It's not easy to find travelers who haven't heard of the picturesque Lake District in Britain. Finland is also famous for its clean reservoirs rich in fish. But there is no such variety and number of lakes as in Russia in any country on our emerald-blue planet.
Even the most active guest's life will not be enough to get acquainted with all this natural wealth. But experts in Russian attractions recommend visiting several of the most beautiful and truly unique lakes first.
Ilmen
Novgorod land is well known to foreigners and Russians for its historical, cultural and temple buildings. Of the natural attractions, tourists often want to see Ilmen, a yellowish–brown lake, famous in ancient epics and legends. Fishermen tend to come here for the sake of catching walleye, catfish or pike. Ordinary vacationers are attracted to a secluded pastime on the local wild sandy beaches.
Seydozero
Many fans of unraveling myths and mysteries flock to the deserted expanses of the Kola Peninsula. Lost among its gloomy cliffs is the legendary Seydozero. It is believed that it was here that the Hyperboreans lived – representatives of a mysterious civilization, the traces of which are hidden at the bottom of the reservoir. Hieroglyphs left by a semi-mythical people who disappeared for unknown reasons can be seen on the rocky slopes.
Baskunchak
If you drive away from Volgograd towards the border with neighboring Kazakhstan by about 204 km, you immediately get into the "possession" of Baskunchak. This lake in Russia is often compared to the famous Israeli Dead Sea. They are united by the increased salinity of the water, which makes it almost impossible to drown here. The appearance of the attraction, especially from afar, is so unusual that it may seem as if you are on the shore of an alien reservoir, light gray or blue during the day and almost orange at sunset.
Lake in Kabardino-Balkaria
The Caucasus holds many secrets that desperate adventurers and wanderers are trying to solve. One of them is connected with the mysterious Blue Lake located in Kabardino-Balkaria. It became famous not for its size, but for its transparency, lack of fish, constant temperature and great depth. All this also attracts passionate diving enthusiasts here.
Lotuses
We must try very hard to find women who are indifferent to the beauty and fragrance of flowers. They will certainly enjoy exploring the small but amazingly beautiful Lotus Lake, hidden among meadows and hills in the vicinity of Volgograd. And men usually do not refuse a trip to these parts to admire this bright flower in August and the first weeks of autumn.
The Hunk
There is a small sea on the territory of the vast Russian-Chinese nature reserve. This is the name of Khanka, a shallow lake in Russia that attracts avid fishermen and windsurfing enthusiasts. This region is also famous for the beauty of sunsets and the summer blooming of lotuses unexpected for Primorye. If you're lucky, you can even see a Far Eastern turtle that lives in the local coastal waters.
Onego
Most of Lake Onega, which is often called Onego, is located in Karelia, so travelers who explore the natural attractions of the republic are sure to come here. It is famous for its islands, of which there are more than 1,600. Of these, Kizhi, with its wooden temple buildings, is often visited by both foreign tourists and compatriots. The lake of Russia surprises with an abundance of fish, magnificent colors of sunsets and sunrises.
Ladoga
It's hard to believe, but the area of Lake Ladoga, which is astounding in size, is almost half of the territory of the Moscow region. First of all, it attracts amateur anglers - they will find really rich catches of walleye and bream here. The cool pond has become a habitat for Ladoga seals found only here. Many travelers travel to these parts to explore the monastic buildings on the picturesque Valaam, one of the many islands. Petersburgers, whose hometown is no more than 65 km from Ladoga, visit here especially often.
Seliger
A meeting with a real natural wonder awaits those who come to Ostashkov, a tiny town in the Tver region. Here it is recommended to get acquainted with the picturesque Seliger – not just a beautiful lake in Russia, but a whole complex of transparent and clean reservoirs. Tourists go to Seliger shores not only for the sake of relaxing at local well-maintained bases, but also to visit the ancient monastery buildings and other sacred structures that spread around the perimeter.
Baikal
Any student can boast of the information that no similar reservoir on our planet can compare with Lake Baikal, located in Eastern Siberia. It is extremely popular with foreign travelers who come here because of the unique transparency and purity of the water. During the summer, vacationers relax on the long sandy beaches of the Burguzin Bay. There are also many who come here for cruises or fishing. Many gambling tourists want to taste golomyanka, a fish found only here, or look at the same endemic seals.
Each of the mentioned lakes in Russia will surprise adventurers with something unusual and special, characteristic only of a specific reservoir. Curious tourists will find a lot of unexpected discoveries and truly fabulous landscapes. You can spend your whole life getting to know hundreds of thousands of Russian reservoirs, but still not see all the lakes that exist on the territory of our Fatherland!