SIGHTINGS OF THE BURYATIA
POLEMORIE
POLEMORIE
Podlemorye (means “near the sea”). This poetic name refers to the part of
the north-eastern coast of lake Baikal from the Dagarsky bay in the north and to
the valley of the river Bolshoy Chivyrkuy in the south. Podlemorye is an
extensive coastal plain near the lake which gradually passes to the slopes of
the Barguzinsky range. On the whole territory of Podlemorye as well as in many
other places on the coast of Baikal lake, there are traces of ancient Ice Age
that used to be on the Barguzinsky mountain range.
The Barguzinsky mountain range serves as a watershed between the
rivers of Podlemorye and the Barguzinskay valley. The slopes of the Barguzinsky
mountain range are steep on the side of the Barguzinskaya valley and gently
sloping on the side of Podlemorye. The whole Podlemorye is covered with virgin
dark-coniferous forest, here grow pines, deciduous forests, fur-trees and
cedars. Meadow marsh complexes are spread. The border of the forest passes at
height of 1100 - 1300 meters. Above it there is a subgoltsovaya (subhilly) zone,
mountain stony tundra and higher are snow hills and glaciers.
Podlemorye is a territory of wild animals and birds, it is famous for its
valuable Barguzinsky sable. Since ancient times these places had been populated
by tribes of the Kurumchnskaya culture. Later they became patrimonial fields of
the Evenks - Kamchigirs who moved to Northern Baikal in the 19-th century. With
the arrival of the Russians on the seashore fishing villages began to appear.
The territory of Podlemorye has plenty of nature sights, monuments of nature,
archaeology and history. Two especially protected natural territories function
here: the Barguzinsky state biosphere reserve and State national park "Zabaikalsky”
which have places most attractive and convenient for tourism. To natural coastal
objects of northern Podlemorye refer: the Dagarsky bay, the cape Birokan, the
cape Nemnyanda, the Frolikha bay and lake Frolikha; the bays Àyaya and Khakusy,
the rocky cape Turaly, the river-Tompa (Òîmpuda), the Shegnanda-river (Labazikha),
the cape Pongony (Tolsty), the Kabanya and the Bolshaya rivers, the Davsha bay,
the cape Valukan (Zyryansky) and the Shumiliha-river.
The Ust-Barguzinsky region of Podlemorye is situated to the south
begining from the valley of the river Bolshoy Chivyrkuy and stretches to the
south reaching the cape Krestovyj and covering the coast of two large gulfs –
Chivyrkuysky and Barguzinsky. There is the unique large peninsula of Baikal –
Svyatoy Nos (the Sacred Nose), the archipelago of the Ushkany islands, many
large picturesque capes and bays.
The area is poorly populated. Only 5 settlements are located here: the
settlement of Davsha of the manor of the Barguzinsky state biosphere reserve,
fishing villages of Kurbulik and Katun, located on the territory of state
national park "Zabaykalsky”, the settlement of Ust-Barguzin and the village of
Maksimikha.
The past of this area is described by the famous writer of Buryatia Michail
Zhigzhitov in his novel "Podlemorye”. M.Zhigzhitov lived for a long time in the
settlement of Maksimkha and knew well nature and people of Podlemorye.
Podlemorye is one of the most attractive areas of tourism and rest. There are
plenty of fine sandy and gravel beaches, water in gulfs is much warmer than in
the basic water area of Baikal, also there are mineral springs. The settlements
of Podlemorye gradually become the centres of tourism, many tourist centres have
already been working and some of them are built. In places free from settlements
spontaneously appeared recreational zones. Many of them are not well-equiped
yet. The settlements have the network of guest houses. Local people offer not
only services of residing and meal in their houses, but also services in motor
or water transportation, they sell to tourists fish and products from their
kitchen gardens.
The specialization of Podlemorye is the following: beach rest and rest
in tent camps, stationary rest in tourist centres and rest camps, ecological
tourism, rural tourism, boating, yachting, diving, treking, fishing, active
tourism in foothills of the Barguzinsky range and on the mountain plots of the
peninsula Svyatoy Nos. The basic flood of tourists arrive here in summer from
the cities of Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk. In winter this area is popular for ice
fishing and ski campaigns on the ice of the lake. Autumn here is rather warm,
that favours tourism to the middle of October. Podlemorye closely adjoins to
another tourist area in the north of the Barguzinskaya valley and borders in the
south on the tourist area – Pribaykalye.
The village of Maksimikha is one of the remarkable places in the
Barguzinsky gulf of lake Baikal. Maksimikha is situated 235 kms far from the
city of Ulan-Ude, deep in the southern bay of the gulf into which the river
Maksimikha flows.
The village is called so after the name of the cossack Maxim Perfilyev, who
had lived here for some time. The writer Michael Zhigzhitov, the author of the
popular book in Buryatia "Podlemorye” also used to live here for a long time.
The bay is very convenient for rest: Water here is warmer, than in many
places of Baikal (in August the temperature of water reaches +14+16 Ñ), there is
a fine beach and a shallow, next to the village there are high slopes of the
mountains covered with coniferous forest rich in berries and mushrooms in
autumn. Coastal waters of the bay are rich in fish.
The village has a post-office, a communication centre, a village club, shops
and a cafe. In previous years the village has developed as the tourist centre.
There are several objects of accommodation of tourists.Their location is denoted
on the scheme. Some of them admit all holiday-makers. The network of guest
houses develops.There is no visiting centre in the settlement yet, and it makes
difficult the search of vacant places. In summer there are two yachts which can
be employed for walk in the lake.
Next to the settlement on the motorway Ulan-Ude – Kurumkan the Buddhist Stupa
has been constructed, the branch of the Buddhist female Datsan “Zungon
Darzhaling” is built, where the prayers for preserving of Baikal Lake are
conducted.
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Tour to Buryatia
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