Springs and rivers determine the formation of the sacral landscape of settlements and play a part in the rituals, mythology, traditional world model and space of the Besserman. They serve as essential resources of subsistence, are used domestically and are taken into account when zoning settlements. Besserman villages are located on hills near rivers and large freshwater springs. In the traditional world model, rivers connect different parts of the space, i.e. the upper and lower worlds, upper and lower reaches, sky and earth. Rivers simultaneously serve as natural and mythological borders, functioning as roads both metaphorically and literally. According to popular belief, water from rivers and springs travels to the sky via rainbows, and then falls to earth and into rivers by way of rain and snow. Historically prayers were said and rituals held near rivers from the start of the floating of the ice to the autumn. In summer, they were held only in emergency cases (drought or wet summers). Water from springs had healing properties and was used in folk medicine. Alongside traditional perceptions, the Besserman also have local rituals related to the veneration of springs that are connected with Orthodox and Muslim beliefs and revered saints.