Kuraginsky District: Waterfalls, Lake Tiberkul and Rock Art

Kinzelyuksky Waterfall is 328 m high overall and is located in Kuraginsky District. Lake Tiberkul is also in the district. Shabolinskaya Pisanitsa is 35 km west of Kuragino, on a steep rocky massif beside the Tuba River.

Kinzelyuksky Waterfall has a total height of 328 m. The regional tourism website describes it as Russia’s second-highest waterfall. A regional government decree issued in 2020 designates the waterfall and the adjoining area as a natural monument of regional significance. Its height and protected status therefore describe two different aspects of the site.

Chinzhebskiy Waterfall plunges from a height of 30 m and widens to 8 m. It is considered a unique hydrogeological site and was included among protected natural sites in 1987.

Lake Tiberkul has about 20 islands, including rocky and tree-covered ones. Its fish species include pike, chub, roach, perch and whitefish. Mount Suchaya rises above the lake and is called Sukhya in the local language; the name means “Holy Mountain.” The regional tourism information center describes the lake as having the largest freshwater reserves in Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Shabolinskaya Pisanitsa is a monument to ancient rock art. Its approximately 500 decorated rock surfaces extend along a 3 km rocky massif; the images are located at heights ranging from 1.5 m to 150 m. The site’s striking features thus include both the extent of the rocky massif and the wide range of heights at which the images are found.

At the “Tiberkul” recreation base on Lake Tiberkul, you can request a transfer from the nearest parking lot. Confirm current availability with the operator in advance. Cheremshanka is 30 km from the lake; in summer, the village can only be reached by tractor or off-road vehicle. Check local road conditions before driving there.

In warm, sunny summer weather, the water in Lake Tiberkul quickly warms to 23 °C. Consider seasonal conditions and the specific arrangements for the recreation base and trips in the surrounding area separately.

The wider destination of Krasnoyarsk Krai offers further nature and culture themes. The landscapes of the Putoransky Nature Reserve include the Putorana Plateau, with table mountains rising 1,000 to 1,500 m above sea level, canyon-like basins of tectonic lakes and numerous waterfalls.

The Shushenskoye Historical and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve depicts a Siberian village in the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The grounds contain 194 architectural monuments of rural architecture. The numerous wooden architectural monuments include peasant houses, a merchant’s shop, a smithy and a prison-fort. These examples broaden the view of the region to include landscapes and history, distinct from the natural attractions and rock art of Kuraginsky District.

Kuraginsky District also includes Ust'-Kaspa. To compare other destinations, you can also explore Yemelyanovsky District, Boguchansky District, the city of Nazarovo, Bratsky District, Berezovsky District, Sukhobuzimsky District and Partizansky District.

What travel options are available for the base camp at Kinzelyuksky Waterfall?

Possible modes of transport include helicopter or motorized watercraft. Before your trip, check current providers and arrangements directly with a tour operator.

How warm does the water in Lake Tiberkul get?

In warm, sunny summer weather, the water quickly warms to 23 °C.

How old are the Shabolinskaya petroglyphs?

Scientists date the oldest images to the Stone Age: they were created 6,000–8,000 years ago, and possibly as long as 9,000–12,000 years ago. In their assessment, the chronological range extends to the ethnographic and historical present of the late 19th and first half of the 20th century.

For the broader travel overview: Krasnoyarsk Krai.