Altai Krai is known for its unique and untouched nature. Tourists have long flocked here to see the pristine flora and fauna. No less famous are the resort towns of the Altai Territory, such as Yarovoye, Belokurikha, where you can combine a wonderful vacation with treatment. However, the region has a very high medical and health potential, which few people know about, except for local residents. We will tell you about the possibilities of a spa vacation in the Altai Territory in more detail.
Geography and climate
In the southeast of Western Siberia, Altai Territory is located. What is unusual about this place? Here you can see a great natural diversity: mountains, steppes, forests, lakes, rivers. Almost all natural zones of Russia are present in the region, except for the subtropics and the Arctic. The relief of the region is formed by the Altai Mountains in the east and south, the West Siberian Plain is located in the center and in the west. The region is very rich in water resources, the main body of water is the Ob River with a large number of tributaries. The total number of rivers in the region is 17 thousand, as well as many lakes (13 thousand). The main wealth of the region are ribbon burs, growing on the flat part.
The climate of the Altai Territory is temperate, with a transition to the continental, that is, with cold winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature is about plus 2 degrees. The region is distinguished by a sufficiently large number of winds, in winter - blizzards. Winter in the region begins in November, when a permanent snow cover is established, summer begins in late May and lasts until early September. The number of hours of sunshine per year is 2180 (in Sochi, for comparison, 2230), the region ranks 12th in the country for this indicator. Resorts of the Altai Territory is a place for a pleasant and comfortable stay, there is something to do both in winter and in summer.
Recreational and Wellness Potential
The large extent of the territory of the region, a diverse relief, a rather mild climate and a large number of mineral and mud springs make the region an extremely rich recreational resource. In the Altai Territory, experts note high indicators of such important resort resources as transparency and ionization of air, solar radiation, sources of mineral water, and accumulation of silt mud.
Researchers claim that the region has the best conditions in Siberia for the development of resort business. In many respects, local resorts (Altai Territory) can quite be compared with Crimea. Also in the region there are sources of radon waters and lakes, which, according to the characteristics of water and bottom silt, are on a par with many famous healing water bodies of the world. The purity of the air and its saturation with useful phytoncides makes the Altai Territory extremely useful for recovery. The healing resources of the region have been used in resort business for more than a hundred years, about 40 sanatoriums and dispensaries of various sizes are open here.
Most popular resorts
The most famous resort in the region is the city of Belokurikha - a health resort of Russian scale, which is widely known throughout the country. Less well-known resort of regional importance is the city of Yarovoye with a healing lake. Other resorts of the Altai Territory, photos of which can be seen in guidebooks, are less famous, but no less interesting and useful.
First of all, the lakes of the Romanovsky district should be called: Gorkoye, Molokovo, Guseletovo. Mud lakes of the Zavyalovsky region are also very popular: Baklan, Zavyalovskoye, Mostovoe. The reservoirs of the steppe zone, lakes Kulundinskoye, Buazhansor, Burlinskoye possess great potential. All these places have great therapeutic and recreational potential, but so far their tourism infrastructure is less developed.
Resort town Belokurikha
The real sanatorium city, resort Belokurikha (Altai Territory) has its history since the beginning of the 19th century. But as a resort, the place began to develop in the 60s of the 19th century, when baths were first built here. The curative properties of local sources were discovered by residents who drew attention to the fact that the cows that drink water from them are healthier and give more milk. Aborigines themselves began to practice bathing in the springs, and this helped them get rid of many diseases.
In 1866, the first bathhouse with 16 beds was built here. By the end of the 19th century there was already a health resort, which hosted approximately 500 people a year. Further development of the resort was hindered by strongly pronounced seasonality. At the beginning of the 20th century, the development of territories began. In the 1920s and 1930s, a health resort for state leaders was built here. At this time, the healing properties of local sources are being studied. It turns out that water contains a small amount of radon, as well as a lot of nitrogen, silicon and fluorine. In the 60s, rapid construction began in Belokurikha, a number of large sanatoriums appeared here, the resort was gaining all-Union significance.
Belokurikha becomes a year-round resort. At the end of the 20th century, scientists proved that the air here contains twice as many useful aeroions than in Davos, Switzerland. In post-perestroika times, the resort lost its appeal due to the fact that many tourists flocked abroad. But today, former glory is returning to the health resort. New sanatoriums are being built here, infrastructure is being developed.
Today, good roads lead here, modern equipment has been installed in the sanatoriums. The city has about 20 medical institutions with a total capacity of about 5 thousand beds. The number of tourists is increasing every year, and this was the reason for the launch of the large-scale Belokurikha-2 project, within the framework of which new sanatoriums and ski resorts will be built. Today, a magnificent road has already been laid to this place.
Best health resorts Belokurikha
Belokurikha is a resort (Russia, Altai Territory), the glory of which is created by several large resorts. The most famous places include "Russia", "Eden", "Belokurikha", "Siberia", "Centrosoyuz", "Altai West", "Altai Castle". All resorts actively use the local healing potential.
Radon waters are effectively used in the treatment of diseases of the nervous and endocrine systems, Belokurikha doctors have gained considerable experience in treating infertility. For the treatment of diseases of the digestive, endocrine, genitourinary systems, local mineral water is used. The treatment of many ailments occurs with the use of mud from several reservoirs of the Altai Territory. Unique opportunities are provided by the methods of therapy and prophylaxis with the help of deer breeding products. Patients are offered antler baths, teas, wraps, etc. Of course, walks are an important factor in healing. Local air has a therapeutic effect on the respiratory system and immunity.
Resort Yarovoye
Near the border of Russia with Kazakhstan is the resort of Yarovoye (Altai Territory). The main recreational and health-improving resource of the city is Lake Big Yarovoye, which in its characteristics is close to the Dead Sea. The village began to be built in the 40s of the 20th century: a bromine plant began to be built here. The use of the lake for recreational purposes began in the 60s. Initially, local residents and vacationers from nearby settlements came here spontaneously. The initial sanatorium infrastructure was gradually formed.
The status of the city of Yarovoye receives only in 1993, from that time the tourist development of the territory begins. Large recreation areas are being built here: “Berth-22” and “Berth-42”. Today, the city has places for organized recreation for 5000 people, in addition, tourists come here who settle in campsites and campsites.
Sanatoriums Yarovoy
The main object of the city is Lake Big Yarovoye, around which health facilities are grouped. This drainage water body with a high concentration of salt can easily be compared with the Sakskoye lakes in Crimea, Tambukan in the Caucasus and the Dead Sea according to the characteristics of its silty mud. Regional resorts (Altai Territory) began to be built in the middle of the 20th century.
In Yarovoy, the first sanatorium appeared in 1970. It was a health-improving departmental complex for employees of the chemical industry; today it is named “Chemist” and offers the treatment of gynecological diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Mud also helps with skin diseases. The newer sanatorium “Yarovoye - mud baths” also offers a full range of medical procedures based on the mud of the lake.
Lake District
New resorts and sanatoriums of the Altai Territory are increasingly being built in the depths of the region. This is facilitated by a large number of natural sites with great healing potential. There are about 13 thousand lakes in the region, and many of them have useful properties. The territory of several regions of the region, namely Romanovsky, Zavyalovsky, Smolensky, Soloneshensky, Gorny Kolyvani, has huge medical and recreational opportunities. In these places there are various lakes that help fight many diseases.
Resort Zavyalovo
Amazing lakes in Zavyalovo attract tourists from all over the region. Salt, Crooked (fresh) and Alkaline lakes have various healing potentials. The most valuable and popular salt lake. Its water contains 115 g. salt per liter, and valuable blue clay at the bottom helps treat diseases of the skin and musculoskeletal system. Fresh Lake is used more as an object for recreation and fishing.
The area also has mineral springs, the water of which has a very high content of magnesium, sulfates and other useful minerals and has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, helps get rid of toxins, and cleanses the liver.
Several medical institutions operate in Zavyalovo: the Zavyalovo balneological boarding house, the Power of Lakes complex, and the state polyclinic with a balneological department. These resorts of the Altai Territory, of course, do not offer developed tourist infrastructure, but the prices for treatment and accommodation here are very affordable.
Kulunda lake
Describing the regional resorts (Altai Territory), it is worth stopping at the Kulundinsky salt lake, which also has a large wellness resource. Salt water contains many useful minerals, and silt has a positive effect on the skin. There are no sanatoriums in this place in the usual sense of the word, there are several recreation centers here: Compass Vita, Altai House, Altai Sun, and there are also many parking lots for independent travelers.
Reviews of tourists about holidays in the Altai Territory
According to statistics, regional resorts (Altai Territory) are becoming more and more popular with Russians every year. Tourists in their reviews enthusiastically talk about the beautiful nature of the region, about the opportunity to relax from the hustle and bustle. This mainly applies to small resort places, such as Romanovo, Guseletovo, Zavyalovo.
Large local health resorts: Belokurikha, Yarovoye - today offer a wide range of services, in addition to treatment. There are entertainment centers, water parks, tour agencies. Yarovoye resort (Altai Territory), whose photos are comparable with the views of many Turkish places, is constantly expanding the range of entertainment services, and tourists call it Siberian Ibiza. Therefore, a visit to these objects, according to tourists, is quite comparable in terms of service with many foreign and popular Russian vacation spots.