Tavatuy by the Lake: Rock Route and Old Believer History

• Tavatuy is one of three places on the shore of the lake of the same name. The other two are Kalinovo and Priozerny, formerly the village of Shamannikha.
• The lake is of tectonic origin and about 10,000 years old.
• It covers an area of 21.2 km², has an average depth of 6 m, extends 10 km from north to south, and is 3 km wide.
• The “Pokhod ot Tavatuya cherez Sem' Brat'ev” hiking route begins on the outskirts of the town and passes two named rock formations.
• An old cemetery lies on a headland on the lake shore; notable Ural Old Believers buried there include Gavrilo Semenov.

The town and the lake share the name Tavatuy. The town lies on the shore and, together with Kalinovo and Priozerny, is one of the three named lakeside places. Priozerny was formerly the village of Shamannikha. These geographical connections place Tavatuy in the area around the lake without conflating the town with the larger body of water.

The lake near Tavatuy is of tectonic origin and approximately 10,000 years old. It covers an area of 21.2 km². It is also an average of 6 m deep, extends 10 km from north to south, and is 3 km wide. Area, depth, and size describe different properties of the lake and together give a more concrete picture than the shared name alone.

The “Pokhod ot Tavatuya cherez Sem' Brat'ev” hiking route starts on the outskirts of Tavatuy. Along the way, it passes Voron'i skaly and skaly Sem' Brat'ev. The route’s name highlights Sem' Brat'ev, but both rock formations are part of the described route. If you are interested in a hike featuring named rock destinations, this distinction helps you consider the route’s name alongside its actual course.

The route and the lake offer different geographical points of reference: the route passes rock formations, while Tavatuy is a town on the lake shore. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between taking in the lakeside scenery and visiting the named rock formations.

An old cemetery is located on a headland on the lake shore in Tavatuy. Notable Ural Old Believers are buried there. Among them is Gavrilo Semenov, also known as Ukrainzew, who lived from 1675 to 1750. He was a mentor of the Pomor religious community and a prospector.

Mentioning Semenov connects the cemetery’s history with a specific biography: his background includes both his ties to the Pomor religious community and his work as a prospector. The cemetery is therefore a distinct historical point of reference in Tavatuy, alongside the lake and the hiking route.

For broader travel planning in Sverdlovsk Oblast, the list of approved road tourism routes published in 2026 names several different itineraries. The Demidov Route runs between Yekaterinburg, Nevyansk, and Nizhny Tagil. Also listed is “Along the Iset to the Sound of the Bell: A Trip to Kamensk-Uralsky,” between Yekaterinburg and Kamensk-Uralsky. The “Discover the Urals: Nature, History, Legends” route goes through Yekaterinburg, Irbit, Turinsk, and Tavda. You can compare these routes by the places listed for each; check the route information before setting off.

Which places are on the shore of Lake Tavatuy?

Tavatuy, Kalinovo, and Priozerny are on the shore. Priozerny was formerly called the village of Shamannikha.

Which rock formations does the hiking route pass?

The “Pokhod ot Tavatuya cherez Sem' Brat'ev” route begins on the outskirts of the town and passes Voron'i skaly and skaly Sem' Brat'ev.

Who was Gavrilo Semenov?

Gavrilo Semenov, also known as Ukrainzew, lived from 1675 to 1750. He was a mentor of the Pomor religious community and a prospector; he is one of the notable Ural Old Believers buried in the cemetery.

For the broader travel overview: Nevyanskiy rayon.