Shat reservoir is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the center of the European territory of Russia. Located in the Tula region. Year of opening - 1932. Earlier in its place was a natural reservoir - Ivan Lake. The reservoir area is 1250 ha. In the photo, the Shat reservoir looks rather inconspicuous, which is not surprising, given that this is originally an anthropogenic object.
Geography of the region
The reservoir is located in the central part of the East European Plain, in the north-east of the Central Russian Upland. The prevailing type of landscape is the forest-steppe. The course of time corresponds to Moscow.
The area is wavy, crossed by river valleys, ravines and gullies.
The climate is temperate continental, with relatively cold winters and warm summers. In winter, thaws are not uncommon. In January, the average monthly temperature drops to -10 degrees, and in July rises to +20 degrees. The average annual temperature is + 5 ° C.
About 500 mm of precipitation falls annually, which is an average indicator for Russia. The maximum loss occurs in the summer.
In addition to Shatsky, in the Tula region there are other important reservoirs: Cherepetskoye, Shchekinskoye, Pronskoye, Lyubovskoye.
The vegetation in the vicinity of the reservoir is represented by forest-steppe communities with individual sections of deciduous forests. Oaks with linden, ash, elm, maple and other species prevail on the territory. The main part of the land has been plowed and used in agriculture.
The nearest major city is Tula, which is located 80 km west of the reservoir.
Ecological situation
Although there are no data directly on the vicinity of the reservoir, it can be assumed that the environmental problems are the same as for the Tula region as a whole. The consequences of the Chernobyl accident are of the greatest importance, which may affect the increase in radiation background. However, this probability is very small, since there are no similar data for the city nearest Novomoskovsk to the reservoir, and an excess is noted in the city of Plavsk, which is 110 km south-west of the Shat reservoir.
A few kilometers south of the reservoir is Novomoskovsk, industrial emissions of which lead to an increased concentration of pollutants. However, data on air measurements at the reservoir itself are not available.
Reservoir ecology
This artificial pond was created in order to ensure the work of large enterprises of the city of Novomoskovsk. Their effluents were discharged into the reservoir. As a result, in the mid-1980s, some areas of the Shat reservoir became a lifeless zone.
Since 2000, the reservoir has been increasingly used for recreational purposes. Since 2007, work has been ongoing to reduce the anthropogenic load. Over 600 million rubles were allocated for these purposes.
Features of the water body
The Shat reservoir is located in the east of the Tula region, in the Novomoskovsk district, on the Shat river. With an area of water surface of 1,250 ha, it has a length of 14 km and a width of only 1.3 km. Depth reaches 13.4 meters. The Shat River flows into it, and the same water artery flows out.
Initially, the reservoir was created to discharge into it the wastewater of industrial enterprises. As a result of severe water pollution in the 80s of the last century, the disappearance of fish and other aquatic animals was observed in the Ivanozero sleeve.
The introduction of new treatment facilities allowed to rectify the situation. Water treatment plants were repaired, and new equipment was purchased. The funds were allocated by the Azot company, represented in Novomoskovsk. As a result, in the 2000s, a restoration of the populations of commercial fish was observed in the reservoir.
Now the reservoir is actively used for fishing. The Shat reservoir is the habitat of such fish species as silver carp, crucian carp, bream, pike, bleak, perch, roach, scavenger, tench.
If you are lucky, then in the waters of the Shat reservoir you can catch crucians weighing 10 - 12 kg. The weight of roach and bream can be more than a kilogram. At the moment, the reservoir has the status of a fishery facility.
How to get to the pond
A vacation at the Shat reservoir is unlikely to leave an unforgettable impression, but for those who want to simply sunbathe and go fishing, as well as expand their geographical knowledge, this place is quite suitable. To get to the water body is possible only by personal vehicle. Starting points should be Tsaritsyno or East Biryulyovo. You should go along the M 4 highway along the villages of Domodedovo, Kalinovka, Vidnoe, Pozdnovo, Yarlykovo, Barabanovo, Koltovo, Saigatovo, Shebantsevo, Lesnaya Polyana and others. Then you need to turn left and go along the highway E 115, then turn right. At the village of Gritsovsky you need to turn left, having left on Lesnaya Street and then move on to the village of Gritsovo. Then you need to turn left and go to the Shatsky reservoir.
Finally
The Shat reservoir is a technogenic object with a gradually improving environmental situation. Now it is used mainly for fishing.