Itkul Lake

Itkul lake is the second largest freshwater lake of Khakasia. 

Size:

Surface area: 23 square kilometers

Depth: 17 meters

Landscape:

The lake is surrounded by steepe landscape. On the east side there is small birch and larch grove. On the south-west side - forest. The south-east shore is swamped, there are five salty Spirinskie lakes on this side of Itkul lake. On the west side the Karysh river flows into the lake.

Getting there
By air
From Moscow, Barnaul, Norilsk, Vladivostok To Abakan.
By train
From Moscow, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Omsk, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Abakan To Shira railway station. 
From Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita, Vladivostok To Krasnoyarsk railway station.
By coach
From Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Krasoyarsk, Abakan, To railway stations Zhemchuzhny or Shira.
By car
150 km from Abakan to Itkul lake, 320 km from Krasnoyarsk to Itkul lake, 240 km from Achinsk to Itkul lake, 590 km from Kemerovo to Itkul lake, 790 km from Tomsk to Itkul lake and 850 km from Novosibirsk.
by TAXI
3 km from Zhemchuzhny village to Itkul lake and 13 km from Shira village.

Where to stay

Itkul lake and most of its part, its shores are the part of the "Khakassky" Reserve, that is why to stay is only opportunity by Directorate permission.
The north-east shore that close to Kolodezny village and the north-west shore that close to Shira village are available for visitors.

Accommodation: personal tents.

PROHIBITED: car parking at the distance closer than 50 m from the lake.

What to take along

Wood or coal for the bonfire. Water to cook and to drink.
Anti-mosquitoes spray, warm clothes.

Things to do
Beach Vocation

The beaches of Itkul lake are mostly rocky. The water is fresh, clean and clear. The swimming season starts from June till August, but the water is heated only to mid July.

Fishing

17 species of fish, including acclimatized peled. Since the lake is a Nature Reserve, fishing is prohibited.

Observation Deck - an elevated place, so you can see about 20 large and small lakes.

Services

Stores: Zhemchuzhny village (3 km), Shira village (13 km)
Gas station: Kolodezny village, Shira village
Link: Beeline, MTS, Megafon, ETK

KHAKASSKY Reserve Visit-Centre, ITKUL Lake