Beautiful Mountain Lake Sut-Khol, which is located on the territory of the Sut-Khol kozhuun of the Tyva Republic, above the Kyzyl-Taiga mountain, is considered sacred. Local residents are sure that it was under the influence of the lake that this land turned out to be fruitful for the great fighters in the national wrestling "Khuresh".
The area of the lake is 1400 hectares, and the depth in some places reaches 50 m. It is inhabited by Mongolian grayling, omul, peled, vendace. The purity of the lake's waters is comparable only to Lake Baikal.
Every year shamanic rituals are performed here, during which the Lake Master is appeased to help in obtaining a good harvest, prosperity and protect the population from diseases, jute (poverty, hunger and death of livestock).
The lake has been considered sacred since ancient times, it is not without reason that all Tuvan tales and legends begin with the words: "A long time ago, when Lake Sut-Khol was a small puddle, and Mount Sumber-Uula (the mountain that is currently located under the lake) was a hummock ..." ... There is a legend that once upon a time the owner of the lake "Kholdun kok Bugazy" (Lake Blue Bull) lived in the lake. When the owner begins to leave the lake, thunder roars, lightning flashes, waves larger than human height begin to walk along the lake and break with force on the rocky shores.
Lake Sut-Khol is located in the Sut-Khol kozhuun of the Tyva Republic in the spurs of the Western Sayan near the stormy Khemchik at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level.
The length of the lake from west to east is 7-8 kilometers, width - 2-2.5 kilometers.
On the shores of the lake, there are larch trees, slender spruces, and handsome cedars. On the green moss, there are pink flowers of round-leaved pears, lingonberries, and badan. In the vicinity of Sut-Khol there is a rounded, forested mountain Bora-Taiga, the rocky top of which is crowned with a wooden pyramid built by topographers. From the south, the dome of Mount Kyzyl-Taiga rose above the lake, from where great view to the Khemchik depression.
Sut-Khol is remembered by everyone who has seen it at least once. Bizarrely shaped peninsulas go deep into the surface of the lake, in the water, as in a mirror, are reflected wild rocks and white clouds.
Small rivers flow into the lake from the west. Their banks serve as the usual camp site for shepherds. In the southeast, from Sut-Khol along a picturesque gorge surrounded by yellowish rocks with trails of stone scree, the Khol-Ozhu river rushes out, forming in places small waterfalls. Bushes of red and black currants hang over the river, irises, bells, lilies bloom, wild gooseberries are found in the crevices of the rocks.
Not far from Sut-Khol, the arzhaan Ulug-Dorgun beats. The water temperature in the spring is +4.2 degrees. According to the old Tuvan custom, the trees near it are hung with offerings to the spirit of the mountains. In summer, the tents of the tourists are located near the arzhaan, who not only drink the water of the spring, but also take a shower.
The lake is very rich in plankton. It contains many amphipod crustaceans, which omul feed on. Ichthyologists launched fry of Baikal omul, Mongolian grayling, peled, ripus, vendace into Sut-Khol. Scientists believe that Sut-Khol - perfect place for breeding these fish.
The lake has very clean air and absolute silence. Since ancient times, Sut-Khol is considered sacred, its name of the lake in translation means "milk lake", and Tuvan milk symbolizes purity. To this day, no one is allowed to swim in the sacred lake. It is believed that if someone disturbs the peace of the lake, clouds will come in instantly and hail will begin. Perhaps that is why the purity of lake water is comparable only to Lake Baikal, because no one dares not only to pollute the water, but also to leave garbage on its shores. On the lake, no one really breaks the peace, this is a sacred place.
Sut-Khol is also the birthplace of the most famous storytellers and the most powerful Tuvan fighters, which is also attributed to the influence of the sacred lake.
There is a legend among the people. In ancient times, an old witch woman settled by the lake. She cooked medicinal decoctions from Sut-Khol herbs, chanted spells, sent a thunderstorm to the taiga. Once a witch threw a large vat of milk into the waters of Sut-Khol. In the morning, people did not recognize the lake: it became snow-white, as if filled with milk. Since then, people began to notice that on the Sut-Khol pastures, cows give a lot of milk, thick as cream. Not for nothing, Sut-Khol is translated into Russian and means - Milk lake.
Sut-Khol district situated in the northwestern part of the republic. He borders in the south with Dzun-Khemchiksky, in the west with Barun-Khemchiksky, in the east with the Chaa-Khol kozhuuns of the Tyva Republic, in the north with the Republic of Khakassia.
District center- the village of Sug-Aksy - located in the middle part of the Sut-Khol district (kozhuun). Population kozhuun - 7933 people (2016)
A feature of the economic and geographical location of the Sut-Khol region (kozhuun) is its remoteness from central regions and the capital of the republic. The distance from the district (kozhuunny) center to the capital of the Tyva Republic - Kyzyl is 286 km, and to the nearest railway stations- respectively: 323 km (Abaza) and 730 km (Abakan). The main means of communication connecting the kozhuun with other kozhuuns of the republic is motor transport.
In the central part of the kozhuun, there is the Khemchik basin, in the north of the kozhuun there are high mountains... Most of the kozhuun (51.0%) is occupied by forests with cedar, poplar, larch, birch, bird cherry, aspen, as well as sea buckthorn, currant, blueberry and others. In terms of the area occupied by sea buckthorn, the fruits of which contain a large amount of vitamin "C", kozhuun occupies one of the leading places in the republic.
From west to east flows the river "Khemchik" with tributaries "Alash", "Ak", "Ustuu-Ishkin", "Aldyy-Ishkin", "Shele", "Terektig", "Shom-Shum".
On the territory of kozhuun, at an altitude of 1814 meters above sea level, there is a mountain freshwater lake "Sut-Khol", where peled, omul, Mongolian grayling are bred.
The main direction of kozhuun is agricultural.
Climate sharply continental. The lowest observed temperature in winter is 50 ° С, the average January temperature is 30 degrees below zero. The winter period lasts about 180 days. The hollow nature of the region's relief, with the general predominance of the anticyclonic regime in winter, contributes to the accumulation of cold air in the basin and its additional cooling.
The hot and dry summer comes at the end of May and lasts 85 days. average temperature July +20 degrees, maximum +38 degrees. No frosts are observed during the summer. Spring frosts usually end at the end of the second decade of May, but in some years they are observed in early June. Autumn frosts begin in the third decade of September, in some years at the end of August. The duration of the warm (temperature above +10 degrees) period is about 125 days. Generally, climatic conditions this area is notable for its severity.
On the territory of the region (kozhuun), from the explored deposits of minerals, the burning of lime is involved in the economic circulation in the village. Aldan-Maadyr, and a deposit of brick clays in the village. Ak-Dash is planned to turn over in the coming years.
One of the most good places for tourist recreation in the Republic of Tuva, one can name the Sut-Khol lake, located on the territory of the Sut-Khol kozhuun. This picturesque reservoir is hidden from prying eyes in the spurs mountain range Western Sayan, at an altitude of 1.8 kilometers above sea level, surrounded by spreading firs, larches and cedars. The beauty of these places is simply mesmerizing. Not far from the lake rises Mount Bora-Taiga, the top of which is crowned with a man-made wooden pyramid, installed here by topographers. The surrounding forests abound with currants and lingonberries, which can be collected in whole baskets, and on open areas incense, wintergreen and other flowers are growing, pleasing the eye with their variegation. In the immediate vicinity of Lake Sut-Khol there is a tourist base of the same name, which has been receiving guests for more than 10 years. Here you can stay in a yurt camp, equipped with all the blessings of civilization, and taste Tuvan cuisine, which will be delivered to you directly to the yurt. Alternatives - Three meals a day in the dining room, and cooking barbecue on the grill.
Peculiarities
Even Baikal can envy the purity of the water of Lake Sut-Khol, but, unfortunately, you cannot swim in it. The fact is that this reservoir is considered among local residents sacred, and ablution in it is punishable by terrible curses. Believe in these legends or not is a private matter for everyone, but it is clearly not worth neglecting them, if only out of respect for the traditions of Tuvans. It is noteworthy that next to the lake there is mineral spring Ulug-Dorgun, the water of which is allowed to be used not only for drinking, but also for bathing. However, its temperature barely reaches 5 degrees, and only real "walruses" can do such a test. Recently, Sut-Khol began to be used for fish farming. Fry of grayling, ripus, peled and omul were brought here, which have taken root well in a new place and have already managed to give offspring. Small crustaceans, which are found in huge quantities in the lake, have become the main food source for these fish. On the this moment fishing on Sut-Khol is prohibited, and vacationers come here only for rest and health improvement. The most beautiful landscapes of these places often become the backdrop for photographs, and the most successful angles can be caught on southeast coast, at the source of the Khol-Ozhu river, which forms a gorge with waterfalls and bizarre rocks.
Legends
One of the Tuvan legends says that the reservoir got its name thanks to an old witch who lived in these places in time immemorial. During the preparation of the next broth, she threw a vat of milk into the water, and the whole lake turned white. Since then, the cows grazing on its banks began to give thick, fat milk, similar to cream, and the reservoir itself began to be called "Sut-Khol" - "Milk Lake". Another legend tells of a mythical creature - a bull that lives in the depths of the lake and helps people in their misfortunes. Every time the bull comes to the surface, the lake begins to seethe and foam, and a thunderstorm begins in the sky and a squall wind blows.
How to get there
Nearest locality to Lake Sut-Khol - the village of Sug-Aksy, to which from regional center can be reached by a good asphalt road. A country road leads from the village to the shores of the reservoir, which is often washed away by rains, and even an SUV cannot always drive along it. On the way, you will have to overcome a steep pass, which is possible only under favorable weather conditions.
