SIGHTINGS OF THE BURYATIA
TUNKINSKAYA VALLEY
The Resort of Nilova Pustyn (“Nilov Desert”)
The resort is located in spurs of the Eastern Sayany at height of 915 meters, in
gorge of the valley of the river Ihe-Ugun (the tributary of the river Irkut)
among coniferous forest. In translation from the Buryat language the name of the
river means « the big water, the big river ». The river doesn’t usually differs
from other mountainous rivers, but during flooding it turns into a rough stream
destroying everything on its way.
This place had been used by people for residing for a long time. Traces of
material culture of the Stone Age and the epoch of Middle Ages found by
archeologists in Nilovskaya cave testify to it.
The resort received its name after the name of the archbishop of Irkutsk and
Nerchinsky, Nil Isakovich Stolbensly ( Nikolay Fyodorovich in the civil world),
who, having visited springs, discovered here in 1840, organized the missionary
Nilov men’s Pustyn (Desert) of Saint Nil of Stolbensky. The church, the house of
the priest, the prayers’ houses and the house for arriving patients had been
built.
Then the first chemical researches of waters were conducted. One of the springs
for the high contents of ions of silver was named Serebryanka. Supported by the
Irkutsk governor Ruperta and the Irkutsk merchants Nil gathered financial means
to develop the Pustyn. At that time many buildings in the resort were private,
and treatment in the resort was rather expensive. In 1851 the Emperor Nikolay I
authorized the Resolution where this Pustyn was called “Zashtatnaya muzhskaya
pustyn” («The Off-staff men’s Desert”.)
The rhodone waters of springs in their features are close to famous mineral
springs Georgia "Tskhaltubo” and the Altay resort "Belokurikha”. The medical
properties of water are caused by the high temperature of 38-42 degrees and high
contents of mineral substances.
In total there are two hot springs with hyperthermal waters. The debit of
springs is rather constant and comprises about 60 cubic metre of water a day.
According to the chemical components they are sulphatic natrium waters with
rather high contents of cilicon acid (53 mg / l). The curative properties of
waters of Nilova Pustyn are increased due to its radio-activity. As for gas
structure the waters of Nilova Pustyn are typical nitric thermae.
Since 1953 the resort is considered to be a resort of local value, the
construction of the bathing buildins and boarding houses here began. Now the
balneary of "Nilova Pustyn” and 9 boarding houses function in Nilova Pustyn.
Waters of the resort effectively treat various diseases, including: diseases of
the spinal column, the central and peripheral nervous system, vessels and
hearts, gynecologic diseases, diseases of man's sexual sphere, skin, endocrine
system and metabolism, proffessional diseases. The water – curative polyclinic
has rooms of physiotherapy, electro- and phototherapy work; reflex therapy,
laser therapy, electrodream, massage, physiotherapy exercises, speleocamera.
The resort is located in the narrow gorge protected from winds, so there is a
special microclimate. Winter here is milder than in other places of Tunkinskaya
valley, the low atmospheric pressure and high transparency of air favorably
influence health of people. These factors create comfortable conditions for
rest.
The fish is found in the river Ihe-Ugun, which is used as beach in summer, for
this purpose one can find here some convenient shallows. Also there are special
places for motor parking.. Not far from the resort there is one of sacred places
of Tunkinskaya valley – “Burkhan – Baabay”. The unmetalled motorway leads to it.
From that place this road leads further to the village of Khoytogol where the
historic-ethnographic museum functions.
The resort is located 7 kms far from the highway Kultuk -Orlik, there is also a
motorway from the resort to the village of Turan.
The distance from Nilova Pustyn
- to the settlement of Kyren is 42 km,
- to the city of Slyudyanka is 175 km,
- to the city of Irkutsk - 265 km,
- to the city of Ulan-Ude - 532 km.
The resort is used as a base camp for the arrangement of tourist routes to
Shumak, to the lake Tunku-Nur, Ilchir and to the Central Sayanskoe plateau.
Tourist groups frequently hire horses in the village of Hoytogol.
Health-improving factors and the location of the resort make it very perspective
for the development health-improving and other kinds of tourism. This
development is restrained now by lack of means.
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Tour to Buryatia
St. Petersburg
