The Nizhny Novgorod Region is one of the richest regions in Russia with water. Most of the lakes are of natural origin: karst, floodplain. There are also artificial reservoirs. According to various sources, there are about 10,000 lakes in the region. Many of them are practically unexplored and have no names, as they are located in remote impassable places.
The nature of the Nizhny Novgorod land keeps a large number of valuable objects. There are hundreds of protected natural zones on the territory of the region; this list also includes lakes with adjacent forests and swamps. Thanks to the clean protected areas, it is possible to preserve a lot of rare plants, birds and aquatic vegetation. The lakes have a high recreational potential: here you can find both equipped places and organize independent recreation.
The most popular lakes of the Nizhny Novgorod region
List, photo with names and descriptions of the main lakes in the region.
Svetloyar
One of the largest and deepest lakes in the region is located 130 km from Nizhny Novgorod. The area is 14.83 hectares, the maximum depth is 33 meters. The legend about the sunken city of Kitezh is associated with this place. The water here is cold and very clean, the shape of the lake is a perfect oval. The banks are hilly, slightly swampy. Svetloyar is located on the territory of the Voskresenskoe Povetluzhie park and belongs to the list of cultural heritage sites.
Key (Doskin Holy)
The lake is located 15 km from the town of Pavlovo. It has a karst nature, and therefore the bottom is uneven, with numerous karst sinkholes. The deepest point is 12 meters. The key is a specially protected area, it is of both scientific and aesthetic value. The water here is bright blue; it looks especially unusual against the background of a cliff of red clay. The Surin stream, flowing into the lake, leaves it as a small river.
Tuscany
The second name of the lake is Vorsmenskoe. It was formed from a system of small karst lakes after the construction of a dam and filling the Vorsmenskaya karst basin, its area is about 1.26 km2... There are several islands on the territory of the lake, on one of which there is the Holy Trinity Monastery. The edges of the lake are uneven, indented by bays and bays. The water is clear, there are many grottoes at the bottom, there is an underwater cave, so lovers of diving and spearfishing often rest here.
Vadskoe (Mordovskoe)
It is located in the village of Vad, 30 km from Arzamas, in the bed of the Vadok River. It is interesting that before flowing into the lake, the river goes underground. The area is 56 hectares, the average depth is no more than 3-5 meters, the maximum is 15 meters. It is a protected natural monument with rare species of plants and birds. Divers, fishermen and underwater hunters come to the lake, a tourist base has been built on the shore.
Bright lakes
The chain of seven karst lakes got its name from the largest of them. Its depth is up to 3 meters, and its width is 250 meters, the length of the entire system is about 2.5 km. Areas of swamps adjoin them. The system is fed by a single spring flowing into the upper Peat Lake. The water in it is brown, in other lakes it is transparent. On the shores of the lakes there is a century-old pine forest. The Red Book animals live here, there are rare plants.
Bolshoe Plotovo
The largest lake of natural origin in the region, with an area of 2.52 km2... It is located in the east of the region, near the border with Mari-El, in the center of the Rafting Swamp. The lake is deep, there are a lot of fish, but the approaches to it are difficult, so the places here are deserted. The approach to the lake is possible from the south, in dry weather. Lake Maloe Plotovo is located 3.5 km to the south.
Mukhtolovskie lakes
A nature reserve was established near the village of Mukhtolovo with the aim of protecting rare species of animals, plants and fungi. There are 4 karst lakes on the territory of the natural park: Nuksenskoye, Charskoye, Bolshoye (the largest) and Komsomolskoye (the smallest). The depth of the lakes does not exceed 20 meters. The shores are swampy in places, but there are good sandy approaches to the water. Therefore, in these places in the summer there are always many campers.
Desert lakes
On the territory of the Pustynsky nature reserve, in the basin of the Serezha River, there are 8 unique karst lakes: Velikoe, Svyato, Glubokoe, Kruglenkoe, Steam, Dolgoe, Narbus and Karasevo. The total area of the system is 300 hectares. A wide variety of flora and fauna of the middle zone is represented in this zone. The shores of transparent lakes are covered with mixed forests and willow stands, people come here for beautiful views and silence.
Chizhkovskoe
It is of artificial origin, therefore it is also called the Chizhkovsky pond. Located near the village of Chizhkovo. The area is 143 hectares, the depth near the coast is small - up to 3 meters, in the center there are craters up to 10 meters. The lake is known for its tourist centers: paid fishing and various types of outdoor activities are organized here all year round. The lake is home to pike, carp, silver carp, grass carp. Competitions among fishermen are held here.
Yurasovskoe
The elongated oblong lake is actually the oxbow of the Volga. Located at the entrance to the town of Bor. The lake was cleared and stocked with fish, sandy bathing places were arranged. The water is clean and warm enough. The length of the reservoir is 1.62 km, its width is about 100 meters, and the area is more than 15 hectares. This place is a favorite place for recreation and fishing for the inhabitants of Bor.
Engineering
It is located 62 km from Dzerzhinsk, near the village of Inzhenerny, in the Volodarsky district. Belongs to the Oka river basin. Previously, it was called the Holy Lake, legends were associated with it. Nearby there is a road, thanks to the easy access there are always a lot of vacationers: fans of fishing and camping come here, you can swim in the lake.
Pyrskoe
One of the largest lakes in the region. The area is 272 hectares, the depth is shallow, on average 2 meters. The shape of the lake is round. It is a protected natural monument. It is located near the village of Pyra, on the way from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow. The access to the lake is good, so people often go fishing here. Unfortunately, the water was polluted during peat mining (it has a brown tint), the banks are swampy.
Burtsevo (Burtsevo)
A beautiful large lake in the village of Burtsevo, Bogorodsky district. The banks are gentle, with birch groves, there are sandy areas, a large beach. It is easy to get to the lake by any transport, so many locals and guests from neighboring areas always rest here.
Efimievskoe
Located near the village of Burtsevo, Bogorodsky district, 20 km from Nizhny Novgorod. The lake is 1.5 km long, about 500 meters wide, and has an irregular shape. Formed artificially, after the construction of the dam, the water is running. There are two roads leading to the lake, so there are always a lot of vacationers and fishermen.
Rodionovo
Located 8 km from the village of Sosnovskoye. The lake itself, as well as the surrounding forest, were recognized as a state natural monument. There are rare plant species here: cloudberry, sundew. The lake area is 13 hectares. It was formed at the junction of two karst sinkholes. On the southern shore there is a recreation center surrounded by a pine forest. Tourists come here to swim, pick berries and mushrooms.
Zolinskoe
A small lake in the Volodarsky district is considered a local gem. Located in the village of Zolino, 60 km from Nizhny Novgorod. It is in the form of a drop, 500 meters long and 300 meters wide. The water is clean and transparent, and the depth does not exceed 5 meters, so the lake warms up well in summer. The coast is mostly sandy. There are many berries, mushrooms and nuts in the forest. On the lake there is a recreation center, several summer cafes.
Inyutino
In the Bogorodsky district there is the village of Inutino, the most striking attraction of which is a large (100 hectares) lake.It has an oblong shape, the Modan River passes through it, it was formed after the construction of the dam. At any time of the year, you can organize a vacation for every taste: fishing, swimming, hunting in the surrounding forests and picking mushrooms and berries. There is a good approach to the lake.
Roy
Lake in the Sosnovsky region. The nearest village, Rylkovo, is located 2 km west of the lake. Due to its karst origin, the water is clear and the bottom is uneven. There are three islands on the lake, the largest of which reaches 150 m2... Together with the adjacent woodland, the lake is protected as a natural monument. There is a tourist base on the shore. The lake area is 24.4 hectares.
Yukhro
It is located in the Borsky district, not far from the village of Tolokontsevo. The length of the lake reaches 3 km, the widest point is 800 meters. It is surrounded by dense forest on all sides; there is only one approach to the water. The roads to the lake are difficult to pass, even in the warm season. Fishermen and underwater hunters like to come here, as there are many different fish.
Bush
Not far from the Venets village of the Pavlovsk region there is a large, but rather shallow lake, 0.5 - 1 meter deep. These places are known as Nizhegorodskaya Meschera. The lake has an elongated shape, as it was formed on the site of the old channel of the Oka. There is a reserve "Pavlovskoe Zaochye" here. There is a camp site and a year-round sanatorium on the lake.
Derganovo
In the Navashinsky region, near the town of Kulebaki, there is a beautiful forest lake. It is surrounded by a pine forest, which is recognized as a natural monument. The air filled with the scent of resin is considered to be healing. There are rare animals and plants in the forests. The lake is small in size, the water is clear, the exact depth is unknown. In some places on the banks there are sandy descents.
Cheremisskoe
It is located 19 km north-west of Dzerzhinsk. It has an elongated winding shape, length - up to 1.7 km, and width - no more than 200 meters. Formed on the site of the old channel of the Oka. The water is flowing here: the Teplaya River flows into the lake, and the Istok flows out. In the northern part, the coast is sandy, in the south it is heavily overgrown with bushes. The water in the lake is cold, transparent, but with a yellow-green tint. It is recognized as a nature reserve, but recreational fishing and picking berries and mushrooms are allowed.
Big holy (Dedovskoe)
A large karst lake 100 km from Nizhny Novgorod, near the village of Dedovo. Legends about a village with a monastery that went under water are associated with him. The area is 128 hectares, the depth reaches 20 meters. The water is running, very clean, with a high content of silver ions. On the shore there is a tourist complex, a sandy beach, there is a convenient approach to the water. In connection with the beliefs about the appearance of holy images on the sand, a chapel was built on the shore, where pilgrims come.
Solovetskoe
A small round (about 50 - 70 meters in diameter) lake in the Vetluzhsky region, near the village of Chenebechikha. According to the legend, the name of this lake was given by fugitive monks from the Solovetsky monastery. Another legend says about Stepan Razin's treasure hidden at the bottom. It is an almost regular funnel, the maximum depth is up to 14 meters. The water in the lake is cold, springy, the shores are swampy.
Kuzmiyar
It is located in the village of the same name in the Vorotynsky district. It used to be a forest lake, but now the main part of the coastline has been cleared and landscaped. There is a beach and footpaths for swimming. The water is clean, thanks to the karst nature of the lake. Area about 0.24 km2, and the depth reaches 46 meters. Rare birds and plants are found here, and there are many wild animals in the forests.
Holy Tumbotinskoe
One of the holy lakes of the region is located near the village of Tumbotino. He is associated with a legend about a church that fell under the water, which may well have a foundation. There are many karst sinkholes in these places, and a lake is located at the junction of these sinkholes. The water in it is clean, on the banks, among the pine forests, there are tourist centers and children's camps. Square - 0.18 km2, depth 4-5 meters, in places up to 11 meters.
Tolokontsevskoe
In the Volga left bank, near the Tolokontsevo station of the Borsky district, there is a picturesque lake. Its length is about 2 km, and its width is about 500 meters. Previously, the lake was called Spasskoye. It is clearly visible both from the road and from the railway. From the side of the village, the coast is sandy, so in summer there are always a lot of tourists. After the construction of the dam, the lake began to become swampy and shallow.
Kamenishchenskoe sea
Not far from the village of Kamenishchi, in the Buturlinovsky district, there is a man-made sea. It was formed as a result of the flooding of a limestone quarry with groundwater. The shores are rocky, and the water is clear and blue. There are always a lot of tourists here in summer. Many people compare these places with the Crimean nature. The Piana river flows nearby, where you can also swim and fish.
Tekun
The forest lake is located in remote places, among the cranberry bogs. Named for a small river. It has an oval shape, length - 240 meters, width - 150 meters. It was once a huge ancient lake. In these places there are unique ancient historical and geological objects; an ancient stone road leads to the lake. The water is clear, but it seems almost black, due to the great depth. There are floating kochis on the lake.
Kirkideevo (Bolshoye)
The second name of this lake justifies itself: it is really impressive in size - about 40 hectares, depth up to 20 meters. A body of water of irregular shape, with bays and coves, the coastline is predominantly sandy. It is located near the village of Bochikha, Sosnovsky district, in the middle of the forest. Tourists are attracted here by recreation in a pine forest, fishing, swimming in clear water, picking mushrooms and berries.
