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All Kyrgyzstan Barskoon Monument to Yuri Gagarin

Monument to Yuri Gagarin

A boulder carved into the shape of the cosmonaut's head.

Barskoon, Kyrgyzstan

Added By
Dylan Thuras
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Yuri Gagarin’s big boulder head.   Photo by Sue Legro
Yuri Gagarin’s big boulder head.   Photo by Sue Legro
The monument to the monument.   Photo by Sue Legro
Another angle on the Yuri rock head.   Andre DD
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
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About

On the south shores of lake Issyk-Kul in Barskoon, in the northeastern corner of Kyrgyzstan, is a giant face carved directly into a massive rock. Specifically, it is the giant head of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. 

While the giant face of the first man to journey into outer space, complete with cosmonaut helmet, is carved directly from solid rock, the story behind its creation is less certain. It seems that Yuri visited the area just shortly after his historic spaceflight. He may have even stood on this very rock. At which point, everyone was so psyched about the whole first man in space thing, the boulder was promptly carved into his likeness. Later, in a meta tribute to the first monument, a second more standard bust was erected.

A local rumor has an more whimsical version of the rock's origin. The rumor says that this was in fact where Yuri touched down, a fact which was covered up by the USSR because it was nowhere near the intended landing spot. While almost certainly untrue (Yuri did eject from his capsule landing near the village of Smelovka, in the Ternovsky District) it makes for a wonderful origin story. 

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Giant Heads Monuments Cosmonauts

Know Before You Go

While unconfirmed this may in fact be a recreation of the first big Yuri rock head, which is said to have been broken up and smeared with concrete after the fall of the Soviet Union. This newer restoration is said to have been paid for by Moscow.The monument can be found driving up the gorge from Barskoon into the mountains.

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Community Contributors

Added By

Dylan

Edited By

MagnumPI, Max Cortesi

  • MagnumPI
  • Max Cortesi

Published

February 6, 2017

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Sources
  • http://prizmablog.com/2013/08/12/visiting-yuri-gagarins-bust-postcard-from-kyrgyzstan/
  • https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g858362-d10228930-r406928275-Monument_to_Yuriy_Gagarin-Barskoon_Issyk_Kul_Province.html
  • http://ihn.kg/catalog/barskoon-gorge/
Monument to Yuri Gagarin
Lake Issyk-Kul
Barskoon
Kyrgyzstan
42.009504, 77.614346
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Nearby Places

Aalam Ordo

Kyrgyzstan

miles away

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Photo of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan

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Photo of Kyrgyzstan

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