SIGHTINGS OF THE BURYATIA
PRIBAIKALYE
PRIBAIKALYE
Pribaykalye is called the area near Lake Baikal stretching along its eastern
coast and crossed by valleys of the rivers Selenga, Turka, Itantsa, Kika, Khaim,
Kotochik and also a number of smaller rivers. The mountain spurs of Golondinsky,
Ulan-Burgasy and Morskoy ranges are located along the shore of Baikal lake.
Between the spurs of Ulan-Burgasy there are steppe valleys. The coastline of
Baikal is stretching nearly 90 kms long. The mouths of flowing into the Baikal
rivers are covered with low-marshy plots with a system of lakes, among which the
largest is Lake Kotokel.
Pribaykalye had been inhabited long since. Many ancient monuments, including
camps of epoch of paleolith, neolith, burial grounds of different periods, rocky
drawings have been preserved here.
In the epoch of great nomadic empires Pribaykalye was the part of legendary
country "Bargudzhin-Tokum”.It was explored by Russian cossacks in the 17-th
century, who founded first Ilyinsky and then Itantsinsky ostrogs and became the
first Russian settlers in Pribaykalye. At that time the valley of the river of
Selenga was occupied by the Buryat tribes, and the valleys of the rivers Itantsa
and Òurka - by the Evenk tribes. In 1681 the Svyato-Troitsky Selenginsky
monastery was founded there which became the main forpost of the exploration
Zabykalye by the Russians. Later the Spasskaya church in the village of
Turuntaevo, the Sretenskaya church in the village of Baturino were built. And by
the year 1739 the Itantsinsky ostrog (now the village of Turuntaevo) had 22
villages founded by immigrants and also participants of peasants’ revolts in
Russia. In Pribaykalye lived in exile the Decembrists E.P.Obolensky and
I.F.Shimkov. The territory of Pribaykalye has the memorable places connected to
revolutionary events in Russia.
The Selenga-river divides Pribaykalye into two parts.The ferry works in the
village of Turuntaevo connecting these two parts. In total Pribaykalye has two
urban settlements, they are Ilyinka and Turka, 34 villages, 3 railway stations:
Talovka, Lesovozny and Tataurovo. The centre of Pribaykalye is the village of
Turuntaevo. On the left bank of the river there are settlements with industrial
enterprises and agricultural fields. The right bank which adjoins to Baikal is
occupied with settlements of fishermen and enterprises of the wood industry. The
recreational area of Pribaykalye is also located here, there are plenty of
beaches near which in many places zones of rest were spontaneously formed. The
majority of settlements on the shore are directed to the development of tourism,
so they have a functioning network of guest houses. These are the villages of
Gremyachinsk, Turka and Goryachinsk. Relatively a large and independent zone of
rest is lake Kotokel.
Pribaykalye is connected by one motorway with Ulan-Ude (the Barguzinsky
road), leading from Ulan-Ude up to Kurumkan. On the river Haim crossing the road
there is a big parking of motor transport where a summer market works.
The specialization of Pribaykalye is a summer stationary rest in tourist
centers, bases of rest and camps, beach rest, health-improving tourism, fishing
tourism and rafting in the rivers. There are conditions for skiing development
and mountain skiing. In summertime Pribaykalye is a popular tourist area. Now
there are no tourist organizations having the licenses, and a visiting centre is
in the stage of creating.. It is better to charge the organization of tours to
the tour operators represented in the list of tour agencies of Buryatia or to a
republican information-consultation centre of tourism in the city of Ulan-Ude.
Gorychinsk
The village of Gorychinsk is located 171 kms far from the city of Ulan-Ude on
the Barguzinsky highway in the eastern coast of lake Baikal.
The first on Baikal balneological resort of Buryatia is located here. The
resort was founded in 1751,( that is 52 years earlier before the resort "the
Caucasian mineral waters” was opened), on the basis of nitrogen-siliceous
thermal source, with temperature +54 °Ñ and sapropelic muds.
The research of these places was conducted by E. Laksman and originally the
resort was called “The Turkinsky resort”. The first balneology hospital was
constructed here in 1830.
Near the village there is a shallow bay with comfortable sandy beaches. The
village is surrounded with coniferous forests. There is a special microclimate,
a bit warmer in winter and cool in summer, average air temperature in February -
18,8 ', in August + 13,5 ', winds are weak and not frequent, the amount of
precipitations is not large (355 mm). All theses factors create favourable
conditions for rest.
The village develops as one of the centres of tourism of Pribaykalye. The
sanatorium "Goryachinsk” functions here, some objects of accommodation of
tourists either work or are built and there are some guest houses. One can find
here shops and a post-office. Their arrangement is denoted on the scheme.
The basic natural medical factor of the resort is thermal nitric sulphatic
natrium water with high contents of silicon acid. They help to treat the
diseases of organs of movement and cardiovascular and nervous systems, skin and
gynaecologic illnesses. The territory of sanatorium has a pond with warm water
in which very large crucians are found.
Gremyachinsk
Gremyachinsk is located 138 kms far from Ulan-Ude on the road Ulan-Ude-Kurumkan
(The Barguzinsky highway) on the coast of Baikal lake, in the mouth of the Kika-river.
It is the first settlement near Baikal on this road.
Behind Gremyachinsk the road leads to the coast of Baikal lake and passes not
far from it with many turnings to the beaches of the coast. There are many sandy
beaches in the distance 26 km along the Baikal from Gremyachinsk to the village
of Turka, in some places they form mounds hiding the coast from the road.
Parallel to the modern highway parts of the old Barguzinsky road have been
preserved which sometimes stretches on the edge of the coast and on which it is
possible to go by car.
The village received its name after the name of Gremyachy spring, running
next to it into Dikoe lake, which has a small waterfall.
Gremyachinsk develops as one of the centres of tourism in Pribaykalye. Here
in the mouth of the river Kika one can find a nice sandy beach, water in summer
gets warm well. Gremyachinskie shoals of Baikal are rich in fish. Fish can be
bought at local people. Three objects of accommodation of tourists are built,
the network of guest houses develops. Their location is denoted on the scheme.
The village has the Kikinsky mekhleshoz (fur-wood farm), a village
administration, mail with the branch of the Savings Bank, shops, bakeries, a
dining room, a cafe, a banya, the house of service facilities and a hospital.
Near the village on the right side of the motorway there is Dikoe lake with
the recreational area including a beach on the northern coast. In summer water
of lake gets warm sufficiently. 2 kms before the village from Ulan-Ude side
there is a road to the left leading to the zone of rest Yartsy (derived from the
word "yar” - "a coastal ledge") on the river Kika.
There is no road along Baikal coastline from Gremyachinsk to the village of
Zarechye of Kabansky region and the road from this place to the highway Ulan-Ude
- Kurumkan is also absent. The territory has some fine sandy beaches and places
with dune relief.
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