Lake Kaban is a mysterious landmark in Kazan

The symbol of Kazan, enveloped in a lot of rumors, secrets and legends is Lake Kaban. Actually, this is a water system consisting of three large lakes, stretched out in length, from north to south, more than 10 kilometers and wide - about half a kilometer. The depth of the lake is from 1 to 3 meters, and in certain places reaches 5-6 meters. Although accurately measuring the depth of the boar is very problematic, because its bottom is covered with a centuries-old layer of silt.

The area of the water surface of the Middle Boar (the northernmost, also called the Lower Kaban) is 58 hectares, the Middle - 112 hectares, and the Upper - 25 ha.

Once the Lake Kaban was famous for its crystal clear water, many people were resting on its golden beaches. However, over time, on the banks of the reservoir, enterprises were constructed that drained their waste directly into it.

In 1980, when the level of pollution of the Kaban reached a critical level, the cleaning works began, as a result of which it was significantly reduced. However, the lake's water is still not able to self-clean, because it lacks plankton.

The Middle Boar is famous for its center of rowing sports on its shore. Here there were competitions in the framework of the Universiade 2013.

The Lower Kaban is famous for its high-rise water fountain, built near the Kamal Theater, which is one of the city's attractions, as well as a promenade boat station popular among the townspeople.

History of the Lake

With the formation of Lake Kaban, several legends are associated. One of them tells about an old man named Kasym-sheikh, who brought the people here. The people who came with him began to murmur, as the terrain was completely overgrown with reeds and sedge, covered with thick bush and completely devoid of drinking water. Then, after praying, Kasym-sheikh took hold of the beshmet and dragged him along the ground with him. In the place where he passed, a lake was formed with the purest drinking water.

No matter how beautiful the legend is, scientists hold a different opinion. It is believed that the lake is nothing but the remains of an ancient riverbed of the Volga, which during the stormy melting of glaciers flowed in these places and was many times wider. Subsequently, the river laid a new channel for itself, for several kilometers of traps, and in place of the former Lake Kaban was formed. Photos of this region from space serve as a vivid confirmation. According to scientists, the age of the lake system is about 25 -30 thousand years.

The history of the name

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the lake - both connected with myths and legends, and quite ordinary.

According to one of them, the lake received its name on behalf of the last Kazan khan Kaban-Beck, who, escaping from the enemies, arrived in these places, making his way through the dense forests and marshy swamps. The healing waters of the lake helped the wounded to be healed, and then a village later appeared. The nearby pond and got its name in honor of Kaban-Beck.

According to another version, the Kaban Lake was so called from the Turkic "cab-cube", meaning "water" in the translation, or "excavation in the ground". It is believed that the word "boar" appeared, which denotes wild pigs digging pits.

There is also a version that the lake received its name for the reason that in the oak forests, once surrounding it, there were many wild boars.

City's legends

A lot of secrets and legends envelop Lake Kaban. Kazan, as is known, was captured by the troops of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. On the night before the storming of the city, the khan's treasury, which includes untold treasures, was secretly lowered to the bottom of the lake, where it still stands. In support of this version, there are examples of alleged that at the beginning of the XX century a certain foreign company offered its services for cleaning the bottom of the lake, asking for its work only the opportunity to take all the garbage at the bottom. And in the second half of the same century, they supposedly even found a small, but large barrel, which could not be dragged into the boat - slipping out of his hands, he again plunged into the muddy bottom of the Cabana.

According to another legend, a sorceress lived on the shore of the lake, which fed the stray cats. When one day she suddenly began to heat her pets, indignant people killed her. Saved animals, strangely enough, rushed into the water and drowned. Since then, the souls of cats have been taking revenge on people, wiping the ice with their claws, to lure another victim.

There is also a legend that part of the city founded by Kaban-Beck, after conquest, sank to the bottom along with its inhabitants, houses, palaces and mosques. And if in quiet, clear weather swim by boat to the middle of the lake, you can see this ancient city and hear a call to prayer from the underwater minaret ...