The Irkutsk reservoir (known as the Irkutsk Sea) is the deepest. Its total area is almost 155 km 2 . About the Irkutsk reservoir, interesting facts and the history of its creation, read in this essay
general description
Irkutsk reservoir is located on the Angara River. It is located in the Irkutsk region. As mentioned earlier, its area is about 155 km 2 . In length, it reaches 65 km, and in width - from 4 km or more. The total useful volume of the reservoir is 46.5 billion m 3 .
It was created together with the Irkutsk hydroelectric station built there in 1958 to regulate the flow of water. Initially, the filling of the store lasted for 7 years. Even despite the fact that the Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Station is a low-pressure channel bed, it was necessary to flood or flood about 139 thousand hectares of land in order to provide the necessary volumes of water. After filling the Irkutsk reservoir in Lake Baikal, the average water level rose by 1 m.
Flora and ichthyofauna
Small rivers and streams flow into the reservoir. The exception is two large rivers - these are Alanka and Kurma. Due to the flatter right bank, the tributaries here are more powerful than in other areas.
Bays formed in the lower parts of the valleys of the tributaries of the Angara River, as well as in the place where the storage itself was formed. In the Irkutsk reservoir, the largest of them is Kurminsky. Its area is just over 20 km 2 , and its length is 11 km. In it you can meet various species of fish, the main representatives of the ichthyofauna of the bay are taimen, lenok and grayling. It should be noted that commercial fishing is prohibited throughout the Kurminsky Gulf and the Irkutsk Reservoir. Compliance with the rules of fishing is monitored by a special inspection, preventing the illegal extraction of underwater inhabitants by poachers.
The coast of the reservoir mainly consists of pine forests. In those places where the forest was cut down, birch trees were planted. Here you can find absolutely wild areas where the presence of man was minimal, and nature remained in a virgin state.
Coast
The left bank of the Irkutsk reservoir is very steep, and therefore less accessible and undeveloped. It should be noted that there are practically no settlements. The exception is several small villages, cottages and camp sites located closer to Irkutsk. It must also be said that most of them are located not on the coast, but at a distance from it.
On the right bank of the Irkutsk reservoir, there is much more developed territory, in contrast to the left. A road has been built here, which allows you to comfortably and quickly get to the right place on the right bank. There are quite a lot of settlements, as well as agricultural areas.
Along the right bank of the Irkutsk reservoir there are a large number of recreation centers, pioneer camps, summer cottages, cottages and villages. In the warm season, you can meet many fishermen and vacationers. The storage facility, originally created for the needs of the hydroelectric power station, serves not only for its intended purpose, but is also a favorite vacation spot for local residents and guests of the Irkutsk region.