Lake Manych-Gudilo in the Rostov region

Lake Manych-Gudilo, located simultaneously in the territory of Kalmykia, Stavropol and Rostov region, is one of the largest European reservoirs; Its approximate area is 350 square meters. Km with a length of about 180 km. Being a kind of relict - the remnant of the ancient Tethys ocean, which connected the Caspian, Black and Azov seas, during the times it experienced considerable fluctuations in size. In some years almost completely dried up; In 1926 on his smooth dry bottom drove cars. In the years of deep water, its depth increased to 2.2 meters. Due to the shallow water (the average depth today is about 60 cm, which is slightly higher than the knees) this salty lake is unsuitable for bathing; With a strong desire on its waters, unless you can swim on an inflatable mattress. From fish brotherhood here lives small and southern smelt, fish-needle and three-headed fish. The choice is not great because of the salt water.

Lake Manych-Gudilo: features

By the way, strong winds - frequent guests of these vast expanses - are capable of raising huge, up to 15 meters high waves on such a pond. The climate in this area is unpredictably harsh; In winter, the temperature can drop to -30 ^о С, rising in summer to +40 ^о С.

A characteristic feature of Lake Manych-Gudilo is a frightening buzz causing panic fear and a belief in the stories of local residents about spirits walking in this area. And the roar is heard from everywhere; Buzz ravines, beams and banks. In fact, the reason is banal: it is the wind and hilly terrain. Lake Manych-Gudilo in the Rostov region is therefore named; The first part of the phrase "greatych" means "salty", and "mudilo" - "buzzes".

Manych - the bird's island

This wild place, not adapted for rest and fishing, nevertheless fascinates with its severe beauty. Lake Gudila-Manych is full of different birds; Here live curly pelicans, swans-fizzy, lake gulls-laughter, gray cranes, small white heron, shore swallows. All this thousands of winged brothers gather on the island of Bird, some temporarily, arranging a halt during the migration, and some - permanent residents.

Amazing Flora Manych

From the vegetation, due to increased mineralization, sedge, reeds, cane and a rolling-field of unusual shape occur.

Lake Manych in the Rostov region is famous for what many lovers of the beautiful go specially to see. These are tulips! There is a whole island here! The huge multi-colored carpet of wild flowers immerses in the world of the boundless and boundless steppe. Such an unforgettable sight is just a shock to the human soul. According to some sources, European breeders came for bulbs of local tulips in the 18th century.

Wild herd - the pride of Lake Manych-Gudilo

After visiting Lake Manych-Gudilo, it's worth to look at the Mustang horses, recalcitrant and free. Seeing how they, just quietly grazing in the meadows, gallop along the boundless, grass-covered field, is an unforgettable sight, as if plunging into the primitive world. According to rumors, these artiodactyls were brought here during the filming of the Soviet film "The Seventh Bullet". Some Mustangs fled and began to multiply in the environment they liked, namely on the Island of Vodny. Of course, people are helping them to survive - employees of the reserve, supplying cloven-hoofed fresh water, which is not on the island.

According to the second version, on the island in the first half of the last century operated livestock farm, which was later recognized as unprofitable. The cattle on it were sent to the mainland, but some horses managed to escape to free bread. It is interesting that such a group of Don Mustangs (as they are now called), numbering more than 300 animals, lives in a closed semicycle for more than half a century, without any signs of degeneration. Horses are healthy and large, with the right structure and lack of vices.

Time with its natural factors, of course, not without human intervention, takes away the force from the lake: the water gradually disappears, and the islands, which grow with the quinoa, gradually join with the coastal strip, which shrinks by 5 meters per year. In order to save the lake, the natural reserve "Manych-Gudilo" was established on this territory.