Seliger Lake - a Russian highlight - surprises with its beauty and unusual location. The lake is not a holistic pond, it resembles a chain of connected ponds, and this is what fascinates tourists. Everyone who has been to these parts wants to return here again. This area can be called a kind of country. Seliger - where is this place? How to get here? To do this is quite simple, because the lake is located in the heart of Russia.
Seliger - where is it located? Geographic characteristics
Seliger Lake is located in the center of Russia, only 370 kilometers from Moscow, in the Tver region. It is called Ostashkov Lake differently, because on the very shore of it is the city of Ostashkov.
At 528 kilometers stretched the majestic Seliger. Where this lake is located there, even in the ice age, the area acquired characteristic features. The total area of the reservoir is about 260 km 2 , of which about 38 km 2 fall on the island sections, their total number is about 160 pieces. The largest in the basin is the island of Khachin, there are four villages and thirteen smaller lakes.
Seliger has many tributaries, of the order of one hundred and ten. The largest rivers include Soroga, Cheremukha, Krapivenka. It is a curious fact that, in the presence of many tributaries, flowing rivers (Seremukha, Sorog, Krapivenka), the only river flows out of the lake, which is called Selizharovka. Seliger is rich in picturesque reaches, there are about twenty of them. The most outstanding and famous are the Ostashkovsky reach, Selizharovsky, Nizhnekotitsky, Sosnitsky, Berezovsky, Troitsky, Kravotinsky, Polnovsky.
Beauty of the area
Amazing Seliger - where is this place? How does it attract numerous tourists? The mighty lake has a corresponding fauna. The reservoir has more than thirty species of fish. Fishing here is considered to be ide, pike, smelt, zander, bream, vendace and burbot. Fish farms carry out painstaking work to introduce carp, eel, common carp and peled into the lake.
The flora of this area is diverse and rich, throughout the territory stretch gorgeous centuries-old spruce, pine forests, birch, oak groves. Along the shores of the lake bird cherry, rosehip, aspen, mountain ash and other vegetation characteristic of the Russian outback grow. The picturesque Seliger, where there are many glades rich in strawberries, raspberries, currants, attracts hundreds of walkers. It's so nice to wander around with a basket in your hand, take a break from the city bustle in nature, and breathe in fresh air.
The fauna of Seliger is rich and diverse. On the pond you can see crane, heron, gulls. In the local forests foxes, wolves, wild boars, bears and even moose live.
The story of Seliger
The centuries-old Seliger - where this lake is located, there once was a huge glacier. It was a long time ago, 65 thousand years ago. The glacier, plowing the bed, moved south, taking away everything that only clung to it; in places he left ridges of stones, sand. When it finally melted, there was no even surface in the area. Rows of hills stretch from the north-west and southeast, the hill formed here, which is now called Valdai. The highest point (346 meters) is located beyond the Tsna River, fifty kilometers from the lake. To get to the mountain very close, you have to walk several kilometers. The depressions formed in the area by the glacier eventually filled with water, and many lakes formed. The largest are Seliger and Ilmen. Seliger Lake on the map of Russia is quite simple to find, because it is located in the central part of the country.
In history, Seliger is mentioned in the chronicles of the 12th century. The name of the lake then was slightly different - Sereger, from Finnish it translates as "lake above a hill." However, many scientists are still debating the origin of the name of the lake.
Legend of seliger
Like many other amazing historical places on Earth, Lake Seliger has its own beautiful legend, which reads as follows. There lived two siblings Ilmen and Seliger, and it so happened that they fell in love with a girl named Volga. Preference was given to Seliger, he was chosen by the Volga as a groom. Ilmen envied with black envy to his brother, and he decided to leave his father's house forever. At night, before leaving, Ilmen approached the sleeping Seliger. Envy overshadowed the mind, and Ilmen pronounced the words of a curse: let one hundred humps grow on your back, and your sides will become crooked. Ilmen went far, but his curse was fulfilled. Ilmen’s conscience tormented for a long time, and then one day he saw in a dream how the damned Seliger was suffering, he lies and cannot rise. Brother deeply regretted his dropped words, but it was too late. "My fault lies with my brother, then I will not get up." To this day, there are two brothers - even Ilmen and Seliger with a hundred humpback islands. Volga did not mourn her love for long, but fled to the mighty Caspian ...
Seliger Tourism
The place is very popular among tourists. Seliger region has a rich historical and cultural heritage. In this area there are many monuments of archeology, Neolithic sites, places of ancient fortifications, monasteries, hermitages, churches, ancient estates and villages.
It is worth noting that Seliger is rich not only in historical monuments. Where this lake is located, there people like to relax not only spiritually, but also physically. Tourists ride on the surface of the lake in boats, along the shore - on a bicycle. On the coast you can find many modern recreation centers. A lot of tourist automobile, bicycle routes have been laid in the Seliger region. How to get to Seliger is easy enough to find out, you just have to open the route map. The lake is famous among amateur fishermen: clean, clear water allows you to watch the underwater world, fishing here is very exciting. Pike, ide, burbot, pike perch, bream, vendace and other fish species are found in large numbers in the lake.
sights
The main local attraction created by man is the Nilova Desert Monastery. In the village of Khitino, Alexander Golod erected a 22-meter four-sided pyramid, which is made of fiberglass without a single nail. The city of Ostashkov surprises with its contrasts, architectural splendor is combined here with the usual views of a fishing village. On one of the capes of Seliger is the ancient Assumption Church of the late XVIII century.
Seliger lake - where it is, the map will tell
Tourism on Seliger is actively developing, every year hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts flock here. If you are interested in this amazing place, come to Seliger, a map of the area will help you find the right camp site, and interesting sights. The map shows all the tributaries flowing into the lake, as well as the Selizharovka river flowing from it, here you can find all 24 stretches in different parts of the lake, the city of Ostashkov is located on the south side of the lake.
It is easy to find all the stops on the map if you decide to take a boat trip. All car and bicycle hiking trails and routes are marked here.
How to get there
How to get to Seliger? If you decide to get to the Seliger region by train, then you can do this from Moscow, from the Leningrad station there is a direct train to Ostashkov. The bus leaves from the Shchelkovo bus station or Tushino bus station. By car, it is easy to get to Seliger along Novorizhskoe highway, the route passes through Zubtsov, Rzhev. On the Leningrad highway you will pass by Tver, Torzhok.
In any case, if you are interested in how to get to Seliger, you need to know that first you need to get to the city of Ostashkov. This district center has its own railway and bus stations. A bus from here takes you to Seliger. To the stop "Birch Row" buses run only on even numbers. On odd numbers you can get to the stop "Svapushe". At the Ostashkovsky bus station, you can check the cost of tickets and bus schedules. Phones for information: 8 (48235) 5-41-29; 8 (48235) 5-05-41.