How nice it is to spend a weekend after a week of work somewhere outside the city by the lake, away from the bustle of the city. For many, such a pastime is an integral part of the holiday. But do people really know how lakes are formed, how they can be useful, and how they can sometimes cause harm?

What types of lakes are there?

A lake is a closed depression in the ground into which underground water flows and does not evaporate. Such a depression is called a lake basin. According to their origin, all lakes are divided into tectonic, river (oxbow lakes), coastal, sinkhole, and underground.

Based on salinity, they are distinguished between fresh (Baikal), brackish (Chany) and (Chad). All bodies of water can be wastewater when one or more rivers flow out of the lake; flowing - several rivers flow into the lake and one or more flow out; drainless - the rivers only flow into the lake.

Filling of reservoirs occurs due to precipitation (rain, snow) or with the help of groundwater. Also, the lake’s nutrition can be mixed.

According to the mineral composition of lakes, there are carbonate, sulfate and chloride.

How are lakes formed?

Most of the lakes on our planet are of tectonic origin, that is, they were formed in large depressions of the earth's crust or in rifts (tectonic cracks). The bottom of such a lake has a rough outline and is located below the level of the World Ocean. Its banks are covered with hard rocks that are poorly susceptible to erosion. All the deepest lakes are formed as a result

Many reservoirs are formed as a result of geological processes (weathering, erosion, glacial activity). Among them, the most common are glacial lakes on the plains and in the mountains, as well as sinkholes that were formed as a result of the thawing of earth rocks. Such reservoirs have a round shape. They are small in area and depth.

After earthquakes and landslides, dammed lakes are formed, which can block river valleys. Lakes also appear in river valleys. These are the so-called oxbow lakes. How oxbow lakes are formed can be judged by the long-term functionality of the river. If the climate is dry, you get stretch lakes, which stretch in the form of chains for hundreds of kilometers. But when the channels wander, delta lakes are formed.

Lake Baikal

Baikal is the deepest lake on the planet. Its greatest depth is 1642 m and reaches 460 m.

The formation of Lake Baikal occurred as a result of large faults in the earth's crust. Baikal is geographically located in Russia, on the border of the Buryat Republic and the Irkutsk region. The area of the reservoir is 31,722 km. More than three hundred rivers and streams flow into Baikal, including the Selenga, Turka, Snezhnaya, and Surma. And the Ankara River flows out of it. Thus, Baikal is a flowing lake.

Baikal waters are fresh and transparent. The stones are visible even at a depth of 40 meters! The amount of minerals in the lake is insignificant, so the water can be used as distilled water.

The climate of Baikal is cool. Winters here are mild and summers are cold. More than 2,600 different representatives of plants and animals live in the lake, most of which are characteristic only of Baikal.

Scientists estimate the age of the lake at 25-35 million years. The origin of the name is not precisely established. But translated from Turkic - Baikal (Bai-Kul) is a rich lake, which is an indisputable fact.

Origin of swamps

A swamp is a part of land characterized by high humidity and acidity. In such places, standing or underground groundwater comes to the surface, but “does not stay” for long. All swamps occur in two ways:

Overgrowing of the lake.

Based on the type of vegetation, swamps are divided into forest, shrub, herbaceous and moss. The relief of bogs can be flat, convex or hilly. Some swamps are characterized by the formation of peat (dead but not completely decomposed plants). Peat is used as a combustible material, as well as in medicine (mud therapy) and industry.

If we talk about how lakes and swamps are formed, then the latter are the process of evolution of the former. The deposition of silt gradually leads to pollution and shallowing of the lake, resulting in low-lying swamps with rich water supply.

The value of wetlands

Wetlands are a valuable natural asset. This is a natural complex that is a habitat for rare species of flora and fauna.

Swamps are most common in the tundra, taiga and forest-tundra - in areas with excess moisture, where the amount of precipitation exceeds evaporation.

All swamps are divided into lowland, highland and transitional. Lowland ones are fed by groundwater, while highland ones are fed by precipitation. Transitional swamps are the middle stage between the two previous types.

The flora of swamps is very valuable for humanity. Lingonberries, cranberries, cloudberries, junipers are berries that are widely used in medicine. Many plants from swamps are used in perfumery and industry.

Swamps are an important source of river nutrition. Most reservoirs originate from swamps. Swamps are the second “lungs” of the planet after forests. They process carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.

Secrets of the lakes

For example, the Lake of Death, which is located in Italy, is terrifying by its name alone. There is no vegetation around it, and no living creatures in its waters. Swimming in the lake is prohibited, and hardly anyone will want to, because it contains a high concentration of sulfuric acid.

The only thing logical explanation all the anomalies that occur in reservoirs are how lakes are formed. Perhaps the reason for everything is plant and animal world, not fully studied by humanity.

Conclusion

Lakes are an important part of the Earth. Half of all plants and animals useful to humans are inhabitants of rivers and lakes. Why lakes form can be judged from the interior of our Earth. Tectonic and geological changes are main reason formation of all reservoirs.

Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in Lombardy. It is located 45 km north of Milan near the Swiss border. Como is 46 km long and shaped like an inverted Y, and is considered one of the deepest lakes in the world. In some places the depth reaches 400 m. Surrounded by a chain of mountains with peaks up to 2,700 m high, this Pre-Alpine lake is impressive not only with its nature, but also with its rich history and traditions. Como is ideal for both active and relaxing holidays.

In this region, tourists will find magnificent 17th-century villas with beautiful gardens, antique Romanesque churches, mountain peaks with impressive views of the lake and many other attractions that will not leave the most discerning traveler indifferent.

Traveling along Lake Como by boat you can enjoy the coastline dotted with small, incredibly beautiful towns. By car or bus you will see valleys with rural settlements and small churches. Hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts will find it very interesting to explore the many trails around the lake.

How to get to Lake Como

Immediate big cities to Lake Como - Milan and Bergamo. From them it is most convenient to reach most of the towns located on the lake coast by public transport.

From Milan to Lake Como

Trains depart from Milano Centrale to Lecco, Varenna, Bellano and Colico. Suburban express trains run every hour. The first one leaves Milan at 06:20 and the last one at 21:20.

From Milano Porta Garibaldi station you can get to the city of Como.

Bell tower of San Nicolo

San Nicolo is the symbol of Lecco. The bell tower rises 96 meters above the city. It offers stunning views of the city and Lake Como. To climb the tower, you must pre-book a visit on the official website of the bell tower.

Varenna

This is a quiet and peaceful town located in the central part of Lake Como. Varenna has excellent transport links from Milan.

Here you should take a leisurely stroll along the embankment, walk along the intricate streets and enjoy excellent cuisine in one of the restaurants. The quiet and cozy atmosphere of this place, with magnificent views of the central part of Lake Como, will not leave any tourist indifferent.

100 great records of the elements [with illustrations] Nepomniachtchi Nikolai Nikolaevich

Wandering and disappearing lakes

Residents small village near Lake Sukhoi, in the Novgorod region, I was awakened at night by a terrible noise. The ice was breaking on the lake. And the water rustled like a waterfall.

In the morning, people were surprised to discover that the lake had disappeared, only pieces of ice lay on the bare bottom. Yes, there was a large black hole, similar to the entrance to the hole of an animal. All the water went underground through it.

The same story repeated itself a few years later in the Vytegorsky district in the Vologda region. In three days, Kushtozero, which occupied an area of twenty square kilometers, disappeared. Ice fishing enthusiasts became eyewitnesses. “In the northwestern part of the lake,” they said, “an opening suddenly appeared. The ice around began to settle. It was clear that the lake seemed to be falling into a hole. Along with the fish."

When they tried to measure the depth of the funnel where the water went, it turned out that even poles lowered eighteen meters did not reach its bottom. It also happens differently: the lake does not disappear, but appears. Thus, in the Urals, in the Babka River basin, in the vicinity of Kungur, such reservoirs arise in the place of meadows and swampy depressions. Even before the war, large water suddenly appeared here, not far from the village of Shestaki. The new lake overflowed, flooded the entire lowland and approached the line railway. And then the water disappeared. It turns out that the banks of the Babka River are made of rocks that are easily soluble in water; Going underground and sinking lower and lower, the water reaches layers that do not allow it to pass further (clay, shale, granite, etc.). It accumulates here and, when there is a lot of it, it rushes up again.

Sometimes they “live” in this mode big lakes. For example, Alahua, in the state of Florida (USA). At first it was a meadow through which a stream flowed, going underground. But one day, after heavy rains, the underground passage was closed, and water began to fill this meadow. A few years later, a solid lake was formed, on which steamships even sailed for more than ten years. And in 1889, the water level began to drop, and two years later the lake disappeared completely.

In other similar lakes, water appears and disappears at certain periods of the year. Geographer A. Nechaev wrote about one of these reservoirs, Shimozero, located near Lake Onega: “At the beginning of summer it is full of water, and in June it gradually becomes shallow, and islands protrude from its waters here and there. By autumn, the lake completely dries up: its water goes underground. At the southeastern end of Shimozero there is a completely regular round depression - a funnel, known as the Black Pit. The water that fills it at the beginning of summer is in constant rotational motion. If you throw a fishing net here, it will be pulled down and twisted into a ball.” When the water in Shimozero recedes, the Black Pit turns into a dirty, gaping hole. However, there remains water at the bottom, which either sinks or rises.

Lake Semgo in Arkhangelsk region repeatedly sank into the ground - in two or three days its level dropped by fourteen meters. Then it quickly filled up again. On one of the lakes in the Leningrad region, the water level increased for eight years, and then decreased over the next three years. Every few years, a high-mountain lake in Dagestan, Rakdal-Khol, appears—always unexpectedly. A month and a half passes, and it disappears again.

All such phenomena are the result of interaction with groundwater. The path of these waters will change, the upper arch of the cave will collapse, or the influx of underground water will sharply increase - all this can cause fluctuations in the level of reservoirs on the surface of the earth if they have any connection with the underground. Sometimes ghost lakes cause floods. Their waters flood the surrounding meadows and forests... In 1953–1958, a severe flood occurred on Lake Gorodno in the Novgorod region. To protect the hayfields from the elements, a special canal had to be dug to the Suglishche River.

THE SECRET OF SVETLOYAR

Svetloyar, a small forest lake in the Nizhny Novgorod region, has long attracted people obsessed with discoveries... The legend tells: it was in those dashing years, when the hordes of Batu Khan invaded Rus'. Leaving behind them a devastated land, they reached the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. Here they were met by Russian soldiers.

The forces, however, were unequal. In a battle near Small Kitezh (present-day Gorodets), most of the warriors of Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich were killed. The prince and a small retinue disappeared across the Volga. There, in the dense forests, even before this invasion, he built a city on the shore of Lake Svetloyar - Kitezh Bolshoy. Batu ordered to torture the inhabitants of Small Kitezh in order to find the prince. “I cannot endure the torment,” one of them, Grishka Kuterma, told where the surviving Russian soldiers hid, and pointed out the forest passages to Greater Kitezh. A few days later the invaders found themselves at its walls. The battle flared up again. Prince Yuri died, but the city itself did not fall to the enemy. God heeded the prayers of its inhabitants and created a miracle: Kitezh with its houses, churches, and all its inhabitants disappeared under water. The city of Kitezh, according to legend, lives to this day. If you are lucky, you can even see the reflection of the wonderful city in Svetloyar, and when you put your ear to the ground, you can hear the “surprised” ringing of bells. Beautiful legend. It is not for nothing that she inspired many of our artists, musicians, and writers to create works about the “invisible city.” But we are now interested in something else: is there some kind of real event? Scientists have been studying this mystery, and although it cannot yet be said that it has been solved, much has become clearer. It can be assumed that once here, as a result of a sinkhole, a small ancient Russian fortress went underground and a lake formed in its place. And popular rumor blossomed it a natural phenomenon with your imagination.

In appearance, Lake Svetloyar is very reminiscent of lakes that formed twelve to fifteen thousand years ago, at the end of the Ice Age, in the north-west of the Russian Plain - in Karelia, the Baltic States, and the Valdai Upland. However, in the places where Svetloyar is located, the ice melted much earlier - two hundred to three hundred thousand years ago, and all the glacial lakes that existed here long ago disappeared from the face of the earth, turning into swamps and peat deposits. This means that Svetloyar is not a glacial lake, but rather a karst, sinkhole lake.

This guess is confirmed by one forgotten history. In 1903, near the village of Shary, not far from the places where the fabulous city was located, the same thing happened that could have destroyed Kitezh. Here is a newspaper report from that time:

“Recently, the residents of this village were terribly frightened by an incomprehensible crackling and noise that seemed to come out of the ground and resembled a volley from a cannon. The Cheremis inhabitants rushed in the direction of their soul forest, from where, apparently, these menacing sounds rushed and, to their surprise, they saw the following: in the middle of the forest a huge depression of earth had formed, 200–300 square fathoms in size, so deep that big trees, which grew in this place, went underground without a trace; what’s even more surprising is that a lake formed at the site of the failure - water immediately came out of the ground, and now the depth has already reached 8 fathoms, steep, several fathoms, banks rise above the water...” But was this the case with Svetloyar? Scientists examined its shores and came to the conclusion that there could be no karst failure here. There are no rocks around the lake that are easily soluble and washed away by groundwater.

Are there any other conditions under which sinkholes in the ground are also possible? It turns out there is. Geologists are well aware that the center of the Russian Plain lies on a foundation of very strong rocks. This foundation is cut by deep faults that run in different directions, often intersecting with each other. And Lake Svetloyar, as geologist V.I. found out. Nikishin, lies precisely at the intersection of two deep faults. In such a place a reservoir could form, and immediately - even in front of people. In the summer of 1968, on the initiative of Literaturnaya Gazeta, scuba divers examined Svetloyar and discovered underwater terraces in it - the coastal slope goes under the water in ledges, a steep decline is interspersed with horizontal sections. From this we can conclude that the lake was formed as if in parts: first one subsidence, then - after hundreds, thousands of years - a second, and finally a third. On one of the current underwater terraces there could once have been a town or monastery, which later disappeared in the waters of Svetloyar. In addition, scuba divers discovered the remains of trees on the terrace.

While all this is speculation, there are no final conclusions. And this is understandable. In science there is an invariable requirement: a phenomenon must be studied deeply and comprehensively, all of it dark sides clarified. Without this, it cannot be argued that its nature has been revealed. According to academician B.A. Rybakova, “until detailed studies of the lake bottom are carried out, apparently, one should not reject the former existence of Kitezh.” The opposite should not be said either.

Wanderings of LOBNOR

In the 70s of the last century, the famous Russian traveler and geographer N.M. Przhevalsky, crossing the Taklamakan desert, put a large fresh lake on the map. Later, in one of his books, he described it in detail. And then suddenly a controversy broke out among scientists. According to all data, we were talking about Lake Lop Nor, known to scientists Ancient China, but it must be salty and, most importantly, be located completely different from where Przhevalsky designated it. The scientist was even accused of simply not being at the lake.

In science, it often happens that both disputing sides turn out to be right. Yes, Przhevalsky saw the same lake that ancient scientists knew, but he saw it at a completely different time. But this lake turned out to have a “quirk”: it moves along a vast depression between two ridges. At the same time, not only its outline changes, but even the chemical composition of the water. The Tarim River and its tributary Konchedarya flow into Lop Nor. In the summer, when the snow melts in the mountains, the high-water Tarim erodes the sandy soils of the desert along its path and is divided into dozens of channels. It is usually difficult to say where the bulk of the water goes - its path often changes. Often the river goes away from its beaten path and generally ceases to supply Lop Nor with water. And at this point it disappears. And Tarim finds something new in the desert basin appropriate place and creates a new lake. Here we are essentially dealing with approximately the same situation that is typical for wandering rivers. In 1923, the Konchedarya carved out a new channel for itself and broke away from the Tarim. There was less water in it, its lower reaches dried up, and Przhevalsky’s Lobnor disappeared. But he didn’t just disappear, but was reborn where he was listed on ancient maps. Seven years later, the lake stretched here for a hundred kilometers in length and fifty in width.

Another two decades passed. Travelers who visited these parts saw... a waterless desert. In place of a huge reservoir, layers of salt were white - once again Tarim and his companion Konchedarya left the lake to the mercy of fate. In 1952, water appeared again in the Lop Nor Basin. “Lopnor has been reborn, but for how long? – geographer E.M. wrote then. Murzaev. - Most likely, he will die completely. This lake is a huge evaporation bowl, where valuable waste in desert conditions is wasted. river water. Meanwhile... farmers of Kashgaria can make wider use water resources Tarim and Konchedarya and use their water for irrigation. And this will affect the lower reaches of rivers, in the desert, where less and less water will flow as a result of its dispersal into canals.”

In Africa, Lake Chad constantly changes its appearance. One of the largest on Earth, it is very shallow - the greatest depth does not exceed seven meters. The water here evaporates intensely, and the outlines of the lake change all the time. Chad was once three times larger than it is now. At the beginning of the 20th century, the lake shrank sharply, and now it is increasing again.

From book Unexplained phenomena author

Wandering Senses Exist general idea that people who have lost their sight or hearing compensate for this physical deficiency by heightening their other senses. In some recorded cases, the lost feeling was restored in another part

From the book Unknown, Rejected or Hidden author Tsareva Irina Borisovna

From the book Big Soviet Encyclopedia(OZ) of the author TSB

Lakes Lakes are natural bodies of water in depressions of land (basins), filled within a lake bowl (lake bed) with heterogeneous water masses and not having a one-way slope. O. basins arise as a result of various relief-forming processes and

From the book 100 Great Elemental Records author Nepomnyashchiy Nikolai Nikolaevich

The most “wandering” poles, or is a polarity reversal coming? Our planet has two pairs of poles. The earth’s axis passes through the geographic poles, the same one that “bears rub their backs” against. But since the Earth is also a huge spherical magnet, there is also a second pair of poles -

From the book Miracles: Popular Encyclopedia. Volume 1 author Mezentsev Vladimir Andreevich

Disappearing lakes, floating islands Residents of a small village near Lake Sukhoi, in the Novgorod region, were awakened at night by a terrible noise. The ice was breaking on the lake. And the water rustled, as if at a waterfall. In the morning, people were surprised to discover: the lake had disappeared, only people were lying on the bare bottom

From the book 100 famous mysteries of nature author Syadro Vladimir Vladimirovich

“Wandering Souls” Speaking about the “secrets” of swamps, it is worth remembering the old popular belief about “wandering souls” that can supposedly be seen in cemeteries and swamps. There were once many stories about such meetings. Writer A. Velikanov recalls this one from the book Slavic gods, spirits, heroes of epics. Illustrated Encyclopedia author Kryuchkova Olga Evgenievna

From the book 100 Great Elemental Records [with illustrations] author Nepomnyashchiy Nikolai Nikolaevich

Will-o'-the-wisps Will-o-the-wisps - according to some myths, these are lights glowing on graves and in swamps, which are the souls of those who died an unnatural death (drowned, murdered and

From the book Slavic Encyclopedia author Artemov Vladislav Vladimirovich

From the book Who's Who in the Natural World author Sitnikov Vitaly Pavlovich

Wandering and disappearing lakes Residents of a small village near Lake Sukhoi, in the Novgorod region, were awakened at night by a terrible noise. The ice was breaking on the lake. And the water rustled, as if at a waterfall. In the morning, people were surprised to discover: the lake had disappeared, only pieces lay on the exposed bottom

From the book Where Names Come From. St. Petersburg streets, embankments, squares from Annin’s decrees to the decrees of Governor Poltavchenko author Erofeev Alexey Dmitrievich

From the author's book

What are endangered lakes? There are several dozen lakes in the world that disappear from time to time and then reappear. Thus, Lake Syamgo, located in the Arkhangelsk region, whose length is 4 and width is 2 kilometers, regularly, once every four

Salzburg and its surroundings are one of the business cards Austria. What is Salzburg? For some, these are, first of all, ski resorts. For others - hometown Mozart. Still others go to Salzburg for the beautiful mountain landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, caves... One way or another, this region is visited annually by millions of tourists from different parts of the world. Of course, we couldn’t ignore this wonderful place. As a matter of fact, we will further discuss possible routes for independent travel from Salzburg. In other words, we will try to offer several ideas on the topic “Where to go from Salzburg?”

In order not to return to the transport issue again in the future, we will provide several useful links. Firstly, the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at is very useful in planning independent trips from Salzburg. Its undoubted advantage is that it covers not only railway but also bus routes. That is, by entering the points of departure and destination in the search form, you can see an almost complete range of transport solutions. This greatly simplifies the search process. Secondly, for additional information you can look at the website www.svv-info.at, as well as some local resources that will be indicated below along the narrative. Finally, if you are planning to choose Salzburg as a base for traveling around Austria, it is worth reading this article (it is dedicated to hotels in Salzburg and the issue of choosing a location in the city).

Where to go in the vicinity of Salzburg?

We repeat, but still note that the surroundings of Salzburg are extremely beautiful. Therefore, perhaps the best thing you can come up with is to rent a car and simply drive around the alpine towns and villages located in the area, maneuvering between mountains and lakes. However, public transport is very well developed in Austria, which allows you to move between the main attractions almost freely.

In the immediate area of Salzburg you can find villages (communes) such as Anif, Grödig, Eugendorf, and small towns– Wals-Siezenheim, Bergheim and a number of others (more detailed information about the immediate vicinity of Salzburg can be found on the website www.salzburgerland.com). All are within half an hour's drive of Salzburg and deserve some attention. For example, in Hellbrunn Castle (Schloss Hellbrunn) it will be interesting to see the so-called amusing fountains. However, in our opinion, you should focus on these places only if you plan to thoroughly focus on Salzburg. In this case, they are able to diversify your stay in the city. At the same time, there are more interesting destinations for excursions from Salzburg.

In particular, these are the salt mines in the city of Hallein (or Hallein), which can be reached from Salzburg in just 15-20 minutes. Gather Additional information about this route, as well as buy entrance tickets, on the website www.salzwelten.at/... (by the way, there is also information about other salt mines, which you can also visit if you wish - they are, however, much further from Salzburg, than Hallein ones).

You can also go for a day to the town of Werfen - it is not so far from Salzburg - within an hour by train. Moreover, in addition to Werfen itself and the nearby Hohenwerfen castle, you should definitely see the Eisriesenwelt ice cave. It is located in the mountains, at an altitude of more than one and a half thousand meters. There are regular buses from Werfen towards the cave (see www.eisriesenwelt.at/... for details).

Another equally interesting place an hour’s drive from Salzburg is the Liechtenstein Gorge (Liechtensteinklamm). It is located near the town of Sankt Johann im Pongau - the walk is about 5 km, but you can take a taxi. By the way, St. Johann itself is also worth a walk for a couple of hours.

There are other very attractive destinations for independent excursions from Salzburg. They are, however, further away, but, in our opinion, they are worth spending some time on the road.

From Salzburg to Salzkammergut

First of all, such places include lakes and, in particular, the Salzkammergut region, which is often called the Austrian lake district. With Salzburg in mind as a starting point for trips, we highlight four lakes: Wolfgangsee, Mondsee, Traunsee and Hallstätter See. They (especially the first two) are quite convenient to get to from Salzburg. So, the village of St. Gilgen (St. Gilgen or Sankt Gilgen), on Wolfgangsee, is only 50 minutes by bus. It takes the same amount of time to get to the town of Mondsee, located on the shores of the lake of the same name. To get to Lake Traunsee, for example, to Gmunden, you will have to go with a transfer in Attnang-Puchheim, but this also takes a relatively short time - less than an hour and a half. Another 10-15 minutes from Gmunden is the picturesque village of Traunkirchen, which is also worth dropping in for an hour or two. The longest way to get to Hallstatter See is about two and a half hours with a transfer all in the same Attnang-Puchheim. But it's worth a trip. On the shores of this lake is the town of Hallstatt (or Hallstatt - Hallstatt), included along with the surrounding area in the list World Heritage UNESCO. As a matter of fact, on the road from Salzburg to Hallstatt you will pass Gmunden and Traunkirchen, as well as Bad Ischl, which deserves no less attention. Theoretically, of course, it is possible to cover all these places (from Gmunden to Hallstatt) in one day. But we would not recommend doing this, otherwise the trip risks turning into a meaningless gallop.

In addition to the listed lakes, one more can be mentioned - Attersee. True, the villages located on its banks are not particularly remarkable in comparison with those listed above. However, the lake itself is well suited for swimming - its shores are mostly flat, and the water warms up to 25-26 degrees in summer. However, you can also swim in other lakes (in particular, Mondsee and Wolfgangsee), and some hotels even have their own beaches (see, for example, Pension Linortner or Strandhotel Margaretha in Sankt Wolfgang on Wolfgangsee).

In addition to swimming and exploring villages and towns, Salzkammergut is interesting for all sorts of walking routes, which should especially appeal to those who like to climb mountain trails. In addition, from many places (Hallstatt, St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen, Gmunden, etc.) you can climb the mountains by cable cars. Also near Hallstatt you can see caves and go down into a salt mine. You can also take a boat ride on the lakes (see, in particular, www.atterseeschifffahrt.at, www.wolfgangseeschifffahrt.at and www.hallstattschifffahrt.at). Finally, we cannot fail to mention winter sports and, in particular, alpine skiing. You can have excellent skiing, for example, in the Western Dachstein ski region (Skiregion Dachstein West – www.dachstein.at), which is near Hallstatt, Bad Ischlem and Gosau or, if you are a beginner, in Zwölferhorn (www.dachstein.at). 12erhorn.at), a ski resort perched on the mountain of the same name above St. Gilgen. Additional weight useful information information about the Salzkammergut region can be found at www.salzkammergut.at.

From Salzburg to Zell am See, Kaprun and Krimml

Another interesting region within reach from Salzburg is the district of Zell am See. Here, on the shores of Lake Zeller See, is the city of the same name Zell am See, and in the surrounding area there are other interesting places - in particular, Kaprun and Krimml.

The journey from Salzburg to Zell am See takes approximately one and a half hours (by train). In summer you can swim and walk in the mountains, and in winter you can go skiing and snowboarding - the 2000-meter-high Schmittenhöhe mountain (www.schmitten.at) is at your service.

A little further south (20 minutes by bus from Zell am See) is the town of Kaprun, which, in our opinion, is much more democratic than Zell am See. The mountains in the Kaprun area are even higher - nearby is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier mountain, whose height is more than 3000 meters. Of course, there is also a ski resort here (see www.kitzsteinhorn.at). The Kitzsteinhorn glacier can be visited not only in winter, but also in summer. It is very beautiful here at any time of the year.

Besides, special attention deserves the Sigmund Thun Gorge (Sigmund-Thun-Klamm – www.kaprunmuseum.at/…) – there is a small walking route along the narrow gorge leading to Lake Kapruner Ache. The entrance to the gorge is a 20-30 minute walk from the center of Kaprun, but you can also get there by bus - the road to the gorge (Krammweg) branches to the right between the Tauernplatz and Kaprun Maiskogelbahn bus stops, closer to the latter ( these stops are marked on Google Maps - see).

Also from Kaprun you can get to the high mountain reservoirs (Kaprun Hochgebirgsstauseen - www.verbund.com/...). This route starts from the final bus stop Kaprun Kesselfall-Alpenhaus. A visit to the Sigmund Thun Gorge will not take much time, and this walk, in principle, can be combined with a trip to the reservoirs.

If you are traveling around Kaprun by car, it is also worth taking a drive along the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse Alpine High Road, which is also sometimes called the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse panoramic highway. This road runs through the territory national park"High Tauern" (Hohe Tauern). For this reason, travel on it is paid. Here you can admire it for yourself high mountain the Austrian Alps (Grossglockner - the road is named after her), the Pasterze glacier and other beauties of alpine nature, including extremely friendly marmots ( detailed information information about this and other similar “protected” roads can be found on the website www.grossglockner.at/...).

If we talk about the Krimml, then perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is the Krimmler Waterfall (Krimmler Wasserfälle – www.wasserfaelle-krimml.at), which is often called “the highest in Europe” (about 380 meters), although it not quite like that, or rather, not at all like that, which, however, in no way detracts from the greatness and beauty of this waterfall. The village of Krimml is about an hour and a half drive from Zell am See. It is, of course, a long way to get here from Salzburg by public transport - in total, the journey takes more than three hours one way. Plus, you need to spend at least four hours on the waterfall itself, since from Krimml (from the final stop of bus No. 670 Krimml Wasserfälle) you need to climb the mountains on foot. There are no funiculars or other technological wonders here, which, however, is fully compensated by its stunning beauty. surrounding nature. Thus, it is worth setting aside a whole day to visit the Krimml Falls. But you can do otherwise, and, as in the case of Salzkammergut, stay for a few days somewhere directly in the Zell am See region - for example, in Zell am See itself (hotels) or in Kaprun (hotels).

These, in our opinion, are the main ideas of independent travel routes from Salzburg, although, of course, you can find other interesting places. However, the attractions already listed will be enough for more than one week of travel. In addition to everything stated above, here are some more useful links. This information will help you save on costs associated with visiting the most popular tourist sites. So, it’s worth reading more about the SalzburgerLand Card, which includes admission to many attractions in its price (at no additional cost). You can also find information about the Zell am See-Kaprun Card (it is, however, not for sale, but is issued free of charge if you stay in one of the hotels presented on this website) and about the Salzkammergut Erlebnis-Card (this is a “summer” card, and is there some more

Location: Czech
Greatest depth: 12 m
Coordinates: 50°35"04.0"N 14°38"59.1"E

The picturesque natural reservoir is a real decoration of the northern part of the country. It is curious that these places are chosen for recreation not only by Czechs. Many residents of other countries come to the expanses of the Rala Upland. European countries- Dutch, Belgians, Swedes and Germans. The flow of tourists is so great that Lake Makhovo, or as it is popularly called “Makhoch”, is considered one of the most visited lakes in the world.

General form Makhova lakes

How did Makhavo Lake appear?

At first glance, the lake, surrounded by green hills, is of natural origin, but this is not entirely true. An ancient reservoir among low mountains existed since time immemorial, but after Ice Age to replace the mirror water surface a large peat bog has arrived.

The unattractive area was transformed by chance. In 1366, King Charles IV of the Czech Republic visited here while hunting. He was struck by the beauty of the hills around the swampy lowland and ordered a pond to be dug instead. The king's subjects worked for more than a year, deepening the basin and removing peat from it.

When the artificial reservoir was ready, it received the name “Velki Rybnik” and began to be used for raising fish for the royal table. Charles IV was very pleased - among the picturesque green hills, the blue surface of the new pond looked perfect.

View of the island - Mouse Castle on Machavo Lake

In addition to fish farming, the lake was used for royal bathing. The Czech monarch came to the reservoir from his Bezdezi castle and enjoyed spending time on its shore. The modern name “Makhovo Lake” appeared after the Second World War. The reservoir began to bear the name of someone who lived in early XIX century of the romantic poet Karel Hynek Mahi.

Natural attractions

The lake occupies over 280 hectares. It is surrounded by slender pine forests and thick beech forests, which make the local air fresh and healing. There are many picturesque rocks and mysterious gorges around the reservoir. Its left bank is swampy, but this is not considered a disadvantage. The ancient swamps were formed by alluvial deposits and today have the status of a natural monument.

Everyone who comes to Makhach really likes the clean sandy beaches and clear water. The average depth of the lake is 2.2 m, and the maximum reaches 12 m. In summer, Makhach warms up to +20...+25°C, so many vacationers gather on its shores.

View of the island - Mouse Castle and Bezdez Castle from the lake

The lake surface is enlivened by two tiny islands - Mouse Castle and Duck Island. They are protected as places where bird colonies live, and due to the nature reserve regime, tourists are prohibited from visiting the islands. In addition, in the vicinity of the reservoir there is the territory of the Velky Dub forest reserve, where you can see mouflons, deer and roe deer.

Recreation opportunities

Makhavo Lake has been famous as a resort place since the 80s of the 19th century. It was then that rich residents of Prague began to come to the forested shores German origin. The healing microclimate and beautiful surroundings contributed to the rapid development of the resort infrastructure, and the lake became very popular among representatives of the highest circles. By the 20s of the last century, the first steamship was launched on Makhach, and travelers could take mud baths in newly built resort houses.

Over time, the picturesque Czech reservoir has not lost its charm. There are almost no mosquitoes, the water in the lake is very warm, and the sandy bottom makes swimming here very pleasant. Vacationers love to ride around Makhach on pedal boats, boats, motorboats and yachts. There are a lot of blueberries and mushrooms on the shores of the lake, and squirrels allow people to come within arm's length.

Duck Island

There are two comfortable resorts on the lake - Starye Splavy and Doksy, and both of them offer vacationers high level service. In Doksy there is a church and a castle from the 18th century, a cinema, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets and good hotels. Travelers who come to this resort town can see exhibits in the museum dedicated to the poet Karel Hynek Macha. In addition, a museum has been opened in Doksy fairy tale characters which children really like.

Located 2 km away, Starye Splavy offers the most comfortable hotels in Makhach. IN summer months, when there are especially many tourists, holidays are held in both resort towns: theatrical performances, medieval craft fairs, music concerts, colorful processions and festivals.

Getting from resort to resort is easy as the distance between them is only 2 km. The two towns are connected by a picturesque path, which is called “Fly Stitch”. In addition, from Doksy to Starye Splavy you can travel by train in just 3 minutes or by ship in a quarter of an hour.

Cycling tours are popular along the hilly shores of Lake Makhova, and the cycling route around Makhov stretches for 15 km. It is not necessary to bring your own bicycle here, as bicycle rental is developed in the region.

Beaches

The lake has four well-maintained public beaches. It is difficult to single out any one of them, since each beach is beautiful in its own way. In all places beach holiday The boat stops, so tourists can easily move from shore to shore. It should be borne in mind that there is an entrance fee to the local beaches, but if travelers reach them by water, they do not need to pay for an entrance ticket.

The beach in Starye Splavy is called “Staroslavsky Varadero” for its delicate white sand. The similarity with the famous Cuban resort is added by palm trees growing in tubs right on the shore of Lake Macha. Near this beach, right in Makhach, there is a water park where tourists will find a lot of water activities - toboggans, water trampolines, swings, trapeze and the Iceberg attraction. Anyone who wants to tumble and dive visits the water park from late June to early September.

Beach view

The larger Central Beach is located near the resort town of Doxa. On the southern side of the lake lies the beautiful Kluchek beach, and the Borny beach is located under the mountain of the same name, on the eastern shore of Lake Makhova, where campsites and tourist bungalows are located. “Borny” has the reputation of being sporty and partly nudist. This beach is surrounded by forests, which are always full of blueberries and mushrooms.

Instructors from the local yacht club conduct classes on Makhach and teach beginners the basics of windsurfing and yachting. Beach volleyball, petanque and table tennis are popular among holidaymakers. And next to the beaches, golf courses and modern tennis courts await vacationers.

Fishing

More than 40 years fishing on Machovo Lake was prohibited, but since April 2016, fishing enthusiasts can again enjoy their favorite pastime. The picturesque reservoir is home to pike, catfish, pike perch and carp. A license to fish for the whole day, starting at 5.00 am, costs 200 CZK, and you can fish in any part of the lake.

Bay on the lake

In addition to the main reservoir, fishermen have chosen the Nova pond, which is located in Starye Splavy, the Chepelskin pond in the resort of Doksy, as well as the Paterzhinka fish pond, located 8 km from Starye Splavy. It is not necessary to bring a fishing rod and other fishing equipment from home. On the lake you can rent all the necessary fishing equipment.

What to see in the vicinity of the lake

Not far from the beach in Starye Splavy rises the picturesque Yarmilina rock. This is the name of the place where Jarmila and the robber Vilém, the heroes of the poem “May”, written by Karel Hynek Macha, met. In the poem, the rock hangs over the water, but nowadays it is located on the shore and is very popular with lovers of romantic walks.