Description of the lake Karagaykul (Chelyabinsk region)

The Urals is rich not only in natural fossils, but also in reservoirs. One of the pearls of the region is Lake Karagaykul (Chelyabinsk region), located 65 kilometers from Chelyabinsk and 135 from Yekaterinburg.

Geographic characteristics of the lake

This reservoir is territorially related to the Kunashak district and covers an area of about 1300 hectares. The length of its oval, slightly elongated basin is 6.3 km, and its width is about 4.8. The depth, as well as the area, is relatively small: on average it is only 4.2 meters, and the maximum indicators reach 6.3 meters.

The shores of Lake Karagaykul are almost everywhere flat. Here and there they are sandy, and in some places sand is mixed with stone. At the bottom of the reservoir is predominantly ooze. At a depth of more than 4 meters, stones are scattered. Karagaykul is a lake with brackish water.

In the full-flowing years, the contents of the Karagaykul bowl are partly poured into the neighboring Kinkul Lake, which lies just to the south and east. And a kilometer north of the lake is Urukul.

Not far from the reservoir, the settlements Druzhny and Pribrezhny nest, and right on the shore on the western side there is a village that is a namesake of Lake Karagaykul.

Title History

By the way, the history of the name of this Ural water basin is covered with a gloom of secrecy. In translation from Tatar the word "karagai" means "pines", and "kul" translates as "lake". But neither the pines, nor other wooded vegetation on the banks of Karagaikul there is no trace. Where did the name come from?

According to one of the versions, sometime a long time ago a pine forest was rustling here, which eventually disappeared under water, having managed to gain a foothold only in the name. But this theory has no documentary-historical evidence.

Another (more plausible) version says that the name of Lake Karagaykul comes from the name of a nearby village. And she, in turn, was named so by the Tatars, who settled here long ago. They brought to Siberia a native word, which eventually became a proper name.

By the way, an interesting moment: Lake Karagaykul Chelyabinsk region has more than one. A small pond with a similar name is also in the Argayash district. And all in the Urals, four lakes with this name! In addition to those already mentioned, one is located in the Kurgan region, and the second is located in the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Flora and fauna

Around Karagaykul the area is quite deserted, there is no special vegetation. And the coast itself grew in the usual flora for such water bodies - cane and reed. Especially a lot of them from the north, south and south-east. But in general, Chelyabinsk Lake Karagaykul can be attributed to slightly overgrown ponds.

As for the fauna, the fishermen here have something to profit from. In the lake there are carp, perch, roach, pike, as well as carp and ripus, with which Karagaykul is purposely saturated since the pond fell into the hands of the tenant and entry into its territory became paid. The tenant artificially supports a large number of fish in the pond, launching young individuals every year. Thus, lovers of sitting with a fishing rod can almost all year round come to the lake and be sure that they will not remain without a catch.

An interesting feature of the reservoir and its environs is that it is often possible to meet cattle eating juicy grass on the shore and reeds. There are a lot of domestic ducks, chickens, geese, which have already become a habitual part of the fauna of Lake Karagaykul, as well as gadflies, constantly buzzing overhead in the warm season.

Rest at the lake

Intrusive insects, although bothering sometimes resting, but does not affect their number. People on the shore in the warm summer days are always full. And this is not surprising. Karagaykul - hospitable lake. In summer the pond warms up well, the shore is covered with a soft sand, descent into the water is convenient. In the near future, it is planned to arrange a special beach, where sand will be poured in the coastal zone so that children can enter the water at a distance of 10-15 meters without fear of drowning.

Today vacationers come here with tents, fish, bathe and sunbathe, and in the evenings boil the ear. There are no organized bases in Karaygulsky, but in recent years the coastal zone has been rented, and order is therefore secured.

Fishermen, families with children and people who dream of a break from civilization, this option will very much even to my liking!