Hot Springs of Baikal or How to Warm Oneself during Siberian Winter
© Photo: Key to Baikal
February, 24

Hot Springs of Baikal or How to Warm Oneself during Siberian Winter

You may need the position data of the Baikal hot springs not only in winter but also in summer because not everyone is brave enough to step into the icy Baikal water even in warm weather.

The coast of Baikal is a kingdom of amazing natural phenomena, where steep mountain ranges mix with the wilderness of the virgin taiga, snow-white coastal sand, and free steppe. Whatever your preferences are, you can just bask in the sun or get an adrenaline buzz from extreme entertainment – a vacation on Baikal will not leave you indifferent, especially if you go there in winter. The entire range of opportunities generously offered by Father Baikal during this time of year includes a chance to visit one of the hot springs, and we strongly advise you to take this chance. Of course, this is not the most attractive reason to come to the lake for the most part of tourists. But it is wrong! Imagine a unique contrast - the temperature of minus 30 degrees Celsius outside, and you bathe in water with the temperature near 40 degrees Celsius, surrounded by steam that drops on your eyelashes, eyebrows, hair in silver dust, and all the things around the bath are also covered by “fur coats” of steam frozen in the cold.

Baikal “Arshan Springs”

Baikal “Arshan Springs”: How to Warm Oneself On The Lake@«Аршаны» Байкала: где согреться на озере
Baikal “Arshan Springs”: How to Warm Oneself On The Lake
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© Photo: http://depositphotos.com/
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© Photo: http://www.nat-geo.ru/
© Photo: http://depositphotos.com/
© Photo: http://depositphotos.com/
© Photo: http://depositphotos.com/
© Photo: http://depositphotos.com/
© Photo: http://depositphotos.com/
© Photo: http://depositphotos.com/

Local people have long called the curative springs by the name “Arshans”. The word “arshan” translated from the Buryat language means “healing water”, “sacred water”. The word itself, according to linguists, was derived from the Sanskrit “rashiani” - nectar, the drink of the gods. The beneficial effects of using mineral waters have long been known. And the perception of these places is unusual. Religious buildings have been erected near the springs, people pray there, because this land is considered sacred. A similar attitude is characteristic of Buddhists of Altai, China, Mongolia...

However, there is certainly nothing supernatural about the outcrops of hot mineral springs on the open surface. Water flowing in the depths of the earth is rich with various useful elements, besides, it also heats up underground and then comes to the surface either through deep cracks or through artificial wells made up by drilling.

A total of 200 spring were discovered on the territory of Baikal region, but their main accumulation discussed by us is concentrated in the northern part of the lake. According to the temperature regime, the mineral hot springs of Baikal can be divided into three categories:

- warm springs, with the temperature from 20 to 37 degrees Celsius;
- hot springs, with the temperature from 37 to 50 degrees Celsius;
- very hot springs, with the temperature up to 50 - 100 degrees Celsius.

The unique healing properties of the warm sources of Baikal are known even outside the region and abroad. Thousands of people come there annually so that to improve their health. However, any mineral water is not a cure-all solution. Before you go on a trip for the “magic” potion, you need to consult an expert.

Goudzhekit

Hot Springs of Baikal or How to Warm Oneself during Siberian Winter

Where does such a strange name come from? The answer is in its translation from the Buryat language: “devil’s place”. But there is nothing threatening, terrible or menacing in Goudzhekit. This name is explained by the fact that in ancient times people couldn’t logically explain why hot water came out of the earth, believing that the hot water was the heat of hell.

The spring is located in the floodplain of the eponymous the river, not far from the city of Severobaikalsk (25 km).

The water of Goudzhekit is a unique combination of hydrocarbonates, fluorine, sodium, potassium, partly iron, strontium, molybdenum, iodine, and boron at a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius. Such a composition can be used to treat endocrine, urogenital, nervous, musculoskeletal, gynecological and gastroenterological diseases, as well as some skin diseases.

Above all, travelers may become interested in the prospect of combining therapeutic procedures with active recreation - skiing and snowboarding, wonderful walks in the incredibly clean air.

Kotelnikovsky Cape

The cape is located on the northwestern coast of Baikal, 80 km to the south from the city of Severobaikalsk. Local mineral springs are the hottest and at the same time extremely hard-to-reach. However, all effort spent of a difficult journey will pay off by the opportunity not only to improve health, but also to enjoy amazing natural views: the trail to Chersky mountain, the Kurkula river, mountain waterfalls, glaciers, Gitara Lake...

You will be able to plunge into water with the initial temperature of about 80 degrees Celsius; in order to feel comfortable, you will have to dilute it with icy Baikal water. But you should only plunge in it, because the water is used only for external application. Doctors believe that diseases of the spine and joints, nervous system, digestive organs and the urinary system can be healed there.

Dzelinda

Dzelinda includes about 10 curative springs located in the valley of the Angara River, 92 km away from Severobaykalsk. Hot springs rushing from under the ground fall into Dzelinda. The name “Dzelinda” translated from the Evenki language means “taimen”. This species of fish can still be found in the Verkhnyaya Angara River.

The water temperature reaches 44 degrees Celcius, and the chance to plunge into an open hot swimming pool in winter is especially tempting for the guests. The chemical composition of water is incredibly diverse. This is bicarbonate sulfate-sodium water that is also rich in nitrogen, fluorine, radon, with a slight content of hydrogen sulfide; it helps treating diseases of the musculoskeletal, nervous, urogenital, endocrine and circulatory systems, gynecological problems, and the main feature of the water is its help in case of poisoning with heavy metal salts. Scientists have noticed that the content of salts and saltiness of this water are very close to the famous Armenian “Dilijan” mineral water.

The hydropathical establishment of Dzelinda is ready to meet the guests all year round; the establishment has its own highlight: the so-called “wild baths”. These baths are a spring consisting of three baths each with its own water temperature. Moreover, a stone bath with cold water is located in a stream nearby.

Dzelinda sources are also a place of Buddhist worship. All trees and bushes near the springs are decorated with pieces of fabric and colored ribbons.

Besides, Dzelinda it is a natural hydrological monument with many interesting objects around it, for example, one of them is the unique Island of Yarki. This is a sand spit separating the Angarsky Sor Bay from the lake. The island is located at the point of confluence of the rivers of Kichera and Verkhnyaya Angara: at that place you can admire the rarest species of birds - black stork, heron, bittern...

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