Salt lakes of Russia: 29 places where you can relax and improve your health

Salt lakes usually form in arid regions and are endorheic. Water in large quantities enters their pools and then evaporates, while minerals remain and accumulate over time. Sometimes there are so many of them that layers of salt protrude on the banks.

Mud and water from salt lakes are used for treatment, but without a doctor's recommendation, it is better not to prescribe daily procedures for yourself. The concentration of minerals in water is very high, with prolonged contact, you can harm the body. For this reason, after bathing and mud compresses, it is imperative to take a shower.

Lakes in the Volga region

1. Elton

Where is: Eltonskoye rural settlement, Pallasovsky district, Volgograd region.

How to get there: from Moscow or St. Petersburg to train or plane to Volgograd. Then by bus, minibus or car to the lake - the road will take about 5 hours.

Elton is the largest mineral lake in Europe, its area is 152 km². Salinity in some years is higher than that of the Dead Sea. There is a sanatorium and resort complex on the banks of the Elton, where people are treated with water and hydrogen sulfide mud.

People come to these places not only for the sake of health, but also for the sake of cosmic landscapes and unique nature. In clear weather, the surface of Elton becomes a mirror. Then on the shore you can take amazing photos, where the land will merge with sky.

2. Bulukhta

Where is: Pallasovsky district, Volgograd region.

How to get there: from Moscow or St. Petersburg by train or airplane to Volgograd. Then by car 2-3 hours.

The lake is about an hour's drive from Elton, but it is less popular. The reason is the lack of an asphalt road to the reservoir, you will have to go straight through the wild steppe. If you overcome this path, you will be able to be alone with nature, see the nesting places of rare birds and collect water and mud with a high content of Glauber's salt. It is used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

3. Baskunchak

Where is: Akhtubinsky district, Astrakhan region.

How to get there: from Moscow or St. Petersburg by train or airplane to Volgograd. Buses, minibuses and trains run from there to the villages closest to the lake, the journey will take 3-4 hours.

A large lake is located on the territory of the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Reserve. Up to 80% of all Russian salt is mined in the reservoir. The mineral content in Baskunchak is so high that only certain types of bacteria survive in it, and if you lie down in the water, it will easily keep the body on the surface.

There is a sanatorium by the lake, where brineRapa is a highly concentrated salt solution. and mud from the bottom treat diseases skin, immune and nervous systems. On the shore there is an equipped beach with showers, cafes and guest houses.

For citizens of Russia, the entrance to the reserve is free, foreigners need to obtain permission to visit in advance. Just in case, it is better to take your passport with you. Not far from the lake is the border with Kazakhstan, documents can be checked.

4. Meklet pink lake

Where is: Adyk village, Chernozemelsky district, Kalmykia.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Volgograd or Astrakhan, from there by bus to Elista. In the city, you will need to find a guide with a car who can take you to the place. The journey will take 2 hours.

The unusual color of the lake in the Mekletinsky reserve is given by red algae and microscopic crustaceans that can live in very salty water. You won’t be able to swim here - the lake is quite shallow and because of heat often completely dry. A pink crust of salt is formed on its surface, resembling ice, and under it is marshy therapeutic mud.

In 2019, an ecological route was laid across the reservoir, where you can see flowering fields with wild poppies, steppe birds and ground squirrel colonies. Visiting the reserve is free.

Lakes in the south of Russia

1. tambucan

Where is: Foothill region, Stavropol Territory.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Mineralnye Vody. Further - by car, the journey takes about 40 minutes.

A small lake is located near Pyatigorsk and is famous for its healing mud, rich in iron sulfides. On Tambukan, they are mined on an industrial scale and used in the sanatoriums of the Caucasian Mineral Waters for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, skin, genitourinary system, respiratory system and musculoskeletal system.

The lake is shallow and warms up well in summer, so people swim here.

2. Manych lakes

Where are: border of Kalmykia, Rostov region and Stavropol region.

How to get there: from Moscow or St. Petersburg to airplane to Stavropol. From the city to the lake can be reached by car in 3-4 hours.

A chain of hundreds of small fresh and salty reservoirs formed at the place where the Azov and Caspian Seas once joined. The largest and most famous lake of the group is Manych-Gudilo. Its shores are indented with small bays with reed thickets, but if you try, you will be able to find a site convenient for recreation.

Tourists visit these places to observe animals. The lakes were chosen by Red Book birds - pelicans and spoonbills. And on Vodny Island, located in the middle of Manych-Gudil, wild horses live.

3. Salt (Lushnikovskoe) Lake

Where is: farm Salt Lake, Petrovsky district, Stavropol Territory.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Stavropol. From there to the lake by car, the road will take about an hour and a half.

There is a legend that Marshal Budyonny brought his soldiers to this small reservoir for treatment. Lake water and mud, rich in sulfates, are advised to be used for diseases of the joints, skin, cardiovascular and digestive systems.

There are no beaches, recreation centers or sanatoriums on Solyony, but it is quite easy to drive to the shores by car, so in the summer you can always meet vacationers here.

4. Khan lake

Where is: stanitsa Yasenskaya, Yeisk district, Krasnodar Territory.

How to get there: on the train from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Yeysk, from there - another hour by car or bus.

Khanskoye Lake used to be a bay of the Sea of ​​Azov, but then separated from it by a rampart, which was washed over by waves over time. The reservoir is elongated and shallow. By the end of summer, it usually dries up completely, so swimming in it will not work - this can be done in the Beisug estuary, which is located 10-15 minutes walk.

People come to Khanskoye Lake not for the sake of a beach holiday, but to collect mud, which contains sulfates, calcium and magnesium. It is used in the sanatoriums of the Yeysk region for the treatment of diseases of the skin, cardiovascular and nervous systems. There are hotels and guest houses on the shore of the lake.

5. Salt Lake

Where is: Veselovka village, Temryuk district, Krasnodar region.

How to get there: on the train from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Krasnodar or Anapa. Next - by bus or minibus. From Krasnodar, the journey will take about 4 hours, from Anapa - one and a half.

The small lake is located on the Black Sea coast, while the salinity of the water in it is ten times higher than in the sea. Due to the hot and dry climate, the reservoir dries up completely. A snow-white crust of large salt crystals appears on its surface, behind which is a layer of dirt with a high content of hydrogen sulfide. It is applied to relieve pain in joints and bones and get rid of skin diseases.

You can swim and wash off the mixture on the beach, a 10-minute walk from the lake.

Lakes in the Urals

1. bearish

Where is: Petukhovsky district, Kurgan region.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow to Kurgan, from there - another 2.5 hours by car.

A large lake between the Tobol and Ishim rivers is called the Trans-Ural Dead Sea due to its very high mineralization. In such salty water, only microscopic Artemia crustaceans survive. In summer, they become so numerous that they give the lake a pinkish tint.

After death, the crustaceans remain in the mud at the bottom and saturate it with useful substances. This sludge is used to treat diseases reproductive, nervous and musculoskeletal systems. There is a sanatorium on the shore of the lake, and vacationers can also stay at the campsite and visit the beach.

2. collapse

Where is: Sol‑Iletsk city, Orenburg region.

How to get there: from Moscow to train or by plane to Orenburg. From there, Sol‑Iletsk can be reached in an hour by bus or car.

The Iletsk salt deposit is located in the Orenburg region, one of the largest in Russia. It includes a group of small salt lakes. The most popular and equipped of them is Collapse.

There is a beach with showers, sunbeds and umbrellas, as well as various cafes. Around the Sol-Iletsk lakes there are recreation centers, guest houses and a sanatorium where they are treated with mud and brine from reservoirs.

3. Khomutininsky lakes

Where are: Homutinino village, Uvelsky district, Chelyabinsk region.

How to get there: from Moscow or St. Petersburg to airplane to Chelyabinsk, from there an hour by bus or car to the village of Khomutinino.

Around the village of Khomutinina there are five slightly saline lakes at once: Gorkoye, Olenichevo, Krugloye, Chokarevo and Podbornoe. All of them are quite deep, but they warm up well in summer and are suitable for swimming.

At the bottom of the lakes there is healing mud, which is used in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems. Sandy beaches, sanatoriums, campsites, recreation centers and guest houses are equipped on the shores.

Lakes in Siberia

1. vats

Where is: Chanovsky district, Novosibirsk region.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Novosibirsk. Then - by car or bus with a change in Barabinsk. The journey will take approximately 6 hours.

Chany is a large lake in Western Siberia with the purest turquoise-bluish water. The salt content in Chany is low, so there is fish here. You can catch carp, perch, zander and bream. The water in the lake is cool, but in the hottest months it warms up enough to swim. There is a sandy beach and recreation centers.

There are about 70 small islands on the lake. On the shore you can rent a boat to explore them.

2. Karachi

Where is: Chanovsky district, Novosibirsk region.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Novosibirsk. Then - by car or bus. The journey will take about 6 hours.

A little to the north of Chany is Lake Karachi. The water in it is much saltier, contains zinc and bromine and has a specific smell of hydrogen sulfide. At the bottom of the reservoir lies sulfide-silt mud, rich in iron, calcium and iodine. She and brine from Karachi are used for treatment in the sanatorium of the same name, where they come with diseases gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal system, skin, nervous, cardiovascular and reproductive systems.

On the lake you can not only improve your health, but also just relax. There is a free beach with showers and a barbecue area.

3. bele

Where is: Shirinsky district, Khakassia.

How to get there: from Moscow to Abakan airplane. From the city to the lake can be reached in 2 hours by car.

Bele is the largest mineral lake in Khakassia. It is located in a picturesque place on the territory of the state reserve, surrounded by hills and endless steppe. The mineralization of the water is average and can be compared with the level of the Black Sea, it contains alkalis and Glauber's salt.

There are campsites, recreation centers, wild and equipped beaches on the lake. Belo is also a great place for kite and windsurfing. Entrance to the lake is free, but if you want to see the specially protected areas of the reserve, book your visit in advance.

4. Shira

Where is: Zhemchuzhnensky village council, Shirinsky district, Khakassia.

How to get there: from Moscow to Abakan airplane, from there - by car, the road will take 2 hours.

9 kilometers from Bele there is another salt lake - Shira. Its magnesium-rich water and silty mud are renowned for their healing properties. They are effective in diseases of the respiratory, digestive and endocrine systems. There are two sanatoriums on the banks of the Shira, convenient sandy beaches, recreation centers and campsites.

5. Tus

Where is: Shirinsky district, Khakassia.

How to get there: from Moscow to Abakan airplane, in the city you need to take a car and drive another 2.5 hours.

Near Bele and Shira there is another mineral lake - Tus. The water in it is very clear, with a high content of magnesium and sodium. Procedures with it and sulfide-silt mud from the bottom are recommended for diseases nervous system, skin and joints. The shores of Tus are sandy and gentle, so it is convenient to have picnics and pitch tents here. There are campsites, recreation centers and guest houses on the lake.

6. Shunet

Where is: Shirinsky district, Khakassia.

How to get there: from Moscow to Abakan airplane, the lake is located 2 hours drive from the city, it can only be reached by car.

If you prefer "savage" rest, pay attention to this small lake a little south of the Shira. The reservoir is located in a basin and is surrounded on all sides by hills. The healing properties of Shunet water and mud have been known since the 19th century. Diseases of the skin, musculoskeletal system, reproductive system and digestive organs are treated here.

There are no recreation centers, beaches or other equipped places for recreation on the lake, so you need to come here with tents and on your own. car.

7. Ulugkol

Where is: Ust-Abakansky district, Khakassia.

How to get there: from Moscow to Abakan airplane, from there - by car, you need to spend a little more than an hour on the road.

Another point for secluded outdoor recreation in Khakassia is a large lake in the Uibat steppe. The water of Ulugkol is blue in color, contains sodium, magnesium and potassium, at the bottom there are large deposits of sulfide mud.

It is better to stop and pitch a tent on the southern coast, near the mountain range. The northern one is heavily swamped, waders, tundra swans and other birds live here.

8. Big Yarovoye

Where is: Yarovoe, Altai Territory.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Novosibirsk or Barnaul, then you need to take a bus or take a car, the journey to the lake will take 6-7 hours.

The waters and mud of this Altai lake are rich in hydrogen sulfide and bromine. In composition, they are compared with brine and mud of the Crimean and Caucasian resorts. There are three well-maintained beaches on the lake with showers, cafes, hotels, shops and a water park, a sanatorium specializing in gynecological, neurological and dermatological diseases.

The best time to visit the lake is July and August. During these months it is hot here, and the water has time to warm up.

9. Burlinskoye (Bursol)

Where is: Slavgorod, Altai Territory.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Novosibirsk or Barnaul, then by car or bus, you will have to spend 6-7 hours on the way.

About an hour's drive from Bolshoy Yarovoy there is a fantastic place - Burlinsky pink lake with snow-white shores. The color of the water is given by microscopic algae, they are brightest in hot and sunny weather, so you should find out before the trip weather forecasts.

Burlinskoye Lake is known not only as a location for photo shoots, but also as an ancient salt deposit. They say that salt from here was famous for its quality throughout Russia and was supplied to the table of Catherine II. Mining is still being carried out at the deposit, wagons with cargo are moved along the tracks laid right along the bottom of the lake.

10. Raspberry

Where is: Mikhailovskoye village, Altai Territory.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Barnaul, then 6 hours by car.

Not only Burlinskoye Lake boasts an unusual shade. To the north, in the Mikhailovsky district, there is an equally beautiful reservoir of bright crimson color. Salts and sulfide muds of Raspberry Lake are used for cosmetic procedures, skin treatment, joints and nervous system.

On the shore of the lake there is a campsite and a recreation center. There are no ennobled beaches here, salt and dirt can be washed off in a small fresh lake 400 meters from Raspberry.

11. Kulunda

Where is: Kulundinsky district, Altai Territory.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Novosibirsk, then by car or bus with a transfer in Slavgorod, you will have to spend at least 5 hours on the road.

Kulunda Lake is one of the largest in the region, because of its size it is often called the Altai Sea. The reservoir has a shallow depth, wide sandy shores and clean slightly salty water - the place is suitable for families with children.

It is better to stop on the northern or western side of the lake, there is a wild beach with showers, guest houses and cafes. And on the eastern coast, where there are many islands, bays and reed beds, you can watch the Red Book birds. The most convenient way to go to the lake is by car.

12. Dus-Khol (Svatikovo)

Where is: Tandinsky kozhuun, Republic of Tyva.

How to get there: on the airplane buses run from Moscow to Kyzyl, from the city to the lake, the journey takes 2.5–3 hours.

The lake near the Tannu-Ola mountain range is fed by two salt springs, their waters contain magnesium, sodium, bromine and iodine. Hydrogen sulfide mud of the lake is also rich in minerals and is used to treat joints, skin and nervous system.

The lake has sandy sloping shores, on which it is convenient to sunbathe and put tents. You can also stay at recreation centers and campsites. Some of them rent not only houses, but also traditional Tuvan yurts.

13. cheddar

Where is: Kyzyl kozhuun, Tyva.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow to Kyzyl, from there you can drive to the lake by car in less than an hour.

On the shores of this bitter-salty lake in the 1930s, there was a popular resort known for mineral water and hydrogen sulfide mud. They were used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, musculoskeletal, endocrine and digestive systems. In 2013, the resort was closed, now you can only relax here with tents.

14. Khadyn (Chagytay)

Where is: Tandinsky kozhuun, Tyva.

How to get there: on the airplane from Moscow to Kyzyl, then another 2 hours by car.

Half an hour drive from Cheder there is another salt lake - Khadyn. Equipped sandy beaches, water rich in bromine, sodium and magnesium, and healing mud attract a large number of tourists here. At the same time, there are no hotels and recreation centers on the lake; you can stay only with your own tent.

15. ebates

Where is: Moskalensky district, Omsk region.

How to get there: from Moscow or St. Petersburg to airplane to Omsk, then - 2.5 hours by car, then another hour on foot.

To get to the largest salt lake in the region, you have to travel a long way on foot across the steppe. But in these places you can see unusual desert landscapes, reminiscent of martian, and collect therapeutic sulfate mud, which helps against diseases of the skin and joints.

There are no beaches and recreation centers on the lake, but an ecological path passes near its shore, along which excursions are led.

16. Ulzhai

Where is: Cherlaksky district, Omsk region.

How to get there: from Moscow or St. Petersburg to airplane to Omsk, then - 2.5 hours by car.

A small bitter-salty lake of almost perfectly round shape is famous for its large deposits of therapeutic silt mud. It stimulates tissue regeneration and helps with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal tract and nervous system.

There are no organized places for recreation and guest houses on the lake, even in summer it is quite deserted. So the place is perfect if you want to enjoy rest in silence and solitude.

17. Uchum

Where is: Uzhursky district, Krasnoyarsk Territory.

How to get there: from Moscow or St. Petersburg to airplane to Krasnoyarsk, and then 4–5 hours by car or bus.

A small lake with transparent salty-bitter water is located in a quiet mountain valley, a four-hour drive from Krasnoyarsk. Around - hills and high rocks that protect the place from the winds. Sulphate-chloride water and silt mud of Uchum, known for their healing properties since the 19th century, are used in the local sanatorium. You can also come to the lake with tents, for them there is a campsite with a paid entry.