Popular lakes of Crimea

There are about three hundred lakes on the territory of the Crimean peninsula. All of them can be divided into two categories. The first includes fresh water bodies, the second - salty.

The former are located in the central part, the latter are closer to the sea. Some are separated from the salt sea by a narrow strip of land.

Sanatoriums and health resorts have been built around the lakes with medicinal properties. Such places have a well-developed infrastructure with good access roads and comfortable living places.

Civilization has not yet reached some of the reservoirs. True nature lovers strive to get to such wild lakes. Only here you can enjoy the real natural delights.

People go to Crimea not only to have a rest, but also to improve their health, to heal one or another diseased organ. Salt lakes have become a source of healing mud. They are mined on an industrial scale. Even a simple stay near salt water bodies is good for the human body. And here using unlimited amounts of mud is unsafe... Do not self-medicate. Each disease needs its own course of treatment. After all, mud baths are taken for a certain amount of time.

It will not be possible to tell about all saline reservoirs. We will restrict ourselves to describing a few of them.

The historical name given by the Crimean Tatars is Kyzyl-Yar. It is a liman-type reservoir with a length of more than 13 km and a maximum width of 2.5 km. The depth of the reservoir does not exceed one and a half meters.

The lake water is very salty. In hot summer, it dries out almost completely, and then a red color appears. The rest of the year the water surface is cast in gold.

Only the southern part of the estuary is used for recreational purposes. Residents of Krasnoperekopsk rest here.

Oybur Lake is the fourth largest lake on the peninsula. Once upon a time there was a bay in its place. Over time, a sandy isthmus appeared, and communication with the sea was interrupted.

The ratio of salt to water is 200 g per liter. It is simply impossible to drown here because of the very high density of the liquid, which pushes out any body during immersion.

Silt deposits, rich in iodine and bromine, are used for medicinal purposes. Blue clay is sent to beauticians.

Decent depth and frequent winds are convenient for kitesurfing, which is used by fans of this sport.

Lake Liman was formed relatively recently. It is separated from the sea by a narrow sandy strip. Sometimes seawater overflows into the Estuary through the separation barrier.

Water replenishment occurs due to underground sources and atmospheric precipitation. The depth ranges from one to two meters, and in the very heat it is only 0.4 meters.

Silt deposits are used for medicinal purposes. Access to the reservoir is free. The mass of tourists is located on the shore and uncontrollably smeared with mud. There are frequent cases of the negative impact of healing sludge on a person. This is not surprising, because the time spent on the body of therapeutic mud should be limited.

Lake Tobechikskoye belongs to the estuary type, is 9 km long and no more than 4.5 km wide. The depth of the reservoir is only one meter. In rare cases, in some places it reaches two meters. Located 12 km from Kerch.

Several mud volcanoes operate at the bottom.

The ancient Greeks knew about the healing properties of the reservoir. Based on the description of archaeologists, we can confidently say that hospitals operated here many centuries ago. Unfortunately, these days there are none on the banks of the Tobechikskoe.

Not far from Kerch there is another beautiful salt lake - Aktash. Like the main part of such bodies of water, it was formed by separation from the sea. In Crimea, it is the saltiest. The salt content reaches 40%.

Lake Aktash is very shallow (1-2 meters), but quite large. Its length is 8 km, and its width is about 3 km. In the heat, the water evaporates, the reservoir dries up. It seems like snow has fallen in summer.

Salt crystals sparkle everywhere in the sun. In some places, due to impurities, the salt loses its whiteness. This makes the landscape even more interesting.

With the advent of drought, it remains only to be surprised at the unusual phenomena, to take exclusive photos against the backdrop of the salt hills.

This is the largest salty Crimean lake. It was once the largest mining site for salt supplied to Russia and Ukraine.

There are much fewer fresh lakes in Crimea than saline ones. Some of them were formed due to the fact that the mouths of the rivers expanded. For example, this is how the Raven Lake appeared. Some were formed by filling the pits with water.

In Crimea, a special attitude towards fresh water. Perhaps that is why resting on the shores of freshwater lakes is more expensive than on the seaside. Bathing itself is free. The fee is charged for the following services:

• car parking near water bodies;
• the right to set up a tent;
• fishing
• boat rental.

Mountain lakes are especially picturesque. Cold clean streams descend from the mountains and fill the bowls. Lakes Raven and Panagia are located several hundred meters above sea level.

We offer you to get acquainted with the most interesting lakes.

As such, there is no separate lake.It's just that part of the salty Sasyk-Sivash in the Yevpatoria region has somewhat freshened. Swans settled here just a few years ago. Beautiful proud birds have taken root and do not fly away from the reservoir all year round. The lake is never deserted. It is always full of tourists who want to admire the swans, feed them, and, of course, take beautiful photos.

The birds are almost tame. However, when communicating with birds, certain rules should be followed:

• feed only white bread;
• do not try to stroke birds (they do not like this, they can bite);
• not to be frightened and not to pull back your hand if the bird touches it with its beak;
• do not wave your hands and just do not make sudden movements.

Mountain lake Panagia is located in the village of Zelenogorye in a protected area. It is 290 meters above sea level. The Kushen-Uzen river fills the lake.

For the first, outdoor recreation is attractive for the abundance of greenery, clean air and lack of city bustle. The second believe that the reservoir is guarded by the Lord. They say that on its surface you can see the face of the Virgin. Still others are sure: Panagia is a place of power. Who is right is unknown. But you can definitely get a charge of vivacity and peace of mind here.

The lake consists of two reservoirs: upper and lower. One of them is a reservoir supplying fresh water to Yalta and nearby settlements. The other is very strictly guarded in order to maintain cleanliness. Therefore, there are no vacationers here. On organized excursions, you can see only the Uchan-Su waterfall, which feeds the lakes.

Access to the lower part of the lake is open. Since 2013, expensive private villas have begun to appear in the immediate vicinity. So far, there is no infrastructure around.

A very small body of water located 578 m above the sea line. Famous for its inhabitants, turtles live here.

The circumference of the lake is about 100 m. A path has been trodden around the swampy shore overgrown with reeds. Tourists walk around the muddy reservoir in the hope of seeing red-eared inhabitants and taking an interesting picture of reptiles.

In spring and autumn, turtles are much more likely to get out of shelters to soak up the sun.

Surrounded by low mountains and green forests far from cities, there is a small Emerald Lake. The name corresponds to the color of the water. However, this seems to be the surface of the reservoir from the side.

There are few vacationers by the lake. There are no tourist routes to Emerald. You can get here by your own transport, if you turn off the Sudak-Alushta highway towards the village of Zelenogorye.

The lake water is cold, but suitable for swimming. The depth of the reservoir and the transparency of the water attract diving enthusiasts. And the abundance of lake animals beckons avid fishermen.

The Martian lake appeared in the Bakhchisarai region relatively recently - in the last decades of the last century. Previously, the Inkerman stone was mined in its place. The pit began to fill with groundwater even during the work. The water was coming in so rapidly that mining had to be stopped. So nature won back from people a cavity in the form of a quadrangle under a lake with azure water.

The village of Skalistoye serves as a reference point for travelers wishing to visit the attraction. The depth of the reservoir is on average 10 m. It is convenient to dive from the steep banks. There are many fish and fishermen here. Only fishing rods are allowed.

Swimming is best in autumn. During this period, the water becomes especially warm. Its temperature is higher than at sea.

Lake Goluboe is covered with legends. Locals claim that many of the legends are real.

A body of water of extraordinary beauty is located in the Grand Canyon. The water temperature is always the same: 10-12 degrees. Anyone who dares to plunge receives a charge of vigor and success in matters of the heart. Hence the second romantic name - Lake of Love.

The surrounding landscape helps to cleanse the soul, fills it with harmony and joy, and gives the body relaxation and a surge of new strength.

There are about forty mud deposits in Crimea. Unsurprisingly, mud treatment is thriving on the peninsula.

The largest mud accumulations are located in the eastern part of the peninsula. The most famous reservoirs with medicinal mud are on the west coast.

Saki mud lake located near the city of Saki. The oldest balneological resort of the peninsula operates here.

The lake is very shallow and very salty. Those who suffer from such ailments come here:

• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• injuries of the spine and musculoskeletal tissues;
• gynecological problems;
• disorders of the nervous system.

Lake Moinaki in Evpatoria almost lost its healing properties due to human activity. Measures are being taken to restore it. Moinak muds have the ability to disinfect, increase the protective abilities of the body, and fight inflammation. With their help, they get rid of the following diseases:

• nervous system;
• genitourinary organs;
• endocrine system;
• respiratory organs.

Sasyk-Sivash is a lake with pink waters. The length of the reservoir, located between Evpatoria and Saki, is 14 kilometers. The unusual shade is due to the color of the salt. Both mud and salt are curative. They strengthen the body, treat skin diseases.

The deepest among the mud is Donuzlav Lake. The bottom, covered with several meters of silt mud, is 27 meters. The presence of iodine provides a cure for the respiratory system. Healing water and sunbathing help get rid of fine wrinkles, cellulite, acne.

Those wishing to be healed should understand that it is necessary to use mud carefully. Consultation with your doctor is required. A spontaneous bath may not bring the desired result. And the right choice will certainly get rid of the disease, fill the body with new strength.

Interesting Facts:

• In addition to land-based lakes in Crimea, there are also unique underground lakes. You can go down to them with appropriate equipment and an instructor in such caves as Kizil-Koba or MAN.
• Tourists should admire the pink lakes. Such an unusual color in the heat appears at several lakes, for example, at Koyashskoye and Sasyk-Sivash. Algae growth contributes to the unique phenomenon.
• There are many different living creatures in the Crimean lakes: crustaceans, mussels and, of course, fish. There are many birds on the banks. During flights, storks, geese, swans rest here.

Rest on the peninsula will not be complete if you miss the opportunity to visit the lakes, admire their beauty, and at the same time rejuvenate with healing mud.

An overview of the most beautiful lakes of Crimea in the next video.