The Chechen Republic is famous for its magnificent landscapes, and surrounded by a variety of natural beauties there is a lake, which is described as the most interesting place in those parts. We are talking about the beautiful Lake Galanzhozh.
Where is Lake Galanchozh located?
A natural miracle is located at an altitude of 1533 meters above sea level, near the confluence of two mountain rivers - Gekhi and Osu-hi, at the base of the slope of Mount Verg Lam.
Mountain springs from the slopes flow into the waters of the lake. The average depth of Lake Galanchozh is 30 meters, the deepest point is at a distance of 31 meters from the surface of the water. In rainy seasons, the water level rises significantly. When it goes beyond the permissible value, then excess flows to the outskirts of the Osu-hee river.
Galanzhozh has almost the shape of a regular oval. The axis of the lake, which also depend on the water level and spills, are in the range from 380 to 450 meters.
Water temperature in the lake
The water in the lake is quite cool. The surface temperature in the midst of July heats up to +20 ° C, and at a depth does not exceed +5 ° C.
In winter, the lake freezes, becoming covered with a thick layer of snow-white ice.
The beauty of winter Galanzhozh is no less attractive.
Climate
The area in which the lake is located is excessively wet. During the period of active growth of plants and flowers, the amount of precipitation varies between 300-650 mm, and the total annual value is 800-1000 mm. In the warm season, precipitation appears in the form of showers, which are accompanied by thunderstorms.
At the end of October, winter is already actively coming. The average temperature in January is -10 ° C. The maximum minus temperature is -30 ° C. In November, the surface of the earth is completely covered with a snow carpet. During this period, its depth can reach 45 cm.
The last April days and the beginning of May is a steady onset of spring, when the average daily temperature fluctuates within positive values.
Summer is short and lasts from early July to late August. The air temperature in the summer warms up to +20 ° C.
Beauty around the lake
Tourists note the beauty and special attractiveness of the area where Lake Galanchozh is located. In the photo you can well see the picturesqueness of this region.
Due to inaccessibility, the nature surrounding the lake was able to preserve its original beauty, which is still untouched by civilization. Therefore, this object is of great interest for research.
The lake is surrounded by picturesque mountain slopes and alpine flowers. The surrounding nature of Lake Galanchozh is rich in rare species of representatives of flora and fauna. Some of the animals, birds and plants are listed in the Red Book.
The water of the lake has a bluish-green hue, because of which, in sunny weather, Lake Galanchozh looks like a huge bowl of cornflower blue in the thick of flowering plants. This is an incredible sight.
Emerald water reflects the sky and snow-white clouds. A beautiful green grove, which is located near the lake, fills the surrounding air with revitalizing freshness. All this splendor for life remains in the memory of everyone who has ever visited these parts at least once.
The mysterious legend of the origin of the lake
Every piece of this land is shrouded in myths. For many decades, among the locals there is a legend about the appearance of the lake.
Near the village of Yalkhor, which was once called Amkoy, there was a small lake. One fine day, two local women headed to the shore of this lake to do the laundry of dirty laundry. The water was impeccably clean, because the women decided that it was perfectly suited for these purposes. Seeing this, the spirit of the lake became angry and turned the women into stones, which to this day are located near the settlement of Amka.
However, the spirit of the lake did not want to remain defiled and transformed into a huge bull. He walked, leaving hoof marks. At the place where Lake Galanchozh is today, there were arable lands. It was there that the bull was harnessed to the plow and led to plow the field. After the first furrow, dirt appeared, after the second, water added to the dirt and it got worse. And after some time, the field began to quickly fill with water. The field, locals and the bull were flooded instantly.
The suddenly formed lake frightened the local population in earnest - no one drank water from it and did not approach, everyone considered it to be bottomless.
What to see in the district of Lake Galanzhozh?
Unique tower buildings of medieval architecture and numerous historical monuments - all this can be seen in the vicinity of Lake Galanchozh. Unfortunately, today most of them are only partially preserved. Various military operations and natural disasters over several centuries destroyed the most ancient architectural creations. However, towers, burial grounds and crypts were well preserved.
In Soviet times, people with weakened immunity often spent time in these places to get a range of recreational activities.
Someone visited Lake Galanchozh in Chechnya and its environs just to admire the beauties of this region. When the surrounding views were pleasing to the eye, the soul was filled with light.
Hiking trails passed through the upper reaches of the Chanty-Argun and Sharo-Argun rivers directly to Georgia.
Today, Galanchozh Lake is a natural monument of republican significance.