Islands of Baikal names list. Olkhon Island is the largest island of Baikal. Population of Olkhon Island

Olkhon is an island that stands out especially among three dozen other Baikal islands. It is shrouded in many ancient legends and myths. This island is also famous for the grandeur of its natural monuments and diversity of landscapes. Olkhon is located on the territory of one of the parks, Pribaikalsky, and is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful places in Lake Baikal. Olkhon is an island that is especially beautiful in the fall, when the coast becomes almost deserted. Covered with a golden carpet of grasses, forests touched by bright colors, it freezes under the blows of Baikal waves, awaiting the approach of the harsh Siberian winter.

Location of Olkhon

The largest is located in the middle part of this lake, not far from its western coast. It stretches along its shore. The length of Olkhon (between capes Umysh-Tame and Khoboy) is 73 km, and the width reaches 15 kilometers. About 700 sq. km is the area of ​​the island. Approximately 210 km is the length of its coastline. A photo of Olkhon Island is presented below.

The part of Baikal enclosed between the island and the western coast of the lake is a unique body of water with a special microclimate. It even has a special name - the Small Sea, which speaks of a certain independence and exclusivity and is classified as a strait. The southwestern part of the island is separated from the coast of Lake Baikal by the Olkhon Gate Strait, which has a reputation as the most treacherous place on Lake Baikal.

Origin of the name Olkhon

There are at least two main versions of the origin of the name Olkhon. This island was named in the language of the local residents - Buryats. According to the first, Olkhon comes from the word “oykhon”, which means “wooded”. According to another version - from “olkhan”, that is, “dry”. Both of these options suit the appearance of the island, as it is both wooded and dry. Therefore, it is difficult to give preference to one of them.

Archeology

The history of Olkhon goes back to antiquity. This is confirmed by various archaeological finds and historical monuments. They were collected over more than two hundred years of studying Olkhon. As of 1993, 143 different ones were known on the island. Many of them are protected by the state. Unfortunately, many monuments were destroyed, including ancient stone walls. The purpose of their construction is still unknown. They were destroyed in 1963, using the extracted stone to strengthen the pier located in the village called Khuzhir.

Relief of the island

The western coast of this island, washed by the waters of the Small Sea, is flat for the most part, with bays protruding deep into the shore, as well as rocky headlands. On the contrary, the eastern one is rocky, mountainous, and drops steeply into Baikal. There are no deep bays here. The highest point of Olkhon is located on its southern coast. This is Mount Zhima, whose height is 1274 meters. It rises 818 meters above Lake Baikal. The deepest place of the lake is located just 11 kilometers from Zhima. This is the mark of 1637 meters. The steepness of the underwater slope in these places near the island reaches 30-40 degrees.

The southern part of Olkhon Island and partly the northern tip are steppe. The rest of the area is covered by birch, larch and pine forests. On the western coast, in its middle part, from Cape Sasa to Cape Khuzhirsky, the shores are sandy. Overgrown with larches and pines, dissected by capes, they will leave an unforgettable impression on travelers.

Lakes and rivers

Big enough to have its own lakes, Olkhon. This island has several reservoirs. Of these, the most famous and largest lakes are the following: Nurskoye, which from time to time merges with Zagli Bay; Khankhoy with many archaeological sites; Shara-Nur is the only one on Olkhon Island; Nuku-Nur is a reservoir in which many living organisms live.

There are no rivers on the island, only a couple of streams that reach Lake Baikal. Small springs are found in the forest part of Olkhon. They feed a few swamps. In some places, despite the lack of water, new streams appear right before our eyes.

Live nature

The wildlife on this island has suffered to a large extent from human fault. Over the past few decades, the great cormorant, balaban falcon, roe deer, maral, wolf, and bustard have disappeared from Olkhon. The sable was completely exterminated on the island back in the 18th century. The seal has become a rarity, but before it loved to bask on the coastal rocks in the sun. This unique animal can now be found only on the eastern shore of Olkhon Island. From here, in recent years, the solar eagle, which previously nested on the island, has completely disappeared. This is the sacred Bald Eagle, to whom many ancient legends of Lake Baikal are dedicated, the son of the Master of Olkhon, as well as the progenitor of local shamans. Sacrifices are still made to this bird.

Currently, there are 135 species of birds on Olkhon (wagtail, horned lark, wheatear, white-rumped swift, Daurian jackdaw, wood grouse, black grouse, duck, sandpiper and others). There are 20 species of mammals here (weasel, polecat, squirrel, hare, fox, lynx, etc.), including an endemic animal called the Olkhon vole. It is found exclusively in the Baikal steppes. You can find here 1 species of amphibians and 3 species of reptiles. In winter, among the large predators found on Olkhon are solitary wolves, penetrating across the ice to the island. Wolf packs enter the same way extremely rarely. And there is no need to be afraid: there are no bears here.

Tourism on the island

Your holiday on Olkhon Island will be remembered for a long time. Baikal, surrounded by many secrets and legends, attracts numerous tourists. Olkhon Island (Lake Baikal) is especially popular among vacationers. This is the heart of the lake, as well as the only island on Lake Baikal that is inhabited.

Olkhon is also the largest of the islands. It is a cultural tourism center. On the island we are interested in, the Siberian Ramp, an international theater festival, is held annually in July. In August there is also a festival of amateur theaters. However, the main thing that distinguishes this place is its extraordinary fauna, flora and people, far from city life, inhabiting Olkhon Island.

How to get here? The island is a 5-6 hour drive from the city of Irkutsk. You can get here by car, as well as by regular minibus. There is a crossing from the mainland to the island.

A feeling of mystery and fabulousness arises immediately upon arrival on Olkhon. Sand-strewn roads are adjacent to forests where trees have grown into the sand. The reason for this is sarma (hurricane wind blowing from the Sarma gorge).

Several settlements are located along the shores of the lake. Of these, the largest is Khuzhir. Every summer this village attracts tourists. It has some signs of a city: an Internet cafe, a club, a museum, a library. However, Khuzhir seems far from civilization. After all, real islanders live here.

Island population

A very long time ago people settled on Olkhon. A site dating back to the Paleolithic era was found in the Saraisky district. Its age is estimated at more than 13 thousand years. Today, about 1,500 people live in several villages. These are mainly Buryats, the indigenous population. Theirs is cattle breeding and fishing.

About 1,200 local people live in Khuzhir. The only industrial enterprise on the island is located here. This is the Malomorsky fish factory, the largest on Lake Baikal.

There is a village among the sand dunes, which consists of only a few houses. This is the remnant of the former village of Kharantsy. Baba Katya, its only inhabitant, sits on the rubble, listening to the seagulls flying over the island. And how many folk legends does this old woman know...

Island climate

The warmest months on Olkhon are August and July. The winter here has fairly little snow and is mild, but longer than on the mainland. Summer and spring arrive somewhat later than on the mainland. Very little precipitation falls on Olkhon, approximately 200 mm per year. This is the norm for semi-deserts. The southwestern and southern parts are the driest not only on this island, but also on all of Lake Baikal. The Coastal Range is to blame for this. Air masses pass through it on their way to the island. Overcoming it, they heat up and slide into the Baikal basin. This leads to a drop in humidity. Therefore, the rains intended for Olkhon usually fall on the eastern coast of Lake Baikal. Olkhon rain is approximately 10 drops per hour. However, heavy downpours and prolonged bad weather also occur here.

The wind blows often and for a long time on Olkhon. Its northwestern direction predominates. 148 days is the average number of days when the wind speed is more than 15 m/s.

Legends of Olkhon Island

Like Baikal itself, Olkhon is overgrown with legends to such an extent that local residents feel like they are part of fairy tales. Even the geographical names here speak for themselves. In Khuzhir, for example, there is Cape Shamansky, which was ranked among the nine shrines of Asia. Shamans once permanently resided on the island. Sacrifices to spirits were made on this rock.

Cape of Love

The island is rich in rocks and capes, which nature created like a talented artist. Some resemble the shapes of animals or people. Cape Love attracts tourists. This is almost the main one. They say that the rock, with a certain fantasy, resembles the legs of a woman, bent at the knees.

According to legend, if the Buryats could not conceive a child, they came here and asked the spirits to help. And today people use the magic rock. To ask a boy, according to legend, you need to go to the left, for a girl - to the right. If you want twins, go straight.

There are many places on Olkhon where it is customary to ask spirits for something or make wishes. Shaman posts are scattered around the island. You should tie colored ribbons to them while making wishes. There are places where people put candy, coins and other items as gifts to the gods, asking them for something.

Mirror of Desires

The Mirror of Desires is a place endowed with special magic. To get here, you need to overcome a dangerous and long path along Lake Baikal along the cliff of Olkhon Island. But those who manage to do this will receive a unique view of the sun-filled lake as a gift. Here the majestic marble rocks silently talk to the wind. The mirror of desires, according to legend, is a window in the rock, which, if you enter it, can fulfill your deepest hopes and plans.

Cape Seagulls

Olkhon Island becomes a beach on hot summer days. There are many sandy beaches here. Another definition that can be given to this island is that it is a haven for seagulls. There is even Cape Gulls. It represents a rock on Olkhon Island, on which these birds gather in large flocks. Boat excursions are organized here for tourists. Everyone has the opportunity to feed bread to the birds. They say that you can accidentally see a mermaid in the water. Of course, this is a kind of superstition and legend, but anything can happen.

Olkhon Island

Among the three dozen Baikal islands, Olkhon Island, surrounded by many ancient myths and legends, stands out especially for its size, diversity of landscapes, and the grandeur of natural monuments. Olkhon is located on the territory of the Pribaikalsky National Park and is considered one of the most beautiful places in Lake Baikal. The island is especially beautiful in autumn, when the coast is almost deserted. Covered with a golden carpet of grass, with forests touched by the fiery colors of autumn, Olkhon obediently freezes under the powerful blows of Baikal waves and mountain winds in anticipation of the harsh Siberian winter...

Geography of Olkhon

Olkhon, the largest island of Baikal, is located in the middle part of the lake, near the western coast. The island is stretched along the shore of Baikal, the length of Olkhon is 73 km (between capes Khoboy and Umysh-Tame), the width reaches 15 km. The area of ​​Olkhon Island is about 700 sq. km, the length of the coastline is about 210 km.

The part of Baikal, located between the western coast of the lake and the island of Olkhon, is a unique body of water with a special microclimate and is called the Small Sea, which speaks of exclusivity and a certain independence. The southwestern tip of Olkhon is separated from the coast of Lake Baikal by the Olkhon Gate Strait, which has a reputation as the most treacherous place on Lake Baikal.

There are at least two versions of the origin of the island's name, both stemming from the language of Olkhon's indigenous inhabitants, the Buryats. According to the first, the name of the island comes from the word “oykhon” - “wooded”, according to the second - from “olkhan” - “dry”. Both are quite consistent with the appearance of Olkhon - it is both dry and wooded, so it is difficult to give preference to any one option.

The western coast of Olkhon Island, washed by the waters of the Small Sea, is mostly flat, with rocky capes and bays jutting deep into the shore. The eastern one, on the contrary, is mountainous, rocky, drops steeply into Baikal, there are no deep bays here. It is on the southern coast of Olkhon that the highest point of the island is located - Mount Zhima (1274 m), rising 818 meters above Lake Baikal. And just 11 kilometers from the highest point of Olkhon is the deepest place of Baikal - mark 1637 m. In these places, the steepness of the underwater slope near the island reaches 30-40 degrees.

The southern part of Olkhon and partly the northern tip are steppe; the rest of the area is covered with pine, larch and birch forests. In the middle part of the western coast of the island, starting from Cape Khuzhirsky to Cape Sasa, the shores are sandy. Overgrown with pine and larch trees, dissected by rocky headlands, they leave an unforgettable impression.

Olkhon is large enough to have its own lakes. The largest and most famous are: Nurskoye, which merges with Zagli Bay when the water level in Baikal is high; Khankhoy, with a whole necklace of archaeological monuments; Shara-Nur, the only salt lake on Olkhon; Nuku-Nur, with an incredible amount of aquatic living organisms.

There are no rivers on Olkhon; only a couple of small streams are known that reach Lake Baikal. In the forest part of the island there are small springs that feed a few swamps. Despite the lack of water, new streams are appearing on Olkhon before our eyes. In September 2004, I discovered a stream at the northern end of Saraisky Bay. It was only slightly weaker than the stream flowing near the village of Kharantsy. Walking along the riverbed upstream, I discovered that the stream flows out of a small ravine, which, apparently, the stream itself washed out. The length of the stream is 100-150 meters.

Olkhon Climate

The warmest months on Olkhon are July and August. Winter is quite mild and with little snow, but longer than on the mainland. Spring and summer arrive later than on the mainland. Olkhon Island receives very little precipitation, about 200 mm per year - the norm for semi-deserts. The southern and southwestern parts of the island are the driest places not only on Olkhon, but throughout Lake Baikal. The reason for this is the Primorsky Ridge, through which air masses pass on the way to Olkhon. Overcoming the ridge and sliding into the Baikal basin, they heat up, which leads to a drop in relative humidity. As a result, the rains intended for Olkhon fall on the eastern coast of Lake Baikal. The usual Olkhon rain is ten drops per hour, but very heavy rains and prolonged bad weather occur on Olkhon.

The wind on Olkhon blows often and for a long time, with winds from the north-west prevailing. The average number of days with winds of more than 15 m/s is 148. Due to the fact that Olkhon is stretched along the Primorsky Ridge, itself being its spur, the island experiences the full force of the mountain wind, including its most ferocious variety - sarma.

Population of Olkhon Island

People settled on Olkhon a very long time ago - a site of an ancient man of the Paleolithic era was found in Saraisky Bay, its age is estimated at more than 13 thousand years. Currently, Olkhon is the only inhabited island on Lake Baikal. Several small villages are home to about 1,500 people, mainly the indigenous population - Buryats. Occupation: fishing and cattle breeding. The largest village on the island is Khuzhir with a population of about 1,200 people. Here is the only industrial enterprise on Olkhon - the largest on Baikal, the Malomorsky fish factory.

Fauna and flora

Olkhon's wildlife has suffered greatly from powerful anthropogenic impacts. Even the Olkhonsky reserve created in 1977, which covers almost the entire forest zone of the island, does not help. Due to human fault, the great cormorant, bustard, wolf, deer, roe deer, and falcon have disappeared from Olkhon in recent decades. Back in the 18th century, sable was completely exterminated on the island. The seal, which loved to bask in the sun on coastal rocks, became a rarity. You can now meet this unique animal only on the eastern shore of Olkhon. In recent years, the solar eagle that nested here (also known as the imperial eagle or imperial eagle) has completely disappeared from Olkhon. The same sacred Bald Eagle, the hero of many ancient Baikal legends, the son of the Master of Olkhon, the progenitor of the Olkhon shamans, to whom sacrifices are still made.

Currently, the island is home to 135 species of birds (sandpiper, duck, black grouse, wood grouse, Daurian jackdaw, horned lark, white-rumped swift, wheatear, wagtail, etc.). Twenty species of mammals (lynx, fox, hare, squirrel, polecat, weasel, etc.), including an endemic animal - the Olkhon vole, found only in the Baikal steppes; three species of reptiles and one species of amphibian. Of the large predators, occasionally in winter there are solitary wolves that penetrate the island through the ice. It is extremely rare for wolf packs to come the same way. There are no bears on Olkhon.

Archeology

The history of Olkhon goes deep into antiquity. The island has given rise to many amazing legends and tales. Olkhon's rich history is confirmed by numerous historical monuments and archaeological finds made over more than 200 years of exploration of the island. There are 143 archaeological monuments known on Olkhon, many of which are under state protection, these are rock paintings, ancient settlements, sites, burials, religious and defensive structures. Unfortunately, many archaeological monuments were destroyed, including the most impressive of them - ancient stone walls, the purpose of which is still unknown. But the purpose for which the walls were destroyed in 1963 is well known - the extracted stone was used to strengthen the pier in the village of Khuzhir.

Natural attractions of Olkhon

On the territory of Olkhon Island there are several natural monuments protected by the state, although it is time to declare the whole of Olkhon a natural monument and really begin to protect it.

The most famous natural monument of Lake Baikal is Cape Shaman, also known as Cape Burkhan, which is classified as a natural historical monument. Burkhan is located in the middle part of the northern coast of Olkhon on the outskirts of the village of Khuzhir. The image of the cape has actually become the hallmark of Lake Baikal.

No less picturesque are the landscape natural monuments: Cape Sagan-Khushun - a magnificent white marble cape in the northern part of Olkhon, and Cape Khoboy, crowning the northern tip of the island.

The spectacular Cape Kobylya Golova, washed on one side by the waters of the Small Sea and on the other by the waters of the Olkhon Gate Strait, has been declared a geological and geomorphological natural monument.

Botanical monuments are represented by a relict spruce forest on the western slope of Mount Zhima. The spruce forest was discovered in 1965 by Nikolai Mikhailovich Revyakin, a local historian and geography teacher at a Khuzhir school. The uniqueness of the spruce forest lies in the fact that it has been preserved since the Ice Age and survived, despite the arid climate of Olkhon, thanks to the presence of groundwater.

Other monuments of scientific importance are also protected: geological and geomorphological monuments - Kharansa and Kharaldayskaya bays, Cape Sasa, Peschanka tract, landscape natural monuments - Zagli and Tagai bays, Bayan-Shungen tract.

How to get to Olkhon

1642 meters- maximum depth of the lake Baikal. Located on the eastern shore Olkhon Islands. 1432 meters- maximum depth of the southern basin of the lake. It is located between the Pereemnaya and Mishikha rivers. 903 meters- maximum depth of the northern basin. Located between capes Elokhin and Pokoiniki. 31722 sq/km.- area of ​​the water surface. 23615.4 cubic meters/km.- water volume. 2100 km.- length of the lake shoreline. 636 km.- length of the lake. 79.5 km.- width of the lake. 570,000 sq/km.- area of ​​the drainage basin. 455 meters- the height of the lake surface above the level of the world ocean. -1187 meters- the difference between the bottom of the lake and the level of the world's oceans. +4°C- water temperature in the deep layers of the lake. +8...+9°C- temperature of surface water in an open lake. +15...+23°C- water temperature in the bays. 96.7 mg/l.- water mineralization. 27 - number of islands on Baikal (O. Olkhon, Ushkany Islands, O. Yarki, oh. Khanyk, etc.)

Islands and peninsulas of Baikal

The richest islands are the middle Baikal. In the middle of the lake there is an archipelago of four Ushkany Islands, the largest island in the lake - Olkhon, islands of Chivyrkuisky Bay - Shaggy, Golyi, White Stone, Cormorant and Kovryazhka and islands Small Sea- Izhilhey, Yedor, Modoto, Kharantsy, Wind Up, Ogoi, Borakchin, Khubyn, Khunuk, Big and Small Toynaki. In the northern part of the lake there are the islands Yarki and Millionny. These islands separate the Angarsky Sor Bay from the lake’s waters. In the southern part Baikal there are only alluvial islands near the delta Selenga- these are two islands Karga-Babya and about. Chayachiy. There are many peninsulas and capes along the entire coastline of the lake. Particularly noteworthy is the largest of them - the Holy Nose Peninsula. The peninsula separates the Chivyrkuisky and Barguzinsky bays. The area of ​​the peninsula is 596 sq. km. The most beautiful natural monument is the cape - Shamanka Rock. The cape is located in the middle part of the western coast of the island Olkhon.

Rivers and streams

According to I.D. Chersky 336 rivers and streams flow into the lake. In 1964, river counts Baikal based on topographic maps was carried out by V.M. Boyarkin. According to him in Baikal 544 temporary and permanent watercourses flow into the lake, 324 flow into the lake from the eastern shore, 220 from the western shore. The largest rivers flowing into the lake Baikal - Selenga, Upper Angara, Barguzin. From the slopes Hamar-Dabana, Barguzinsky and Primorsky ridges, many small rivers and streams flow into the lake - Snezhnaya, Utulik, Langutai, Selenginka, Sarma, Khara-Murin, Pereemnaya, Goloustnaya, Tompuda, Kabanya, etc. All rivers annually bring Baikal 60 cu. km of water. Only one river flows from the lake - Angara.

In addition to omul and two species of golomyanki, 49 species of fish are found in Baikal, 27 species are endemic. The Sturgeon family is represented by one species - the Baikal sturgeon. The Salmon family, in addition to the mule, is represented by four more species - davachan, taimen, whitefish, and lenok. The Grayling family is represented by one species - the Siberian grayling. There are two varieties of it living in Baikal - black grayling, which lives mainly in the southern and northern parts of the lake, and white grayling, which lives off the eastern coast. The Pike family is represented by one species - the common pike (pictured). Pike is found in the bays of the lake and rivers flowing into Baikal. In Chivyrkuisky Bay there are especially large specimens of this fish. There are nine species of cyprinids - roach, Siberian dace, ide, 3 types of minnows, tench, gudgeon, silver crucian carp. The Loach family has two species - Siberian char and Siberian spined loach. The Cod family has one species - burbot. The most prolific fish in the lake is a female burbot weighing 4 kg. lays up to 2.3 million eggs. The Perch family is represented by one species - perch. Sculpin (pictured) living cart. Baikal is divided into three families, 11 genera and 29 species. 22 species of sculpin are found only in the lake. The smallest fish of Baikal, the Gurvich broadhead, which belongs to the sculpin family, weighs 2-3 grams. In addition to the above-listed fish, Amur carp, eastern bream, Amur catfish, Ladoga ripus and Bauntovskaya vendace have been resettled in Baikal, and also, by chance, peled Irotan firebrand. The peled may have entered the lake after the floods of 1971-1973 from Lake Shchuchye, where it was brought, and the arotanis of Lake Gusinoye, where it also arrived by accident, during the acclimatization of the Amur carp.

Numerous scientific studies have been devoted to the problem of the origin of the word “Baikal,” which indicates a lack of clarity on this issue. There are about a dozen possible explanations for the origin of the name. Among them, the most probable version is considered to be the origin of the name of the lake from the Turkic-speaking Bai-Kul - rich lake.

Of the other versions, two more can be noted: from the Mongolian Baigal - rich fire and Baigal Dalai - large lake. The peoples who lived on the shores of the lake called Baikal in their own way. Evenks, for example, - Lamu, Buryats - Baigal-Nuur, even the Chinese had a name for Baikal - Beihai - North Sea.

The Evenki name Lamu - Sea was used for several years by the first Russian explorers in the 17th century, then they switched to the Buryat Baigal, slightly softening the letter “g” by phonetic replacement. Quite often Baikal is called the sea, simply out of respect, for its violent temper, because the distant opposite shore is often hidden somewhere in the haze... At the same time, a distinction is made between the Small Sea and the Big Sea. The Small Sea is what is located between the northern coast of Olkhon and the mainland, everything else is the Big Sea.

Baikal water

Baikal water is unique and amazing, like Baikal itself. It is unusually transparent, clean and saturated with oxygen. In not so ancient times, it was considered healing, and diseases were treated with its help. In spring, the transparency of Baikal water, measured using a Secchi disk (a white disk with a diameter of 30 cm), is 40 m (for comparison, in the Sargasso Sea, which is considered the standard of transparency, this value is 65 m). Later, when massive algae blooms begin, the transparency of the water decreases, but in calm weather the bottom can be seen from a boat at a fairly decent depth. Such high transparency is explained by the fact that Baikal water, thanks to the activity of living organisms living in it, is very weakly mineralized and close to distilled.

The volume of water in Baikal is about 23 thousand cubic kilometers, which is 20% of the world's and 90% of Russian fresh water reserves. Every year, the Baikal ecosystem reproduces about 60 cubic kilometers of clear, oxygenated water.

Age of Lake Baikal

Usually in the literature the age of the lake is given as 20-25 million years. In fact, the question of the age of Baikal should be considered open, since the use of various methods for determining age gives values ​​from 20-30 million to several tens of thousands of years. Apparently, the first assessment is closer to the truth - Baikal is indeed a very ancient lake. If we assume that Baikal is actually several tens of millions of years old, then it is the oldest lake on Earth.

It is believed that Baikal arose as a result of tectonic forces. Tectonic processes are still ongoing, which is manifested in increased seismicity in the Baikal region.

Climate in the area of ​​Lake Baikal.

The climate in Eastern Siberia is sharply continental, but the huge mass of water contained in Baikal and its mountainous surroundings create an extraordinary microclimate. Baikal works as a large thermal stabilizer - in winter it is warmer on Baikal, and in summer it is a little cooler than, for example, in Irkutsk, which is located 70 km from the lake. The temperature difference is usually about 10 degrees. A significant contribution to this effect is made by forests growing almost along the entire coast of Lake Baikal.

The influence of Baikal is not limited to temperature regulation. Due to the fact that the evaporation of cold water from the surface of the lake is very small, clouds cannot form over Baikal. In addition, the air masses that bring clouds from land heat up when they pass over the coastal mountains, and the clouds dissipate. As a result, the sky over Lake Baikal is clear most of the time. This is also evidenced by the numbers: the number of hours of sunshine in the area of ​​Olkhon Island is 2277 hours (for comparison - on the Riga seaside 1839, in Abastumani (Caucasus) - 1994). You should not think that the sun always shines over the lake - if you are unlucky, you can end up with one or even two weeks of disgusting rainy weather even in the sunniest place of Lake Baikal - on Olkhon, but this happens extremely rarely.

The average annual water temperature on the surface of the lake is +4°C. Near the coast in summer the temperature reaches +16-17°C, in shallow bays up to +22-23°C.

Wind and waves on Baikal.

The wind almost always blows on Lake Baikal. More than thirty local names of winds are known. This does not mean that there are so many different winds on Baikal, just that many of them have several names. The peculiarity of the Baikal winds is that they almost always blow along the coast and there are not as many shelters from them as we would like.

Prevailing winds: north-west, often called mountain, north-east (Barguzin and Verkhovik, also known as Angara), south-west (kultuk), south-east (shelonnik). The maximum wind speed recorded on Lake Baikal is 40 m/s. In the literature there are also higher values ​​- up to 60 m/s, but there is no reliable evidence for this.

Where there is wind, there are, as you know, waves. Let me immediately note that the opposite is not true - a wave can occur even with complete calm. Waves on Baikal can reach a height of 4 meters. Sometimes values ​​of 5 and even 6 meters are given, but this is most likely an estimate “by eye”, which has a large error, usually towards overestimation. The height of 4 meters was obtained using instrumental measurements in the open sea. The excitement is strongest in autumn and spring. In summer, strong waves on Lake Baikal are rare, and calm often occurs.

Ichthyofauna of Baikal.

Depending on their habitat conditions, fish can be divided into several groups. Sturgeon, pike, burbot, ide, roach, dace, perch, and minnow occupy the coastal shallows and river deltas of Lake Baikal. Fish of Siberian mountain rivers: grayling, taimen, lenok inhabit small tributaries of the lake and its coastal zone. Omul, since ancient times considered a symbol of Baikal, inhabits its open and coastal part, whitefish, another famous resident of Baikal, inhabits only the coastal part.

The most remarkable group of Baikal fish are gobies, of which there are 25 species. The most interesting of them are the golomyankas. This miracle of Baikal is not found anywhere else in the world. Golomyanka is incredibly beautiful, shimmers blue and pink in the light, and if you leave it in the sun it will melt, leaving only bones and a greasy stain. It is the main and most numerous inhabitant of Lake Baikal, but rarely gets caught in fishermen’s nets. Its only enemy is the seal, for which it is the main food.

To preserve rare and endangered animals, there is a strict and complete ban on hunting, maximum conservation of habitat, the creation of special nurseries, national parks, nature reserves and sanctuaries.

Olkhon Island is located in the central part of Lake Baikal, near the greatest depth (1642m). All the diversity of natural landscapes of the Baikal shores is concentrated here. Even in its shape it resembles the outlines of Lake Baikal. The highest point is the town of Zhima (Izhimei) with an elevation of 1274m. Olkhon has a special climate: summers are hotter, winters are colder; There is less precipitation than anywhere else in the Baikal region, and strong winds are frequent in the autumn-spring period. The fierce Sarma wind blows onto the island, tears away the soil cover and brings a lot of trouble to the fishermen. The island is the geographical, historical and sacred center of the lake - the concentration of ancient legends and historical traditions. The island's territory is rich in historical monuments. According to their number per 1 sq. km. it has no equal in the entire Baikal region: 143 archaeological sites are known. These are burial grounds, ancient settlements, remains of stone walls.

There are 26 islands on Lake Baikal. Of these, Olkhon is the largest and only inhabited island. Using poetic images, we can say that Baikal is the blue heart of Siberia, and Olkhon is the heart of Baikal. Its length is 71.7 km, its greatest width is 15 km, its area is 730 sq. km. The island got its name from the Buryat word “oy-khon” - little forest or “a little wooded”. In fact, forest is found only in the central part. The northern and southern ends of the island are steppe. The population of the island does not exceed 1,500 people, most of them live in the largest village of the island - Khuzhir.
For wildlife lovers and photographers, Olkhon is a real reserve of amazing landscapes and majestic landscapes.

Most of the year the island has favorable conditions for tourism and a pleasant holiday. Here you can take walking, car, water travel, horseback riding and cycling. From May to December the island is connected to the mainland by ferry. In winter, cars drive on ice. During the period of freeze-up and opening of the waters of Baikal, the island can only be reached by plane. The warmest months on Olkhon are July and August. Winter is quite mild, with little snow and long. Spring and summer arrive later than on the mainland.

HOW TO GET THERE

ATTRACTIONS

The island is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Lake Baikal. Olkhon is the center of Buryat and Central Asian shamanism. According to legend, it was here that the first Buryat shaman received his gift; during the time of Genghis Khan, all Mongolian shamans fled here from persecution by lamas. It is also believed that the grave of Genghis Khan himself is located on Olkhon.

1. Zagli Bay (1-5 km of road, counting kilometers from the ferry pier)(53°2′33.87″N 106°57′42.5″E)

The sunniest place in the Irkutsk region. The number of sunny days here is 3 times higher than in Irkutsk and amounts to more than 300 days a year. The amount of precipitation falls is the same as in the dry steppes of Kazakhstan. The bay is clearly visible from the road behind the ferry crossing. The shores are without a single bush. As a rule, tourists stop in the depths of the bay on Lake Nur, connected to the bay by a narrow channel. In summer, the water in it warms up to a temperature of 25-26 degrees Celsius. From the north the lake is overgrown with reeds and reeds; in the southern part there are thickets of pondweed.

2. Kobylya Golova Peninsula (turn left at 6 km of the road)(53°3′46.85″N 106°54′12.38″E)

The outermost rock (Cape Khorin-Irgi) is separated from the Kobylya Golova peninsula by a steep chasm about 4 m wide and walls up to 10 m high to the very surface of the water and resembles a horse’s head from afar. The rocks of the cape attract attention with ice splashes formed on the rocks when the island froze. During a strong storm on the windward side, the rocks can be covered with splash ice up to 10-20 m in height. At the same time, the crevice is picturesquely overgrown with bizarre ice decorations.

Photo: Sergey Dzyuba

In terms of the abundance, beauty and constancy of the formation of ice decorations every winter on the coastal cliffs on the Small Sea, there are only two similar places - the Kobylya Golova Peninsula and the rocks of Cape Sagan-Khushun in the northern part of Olkhon. Near Cape Kobylya Golova, from October 14 to 15, 1901, due to the strong winds of Sarma, a ship disaster occurred on Lake Baikal, killing 176 people on the Potapov ship.

3. Cape Khorgoy and the Kurykan Wall (turn off the road near Khadaya village, 7 km of the road)(53°6′21.64″N 106°58′18.34″E)

Cape Khorgoy is a steppe cape. The most convenient way to approach it is from the warm side, where tourists like to relax in sunny weather in the summer. Separated from the Small Sea by a pebble spit, the Baikal sor has shallow depths and warms up well in the summer, which allows you to swim for a long time.
Cape Khorgoy is famous for the ruins of the ancient Kurykan protective wall, more than 185 meters long and up to 2 meters high in some places. (photo) Kurykans are an ancient Turkic people who lived in the Baikal region in the 6th-11th centuries. The Kurykans are the ancestors of two Sberian peoples - the Yakuts and the Buryats.

4. Cape Burkhan (Shamanka rock) near the village of Khuzhir, 47 km of the road(53°12′16.5″N 107°20′25″E)

Shaman rock, one of the nine shrines of Asia (previously called the stone temple), located near the village. Khuzhira has become a kind of calling card of the lake, one of the most famous key images of Baikal: not a single film or photo album about Baikal can do without its image. The most revered holy place on Baikal was a cave in the rock of this Cape Shamanka, to which sacrifices were made and vows were made since the appearance of the first shamans.
The cave of the cape was considered the residence of Ezhin, the owner of Olkhon, and was sacredly revered by the local population. No one had the right to come close to the residence of the master spirit of Olkhon.

The sacred Shaman rock with a through cave, where only the shaman had the right of access, remained forbidden for a long time; no one was allowed to approach it or pass through it. The through cave (the entrance is located at an altitude of 481 m above sea level) has a length of about 12 m, a width from 3 to 4.5 m, and a height of up to 6 m. The most convenient entrance to the cave is from the western side, where there is a pre-cave area. Previously, there was a side corridor in the cave; now this side branch is littered with fallen stones. Sacrifice to spirits was made here; the cape was the main place of pilgrimage for Buryat believers throughout the Baikal region. The local history museum houses shamanic objects collected from the ashes in this grove.
At the Shamansky Cape, the Olkhon Buryats took oaths in order to withdraw a false accusation or defend their honor, promises to fulfill their duty. Childless Buryats from different regions came here asking for the gift of children.
According to the beliefs of Buryat shamanists, the cave was the residence of the terrible spirit-master of Olkhon Island, Khan Khute-baabai and his son, the eagle. In ancient times, sacrifices were often held in honor of these spirits on Olkhon Island.

5. Sandy beach of Saraisky Bay, 50 km of road(53°12′28.37″N 107°21′52.14″E)

North of Cape Burkhan there is a magnificent sandy beach of Saraisky Bay, which stretches for 3 km between Cape Burkhan and the village. Kharantsy. This is a favorite place for vacationers from tourist centers in the village. Khuzhira. Sandy ramparts hide cozy clearings in the depths of the coast, surrounded by pine forests. The sandy area stretches for about a kilometer inland. To get to the beach, you need to immediately after leaving the village turn towards the shore (1.5 km).
Improved gravel road from the village. Khuzhira to the village of Kharantsy runs far from the coast. In early June, wild rosemary blooms profusely along the road, decorating the undergrowth with a bright purple color.

6. Peschanoye tract, 67 km of road(53°17′15.64″N 107°35′14.89″E)

The Peschanoye tract is located 20 km north of the village. Khuzhira in the Nyurgan Bay and is famous for its picturesque sand dunes. Constant winds blowing from the sea carry sand from the coast and form sand deposits, which in the form of high hills, ridges, and dunes cover an area of ​​about 3 km2. These are the largest sand deposits in area not only on Olkhon Island, but also on the entire western coast of Lake Baikal.
Good places to relax can be found on the coast before reaching the village, if you turn towards the coast, immediately after descending to the sandy tract. A walk deep into the sandy hills is interesting; it is especially beautiful here in the fall, when the foliage turns colorful. On the edge of the forest, where the sands break off, you can find stilted trees, rising 30-40 cm above the sand on their roots. Their height is significantly less than that of the famous stilt trees in Peschanaya Bay, but, observing them over the past years, an increase in exposure of roots has been noted. Perhaps in a few decades their height will be equal to the famous stilted trees in Peschanaya Bay.

Photo: Valery Belykh

7. Cape Sagan-Khushun, 86 km of road(53°23′40.28″N 107°43′52.76″E)

Sagan-Khushun - “white cape” - is an extremely picturesque rocky cape about 1 km long, made of light-colored marble, densely covered with brownish-red spots of lichen. It is located 4 km from the northern tip of the island. This secluded place is difficult to find from land due to the lack of a noticeable road to it and landmarks, and from the side of the lake the rocks merge into a homogeneous kilometer-long rocky cliff.

Photo: Daniil Korzhov

Only near the rocks seem to part, revealing a small bay enclosed by monolithic walls.
At the surf level, there are numerous grottoes in the rocks of Sagan-Khushun.
The largest of them is located under the Middle Brother rock, north of a small bay. The size of this grotto is sufficient to swim inside by boat. The length is 8 meters, width 4 meters and maximum height 3 meters. This grotto is especially impressive in its icy decoration in winter. Another deep wave-cut grotto is located east of the Lesser Brother rock and is oriented with its entrance to the north. It can only be viewed in winter: crawl along the ice into a narrow 14-meter passage. The Sagan-Khushun rocks are included in the list of natural monuments of Lake Baikal. This place stands out among the monotonous coastline with spectacular pyramid-shaped rocks, known among the local population as the Three Brothers.

Photo: Alexandra Guryeva

Photo: Alexander Arkhipkin

8. Lake Khankhoy(53°9′13.68″N 107°10′14.16″E)

Lake Khankhoy is located in the middle part of the northern coast of Olkhon Island. Known for very warm water and abundance of fish. From the north, the lake is separated from Baikal by a powerful rocky ridge, which falls steeply into Baikal, but smoothly descends to the lake. From the ridge there is a picturesque view of the Maloe More, the Maloye Sea islands, and the Primorsky Range. From the east, the lake is separated from Baikal by a sand spit 30-50 m wide. The lake is inhabited by sorog, perch and pike, the latter in large quantities; there are very large specimens - 10 kg or more.

There are several archaeological sites nearby. Not far from the western end of the lake, the remains of an ancient ritual complex (7th century BC - 10th century AD), including more than twenty stone structures, were found, next to a more modern cult complex with three stone walls (17-19 centuries .). At the top of a rocky ridge steeply falling into Baikal, separating the lake from the Small Sea, ancient burials and remains of religious buildings were found.

9. Lake Shara-Nur(53°6′17.72″N 107°15′17.71″E)

Shara-Nur is the only lake on Olkhon Island located in the mountains. Translated from Mongol-Buryat “Yellow Lake”. Revered by locals for its salty mineral waters and healing mud. The mud from the lake helps with various diseases, such as arthritis. The water in the lake has healing properties. When swimming in the lake, dissolved mineral salts make the body appear red. The chemical composition of the lake includes hydrogen sulfide, which gives the water a peculiar smell.

Good warming and shallow depth of the lake are very convenient for swimming. Light blows of the wind, the varied landscape of these places, birds swimming on the lake - all this creates a sense of tranquility. If you wish, you can swim here and take a short walk through the forest.

10. Cape Khoboy(53°24′48.51″N 107°47′24.71″E)

Cape Khoboy (in Buryat khoboy - “fang, molar”) is the northernmost cape on Olkhon Island. The spectacular columnar rock, reminiscent of a sharp fang in appearance, from the sea side, has a pronounced resemblance to the profile of a female head with a bust, as on ancient Greek galleys from the east and west. The local name for the rock is Virgo. There is a Buryat legend, according to which this is a petrified Buryat woman who, out of envy of her husband, asked the Tengris for the same palace as the one granted to her husband. Tengrii with the words: “As long as there is evil and envy on earth, you will be a stone” - they turned it into a rock.

The place is notable for the polyphonic echo that is reflected from the monolithic rock. Rare and relict herbs are found here. In winter, you can explore the grottoes, fabulously decorated with splashed ice and transparent icicles. They are located at the level of the water's edge, their entrances are oriented to the north. To visit the longest of the grottoes (19 m), you need a flashlight. In the rocks, at water level, on the cape, there are grottoes up to 22 meters long; they can only be viewed in winter from the ice.
Cape Khoboy is located near the widest point of Lake Baikal (79.5 km), and only in good weather can you see the eastern shore, the mountainous contour of the Holy Nose Peninsula. It is very convenient to watch the sunrise from here. The solar disk appears from behind the mountainous Svyatoy Nos peninsula, and with a transparent atmosphere, this spectacle with wisps of fog spreading over the water surface is very picturesque.

11. Mount Zhima(53°14′3.22″N 107°43′6.39″E)

The mountain is considered sacred by the local population. This is the highest point of the island. The name of the area Izhimei comes from the word “ezhin” - the owner of the area. According to legend, the sacred Mount Zhima was the abode of spirits and deities. At the top of the mountain there used to be a wooden hut and a hut made of pine bark, built, it is believed, by Olkhon shamans. The system of prohibitions, taboos on visiting this mountain by everyone except shamans, has been known since ancient times. In the minds of shamanists, this mountain is sacred, where communication with the world of spirits is carried out through ritual. The walking tour to the mountain is tiring and requires a whole day. You have to walk without a path through a dense forest. There are no water sources, so you need to carry water with you. Between capes Izhimei and Khara-Khushun, 10 km northeast of the coast, the greatest depth of Lake Baikal was recorded - 1637 m

Photo: Julia

12. Uzury area(53°19′22.43″N 107°44′35.51″E)

Uzury is the first gently sloping valley from Cape Khoboy, overlooking the eastern shore of Olkhon. The only place in the north of the island where the road goes down to the water. The village is located on the shore of the bay. Uzury, where there is a permanent weather station. First along the path, and then without it, in 1.5-2 hours you can climb to the right up the mountain, from where a majestic all-round panorama of Lake Baikal, the northern tip of Olkhon Island and the Small Sea opens up. It is better to climb first along the path along the coast, and then along the rocky ridge. When it becomes narrow, you need to go around the ridge on the left side along the grassy slope. It’s better to go back down through the forest straight to the Uzur pad or to the trail on the Baikal shore. On the left side of the valley, in graphite marbles, there is a small cave (5 1.5 2) and a two-meter graceful rocky arch. Geologists found a mineral in the slate-marble rocks - emerald-green tourmaline.

13. Rock of Love (Cape Shunte-left)(53°23′31.98″N 107°47′27.92″E)

4 km from Cape Khoboy on the east coast there is another attraction - the Rock of Love (Cape Shunte-Levy). It is believed that with a certain fantasy, the rock resembles a woman’s legs spread and bent at the knees.

Usually, when visiting Cape Shunte-Levy, guides tell the following legend: “If the Buryats were unable to conceive a child, they came to this rock, and everything worked out for them. And now, if anyone can’t do it, you can come here and try.” Now there is a car passage to the Rock of Love.

14. Hunting winter hut(53°5′54.63″N 107°16′59.66″E)

Three kilometers from Lake Shara-Nur on the road towards the eastern coast of the island there is a functioning hunting winter hut, where you can stop for a rest and have a snack. In the winter hut you can always find matches, salt, firewood and even a few potatoes, carefully left behind by other tourists or hunters. After resting, you can also set aside some non-perishable food or essentials for other travelers as a sign of gratitude.

15. East coast of Olkhon Island(53°4′3.72″N 107°18′51.55″E)

Five kilometers from the winter hut, after the Tashkini pad, the road goes out to a very picturesque beach on the eastern coast of the island, from where there is a view of Great Baikal.

16. Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment on Ogoy Island(53°7′40.95″N 106°59′58.17″E)

In 2005, the sacred Buddhist Suburga or Stupa of Enlightenment was built on Ogoy Island. The eight-meter structure is made of concrete, consists of three steps, a dome and a spire. It is believed that Buddhist stupas are meant to dissolve all negative obstacles in the world, promote prosperity in the area where they are built and benefit people, especially those who visit these stupas consciously. The stupa is the material embodiment of the Buddha himself. According to faith, everyone who comes into contact with her (sees her, walks around her, makes offerings) thereby gains enormous spiritual merit and is freed from suffering.
Inside, the concrete structure of the Stupa has voids. Relics are gradually placed there, bringing blessings and filling the statue with religious content. In the first stage, weapons were concreted as a symbol of the prevention of wars and conflicts. Next are several vessels. They contain coins, precious metals and stones. This is the protection of everyone living on earth from poverty, a symbol of good luck and prosperity. But the main place in the body of the deity will be occupied by ancient texts of mantras and copies of books - the heritage of Tibetan culture. They contain the very teachings of the Buddha. In total, 2.5 tons of mantras and 700 kilograms of books were brought from Nepal for the Stupa of Enlightenment.

Photo: Boris Levakov

ROUTES

The most convenient way to see all the sights of Olkhon is to stay for several days in the largest settlement of the island - the village of Khuzhir, located in the center of the lake on its western coast near the sacred place - the Shamanka rock and then take radial excursions for sightseeing.
If you only have two days off, it makes sense to take the sightseeing route, which allows you to explore most of the island's attractions in a limited time.

Route No. 1: Travel from the Ferry crossing to the village of Khuzhir and Cape Burkhan

Type of route: bicycle-car, length one way - 47 km.
Travel time: by car - 40 minutes, by bicycle - 3-3.5 hours.
Route: ferry crossing - Zagli Bay - Cape Khargoy - Khuzhir village - Cape Burkhan.

The western coast of the island is a kingdom of steppes and hills, rocky and salt marsh steppes predominate here, and sand dunes are found. The road along Olkhon begins from the ferry. It follows the narrow and deep Zagli Bay (Tashkai Bay) with high rocky shores. This is the sunniest place on the island. Next is Cape Khorgoy, here are the ruins of the ancient Kurykan settlement - one of the most significant archaeological monuments of Olkhon. To reach the Shamanka rock - one of the nine shrines of Asia - the route passes through the village. Khuzhir is the largest village on the island. And here in front of you, on the edge of Cape Burkhan, is a two-peaked rock composed of crystalline limestone covered with bright red lichens.
The Shamanka Rock is the hallmark of not only the island, but the entire Baikal. In the rock closest to the shore there is a through cave, where shamanic rituals still take place. Just beyond Cape Burkhan is the magnificent sandy beach of Saraisky Bay with warm water and several short stilted trees.
Radial routes from Khuzhir.

Route No. 2: Khuzhir village - Lake Shara-Nur - East coast of the island

Type of route: bicycle-car, length one way - 15 km.
Travel time: 30 minutes by car, 2.5 hours by bicycle.
Route thread: Khuzhir village - Lake Shara-Nur - hunting winter hut - Tashkinei pad - Eastern coast of Lake Baikal.

Shara-Nur is the only lake on Olkhon Island located in the mountains. Translated from the Buryat language - Yellow Lake. Revered by local residents for its healing mud and mineral hydrogen sulfide water. Good warming and shallow depth of the lake are very convenient for swimming. Light blows of wind from the sea, the varied landscape of these places, birds swimming on the lake create a sense of tranquility.
If desired, from Lake Shara-Nur you can continue the cycling and walking route towards the East coast of the island and after 10 km along a picturesque dirt road you can reach the Great Sea - this is how the locals of the island call Baikal on the eastern side of the island. Along the way, near the road, there is a working winter hut, where at any time of the year the traveler can take refuge from the summer heat, rain or icy wind.

Route No. 3: Khuzhir village - Lake Khankhoy

Type of route: pedestrian, bicycle, car, length one way - 11 km.
Travel time: by car 15 minutes, by bicycle - 1 hour, on foot 2 hours.
Route thread: Khuzhir village - Lake Khankhoi.

Lake Khankhoy is located in the steppe part of the island on the west coast. The water here warms up faster than on the Small Sea. The lake is a favorite place for vacationers and lovers of swimming and fishing for trash fish. The shore between the lake and the Small Sea is rocky. On its territory there are archaeological sites of the Neolithic and Iron Age.

Route No. 4: Khuzhir village - stream in the Tumyr-Tologoi valley

Type of route: pedestrian, bicycle, car, length one way - 3 km.
Travel time: by car 5 minutes, by bicycle - 15 minutes, on foot 40 minutes.
Route: Khuzhir village - pine grove - stream in the Tumyr-Tologoi valley.

The route begins behind the village of Khuzhir along Lesnaya Street deep into the island and passes through a very picturesque pine grove. After 2 km, the forest road comes out into a wide forest clearing, which is crossed by a stream with crystal clear water, which originates in the mountains of the eastern part of the island. There are a lot of picturesque and cozy places in the meadow for a pleasant rest and enjoying the surrounding nature.

Route No. 5: Khuzhir village - Cape Khoboy - Uzury village

Type of route: bicycle-car, length one way - 35 km.
Travel time: by car 1 hour, by bicycle - 3 hours.
Route thread: Khuzhir village - Kharantsy village - Budun Cape - Peschanaya village - Sagan-Khushun Cape - Khoboy Cape - Love Rock - Uzury village.

The route passes through the northeastern part of the island, the most picturesque places of Olkhon. From the village of Khuzhir the road goes through the Shaman Forest to the village of Kharantsy. Along the way, a beautiful panorama of the Small Sea and the Primorsky Range opens up. Next is the picturesque Cape Budun, sand dunes near the village of Peschanaya. Beyond Peschanaya, the road goes through the mountains to the Sasa area, where the steppe landscape begins. The Sasa-Khoboy section is notable for its steep mountain slopes with small forests and capes. Cape Sagan-Khushun stands out here. And finally, Khoboy is the northernmost cape on Olkhon Island. A spectacular steep cliff, resembling a “sharp fang” in appearance - this is how the name of the rock is translated from Mongolian. From Khoboy there are panoramic views of the Baikal ridge with one of the most famous anomalous places of Lake Baikal - Cape Ryty, the Holy Nose Peninsula, Barguzinsky Bay. In good weather, the Ushkany Islands are visible, which are the habitat of the largest endemic of the lake - the Baikal seal.
It is more interesting to return along the eastern steep edge of the island: drive 5-6 km along a barely beaten road to the picturesque Rock of Love, covered with red moss and lichen, near which you can take magnificent photographs.
On the way back, it is worth visiting the only and most picturesque settlement on the island on the east coast - the village of Uzury. To do this, you need to turn left along the beaten track to the east coast of the island.

Route No. 6: Along the islands of the small sea

View route

Type of route: water, total length - 70 km.
Travel time: by boat - 3 hours, by kayak - 6-7 hours.
Route: bay near the village of Khuzhir - along Saraisky Bay - Kharantsy Island - Yedor Island - Zamogoy Island - Ogoy Island.

It starts from the village of Khuzhir and goes around Cape Burkhan Rock, which has long become a symbol of Lake Baikal. The journey continues along the long border of the sandy spit of Saraisky Bay, skirting the island of Kharantsy with its grottoes and heading towards the island. Yedor. The route then goes to the island. Zamogoy and Fr. Wow. Ogoy Island (Ugungoy) is the largest island of the Small Sea, its length is 3 km. “Ugungoy” means “waterless” in Buryat, and Ogoy is perhaps just a corruption of the original name. Ogoy is a rocky piece of land with several gently curving coves, stretching from west to east for three kilometers.
Ogoy Island is one of the “places of power” of Baikal.
At the top of the island in 2005, a Buddhist stupa called the Stupa of Enlightenment was erected. The stupa contains the relics of Buddhist saints, objects they used, sacred texts with predictions, as well as a bronze figurine of the dakini Troma Nagmo, considered the mother of all Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism. If you walk around this stupa 8 times barefoot, you can cleanse yourself spiritually - from various experiences, worries and problems. For this purpose, a path has been laid around the stupa. However, it is forbidden to make sacrifices with alcohol, cigarettes and coins, as is customary among the Buryat obos.
After completing the exploration of the surroundings of Ogoy Island by water transport, we return back to the bay of the village of Khuzhir.

Route No. 7: Holy Spring

Type of route: water-pedestrian, length one way - 20 km.
Travel time: by boat - 40 minutes, then on foot 1 hour.
Route: bay near the village of Khuzhir - through the Small Sea - Cape Yadyrtui on the mainland - Holy Spring.

It starts from the village of Khuzhir and crosses the Small Sea Strait. Olkhon Island is located 16 km from the mainland. On the opposite shore, the nature of the Primorsky Ridge is different than on the island. Due to high rainfall, the vegetation is more lush. A short distance from the shore inland, the road comes to the “Holy Spring”, the water of which treats diseases of the digestive tract.

Weekend sightseeing route

Type of route: automobile, length one way - 85 km.
Travel time: 1.5 days.

Route thread:
1 day. Ferry crossing - Zagli Bay - Cape Khargoy - Lake Khankhoy - Khuzhir village (Cape Burkhan) (lunch) - Peschanaya village - Kharantsy village - Uzury village (overnight in a tent).
Day 2. Uzury village - Rock of Love - Cape Khoboy - Lake Shara-Nur (lunch) - Ferry crossing

ACCOMMODATION ON OLKHON

- Mini-hotel "Baikal"

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