A preserved 120-ton flywheel, a large pond in the center of town and traces of metallurgy give Tirlyanskiy a clearly recognizable historical theme. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between two different focuses: the history of the town’s metalworks and a two-day route to the Inzer Teeth, which begins and ends in Tirlyanskiy.
Industrial history between the park and the pond
In the “Wheel of History” park in Tirlyan, information boards describe the town’s history. Six boards tell the story of metallurgy in Tirlyan, beginning with the construction of the plant by merchant Ivan Tverdyshev. The park thus connects the town’s history with the development of the metalworks.
The Tirlyanskiy Metallurgical Plant produced iron that was called “sable iron” because its maker’s mark featured an image of an old sable. The name connects the history of iron production with a specific motif. Alongside the information boards, the plant’s history can also be explored through the name given to its iron.
The large pond lies in the center of Tirlyanskiy; its dam has been rebuilt. The preserved Tirlyan flywheel weighs 120 tons and was installed beside the pond in 1915. Also in the center, beside the pond, stands the old, ruined building of the Tirlyanskiy Metallurgical Plant’s administration.
A cut in the rock, made during construction of the narrow-gauge railway, has also been preserved on the pond’s shore near the dam. The flywheel, administration building and rock cutting point to different aspects of industrial history: technical equipment, plant administration and railway construction. The pond provides a shared geographical reference point for these sites.
A two-day route to the Inzer Teeth
The route from Tirlyanskiy to the Inzer Teeth takes two days and both begins and ends in Tirlyanskiy. This makes it a separate time block in your plans, distinct from exploring the town’s history. If you include the route, allow for the stated two days and check the seasonally varying trail conditions in advance.
Republic of Bashkortostan: the wider context
The Toratau UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the broader travel destination of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Its geological sites include outcrops near Usolka and Dalny Tulkas, as well as caves, waterfalls, gorges, mountain rivers and rugged rock outcrops. The geopark also encompasses the Shikhany mountains of Toratau, Yuraktau and Kushtau, the remains of a barrier reef that formed around 280 to 300 million years ago.
The geopark’s themes also include the ruins of ancient settlements and fortresses. It also highlights local cultural heritage, cuisine and crafts. The geological and cultural context of the Republic of Bashkortostan thus complements the specific focus on Tirlyanskiy’s industrial history, without equating the region’s geopark themes with the town’s industrial heritage.
Another regional point of interest is Bashkiria National Park. It was established in 1986 to protect the natural resources of the Southern Urals and was the first and only national park in Bashkortostan. This makes for a clear distinction when deciding on a trip: here, Tirlyanskiy represents the history of metallurgy, while the Republic of Bashkortostan also encompasses geological, cultural and nature-related themes.
Discover more destinations: Beloozerskiy, Kaga, Nikolo-Beryozovka, Abzakovo, Yakty-Kul, Burtsevo, Staroye Baryatino, Rakitovka.
View the broader travel overview: Republic of Bashkortostan.
