Baikalsk is a city. Sights with photos

The city of Baikalsk is one of 66 settlements in the Irkutsk region, which occupies almost 775 thousand km2 in southeastern Siberia. Located on the shore of the largest freshwater reservoir in Eurasia, it is dynamically developing as a tourist center and attracts up to 200 thousand travelers from all regions of Russia annually.

General description

The city is the center of the Baikal settlement and is part of the Slyudyansky district. Baikalsk occupies 819 km2 on the southern shore of Lake Baikal in the foothills of the Eastern Sayan Mountains. More than half of the city area is devoted to forests, parks and garden farms. Baikalsk consists of 5 microdistricts.

The city is inhabited by over 13 thousand people, most of them Russians, Buryats, Azerbaijanis and Armenians. Up to 13% of local residents are employed in the tourism sector. The time difference between Moscow and Baikal is +5 hours.

Location, how to get there

Baikalsk is a city located in the southern part of the Irkutsk region. The city is 150 km away from Irkutsk. Baikalsk is located at an altitude of 480 m above sea level at the confluence of two rivers – the 10-kilometer Kharlakhta and the 34-kilometer Solzan. Baikalsk is surrounded by mountains 1000-2000 m high. The coordinates of Baikalsk are 51°31’02” s. w., 104°09’22” v. d.

The federal highway R-258 passes through Baikalsk, connecting Irkutsk and Chita, as well as the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The most convenient way to get to Baikalsk from Irkutsk is:

• it takes 2.5-3 hours by car along the R-258 highway.;
• daily trains run between Irkutsk and Baikal, delivering tourists to the shore of Lake Baikal in 3.5 hours.;
• regular buses depart from Irkutsk railway station, the transfer takes 4.5 hours.

A taxi ride from Irkutsk airport to Baikalsk will cost 3,700 rubles. The road from Ulan-Ude by car will take about 5 hours (280 km). The distance from Baikalsk to Chita is 970 km, and Novosibirsk is 1900 km away.

Trains departing from Moscow, Vladivostok, Tomsk, Chita, Novosibirsk and other cities stop in the Baikal Solzan area. Buses No. 4 and 104 run from the railway station to the center of Baikalsk.

Climatic conditions

Baikalsk is located in a sharply continental climate zone. However, the proximity of the largest reservoir in Eurasia has a mitigating effect on weather conditions in the city. Winter in Baikalsk is milder than in other areas of the Irkutsk region, the average air temperature in winter is – 9-15 °C. During November-March, up to 50 mm of precipitation falls monthly, forming a snow cover up to 0.7 m high.

Steady warming occurs in Baikalsk in May, when the air temperature varies from +7 ° C to + 15 °C. In July and August, the air warms up to +20-23 ° C, but frosts occur even in June. In summer, up to 165 mm of precipitation falls monthly.

North-westerly winds prevail over Baikal, which blow at speeds up to 3.5 m/s. The relative humidity index is almost 70%.

Baikalsk is a city located in a seismically active zone, so urban development is mainly represented by 2-3-storey buildings. The last major earthquake occurred in 2008.

Historical data

In the Irkutsk region, Baikalsk is the youngest city. Its history begins with a settlement built in 1961 on the banks of the Solzan River, where the builders of a large pulp and paper enterprise lived.

5 years later, when the paper mill was built and the CHP was put into operation, the village received urban status. It was planned that the city would quickly become the industrial center of Siberia, and its population would exceed 200 thousand people.

By 1980, there were about 16 thousand inhabitants in the city, most of the population worked at a paper mill. However, by the 1990s, the factory’s sewage treatment plant system was outdated, and wastewater began to enter the waters of Lake Baikal.

Pollution has assumed the character of an environmental disaster. During 2008-2010, the company did not work, and in 2013 it was completely closed. The population in the city began to decrease rapidly.

In order to preserve the city, it was decided to develop the tourism sector. This is facilitated by the location of Baikalsk in the foothills of Khamar-Daban near Lake Baikal. Since the 1990s, one of the largest ski and entertainment complexes in Siberia, Mount Sobolinaya, has been operating in the Krasny Klyuch microdistrict.

Now hotels and inns designed for different budgets, cafes, recreation centers are opening in Baikalsk.

Since the 1970s, gardeners and summer residents of Baikalsk have been cultivating strawberries, which, thanks to a special microclimate, yields good harvests. More than 20 varieties of berries are grown in the greenhouses of the city. Up to 3 tons of strawberries are sold in the city during the season.

Since 2010, Baikalsk has entered a special economic zone. On the territory of the Baikal Gate cluster, recreational and tourist activities are carried out taking into account environmental requirements that protect the nature surrounding the city.

Attractions

The appearance of Baikalsk is constantly being improved: in order to attract tourists, new locations are being created in the city that are interesting to travelers.

Lake Baikal

Baikalsk is located on the southern coast of the largest and deepest tectonic lake on the Eurasian continent with an area of over 30 thousand km2.

Starting from June and until October, boat trips on motor ships and boats are organized along Lake Baikal:

In summer, tourists and locals go to relax on the beaches of Baikalsk. The most beautiful in the city is considered to be Garnet, where the coastal strip 5 m wide is covered with maroon sand. The sand got this shade because of mineral impurities.

The location looks especially expressive during sunset. Pomegranate beach stretches along Ozernaya Street, there is no infrastructure on it.

Another beach in Baikalsk was named Rocky because of the large stones covering it. Bridges are laid from the shore through the shallow water into the lake. The 5-7 m wide beach can be reached by car, there is no resort infrastructure.

Fishing is popular all year round on Lake Baikal.

The following fish are caught in the lake:

• omul;
• grayling;
• pike;
• perch;
• peled;
• taimen;
• ide;
• burbot;
• perch;
• Lenok.

In winter, snowmobile trips are organized along the frozen surface of Lake Baikal. During a 3-hour walk, tourists drive 25 km across the Baikal ice, make stops near the architectural monuments of the Circum-Baikal Railway, and skate if possible. The cost of the tour is 6000 rubles.

In winter, trips from Baikalsk to Listvyanka village are organized on the ice of Lake Baikal. Tourists drive snowmobiles for 8 hours 65 km, explore the sights of Listvyanka. The tour costs from 12,500 rubles.

Promenade

Baikalsk is a city, one of the decorations of which is the embankment built along Lake Baikal. The length of the embankment is 2.5 km, and it is convenient to admire the views of the largest reservoir from the observation decks.

Bike paths have been made on the embankment and art objects have been placed:

• milepost;
• installation “The Ear of Baikal”;
• monument to strawberries;
• sculpture of a seal;
• the art object “Depth”.

In 2022, the embankment of Baikalsk entered a new tourist route, which in the near future should cover the entire southern Baikal region. The ecological trail, almost 2 km long, begins in the Gagarin microdistrict and ends at the lake pier.

The trail is made of natural materials (stone, wood and sand) and includes paths for pedestrians and cyclists, 3 recreation areas and 6 observation decks.

Museum of Nature of the Southern Baikal Region

Since 2015, a museum has been opened in the Baikal sports complex (Gagarin microdistrict, 211), the exposition of which is dedicated to the nature of Lake Baikal, the surrounding mountains and forests. Panoramic expositions tell about the forest inhabitants, fish and mammals of Lake Baikal, and the climatic features of the region.

Minerals of the Baikal region are provided in the showcases, interesting sights on the rivers and in the mountains are marked.

The museum is open daily. The tour costs 200 rubles for adults and 100 rubles for children 5-18 years old.

Festival Square

In Baikalsk, the main location is the Festival Square, where all city festive and event events are held: New Year celebrations, strawberry festival, City Day. The square is decorated with a light-dynamic fountain and several art objects.

The stage is designed for performances by creative teams. There is a skate park next to the Festival Square.

Damn finger

5 km from the center of Baikalsk there is a natural monument — the ostanets mountain, called the Devil’s Finger due to its shape. The 2,300 m high mountain is located in a gorge through which the Solzan River flows, originating on the slopes of the Khamar-Daban ridge. The mountain and the river gorge are covered with dense taiga.

From Baikalsk to the Devil’s Finger mountain they go on foot or on ATVs in summer, and on snowmobiles or skis in winter. A 2-hour snowmobile ride costs 3,000 rubles.

Entertainments

Baikalsk is a city that attracts tourists due to its proximity to the famous lake and picturesque taiga nature. Hikes to mountain peaks, lakes and waterfalls begin from Baikalsk.

Sobolinaya Mountain Ski Resort

Sable Mountain rises to a height of 1000 m in the Krasny Klyuch microdistrict of Baikalsk. There are 18 trails with different difficulty categories on the slopes of the mountain, there is a tubing slope and a snowpark. The trails stretch for 15 km and have a height difference of 480 m. 5 lifts ensure fast delivery of athletes to the beginning of the routes.

The ski resort has the following facilities:

• equipment rental point;
• skating school;
• souvenir shops;
• hotels;
• cafes and restaurants.

There is a cafe with panoramic windows on the observation deck of Sable Mountain.

Rope Park

The Sobolinaya Mountain Ski Complex includes a year-round rope park. It is built in the forest at an altitude of 900 m. The high-altitude routes stretch for 350 m.

The park consists of 3 sectors:

• in the family sector, 10 locations were made, raised to a height of 3 m above the ground;
• The extreme sector includes 15 sites;
• The launch pad of the 60-meter troll is located at an altitude of 15 m.

Baikal Sports and Wellness Center

In the Gagarin microdistrict, 211, a multifunctional center welcomes visitors. A 25-meter swimming pool with a children’s slide is open in the Baikal aqua zone. The pool offers workouts and fitness classes. The cost of visiting the pool in winter is 600 rubles, in summer 450 rubles.

The complex includes a gym equipped with strength and cardio equipment.

Separate halls are reserved for classes:

• boxing;
• volleyball;
• basketball;
• football;
• table tennis.

Visitors can relax in the sauna or phytobar. The sports center is open every day.

The spa center of the Sobolinka Hotel

The Sobolinka Hotel has a modern spa center, which includes:

• massage rooms;
• infrared sauna;
• Finnish sauna;
• solarium;
• the salt room.

Vacationers will be offered water and relaxing treatments, mud treatment, peeling, wraps, cosmetic activities. The cost of procedures varies on weekdays and weekends. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 21 p.m.

Yubileyny House of Culture

There is an urban cultural center in the Yuzhny, 51 microdistrict. The House of Culture has a cinema, discos and quizzes are regularly held, local creative teams perform. Performances of the national theater are held on the main stage.

Guests of the city and residents are regularly invited to festive events. The current poster is presented on the website.

Kosmos Night Club

In the Gagarin neighborhood, 2-a, a club has been opened, which has modern equipment for discos. High-quality sound and lighting effects provide guests with a good mood. The club’s DJs hold themed parties and celebrations.

Festivals

In summer, Baikalsk becomes a place where various festivals take place. One of the most colorful holidays is held in the middle of July and is dedicated to strawberries.

During the strawberry festival, the following events will be organized:

• bike quests;
• fashion shows;
• costume races;
• concerts of creative groups;
• craft fairs;
• master classes;
• tea parties;
• cooking contests.

The program must include a disco and fireworks. In August, a family cooking competition is held in the city.

Also, during the year, a festival of fairy-tale performances, a rock festival, and a theater laboratory are held in Baikalsk. A few days in February are usually devoted to a festival dedicated to snow – participants create unique white things using different techniques and materials.

The artist’s workshop

The artist Yu. Alekseev lives in Baikalsk, who transfers the landscapes of his native city to the canvas, as well as the underwater world of Lake Baikal. The artist paints paintings depicting underwater depths while sinking to the bottom of Lake Baikal in a wetsuit. Excursions are organized to the art workshop, the cost of participation is 500 rubles.

Active leisure

Hiking in the Khamar-Daban protected mountain range is popular among tourists coming to Baikalsk. Groups go on the route accompanied by a tour guide.

Hiking trips are organized in the Mamai Gorge, to Porozhisty and Chersky peaks, to Sable Lake and Warm Lakes, to Grohotun Waterfall, where you can meet wild animals.

You can travel around the surroundings of Baikalsk not only on foot, but also by jeeps and ATVs. The cost of trips starts from 3000 rubles. In winter, tourists will be offered a trip through the Baikal forests on snowmobiles.

From Baikalsk, tourists go to the Baikal Nature Reserve. A nature museum has been opened in the central estate of the reserve, which is located in the village of Tankhoy, and an equipped eco-trail is laid through the taiga and swamps. The cost of the tour is 2300-7000 rubles.

Baikalsk actively attracts travelers who want to visit the unique reservoir and its surroundings. According to tourists, it is comfortable to relax in the city at any time of the year, and climatic conditions contribute to this. The sights located in a small town are interesting to tourists of all ages.

Video about the city

The first eco-city in Russia on the Shore of Lake Baikal: Baikalsk:

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