Spring Red Key (Nurimanov district). Beautiful places of Bashkortostan

Small, but possessing natural charm Bashkiria is able to surprise the most experienced traveler. As if there are few mountains, lakes and rivers of extraordinary beauty, and the second largest spring in the world (Red Key) is located right here. The first, Fontaine de Vaucluse, is in France and consumes 17 m ^{3 of} water per second, while its Bashkir "fellow" lags only a few cubic meters (14.3 m ³ / s).

To see the power of a source striking from an unimaginable depth, thousands of tourists come to it every year, alongside are still breathtakingly beautiful natural monuments.

Rich in sightseeing area

Nurimanovsky district of Bashkortostan has distinguished itself with several natural monuments, each of which is unique in its own way. For example, on Lake Upkankul, a rare relict Urals water nut grows , which is listed in the Red Book.

In fact, as usual, people made it rare. At one time, he was so mercilessly exterminated for the delicious white pulp that they did not think about the consequences. To date, this lake is the only place where it grows. To protect it, places with thickets of walnut are fenced, but it is ensured that they are not disturbed by a forester who has a hut built right on the shore.

The leaves of the water nut look very much like birch leaves, and they cover the water surface with a dense carpet. At the end of August - September, a nut ripens, which sinks to the bottom, and in spring it starts roots and grows a long stem up to the surface.

Lake Upkankul is very rich in fish, therefore, like many other beautiful water places in Bashkortostan, the path is trodden by fishermen, and its coast is rarely empty. To do this, we also need a forest ranger who strictly monitors that there are no violators.

Spring Red Key in Nurimanov district could outshine all other natural monuments by its uniqueness, as it combines several curiosities at once.

Spring

Not every karst funnel, formed by the failure of the ground due to the erosion of groundwater, causes the formation of a source.

The spring Krasny Klyuch (Bashkortostan) originates immediately from under two powerful karst funnels connected to each other. The depth of one of them is 38 m, the second - 20 meters, and the length and width of the lake located in them, which feeds its waters with a key, are equal to 170 and 190 m.

In the same place, under the earth, the Yaman-Elgi River flows for 60 km, which, having taken its start on the Karatau mountain, most of its waters "hide" under the earth, then to carry them to the surface together with the waters of the karst lake. Water drilling is spectacular, and speleologists can only dream that the river will go deeper or change its course, then they would get the longest underground corridor in the world.

Water, eroding the ground and emerging as a spring Red Key, carry the rocks and minerals that make up them, which makes the water potable and curative.

Composition of water

Scientists who studied the water of a unique key were not too lazy to calculate that every second it takes out 1 kg of limestone on the surface, although in its composition it is hydrocarbonate-calcium. A large amount of lime gives it an off-white shade, so this source of drinking water was called the White Key from time immemorial until the Soviet power came to these places. Its representatives, the name reminiscent of the White Guard counter, did not like it, and therefore the source in 1917 was renamed Red, although it has nothing to do with this color.

Despite the abundance of lime, the water in the spring is tasty and healthy, and proof of this is its bottling at the combine opened on the site of a paper mill, which was closed in the 70's. It is sold in stores called "Krasny Klyuch" and is well known in Bashkortostan.

Rest on the lake-spring

Spring Red Key is located in a picturesque area and is surrounded by hills and forests, which makes it attractive for picnics and accommodation in tents. Although the constant water temperature is +5 degrees and does not have to swim, but the crystal clear surface of the spring, clear air, the presence of berries and mushrooms in the forest and the lack of numerous tourists make it really interesting for outdoor recreation.

Here, in August, divers competitions take place each year, since immersion on its bottom requires effort and professional training. As the divers say, at a depth of 40 meters, a very strong head of water begins. This river Yaman-Elgi is bursting out of the underground confinement. Along with the flow of water towards the divers, stones that pose a serious threat to life are carried, so diving into the Red Spring spring is a serious test that the judges of the competition judge.

If you stop to rest in a tent on the shore of the source, then the greatest impressions will leave the sunsets. It is at this time of day that a light mist settles on the spring, completely transforming the terrain.

In winter it is also worth to come to these beautiful places of Bashkortostan. The fact is that the source never freezes, and along with it below its mouth and the Ufa River for the whole 13 km remains freed from the ice.

This allows local ducks not to fly to the warm regions and spend the winter in their homeland. They are extremely grateful to respond to the feeding, so that bird lovers here is the place.

Only 120 km from Ufa, on the left bank of the river of the same name, is the spring of the Red Key. How to get to him by car? It will not be difficult. The itinerary is Ufa-Shaksha-Iglino-Krasnaya Gorka-Chandar-settlement Krasny Klyuch. Also can be reached by bus.

Pavlovsk Reservoir

Visiting Nurimanovsky district for the sake of the Red Key, you can at the same time see the nearest attractions to it. For example, the Pavlovsk reservoir is a favorite recreation place for Bashkirs. With its length of 150 km and width from 770 to 1750 m there is enough room for everyone: for those who like to live in nature in a tent, and fishermen, and fans of diving and spearfishing.

The banks of the Pavlovsk reservoir are indented, many of them stony, but you can quite comfortably settle in the surrounding forests, which also will not disappoint fans of mushrooms and berries. In the pond there are bream and tench, pike perch and ide, catfish and pike, perch, chub and burbot.

Source Lake Sarva

Another lake in the Nurimanov district is called Sarva. It is quite small, only 60 m long and 30 m wide, but deep and cold. Sarva is also of karst origin and is very loved by divers who want to uncover the secret of its origin.

Around the lake for many tens of kilometers are really wild places in which people do not live. The only company working next to it is engaged in a spill of its mineral waters under the brand name "Sarva".

The ski base "Krasny Klyuch"

This base is located in the village of the same name and is still unfamiliar to skiers, although its only track has a level of rather high complexity. The developed infrastructure, an interesting slope with turns and swings give hope that in the future this young ski slope will become more popular.