Baranchinsky settlement in Sverdlovsk Oblast — online webcam

Geographic location and position of the settlement

Baranchinsky is a settlement in Sverdlovsk Oblast, part of the Kushva urban district. It is located 16 km south of the city of Kushva, if you follow the Serov highway and turn left after Yevstyunikha — the landmark is the absence of a sign for the turn. From Yekaterinburg, the route passes through the northern districts of the oblast, and for those traveling here for the first time, a navigator becomes the main helper.

The settlement is located at the confluence of two rivers — Ak-Tay and Barancha, which is a left tributary of the Tagil. It is here, below the dam, that a pond was formed, which became one of the landmarks of the area. The terrain is typical of the Middle Urals: low mountains, hilly plains, a dense network of river valleys. The real-time camera allows you to see what this Ural hinterland looks like — not a tourist center, but an ordinary working settlement with dense development and green zones.

History of Baranchinsky: from the factory to the present day

The settlement traces its history back to 1743, when construction of the Nizhne-Baranchinsky state metallurgical plant began on the banks of the Barancha River. The project for this enterprise was developed by Ivan Polzunov — the same man who would later become famous as the inventor of the steam engine. The plant was launched in 1748, and a working settlement gradually formed around it.

Initially, the enterprise's profile was iron-smelting and iron-working — typical of Ural metallurgy in the 18th-19th centuries. In 1921, the plant was converted to electromechanical production, and seven years later, in 1928, the settlement officially received the status of an urban-type settlement. This was a period when Ural industry was undergoing transformation, and Baranchinsky was among those who adapted to the new economic realities.

Today, the population of Baranchinsky is about 9,887 people as of April 1, 2022. This is not a large city, but neither is it a dying village — rather, a typical Ural settlement with stable infrastructure and local identity, rooted in its industrial past.

Natural attractions and tourist routes

The surroundings of Baranchinsky attract lovers of Ural nature. Just 2 km from the settlement, in the area of the Ak-Tay River, rises Sinyaya Mountain — a peak 552 meters high, recognized as a natural monument of Sverdlovsk Oblast. Nearby is another peak — Kudyavy Kamen. These places are popular with tourists who prefer hiking and cycling.

In the Baranchinsky area, there are rare plants listed in the Red Book of the Middle Urals. For botanists and ecologists, this is of scientific interest, and for ordinary travelers — an opportunity to see untouched Ural flora. The area is part of the Great Ural Trail route, which passes through the settlement and its surroundings, linking natural objects into a single network of hiking routes.

On the territory of the district there is the ancient sanctuary of KOPCHIL with petroglyphs and an altar — an archaeological monument testifying that these lands were inhabited long before the appearance of the plant. For tourists interested in history and ethnography, this place is of particular interest.

Infrastructure and social sphere

Baranchinsky has a developed infrastructure typical of urban-type settlements in Sverdlovsk Oblast. There are schools, kindergartens, a school of arts, an electrotechnical college, a hospital and a clinic. There is a fire station, police, a cultural center, a library, and a children's leisure center. All this creates an environment in which local residents live and work — people whose family and professional ties are rooted in the history of the plant.

The settlement is not a major transport hub, but is connected with Kushva and other cities of the oblast by roads. For those who come here for the first time, the landmark is the Serov highway and the turn after Yevstyunikha. The online camera allows you to assess the situation in the settlement before the trip — to see what the paths, green zones, and urban development look like.

Cultural heritage and local museums

In 2021, the Ural Museum of Ataman Yermak opened in the club of Verkhnyaya Barancha settlement, located near Baranchinsky. This cultural space is dedicated to the history of the eastern campaign and the role of the Urals in the development of Siberia. The museum has become a center of attraction for history enthusiasts and patriotic visitors.

Thematic excursion routes pass through the vicinity of Baranchinsky, connecting Verkhnyaya Barancha, Kushva, Yermak places, and the Ataman Kurgan. The local population actively participates in volunteer and patriotic actions, creating presentations about the "wonders of Sinegorye" and the history of the native land. Local history classes are held in schools and kindergartens, forming a connection with the small homeland in the younger generation.

In the 19th century, a settlement with a beautiful pond and dam, whose shape resembles an elephant, formed around the Verkhne-Baranchinsky plant. This historical development has survived to this day and is another point of attraction for tourists interested in the industrial heritage of the Urals.

What you can see on the camera

The online camera is installed on the territory of Baranchinsky settlement and broadcasts the view in real time. In the foreground on the right is a concrete staircase with a metal railing leading to a building. On the right, you can see the wall of a building with white vertical pipes and laid cables — a typical detail of Ural industrial architecture.

In the center of the frame, there is an asphalt path along which local residents move. On the left is a green lawn area with a row of trees, from which long shadows fall on the ground — depending on the lighting, the picture changes throughout the day. On the path, you can notice birds — most often pigeons, which feel quite at ease on the territory of the settlement.

In the distance, you can see a road, trees, and elements of urban development — residential buildings, industrial buildings, fences. Next to the staircase railing, there is a metal trash can. The camera operates around the clock, allowing you to observe the life of Baranchinsky at any time — whether it is the daytime activity of pedestrians or the nighttime silence of a Ural settlement.