Kuraginsky District: Tiberkul, Taiga, and Culture

• The natural monument around Lake Tiberkul covers 7,072 hectares and includes the waters of Lake Tiberkul, Lake Varlama, and Little Tiberkul.
• Lake Tiberkul is a freshwater lake of glacial origin, with a water surface area of 23.8 km², a maximum depth of 51 m, and a shoreline 53.4 km long.
• The Kinzelyuksky Waterfall's cascades are 328 m high in total; the free fall is 90 m.
• The Kuragino Local History Museum has more than 25,000 exhibits covering several subject areas.

Lake Tiberkul is the largest lake in Krasnoyarsk Krai and has the region's largest freshwater reserves. Its water surface area is 23.8 km²; its glacial origin, depth of up to 51 m, and 53.4 km shoreline describe other aspects of the lake.

It is important to distinguish between the area figures: 23.8 km² refers to the lake's water surface, while 7,072 hectares is the area of the natural monument around Lake Tiberkul. In addition to its waters, the monument also includes those of Lake Varlama and Little Tiberkul. Lake Tiberkul has been a natural monument since 1987.

The Kinzelyuksky Waterfall lies in a remote taiga area of the Eastern Sayan, near the border with Irkutsk Oblast, and is hard to reach. Its cascades are 328 m high in total; the free-falling section has a drop of 90 m. These figures do not contradict each other: the first includes the cascades, while the second refers to the free fall.

Lake Tiberkul is described in terms of its water surface, depth, and shoreline, while the waterfall is distinguished by its height and remote taiga setting. These different features help visitors choose among the district's nature attractions according to their interests.

The Kuragino Local History Museum has more than 25,000 exhibits. Its displays cover everyday life and ethnography, the district's natural environment, industry and agriculture, as well as cultural life and education. The topics therefore range from nature and everyday life to the economy, culture, and learning.

The size of the collection and the range of topics answer different questions: the number gives an idea of how many exhibits there are, while the exhibition areas show which aspects of the district the museum covers.

In the south of Krasnoyarsk Krai lies Ergaki Nature Park, a protected area of regional significance. Its seasonal activities include hiking and horseback tours in summer, and skiing and snowboarding, snowmobile tours, and snowshoeing in winter.

A different landscape defines the Putorana Nature Reserve: it includes the Putorana Plateau, with table mountains 1,000 to 1,500 m above sea level, canyon-like basins containing tectonic lakes, and numerous waterfalls. The plateau and its basins offer a landscape to compare with the lakes and taiga setting that characterize Kuraginsky District.

The Shushenskoye Historical and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve, in the settlement of the same name, portrays a Siberian village in the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The grounds contain 194 monuments of rural architecture. The wooden buildings include peasant houses, a merchant's shop, a smithy, and a prison fortress. In 2011, the Novaya Derevnya architectural and ethnographic complex opened there, with a natural landscape park. Its programs present the traditions and customs of earlier times and immerse visitors in peasant life; activities include peasant food, demonstrations of traditional crafts, games, customs, and festivals.

In the wider Krasnoyarsk region, the main routes are marked at the eastern entrance to Krasnoyarskie Stolby National Park, and last from 30 minutes to a full day. The round trip to Takmak Rock is about 4 km and takes three hours. The Krasnoyarskiy Khayking mobile app makes it easier to find your way. The eastern entrance also has the Kizyamy playground, with a fairytale wooden house, interactive abacuses, and winged swings.

Discover more destinations: Sukhobuzimskiy District, Kuraginskiy District, Dzerzhinskiy District, Bratsky District, Berezovskiy District, Nazarovo, Partizanskiy District, Boguchanskiy District.

How large is the natural monument around Lake Tiberkul?

It covers 7,072 hectares. It includes the waters of Lake Tiberkul, Lake Varlama, and Little Tiberkul; Lake Tiberkul itself has a water surface area of 23.8 km².

How do the height figures for the Kinzelyuksky Waterfall differ?

328 m is the total height of the cascades. The 90 m figure refers to the drop of the free-falling section.

How does the Kuragino Local History Museum differ from the Shushenskoye Museum-Reserve?

The local history museum in Kuragino covers several topics relating to the district, including everyday life, nature, industry, agriculture, culture, and education. The Shushenskoye Museum-Reserve focuses on a Siberian village in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as rural architecture.

For the wider travel overview: Krasnoyarsk Krai.