Stairway to Heaven on Mount Vottovaara
The most famous artifact on Mount Vottovaara is the Stairway to Heaven. There are many theories about its natural or anthropogenic origin. However, in any case, this stone staircase in the Karelian forest looks very unusual.
The Stairway to Heaven is not located on the Vottovaara mountain itself, but on a small hill near the northern slope of the mountain. The distance from the Vottovaara Amphitheater to the Stairs is 3 kilometers. If you want to see it, then a hike to it from the center of Vottovaara and back will take about 3-4 hours.
After descending from the northern slope of the mountain, you should pass by three small lakes. The soil between them is swampy. In the wet season, it will be difficult to go to the stairs without rubber boots.
The Stairway to Heaven is a rocky massif. From one of its sides you can see the steps. In many sources, it is written that there are 13 steps on the stairs, hinting at a certain mysticism. Only 11 steps are clearly visible. They look very smooth. It really looks like someone hollowed them out.
However, it is impossible to deny the possibility of the natural formation of these smooth steps. Quartzite, which makes up all the local rocks, has the property of cracking in perfectly even lines. In this case, the quartzite layers broke off from the array in the form of smooth steps.
Followers of mystical teachings believe that Sami priests performed sacrificial rituals on this staircase. It is hardly possible to say that the steps lead to a cliff. This staircase, in fact, is located in the forest. However, the height of the upper landing of the stairs does exceed 10 meters. If someone is thrown down from it, then it is unlikely to do without injuries.
Some sources refer to the stories of the Saint of the Russian Orthodox Church, Simon Valomsky. He was born in Volokolamsk, Moscow region, but traveled a lot in the northern regions of Russia and later founded a monastery in the Vologda region.
There are no mention in his life about his visit to Mount Vottovaara, but there is a legend that at the beginning of the 17th century he visited it with a squad of archers. They saw a staircase, and on the staircase there was a stone throne. Only the high priests could sit on the throne. They could see other dimensions and get the energy of the cosmos.
On the throne, in a Slavic runic, it was written "To our great descendants from great ancestors". There was also a constellation resembling the dipper of the Big Dipper. In this legend, Vottovaara was connected, as a ritual center of the Sami tribe, with the inhabitants of the legendary country of Hyperborea. Of course, this legend is being questioned.
