Zhizdra (river), Kaluga region: description, characteristics, features of recreation and the natural world

Rest by the water is still the most popular choice for a vacation. At the same time, tours with fishing and kayaking are becoming more and more popular, because the water reservoirs of Russia allow this. For sophisticated tourists with experience of descent on the rivers of different levels of complexity, the least known places are most attractive.

These include Zhizdra - the river in the Kaluga region. But not only an experienced tourist will enjoy the rest on its shores and waters. For beginners, both rafters and fishermen, there will be something to learn, be surprised and rejoice.

Description of Zhizdra

The river Zhizdra has a length of 223 km, all the way it continually "wags" and turns. This left tributary of the Oka is most popular among those who prefer direct communication with nature, without the intermediary services of tourist centers and rest homes.

The river Zhizdra (the Kaluga region) takes its beginning in a small swamp near the town of Lyudinovo, then it crosses part of the Central Russian Upland and flows into the Oka near Przemysl. Although by Russian standards this river is small, nevertheless, it is fed by 129 tributaries, one of which is Resset - a favorite place for kayakers and raft owners.

Rest on the river Zhizdra is mostly tented, so often the impression of it depends on the shore.

The most picturesque and convenient for leisure activities are the places behind Kozelsky - the largest inhabited locality in this area.

If you go on a trip on this river, you should know about the customs of local fishermen and take them into account. On a fairly large area, they set dams for fishing, so you should be extremely careful and do not raft during the night. Experienced rafters dismantle part of the obstacle to continue the journey.

Climate

The climate of the Kaluga region favors summer rest on the water, and winter fishing. Here is a clear change of seasons. Summer is moderately hot and humid, and the winter is moderately cold with a persistent snow cover and an average temperature of -9 degrees below zero.

All this contributes to the fact that Zhizdra (the river) has become an object of interest of travel agencies working with the programs of the day off. As the statistics show, today such tours are the most popular among Russians. Kaluga Region did not lag behind in this.

Absence of debilitating heat, reserved places, ponds with clear water, holy springs - all this attracts lovers of pristine nature to the Zhizdra river.

It is important to remember: by the amount of rainfall this region belongs to the area of sufficient moisture, so raincoats and waterproof tents are necessary equipment for traveling along the river.

Holy places

The Zhizdra River became a place of shelter for the stauropegic male monastery Vvedenska Optina Pustyn. According to legend, it was founded at the end of the 14th century by the Opel, a robber who repented of his atrocities. After the tonsure, Optius received the name Makarii, and the monastery built by him and his fellow monks began to serve as a haven not only for the pilgrims, but also for the elders and the elderly who took tonsure.

For the first time in the annals, the monastery is mentioned in the time of Boris Godunov, over the years he turned from a small wooden monastery into a strong fortress with walls and stone cathedrals and churches.

Those who are attracted to the river Zhizdra as a place of rest, it is recommended to visit these ancient walls, touch their history and draw water from the holy spring, for the benefit of the monastery is on the shore. Beautiful architecture and a special atmosphere of this place will remain for a long time in memories of the rafting along this river.

Settlements

By its name, the Zhizdra-river owes a Lithuanian tribe a goliad who once lived on its shores. Translated from their language, it means "large sand", which corresponds to the truth, although there is another legend about this unusual name for the Russian ear. They say that the words "alive" and "healthy" were echoed by boatmen from different banks of the river, greeting each other in the morning.

These places can not be called densely populated: there are only a few cities, the largest of which are Zhizdra (the river divides it in half) and Kozelsk. These are really provincial cities, which have preserved the unhurried flow of time typical of the settlements of the 17th and 19th centuries.

Directly emerging to the river villages and towns are not so many, so rafters to stock up food and all the necessary better in advance. But this kind of rest can really be called "wild", since there are no sounds of transport, no noise typical of city life. Only birds, the rustle of trees and the splash of fish in the water.

Features of the natural world

Since Zhizdra (the river) does not flow next to large industrial centers, the pristine nature is perfectly preserved here. It is here that the famous reserve "Kaluzhskaya zaseka" is located, thanks to which oak trees that are 250 years old and older have been preserved.

In the ancient oak forest, there are more than 50 species of mammals, about 170 species of birds, 5 species of reptiles, about 10 species of amphibians, and there are 16 species of fish in the river.

This protected park is also considered historical, since, in addition to the fact that its territory is 65% covered by forests and water bodies, it has 20 natural monuments, 4 of which are unique.

Part of the reserve along Zhizdra are old lake-lakes - the main attraction of these places. On their shores there is a Russian desman who has become a rarity.

Fishing

Pure water is another feature of the Zhizdra River. Fishing here is a real pleasure, but it is important to know where the fish is. The best place is considered part of the reservoir, starting after Kozelsky. In addition to the river, the fishermen are very popular with its tributaries, especially Sandy, Yasenok, Bryn and Resset.

In the Zhizdra you can catch a chub, pike, perch, yazya, dace, asp and other fish. Sandy beaches have a long parking lot, and the pine-oak-linden forest growing on them will become a source of firewood and berries. Especially popular among fishermen is fishing for pike, as is known, the most intelligent and cunning fish. The only condition for successful fishing is observance of silence, as for many kilometers here only birds and noise of the river are heard.

Canoeing

Rafting along the river Zhizdra in the Kaluga region can be carried out both on kayaks and on self-made rafts. Most of the river is calm enough, but winding. The most popular is the site in front of the village Chernysheno. Here there are rapid rides, and the river narrows to 20 m.

Tour operators, working with programs with rafting along the rivers, long ago chose Zhizdra. Typically, they offer weekend tours, during which:

• The first day is a trip to the place of rafting to the village of Dretovo, where a tent camp is broken and a late supper is being prepared;
• The second day - the collection immediately after breakfast and the beginning of the rafting with a stop for lunch on one of the gently sloping banks with further swimming to the place where it is convenient to break up the camp for dinner and overnight stay;
• The third day - after breakfast the next stage of rafting to the village of Berezichi, where in the field there is lunch and collecting things.

Such a rich holiday offers guests the river Zhizdra. The rafting is conducted with an instructor, and even beginners easily overcome in a day 20 km of the way. The cost of such a holiday is small, but impressions of beautiful nature, daily fishing and bathing in clean water will stay for a long time.

Quite often it is possible to meet on self-made rafts of rafters who prefer not to depend on terms and directions.

Parking places

To Kozelsk, Zhizdra (the river) is hardly suitable for resting on the water, as it is almost impossible to choose a parking lot and you will have to sleep on the boat. The banks on this site are clayey, high and steep. Just outside the city, they begin to gradually decline until they move into gently sloping beaches with clean and coarse sand.

There are no specialized bases where you can relax comfortably, but there is not a sign with the inscription "parking prohibited", so everyone is free to choose the shore that he likes more and stay on it as long as he likes.

Pleased with the fact that every self-respecting tourist carefully removes garbage after himself before leaving the parking lot, so there is no problem in choosing a clean place on the Zhizdra River.

Zhizdra today

Perhaps, this river and the surrounding area is a pleasant exception, when you can be happy that the civilization has not yet reached its buildings, berths and bans. Along the coast there are small settlements where you can buy milk, honey and vegetables from the local people's vegetable gardens, but there are not many of them.

The rest is a wild land with clear clear water, thick forests and sounds of nature. Exactly what is required for an urban resident to have a rest.