Tobechik - Kerch lake of health. Medical Tobechik - salt lake of Eastern Crimea Tobechik on the map of Crimea

The Tobechik lake or Tobechik, located in the Eastern Crimea, is highly mineralized, and therefore it is therapeutic and recreational. True, his brine and mud are almost never used. Apparently, because in this part of the Crimean peninsula, unlike and or located on the Kerch Peninsula, but near the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, this type of tourism is practically not developed.

The origin of this rather big body of water (9 km long and 2 km wide) is firth. That is, once it was a bay, it gradually silted up, the sea level dropped and the isthmus that appeared turned it into a lake.

Tobechik salt lake near Chelyadinovo

Although the marine origin has created a good healing groundwork for the lake, nature did not stop there. At the bottom of Lake Tobechik, mud volcanoes thrive, feeding the water with new minerals. By the way, this is a feature of the Kerch Peninsula and there are many of them.

The main reason that attracts tourists to the shores of Tobechik is the picturesque view of the reservoir, which, thanks to the microorganisms living in it, can take on a variety of shades of pink and purple under different lighting conditions.

The depth of Lake Tobechik is small - a maximum of 2 meters, and usually about one. In summer, it becomes very shallow, and in some places it dries up, creating completely alien landscapes with the help of pinkish water and red grass along the banks.

The main inhabitants of Tobechik are gulls, water chickens and various waterfowl.

In the 19th century, there was a mud bath on Tobechik Lake, but it was closed a hundred years ago. And although studies of the healing properties of the reservoir over and over again show that its possibilities are enormous, so far we hear only talk about creating a balneological resort here.

However, no one prevents tourists from trying the magical power of mud and brine, which treat a whole bunch of diseases, and at the same time, having crossed a narrow spit, from the heart to relax on the sandy beaches of the Black Sea. Just be careful - those who have chronic diseases should not experiment with treatment without consulting their doctor.

How to get to Tobechik Lake?

You can drive up to it by car by turning right from the Simferopol-Kerch highway towards Novoselovka, through Marfovka to Maryevka, where you can turn left onto Ogonki or better right onto Zavetnoe. Then drive just along the spit between Tobechik and the Black Sea.

Included in Kerch group of lakes, the third largest in this group, after Aktash and Uzunlar. Length - 9 km. The average width is 2 km, the largest is 4.5 km. The average depth is 1 m, the greatest is 1.2 m. The catchment area is 189 km². The lake is curative and is used for recreation. The nearest settlements: the village of Ogonki is located on the north coast, Kostyrino - on the south coast; Chelyadinovo - north of the lake.

Tobechik Lake is separated from the Black Sea by an isthmus. The lake basin of the reservoir has an irregular elongated shape, elongated from west to east with a winding coastline. Shoals are located along the entire coastline. Insignificant sections of the lake shore are steep with banks 5 and 9 m high. Six dry river ravines flow into the lake, the largest of which is the Shirokaya gully, which flows into the western part of the lake and forms solonchaks (where the Plavni tract is located). To the west of the lake there is a local road Chelyadinovo-Ogonki-Marievka, to the east (along the isthmus) - Chelyadinovo-Zavetnoe.

The lake is overgrown with aquatic vegetation mainly in desalinated areas - in lagoons near the embankments, at the mouths of flowing gullies, in the zone of groundwater outlets. Various algae intensively develop here, up to the flowering of water.

The average annual rainfall is 400-450 mm. Nutrition: surface and underground waters of the Black Sea artesian basin.

Notes

Sources and links

1. Topographic map. Sheet L-37-097. 1993 edition.

The surroundings of Kerch are rich in picturesque landscapes. But it is the Tobechik salt lake that is rightfully considered the most colorful and amazing creation of local nature. Pink, red, burgundy, blue, purple - what colors you will not see here!

The banks of the Tobechik are so high that it is almost impossible to notice the picturesque water surface from afar. It is because of this geographical feature that the lake got its name, which in Turkic means “a small hillock.” Once Tobechik Lake was an ordinary bay of the Black Sea. To optimize the extraction of salt, it was fenced with a sandy spit, which protected the lake from sea waves and helped to evaporate the brine directly on the territory of Tobechik itself.

Today, the lake is separated from the sea by an isthmus 100 m wide. The length of the lake is 9 km, the width is from 2 to 4.5 km. The lake is not deep, its maximum depth reaches only 2 m, which allows the water to warm up well in May and keep warm during the velvet season. Today, tourists come here not only to admire the local beauties, but also to experience the healing properties of the lake.

At the bottom of Tobechik there are small mud volcanoes that enrich the lake with mineral salts and healing mud, which in its chemical composition is similar to the mud of Lake Chokrak. Tobechik mud is used in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular, central and peripheral nervous systems, organs of the musculoskeletal system, digestion, skin diseases, and other ailments.

The researchers also managed to unravel the mystery of the red-pink hues of the lake. It turns out that microorganisms that inhabit the silt stain it in unimaginable colors. According to scientists, Lake Tobechik has a good chance of becoming a sought-after balneological resort. Back in 2010, experts calculated the amount of mud and came to the conclusion that the reserves of therapeutic sludge in monetary terms correspond to at least 1.5 billion dollars, taking into account the cost of one kilogram of mud in Crimean sanatoriums.

Wonderful properties of Tobechik lake

The miraculous properties of the lake have been known since time immemorial. According to the researchers, the first mud baths on this site were equipped by the ancient Greeks. This is evidenced by the remains of public religious buildings and fragments of inscriptions on stones discovered by archaeologists near the lake. At the end of the 19th century, a mud bath was built on the lake, the institution worked until 1907. At that time, local mud was delivered to European clinics, where they were highly valued and in great demand.

In the pre-war years, a hydroaviation base was located here. During World War II, the lake was used as a runway for hydroplanes, first by the Soviet army and then by the Germans.

Old-timers claim that several German planes still lie at the bottom of the lake. In the post-war years, the wings and parts of the cabins peeked out from under the surface of the lake, but soon the muddy bottom completely swallowed the equipment. Near Tobechik there are wonderful beaches of the Black Sea. Since this place is located far from the city limits, it is not crowded here. For a romantic getaway, this is perhaps the best place on the Kerch coast.

How to get to Lake Tobechik

Salt Lake Tobechik is located 12 km southeast of Kerch near the village of Chelyadinovo. Bus number 67 runs from the bus station in this direction. Ask the driver to make a stop in the vicinity of the lake.

A distinctive feature of the Crimean peninsula is the diversity of water resources. Excluding the Black and Azov seas, which wash the peninsula, a large number of mountain and steppe rivers are located on its territory. Lakes are especially unique, their landscapes are admirable, there are about three hundred of them on the peninsula. The largest lake Tobechik, Crimea is the owner of this unique salt lake in the south of the Kerch Peninsula.

The uniqueness of the lake

The lake is near the sea strait, its area is considerable - about 18 square kilometers, the shape is oblong. The scale is nine kilometers long and two kilometers wide. The depth of the estuary is insignificant, it does not even reach two meters, therefore it warms up well during the holiday season. The coast is winding, with shallows, there are desalinated places that are overgrown with algae.

The coastline of the reservoir is quite high and steep. Before the arrangement of the isthmus, the largest bay in the Kerch Strait was located here. The geographical location of the lake contributed to the definition of its name - a small hill (translated from Turkic). Not far from the estuary on the north side is the village of Chelyadinovo, also Ogonki, on the south side is the village of Kostyrino.

Currently, the bay is separated from the strait by an isthmus; it was artificially erected to connect the nearest settlements. The spit contains shell sand. Today it is the largest, but not deep (up to two kilometers) salt lake. The isthmus is considered the best beach in the area, its width is no more than a hundred meters, the length reaches about a kilometer. From here, impressive views open up, especially when the water changes its color and becomes:

• reddish;
• pinkish;
• Burgundy;
• Purple tint.

The lake acquired this property due to the presence of microscopic organisms inhabiting the local silt. The peninsula is characterized by such a natural phenomenon as mud volcanoes, so the bottom of the estuary has layers of therapeutic mud. The opinion of scientists, based on the research, confirms the possibility of the lake to become a balneological resort, where you can use brine, gray and black mud, which help in the treatment of diseases:

• nervous;
• Musculoskeletal;
• Cardiovascular;
• Digestive system.

Also contribute to the cure of skin and gynecological diseases.

There are no mud baths near the lake, but tourists who know the healing properties of the lake, being in Kerch, definitely come here.

A place where you can enjoy silence, peace, picturesque landscapes, be alone with nature, improve your health. It is not crowded here, the beaches of the Black Sea are located nearby, a good place for a romantic getaway.

History of Tobechik

Since ancient times, salt of a special quality was mined from its bottom, its mud was used for treatment. Archaeological excavations testify to the first mud baths, equipped by the ancient Greeks. In the nineteenth century, a mud bath was built near the lake, from where local mud was supplied to European clinics. Among the European nobility, local muds were in great demand, they were used in the treatment of:

• Skin;
• joints;
• spinal cord;
• Consequences of trauma.

Local residents claim that before the construction of the isthmus in the bay, fish could be caught by hand. Today, ecologists are protecting the ecosystem of the lake, its natural resources, therapeutic mud, healing silt.

Road to the lake

You can get to the lake by bus from the Kerch bus station to the village of Chelyadinovo. The tourist infrastructure of Kerch provides services for a one-day trip to the lake, but if the trip is possible on your own transport, then you should go along the territorial road in a southerly direction for 25 kilometers to the village of Ogonki.

Crimea has always pleased me with a huge number of reservoirs. Especially numerous lakes, which become an excellent alternative to balneological treatment in a sanatorium. One of these amazing salt lakes is considered to be Tobechik. That's what we'll talk about today.

Location, features

The lake is located just 12 kilometers from the city of Kerch, in close proximity to the strait. The main feature is considered to be its not quite natural origin. Previously, it was a small bay, but when a connection was organized, a sandy isthmus was poured with nearby villages, and a salt lake turned out.

Today, the reservoir is officially considered salty, but some areas are fresh, they are immediately visible from a large number of thickets. Tobechek is one of the largest lakes on the peninsula, its area is 18 thousand square kilometers. The length is about 9 kilometers, and the width is about 4.5 km. The depth here is relatively small - 2 meters. Due to this, in the warm season, the water warms up quickly enough. Yes, and drowning is problematic, even for those who do not really know how to swim.

And tourists consider the isthmus one of the best and are happy to stop here for several days with tents. If you are used to relaxing, which is called a “savage”, and at the same time strive to get the maximum benefit from your vacation, Lake Tobechinskoye is just the right place. The fact is that the shores of the lake are hilly, in some places even steep, so entering the water from them is not very convenient. But the location on the spit is an ideal option for a relaxing and healthy holiday.

Do you like "wild" vacation? Relax in campsites. The list of campsites in Crimea is here.

Some tourists are surprised by the name of the reservoir. After all, “Tobechek” in translation means “a small hill”, as if there is no connection, and here the lake is to the hills. In fact, it was named so, most likely due to the numerous hills surrounding the healing reservoir.

The benefits of rest, dirt

The lake is considered curative thanks to the mud. By the way, at the bottom of the reservoir there are a huge number of mud volcanoes. They provide a serious therapeutic effect. Previously, mud was mined here on an industrial scale. Today, guests of Crimea come here on their own, not only to experience the tremendous power of mud therapy, but also to enjoy magnificent views, take beautiful photos, and swim in the Kerch Strait.

Parking on the sandy spit is free and for many travelers this fact is quite important. By the way, the ancient Greeks knew about the healing power of the lake. In these places, scientists have found the remains of ancient structures, with inscriptions confirming the fact that the lake was really used for therapeutic purposes.

In general, there are many legends about these places, each of them is beautiful in its own way and can be another reason to visit the reservoir. For example, I like to listen to various beautiful stories, and not only about lakes, but also about others. Speaking of legends, one of them seems absolutely implausible to me, but you never know. Locals claim that earlier there were so many fish here, it was possible to enter the water and catch it just with your hands. But after the dam was built, all living creatures were transferred and now there is no fish at all.

By the way, if you do not have your own transport, then from Kerch you can use the service of organizing a one-day trip to the reservoir. Yes, in principle, the path to it will not cause any particular inconvenience.

How to get (get) to Lake Tobechikskoe in Crimea

I recommend that tourists using public transport services in Kerch take bus number 67, going to the village of Chelyadinovo. And there, every local resident will be happy to tell you how best to get to the lake.

In my opinion, it is better to travel in your own or rented car, and I do that. And in order to easily get to the right place, I use a map. Exact coordinates and map below.

Photo

Lake Tobechik gives a lot of pleasure from spending time on it. This is not just enjoying the beauty of the surrounding nature, but also a great opportunity to solve many health problems, including the musculoskeletal system. It is also a great chance to get away from everyday worries, troubles and city noise. If you have already been to these places, share your opinion with us by writing a few words in the comments.

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