It is situated in the valley of the river Anui on the border of Altai Republic and Altai Region at a height of 670 m above the sea-level. The territory of 270 square meters, length 110 meters. Grotto has several branches, two of which are a direct continuation of the cave. At the top of the grotto is a through-hole of just over 1 meter in diameter. Thanks to the hole, the central, most extensive and convenient part of the grotto is illuminated. The average annual temperature of the cave remains at 0 °C.

It’s the only monument of the Altai mountains, containing more than 20 cultural strata, thereby presenting different epochs of progress of humanity. Denisova cave is listed as a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO.

In the second half of the 18th century an isolated Old-believer Dionisy lived in this cave. The name of the cave originates from his name.

In the minds of the Altai people caves are associated with Lower dangerous world, it was believed that only shamans can communicate with the spirits of this world without, so local people never tried to visit the cave.

The Cave was discovered by paleontologist Nicholas Ovodov in 1977. It was systematically researched since 1982. 

The most ancient founds from Denisova Cave are 300 years old. The greater part of items found during the excavation (from 50 thousand items) are kept in Institute of Archeology and Ethnography in Novosibirsk. Some collections can be found in Local History Museum in Biysk and in school museum of Soloneshnoe and Black Anui villages. Tools, weapons, ornaments, animal and plant remains were found here. Thanks to the excavations it was discovered that thousands of years ago the foothills of the Altai area are deciduous forests: you could see oak, hornbeam, Manchurian walnut and even northern species of bamboo there.

In the mid-2000s in the Denisova cave remains of an ancient man were found. Previously it was assumed that it is the remains of a Neanderthal. However, studies of DNA bone fragments and teeth found in Denisova Cave, allow reasonably argue that they belong to another (not previously known) kind of ancient man. Which has already been called Denisovsky (or Altai) man - Denisova hominin (sometimes called the "X woman"). Thus, it can be assumed that Africa is not the only center from which "homo sapiens" came and settled in the world, most likely such a center could also be in the Altai.

The cave is of horizontal type, with a wide entrance. The cave is easily accessible to the person who does not have a special speleological and climbing training, that makes the cave popular among tourists.

How to get: By good asphalt road from Chuyski highway (village Ongudai, Altai Republic), to the village of Ust-Kan, and further north to the cave. The distance 70 km. The road through the village Soloneshnoye from the north is gravel, leaves much to be desired (100 km).