Аннотация:Springs and rivers determine the formation of the sacrallandscape of settlements and play a part in the rituals, mythology,traditional world model and space of the Besserman. They serve asessential resources of subsistence, are used domestically and are takeninto account when zoning settlements. Besserman villages are located onhills near rivers and large freshwater springs. In the traditional worldmodel, rivers connect different parts of the space, i.e. the upper and lowerworlds, upper and lower reaches, sky and earth. Rivers simultaneouslyserve as natural and mythological borders, functioning as roads bothmetaphorically and literally. According to popular belief, water fromrivers and springs travels to the sky via rainbows, and then falls to earthand into rivers by way of rain and snow. Historically prayers were saidand rituals held near rivers from the start of the floating of the ice to theautumn. In summer, they were held only in emergency cases (drought orwet summers). Water from springs had healing properties and was usedin folk medicine. Alongside traditional perceptions, the Besserman alsohave local rituals related to the veneration of springs that are connectedwith Orthodox and Muslim beliefs and revered saints.