Blue Lakes of Altai - an excellent place for recreation

"The eyes of Katun", or the Blue Lakes - is a unique phenomenon of nature. In the people these ponds are called miracles. Where are the Blue Lakes of Altai? They settled not far from the village of Uznezya in the Chemalsky district. The name "Uznez" is translated from the Altai as "the spirit of water". And indeed, everything in these places, surrounded by mountain ranges with evergreen pine forests, is permeated with the spirit of magic water. In such places extraordinary legends are always born.

Legends

According to one of the legends, Khan Altai gave his daughter Katuni an extraordinary beauty of the eye so that she could see all the uniqueness of the picturesque landscapes. The river swiftly carries its waters along this terrain. But to protect themselves from the burning summer sun, "eyes" look at the world only in winter and autumn. So you can see the Blue Lakes of Altai only from the end of August to the beginning of April, and in the spring and summer time they cover the muddy waters of the Katun River.

Feature of lakes

What are so famous for these lakes? First of all, an unusual turquoise color, crystal clear and transparent. They can clearly see the bottom. Local residents say that water in lakes heals eye diseases, charges a person with extraordinary energy and strengthens immunity, healing air and colossal energy of Altai helps it.

Blue Lakes of Altai: Recreation

Blue Lakes is a place quite popular among tourists. Some people come here for romance and unforgettable impressions. Others - for health, both as a physical and spiritual. No wonder the Christian missionaries declared these reservoirs holy places. It is unique that from the XIX century on the church feast of Epiphany, rites are performed here, using for this purpose natural fonts. Nowadays, more and more people come to these places in order to plunge into the crystal clear water. The number of those wishing to visit the Blue Lakes of Altai and spend time here is constantly growing.

What is the best time to choose to visit these blessed places? Someone likes autumn, some winter, but the main thing is that the day should be sunny and clear. This will give an opportunity to enjoy the amazing color of the lakes and their amazing transparency.

On the island, which separates the reservoirs from the Katun River, a bathhouse was built. Directly from it is built a staircase leading directly to the lakes. Just imagine how nice it will be after a hot bath to dive into the purest ice water. This not only strengthens the body, but also fills it with the vital forces that are so necessary for every person.

Characteristics of lakes

The blue lakes of Altai are unique in their kind. Their number does not have the exact meaning. Depending on the weather conditions and the season, there may be two or three. As a rule, it depends on the Katun River, or rather, on the water level in its channel. Spring and summer melting of mountain glaciers. The water in the river is rapidly coming, which leads to the complete absorption of the lakes. And in their place rushing, turbid waters of Katun. By the end of August, the river becomes more calm. The water gradually leaves, exposing the lakes, in the mirror-like smoothness of which the sky reflects. If you look closely at the surface, you can see how white fluffy clouds float. The water in the lakes is so transparent that you can see the colorful stones on the bottom. These water bodies are water-bitter. They feed on powerful underground sources. The water in them does not freeze even in the thirty-degree frosts, and its temperature is kept at 8 ° C. They are small in size, but there are places where the depth reaches 17 meters. Water from one lake flows into another, and then into the river itself.

Blue Lakes of Altai - how to get there?

By car, you can get to the Blue Lakes of Altai by leaving Biysk (Belokurikha, Gorno-Altaisk), moving to the village of Askat along the Chuysky tract. You can also take a bus. This type of transport is established here very well. The distance from Biysk to the reservoirs is about 170 km. The quality of the road is excellent. In order to reach the lakes, it will be necessary to completely stop the village in the direction downstream of the river. After that, you need to leave the car and go along the path. If the car is low landing, it is recommended to park it in with. Askat and continue his journey on foot, enjoying the scenic landscapes. Be sure, you will get a lot of impressions from this walk.

In winter, approximately in the middle of January to the Blue Lakes, located on the left bank of the Katun, you can get on the ice of the river. But we must remember that this water stream belongs to the mountain type. And from this it follows that the river is quite stormy and therefore freezes hard. Ice for a long time remains thin, which makes the crossing unsafe. In order for the route to become possible, the ice thickness should be at least 80 cm.

The village of Askat

For those travelers who prefer to walk through the village, it will be interesting to learn some facts. The name of this settlement is translated from Altai as "stone placers". The village is located in a unique place - in the Askat Valley. If you believe local residents, the local territory has great energy, which it gives an underground lake and the Katun River. The village has a special microclimate: there are no winds, warm and mild winters. Grow apple-trees, cherries, pears and even grapes. The village of Askat was founded by the Old Believers in 1866.

They say that the Blue Lakes of Altai, giving people a powerful energy charge, do not let them go for long, forcing them to come back again and again. It's amazing that every time "Katun's Eyes" opens something new and unforgettable for the person.