Sun Eclipse in Altai

The total eclipse of the Sun is the most spectacular event in all of Nature! The solar eclipses occur during the New Moon, when the Earth enters the umbra or penumbra of the Moon. Few people have ever witnessed one, but once seen it is an experience never to be forgotten. The Moon's dark shadow plunges you into an eerie twilight and the Sun's mysterious and incredibly beautiful corona is revealed.

An eclipse of the Sun occurs on average every 18 months (often in hardly reachable locations), but the eclipse is only visible from a small band - the Path of Totality - and with an average duration of three minutes.

There will be a total solar eclipse in August 2008. Its maximum duration will be 2 minutes 27 seconds at approximately 65 N, 72 E. This is a location in Northern Siberia where the sky is often either overcast or hazy. The optimal viewing conditions and the most pleasant environment for viewing will most likely be just to the north of the Altai Mountains in southern Siberia. If you examine the statistics produced by NASA it appears that the area just south of Barnaul will be one of the better regions. The following programme takes in some of the more beautiful sights of the area and gets you to an, hopefully, ideal viewing location in the Altai.

The Altai mountain system covers a vast region located in four different countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia. The highest part, called the High or Central Altai, lies on Russian territory and rises up to 4506m (Mt. Belukha) the highest point of Siberia, much of this region is glaciated..

In summer the Altai, with its cold high plateaus, high ranges with their permanent snow and deep, moist, forested valleys, stand out as a cool island among the hot steppe plains. Mountain valleys are forested with spruce fir and pine interspersed with grassy meadows. Higher in the mountains pine and fir trees give way to aspen, birch and finally larch and dwarf conifers.

Itinerary:

29.07. Arrive in Moscow. Airport-airport transfer. Overnight flight to Barnaul.

30.07. Transfer Barnaul – Gorno-Altaisk (about 330 km., 6 - 7 hours with some stops).
Lodge in Chemal area.

31.07. Excursion to Chemal village – visit Znamensky monastery and Chemal hydro-electric power station, walk in the surroundings.
Lodge in Chemal area.

01.08. Free time in the morning. Sun eclipse observation. In the evening – private “hoomei” performance (kind of throat-singing). Lodge in Chemal area.

02.08. Transfer to Gorno-Altaisk – capital of Altai Republic – visit the museum of local lore and history. Continue to Barnaul. Night at the hotel.

03.08. Flight Barnaul - Moscow. Arrive in Moscow. Flight home

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