The sights of Buryatia are striking in their diversity and grandeur. Most of them are of natural origin, but there are those that are created by man and preserve the cultural heritage of these places for future generations.
Baikal Reserve
The Baikal Reserve is a state natural biosphere reserve located in the southern part of the Buryat Republic. Most of it occupies the territory of the Khamar-Daban ridge.
The foundation of the Baikal Reserve occurred in 1969. And in 1986, it became one of the biosphere reserves of the World Wide Web. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site “Lake Baikal” (1996).
The reserve with a total area of 165,724 hectares consists of several zones: forest-covered (117,214 hectares), reservoirs (1,552 hectares), and zone of treeless highlands.
The reserve territory can be divided into two parts: small - southern and large - northern, occupying the strip of the Baikal coast and the northern side of the ridge.
The sights of the Republic of Buryatia are for the most part created in order to preserve and explore the unique natural sites of the republic. So the Baikal Reserve was founded in order to preserve and study the natural conditions and the course of natural processes. Also an important object of study in this case is the gene pool of animals and plants, unique and typical ecosystems of the central part of Southern Baikal and the Khamar-Daban ridge. It is precisely in these territories that high-altitude virgin forests are located, which have never undergone logging and fires.
Flora and fauna of the Baikal reserve
Mongolian steppes and East Siberian taiga are the prevailing landscapes of the reserve. The purest mountain rivers and lakes are located on its territory. Dark coniferous forests grow on the northern slopes of Khamar-Daban, where cedar and fir prevail. Partially the forest belt is occupied by ordinary spruce and birch. The river valleys are occupied by birch-poplar stands.
The fauna is quite typical for the highlands of southern Siberia. The only feature is the presence of bird species , the origin of which belongs to Central Asia. The territory of the reserve is inhabited by sable, lynx, otter, deer, Manchurian deer, roe deer, elk and bear. If we talk about ichthyofauna, then it is represented by 18 species of animals, the main of which are taimen, grayling and lenok.
Ivolginsky datsan
One of the most popular tourist destinations in Siberia is Buryatia. Ivolginsky district, whose sights are of great historical value, is becoming one of the most visited.
The Ivolginsky datsan is the most famous datsan in Buryatia, which makes it the most frequent place of pilgrimage for Buddhists not only in Russia but also in the world. Translated from the Tibetan language in the original sounding like "Khambyn Sume Gandan Dasha Choinhorling", the name means "the monastery Wheel of the Teaching, which brings joy and absolute happiness." The residence of the head of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia, Lama Pandito Khambo, is the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga, which is located 30-40 km from Ulan-Ude.
The largest Buddhist monastery complex was erected in 1945. Numerous requests and appeals from local Buddhists gave rise to fundraising for its construction and the acquisition of necessary religious objects. Soon, the inconspicuous Buryat village expanded. An unusual wooden structure appeared on its territory, which was given the appearance of a datsan. And in 1951, the local authorities allocated a plot of land intended for the construction of the monastery complex. This event is significant for the entire republic of Buryatia, since it was the places of the first structures that became the center of a complex of elegant temples filled with shrines and secrets.
The sights of Buryatia in the Ivolginsky district are not limited to the datsan himself. There you can also see the university, the tomb of the lamas, the library and the museum.
Waterfall Small Zhom-Bolok
The amazing waterfall and basalt canyon of the Oka River (Aha) is a very popular place for visiting tourists who prefer to enjoy natural attractions.
The waterfall is located 2 km from the mouth of the Zhom-Bolok River. Water majestically falls from a height of 22 meters. A special charm to this place is given by basalt rock and an unusual round dip where powerful streams of water fall. Spruces grow right in the middle of the gap, and a small lake has formed below, which flows into the Oka River. In winter, the waterfall completely freezes, taking the form of a giant stalagmite.
Sights of Buryatia, including the Small Zhom-Bolok waterfall, are perfectly adapted for visiting tourists. The bridge over the Oka and the freeway allow you to easily and without unnecessary inconvenience to get to the waterfall.
Also not far from these places are two more natural monuments: the canyon Maly Saylak and the Okinsky Grotto.
Volcano valley
Sights of Buryatia will interest not only lovers of beautiful natural landscapes, but also those who prefer extreme tourism.
The valley of volcanoes with a length of about 20 km attracts more and more lovers of outdoor activities. This marvelous place is located in the East Sayan Mountains, at the foot of the Greater Sayan Range. The valley frozen under the lava includes nine extinct volcanoes. The largest of them are the volcanoes of Peretolchin and Kropotkin. Lava flows spread down the valleys of Zhom-Bolok and Hi-Gol for more than 70 km. And the thickness of the layer of solidified lava in some places reaches 155 m.
Lava fields look like randomly uplifted, blackened, petrified formations with a porous structure, the height of which sometimes exceeds 2 m. In some places on the vast lava field there are failed depressions and lakes. The last volcanic eruptions were several millennia ago, and today they are considered "sleeping".
The valley of volcanoes is surrounded by pointed ridges. In summer, the valley is covered with blue spots of lakes and interspersed with greenery, and in winter it becomes a cold, harsh snowy desert.
Transbaikal National Park
This park is considered one of the main natural attractions of Buryatia and the hallmark of Lake Baikal. Here, the primordial nature of the natural territories, the diversity of landscapes, and the richness of the animal world are combined in an extraordinary way, making the Trans-Baikal National Park a truly magnificent place. He is often visited by fans of amateur fishing, sports and educational tourism.
The foundation of the park dates back to 1986. The main goal of its creation, of course, is to preserve the natural complex of the Baikal basin. The total area is almost 270,000 ha, which includes 37,000 ha of the Baikal water area.
Sights of Buryatia (see the landscape photo of the park below), including the Trans-Baikal National Park, will appeal to wildlife lovers. Numerous tourist routes are laid in such a way that there is a chance to see a reindeer, bear, roe deer, sable, wolf and other representatives of the fauna.
More than 10,000 hectares of the territory of this national park are reserved for especially valuable
plant communities. We are talking about fir, pine and cedar forests, whose age reaches 200 years.
Thermal spring Dzelinda
This source is located 25 km from the village. Angoy, at a distance of 91 km from the city of Severobaykalsk.
The Dzelinda mineral water outlet is available in two places located at a distance of 2 km from each other. The formation of one of the exits, located 38 km from the village. The Upper Zaimka River is associated with a tectonic fault in the earth's crust, which resulted in a ledge with a height of 6-8 m. This source consists of four beating griffins. The location of the other exit is a sand spit located on the left bank of the Upper Angara. Even in winter frosts, the water temperature does not drop below + 45C.
The presence of a significant amount of silicic acid, fluorine, and radon in mineral water determines its therapeutic effect in cases of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, blood supply system, and various skin and gynecological diseases.
Arshan, Buryatia: attractions
Active and curious travelers will certainly find what to visit in the village of Arshan and its environs. A huge number of natural monuments and other interesting places attract here more and more tourists every year. It is impossible to describe briefly the sights of Buryatia, because each of them is either an important natural site or an object of cultural heritage. In the village of Arshan you can visit the waterfalls and the Kyngara river with its marble bottom, the Mongolian market, the root-plastic surgery museum "Forest Fairy Tale", "Cup of the Virgin", "Peak of Love", the source Suburgan, etc.
The Republic of Buryatia, the sights of which were considered in this article, is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque places in South Siberia.