According to old Russian folk wisdom, “you should prepare the sleighs in the summer, and plan summer vacation in the winter.” If you are tired of the beach scene and tourist routes and entertainment, you should think about relaxing waterside at Buryatia’s lakes.
Scroll down to see more
Elena Petrova
According to old Russian folk wisdom, “you should prepare the sleighs in the summer, and plan summer vacation in the winter.” If you are tired of the beach scene and tourist routes and entertainment, you should think about relaxing waterside at Buryatia’s lakes.
Elena Petrova
It’s not easy to get to the lakes from Irkutsk (5,210 km from Moscow): the 185-kilometer road is unpaved, but most of it passes along Lake Baikal’s shore, making for a guaranteed great view from your window!
Elena Petrova
While Irkutsk and Lake Baikal are in Irkutsk Oblast’, the Tyopliye (Warm) Lakes fall in Buryatia’s territory. The region’s capital is Ulan-Ude.
Elena Petrova
Here in Siberia, quiet places with pristine nature still remain. The pure air pierces trills of birds, while the clear streams carry the smell of meadow grasses with them.
Elena Petrova
The lakes here have magical names: Tyoploye (Warm), Izumrudnoye (Emerald), and Skazochnoye (Fantastic). The Tyopliye Ozera Nature Park is located nearby. Sand was extracted from the banks of the Snezhnaya River when building the local railroad. The quarrying resulted in the formation of Izumrudnoye and Skazochnoye Lakes.
Elena Petrova
The third lake, Tyoploye, was formed after masses of ice slid from the foothills. The Tyopliye Ozera on Snezhnaya Recreation Center is surrounded by a mixed forest. Giant trees—old black poplars—grow here. They have reached such proportions after many long years that it would take four or five people to wrap around one tree.
Elena Petrova
The unbelievably beautiful view from the mountain opens up on the mouth of Kunaleyka River. There’s a run-down Soviet rec base not far from here. If you believe the rumors, this is where Soviet astronauts liked to take a load off in their down time.
Elena Petrova
The recreation center attracts tourists with its captivating taiga landscapes and warm lakes whose water reaches temperatures of 27°С/80°F in the summer.
Elena Petrova
If you want to find beautiful Buryat sights and feel the trust greatness of local nature, head up to Sleeping Lion Mountain (Omulyovaya in Buryat) which is not far from the Buryat town of Tarbagatai.
Elena Petrova
It is a unique natural landmark and one of the sacred places for Buddhists in Buryatia.
Elena Petrova
The mountain’s outlines resemble a sleeping lion. Its head and shaggy mane rests on its paws, a powerful back forms, and the road going down the mountain looks like a lion’s tale.
