Askynskaya Ice Cave became more accessible for people with limited mobility in Bashkiria

On October 26, a unique event took place in the Askynskaya Ice Cave - the descent and ascent of the disabled wheelchair user Nadezhda Shchelchkova from the Arkhangelsky orphanage. On that day, Nadezhda Shchelchkova became the woman of the day and the film's heroine "Ice Age: A Route for All". Her personal impressions and hours-long, time-consuming work of rescuers of the special detachment of the Emergency Situations Ministry clearly showed that such natural objects are difficult to access for people with limited mobility. The wheelchair user (Nadezhda practically does not walk), even if she really wanted to visit this favorite place for tourists, could not do it on her own.

Nadezhda's dream came true due to joint efforts of the All-Russian Popular Front, Rosturizm, the Presidential Grants Fund, the Russian Helicopters holding, the Bashkir branch of the Russian Geographical Society, the Arkhangelsk District Administration, and the author of the project Guzel Khamitova.

The Askynskaya Cave is located in the Arkhangelsky district of the republic and has long become a favorite place for tourists. Tourist groups come here from Ufa, Kazan, Moscow, Samara.

"This unique natural monument of federal significance should be seen by those who have health limitations. Moreover, boarding schools are located nearby, where people with various forms of mental and physical disabilities live, " Lenara Ivanova, Minister of Family, Labor and Social Protection RB, said. "The cave will be the first socially adapted natural site in the region and the only ice cave in the world accessible to everyone."

Now the cave and the area around it are landscaped. There is also a guest house and a Bashkir yurt on the territory. Wooden bridges were laid along the route; two wooden recreation pavilions were built.

In addition, the two grants received this year helped to start organizing an additional passage to the cave to equip the entrance to it technically. Currently, they are making openings for an iron staircase, which will be installed along the mountain slope to the descent and ascent into the cave. The cave will have a special staircase for wheelchair users, which has yet to be purchased.