Walk through Mordor

• of Mordor Walk

Today, I walked on to the present Mordor, or rather, in a place that has become the prototype of the legendary "Black Country". And this is not Moscow, and Tongariro National Park. It was here filming "The Lord of the Rings."

Tongariro at the history of the park, there are two opposing views. In fact, Mount Tongariro and its surroundings are considered sacred Maori. In 1887, the land was transferred to the English Crown and turned into a national park. There are two versions of how this happened. Official English-language sources claim that large tribe Ngati Tuvharetoa, fearing that the area will be populated by farmers, the colonists decided to give her "all the people of Great Britain and New Zealand" in exchange for the assignment of a special protected status. Maori have a different position: Grace Lawrence, a member of the New Zealand Parliament, wanted to benefit from the Tongariro, making it a tourist attraction. Lands were taken under pressure, they on their own would never have agreed to go on the sacred mountain of millions of tourists, hunting for beautiful scenery. For many years, the park was managed without the participation of Maori feel so cheated. The fact that the Maori consider themselves inextricably linked to the lands on which they live, a part of the surrounding nature. Also, there are a number raznoglazy a more general nature on the manner and the terms on which the land on which they had lived for centuries, moved to the UK. As for the park, in recent years the situation has changed, the role of Maori in the management of the park is increased (previously it was almost zero), Tongagiro recognized as a cultural and spiritual heritage of the people. However, there is a version that the natives just want to get some profits from the hyped tourist destination, and the culture they give a damn. Tongariro in the park there are a lot of different tracks. You can not go anywhere at all, and the round of all on a small airplane - 150 dollars for 15 minutes of flight. But we have something you are young and healthy, that we walk 20 km through the mountains? Yes, a piece of cake! I thought so too that day.

The most popular track takes all day. In the morning you are brought to the starting point, you go almost 20 km and at the finish line you are met and taken to the hotel. Transfer is better to book in advance, it is worth $ 30 per person.

On the route there are no trees, it's Mordor. So I strongly advise all exposed parts of the body to smear a good sunscreen.

Before the start of standing traffic light volcanic activity.

The beginning and end of the track, the first and the last 5 km - is nonsense. You walk on a flat steppe ... It is unclear why a highway not brought closer to the mountains. If someone likes to walk along the deserted steppe, would go parallel to the road.

The only entertainment - watch the volcano Mount Ngauruhoe ...

to pensioners was comfortable in places of irregularities or river flooding made smooth platforms. In general, the first 5 kilometers - a real skukota.

On the route there are even toilets. However, only at the beginning and end of the path. It is a pity that Frodo and Bilbo did not know about it.

Before lifting ....

Then the road goes uphill.

In principle, nothing too complicated. Everywhere steps tidy, all equip.

The difference in height of 900 meters somewhere, if he did not climb the volcano.

Still it is possible to climb the volcano, it is 500 meters up

On the volcano problem: its uneven slopes and showered, so you need good shoes, so that the shoes are not clogged with rocks and sand. I had the usual sneakers, which I could not get, unfortunately. According to those who have climbed to the crater, nothing special there.

For fans of "Lord of the Rings" have special tours to filming locations. For example, you can see the ski resort Takin, who became the prototype of Gorgoroth plateau or plateau Emin Mouila.