Shumak mineral springs are considered to be the youngest springs of mineral waters on the planet.
Первый Байкальский
Such lake as Baikal could not fail to produce healing mountain springs, there are more than 200 of them here. They are all different in properties and water composition, but in most cases the waters are carbonated with nitrogen, methane and occasionally - hydrogen sulfide.
Many of the mineral springs are very hot – the temperature sometimes rises to 70° C. People come here through the whole country to get cured and to see the unique landscapes of Lake Baikal.
Goudzhekit is a thermal spring not far from Severobaikalsk, Nizhneangarsk, and the settlement of Solnechny. Its temperature reaches 50° C. The locals think that such warm water can only be in devil’s cauldrons, so they named it accordingly - “Goudzhekit” is translated as “devil’s place” from Buryat.
However, the high temperature is exactly the factor that greatly contributes to the spring’s main healing properties. In addition, the water of Goudzhekit is rich in alkalies and metasilicic acid known for its curative properties. The spring’s water is most often used for curative baths healing illnesses of the circulatory system, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and endocrine system. However, this water is also helpful on internal use when you drink it as therapeutic table water.
Dzelinda hot springs are located 70 kilometers away from the settlement of Nizhneangarsk, at the mouth of the Dzelinda River, in the valley of the Upper Angara River. In the vicinity of the springs people built resorts and equipped special pools for bathing. But there are also “wild” hot springs, about ten of them.
The main spring has two outlets which are located at a distance of two kilometers from each other. The first one consists of four fountains and is located on the right side of the river valley. They say that it emerged as a result of a tectonic fault in the Earth's crust. The second water outlet is located on the left shore of the Upper Angara River, opposite to Dzelinda. Water temperature of the spring remains at the level of +44 - +52 ° C all year round. It is composed of sulphates, hydrocarbonates and sodium with a slight smell of hydrogen sulphide.
The main thermal spring comes out in a powerful jet right out of the low cliff, forming a hot brook. The spring’s water is recommended for external use and treatment of various diseases of the joints and musculoskeletal system, diseases of the circulatory system and nervous system. Its baths have sedative, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, improve metabolism, accelerate wound healing, normalize functions of the skin and make it elastic.
Shumak Valley or the valley of hundred springs is located in the Eastern Sayan Mountains at an altitude of 1558 m. More than a hundred mineral water springs with different properties flow along the Shumak River, at the confluence of the right and left riverbeds at a small distance from each other; you also can find outlets of radon water and therapeutic mud. This place was discovered by accident and has been considered a “wild resort” for many years. These springs are one of the most hard-to-reach places in the world, but despite this fact, the healing power of water attracts people here. Fresh mountain air, Alpine landscapes and the special energy of the place help to restore health and regain one’s vital forces.
Shumak mineral springs are considered to be the youngest springs of mineral waters on the planet.
Thermal carbonated waters of Shumak come to the surface in three groups. The first group consists of 42 springs and is 70 m long, with the temperature ranging from +10 to + 35° C. The second group is 175 m long and has 50 outlets. The third group of thermal springs on the right bank of the Shumak River stretches for 120 m, has 16 fountains with the temperature from +28 to + 34° C.
Another Baikal spring is Goryachinskiy. It was declared a protected area and a natural monument in 1984. The outcome of thermal waters is located 1 km away from the shore of Lake Baikal on the top of a small sandy ravine washed with hot water. The beauty of the natural landscape combined with the medicinal properties of Goryachinskiy spring make this place unique. Thermal silicic waters of Goryachinskiy spring have been helpful for treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous and urogenital systems, skin and respiratory system for already 200 years. Baths filled with water from the thermal springs have sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory effects, normalize metabolism, the state of nervous and endocrine systems. The temperature of the Goryachinskiy spring’s outlet amounts to + 54.5° C.
Academician Okladnikov believed that the name of the Kika River (with the emphasis on the second syllable) was derived from the Turkic “green river”. This is the name of one of 336 rivers flowing into Lake Baikal.
Why should one remember about an ordinary hare - the animal with the nickname “squint-eye” that is considered a coward?
A specially protected natural monument of regional significance – “Anglichanka” Rock – is situat-ed in Selenginsky district of Buryatia. Now it is known as an observation deck with a picturesque view of the Selenga and Spassky Cathedral dated by the 18th century. However, in 1818-1841, Protestant preachers lived here. Key to Baikal explored how the life of the missionaries was con-nected with the rock, what kind of girl was wandering around it and what the London missionary society had to do with it.
The name of the valley originated from local “Bargut” which means “outskirts, wilderness”. It was a name of Mongolian tribe that used to inhabit the valley.
