Russia is a huge country in which man-made beauties coexist with natural beauties. And if you are tired of gray everyday life or are already wondering where to spend your vacation, we are pleased to present photos that show the most beautiful lakes in Russia.
10. Baikal, Buryatia, Irkutsk region
When it comes to the beauty of Russian lakes, the magnificent Baikal comes to mind one of the first. This is the second largest lake in Russia in area, and one of the cleanest in the world. There are very few mineral salts in its water, which is why its composition is close to distilled. And in Baikal there are about 100 endemic (unique for a particular area) representatives of the fauna.
The Blue Eye of Siberia is a popular tourist route at any time of the year. In winter, you can go skiing in the resort of Baikalsk, and in the spring, summer and autumn - fishing, hiking and excursions.
9. Seydozero, Murmansk region
Translated from the Sami language, "seyd" means "sacred." And although this name is also found in other lakes in the Murmansk region, it was this Seydozero that became a real place of worship for many ufologists and science fiction writers.
It is believed that Seydozero is one of the possible places where Hyperborean civilization could exist. If so, then the Hyperboreans were lucky, because they had the opportunity daily to enjoy the variety of shades of green in the summer and the northern lights in winter.
8. Raspberry Lake, Altai Territory
The pink-crimson hue of the water of this lake is not the result of human activity, but the titanic labor of many tiny bacteria Serratia salinaria. They secrete a red pigment called prodigiosin.
By the way, one of the “miracles” that occurred in the Middle Ages is associated with this feature. Since Serratia salinaria can live not only in water, but also on bread, she painted red bread intended for communion in the church of the Italian city of Bolsena. This episode went down in history as the Eucharistic Miracle.
But back to Raspberry Lake. It is worth visiting it not only for the unique color of the water, but also for your own healing with the help of healing mud. Or just for a good rest at the tourist base, which is located on the picturesque shore of the lake.
7. Lake Onega, the Republic of Karelia, Leningrad and Vologda Regions
The reed and reed beds in which swans, geese and ducks nest, and taiga forests frame this beautiful lake. And the Kizhi skerries archipelago, including over 500 islands, is considered to be its pearl.
The most famous of them is the island of Kizhi - a paradise for connoisseurs of Russian wooden architecture.
6. Kezenoy-Am, Chechen Republic and Dagestan
This alpine lake is the largest in the Chechen Republic. Around it are architectural monuments of different eras, such as ancient mosques, the unique medieval Chechen castle Aldam-Gezi, ancient burial grounds and crypts.
And on the shore of the lake there is a tourist and recreational cluster of the same name with a hotel, restaurant, bathhouse, sports complex and even a boat station. So if you want to explore the beauty and architectural sights of the North Caucasus in a comfortable setting, then Kezenoy-Am is a suitable option.
5. Shaitan, Kirov region
If you want to swim on the lake on a personal small island, then there is better place than Shaitan not to be found in all of Russia. This round karst lake is famous for two things:
- Rarely emerging fountains, which sometimes reach 10 meters in height, according to local residents. This phenomenon occurs due to siphon circulation of groundwater.
- Small floating islands, covered with bushes and small trees. Their number reaches 20. Floating islands are formed when the water level in the lake rises (usually in the spring), when part of the swampy shore is torn off from the total mass.
The water in the lake is very clean, and you can swim in it all summer. And fishing on Shaitan is excellent.
4. Seliger, Tver region
Strictly speaking, this is not one lake, but a whole lake system connected by narrow channels. Its coastline is very indented, here you can see forested capes and various island shapes and picturesque bays that cut deep into the land.
And the water in Seliger is clean, it shows what is being done at the bottom to a depth of 5 meters.
3. Lake Ladoga, the Republic of Karelia and the Leningrad Region
Just an hour and a half by electric train from the Finland Station in St. Petersburg, and instead of the buzzing metropolis, the soothing beauty of the water surface of Lake Ladoga will unfold before you. It is so big that you can see the opposite shore except with binoculars.
The north of Ladoga is especially beautiful, where many interesting places are concentrated: Valaam island, Ruskeala mountain park, Ladoga skerries national park and four Ruskeala waterfalls.
However, the tourist service in Karelia causes a lot of complaints among tourists, so if you are planning a vacation near Ladoga, look in advance for feedback on various guest complexes in RuNet.
2. Lake Jack of London, Magadan Region
In its shape - elongated and narrow - this lake resembles a Norwegian fjord. And its shores are overgrown with cedar dwarf and larch forest.
Jack London Lake was named after the famous writer, but not because he was on its shores. According to one version of the origin of this name, the "discoverers" of the lake found Jack London's book Martin Eden on its shore.
According to another version, the geologist P. I. Skornyakov, who worked in the area of a beautiful and exotic Far Eastern lake, gave him the name Jack London.
1. Lotosov Lake, Volgograd Region
Perhaps the most beautiful and unusual lake in Russia is located just 20 kilometers from Volgograd, near the village of Krasny Buksir. And if the pond itself was created by the will of Mother Nature, then lotuses are the creation of human hands. At least that's what the local legend says.
She says that one of the locals, wanting to surprise her lover, decided to grow rare and exotic flowers for her in the Volgograd Region - Indian and Caspian lotuses.
At first, the flowers did not take root and the florist had already lowered his hands, but a few years later a miracle happened, and flowers of marvelous beauty bloomed on the lake. Gradually, they occupied the entire territory of the reservoir.
It is best to visit the Lotus Lake in July-August, it is during these months that the peak of their flowering occurs.
