushkatly Gorge lies one kilometer west of Sitdik-Mullino and has been designated a geological natural monument since 1965.
• The Akhmerovsky Cave, also known as Vertolyotnaya Cave, is 1,768 meters long and 50 meters deep.
• The Akhmerovsky Sinkhole lies on a plain near Akhmerovo, with a lake at its bottom.
• The Galimdzhan Ibragimov Museum is located in Sultan-Muratovo. The folklore festival “Örschäk buyı uyındarı” (“Games by the Urshak River”) was held in Turumbetovo on June 17, 2023.

The Ushkatly Gorge is known as a stratotypic geological outcrop of the Miocene Ushkatly Formation. Well-preserved fossil plant impressions have been found in its white, compact refractory clay. These include bald cypress, walnut, chestnut, beech, oak, birch, and alder. The gorge, formation, and plant impressions give the site a clear geological focus; the fossils range from trees that still sound familiar today to bald cypress.

Another natural feature is Akhmerovsky Cave (Vertolyotnaya Cave), the longest cave in the gypsum deposits of Bashkortostan. Its entrance is in a large collapse sinkhole with overhanging edges. The sinkhole is 80 meters in diameter and 20 meters deep. The cave is notable both for its length and depth and for the shape of its entrance area.

The Akhmerovsky Sinkhole is a separate site: it lies on a plain near the village of Akhmerovo. A lake at the bottom is explored by cave divers. The district therefore offers different geological features: the fossil impressions of Ushkatly Gorge, the dimensions of the gypsum cave, and the sinkhole with its lake.

The Galimdzhan Ibragimov Museum in Sultan-Muratovo opened in 1967 in the building of Sultan-Muratovo Secondary School and was converted into a house museum in 1987. It is dedicated to Galimdzhan Ibragimov (1887–1938), a public figure from a village, a classic of Tatar literature, and a recipient of the title “Hero of Labour” in 1932.

The collection is based on the writer’s manuscripts, photographs, and personal belongings. A bust of Ibragimov by Z. Basyrov was installed at the museum in 1987. These details give the cultural story a biographical and literary dimension: manuscripts and personal objects sit alongside the commemoration of the writer.

The district’s cultural profile also includes the republic-wide folklore festival “Örschäk buyı uyındarı” (“Games by the Urshak River”), which the district chose as its signature event. It was held in the village of Turumbetovo on June 17, 2023, and included folk games and competitions. Both communal games and competitions were therefore part of the festival program.

The Toratau UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the wider destination of the Republic of Bashkortostan. It includes geological outcrops near Usolka and Dalny Tulkas, as well as caves, waterfalls, gorges, mountain rivers, and rugged rock outcrops. The geopark also preserves the ruins of ancient settlements and fortresses and showcases local cultural heritage, cuisine, and crafts. These regional features add context to Aurgazinsky District without attributing individual geopark features to the district.

Discover more destinations: Kushnarenkovsky District, Ishimbaysky District, Tuymazinsky District, Meleuzovsky District, Nurimanovsky District, Gafuriysky District, Blagovarsky District, Baymaksky District.

Where is Ushkatly Gorge?

It is in Aurgazinsky District, one kilometer west of the village of Sitdik-Mullino.

How does Akhmerovsky Cave differ from the Akhmerovsky Sinkhole?

The cave is 1,768 meters long and 50 meters deep; its entrance is in a collapse sinkhole 80 meters wide and 20 meters deep. The sinkhole near Akhmerovo lies on a plain and has a lake at the bottom, which cave divers explore.

When was the “Games by the Urshak River” folklore festival held?

It was held in the village of Turumbetovo on June 17, 2023, and included folk games and competitions. Aurgazinsky District chose the republic-wide festival as its signature event.

For the broader travel overview: Republic of Bashkortostan.