Republic of Khakassia

The Ivanovskie Lakes form a cascade of four freshwater lakes in the Kuznetsk Alatau at an altitude of 1,300 meters. At the Tuimsky Collapse, a viewing platform and a suspension bridge over the depression recall the site's industrial history. Some natural and cultural sites have specific visitor requirements, such as making arrangements in advance or joining a guided tour.

The Tuimsky Collapse formed at the site of an underground mine that closed in 1954. It is about 1.5 kilometers from the village of Tuim. The view from the platform at the edge of the precipice and the suspension bridge over the depression give the site a different character from the water-rich landscape of the Ivanovskie Lakes.

These lakes are fed by glacial meltwater; small waterfalls connect the four freshwater lakes. According to the regional tourism portal, the area has had the status of a specially protected natural area since 2021. Lake Shunet adds another distinctive feature: it lies in a narrow mountain hollow at an altitude of 390 meters, and deposits of therapeutic mud in its center are up to one meter thick.

At Lake Itkul, the lake and its surroundings are protected as part of the Khakassky Nature Reserve. The lake's freshwater is often compared with that of Lake Baikal for its clarity. Itkul is three kilometers from Lake Shira; the salt lake Shunet, in turn, is eight kilometers south of Lake Shira.

The Ivanovskie Lakes are associated with hiking in summer, and freeriding and snowmobile rides in winter. Experience level is also important: the third and fourth lakes are accessible only to prepared or experienced tourists. If you plan to visit these lakes, therefore, take both the season and your own experience into account.

The “Tropa predkov” trail is 3.5 kilometers long and is an out-and-back route. A multipurpose visitor center opened at the trailhead in 2023. There you can get information materials and advice about attractions in Khakassia and the trail; the center is accessible to people with disabilities. A parking lot and a toilet are next to it. Before visiting the Tuimsky Collapse, check whether the viewing platform and suspension bridge are currently open.

The routes in the Oglahty protected area have stricter requirements: they can be visited from May to October, access requires a permit issued in advance, and the routes can only be explored with a guide. These include the staircase trail up Mount Oglahty. The mountain range's rocky outcrops are known for their petroglyphs; several hundred burial mounds and other historical monuments are also nearby.

At the “Sunduki” mountain range, rock art meets structures used to observe the sun and moon and track calendar cycles. Researchers interpret these structures as a possible ancient open-air observatory. The site is a natural and historical monument of republican significance and lies in the Ordzhonikidzevsky and Shirinsky districts.

Oglahty also brings together landscapes and archaeological heritage. The mountain range lies on the left bank of the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir. However, the season, permit and guided-tour requirements mentioned above are essential for visiting the protected routes. If you are particularly interested in historic rock art, you can take these requirements into account when planning.

An exhibition on Khakass folk medicine is displayed in a yurt at the Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas Museum. The Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas menhir is about 4,500 years old and dates from the Okunev culture. The museum is in the aul of Ankhakov in Askizsky District, on the Abakan–Ak-Dovurak highway, at 1 Shosseynaya Street. To visit the exhibition at the “Im Tom” Eco-Ethno Laboratory, check the current visitor requirements with the museum.

Short guided tours of the exhibitions in the Khakass aul, including a visit to the White Stone, are among the offerings of the Kazanovka Museum-Reserve, as are excursions to rock art, graves and other sites. You can also include local cuisine: tastings of national dishes must be arranged several days before the excursion, with the menu and order agreed in advance. Check current availability beforehand. Kazanovka is in Askizsky District, 132 kilometers from Abakan and five kilometers from the village of Kazanovka.

Discover more destinations: Kharkov, Tashtypsky District, Abakan City, Abakan, Sayanogorsk, Shira, Abaza, Zhemchuzhny, Cheryomushki, Sayanogorsk City.

What visitor requirements apply in Oglahty?

The routes are accessible from May to October. You need a permit issued in advance to enter, and visits are only possible with a guide.

What distinguishes the four Ivanovskie Lakes?

They form a cascade of freshwater lakes connected by small waterfalls. The third and fourth lakes require prepared or experienced tourists; seasonal activities described there include hiking in summer and freeriding and snowmobile rides in winter.

What should I keep in mind when visiting the center at Lake Itkul?

The visitor center of the Khakassky Nature Reserve has exhibitions about wetlands. Visits are possible only by prior arrangement and accompanied by a reserve specialist.

For the main travel overview: Russia.