Kurumkan, Republic of Buryatia (Russia)
According to Sourcemakeup, the city of Kurumkan is located on the western slope of the Barguzin Range in the northeastern part of Buryatia. It is the administrative center of Kurumkansky district. The region of the Barguzin Ridge is difficult to pass, you can get to the city by helicopter, by car from the city of Davsha or by car from the city of Barguzin in winter along the Barguzin Valley. Kurumkan is one of the most famous centers of Buddhism in Russia. Here in the datsan “Gandan She Duvlin” the Russian International Meditation Center was opened. But Kurumkan is not only famous for this. Traveling from the cityalong the Barguzinsky ridge, where the Barguzinsky National Park (located east of the city of Kurumkan) and the Dzherginsky Reserve (located deep in the mountains in the upper reaches of the Barguzin River) were founded.
The Barguzinsky Range is the most powerful and highest of all the ranges surrounding Baikal. Its length is 280 km, and the maximum height reaches 2841 m. The relief is dominated by jagged rock ridges and peaks. Most of the ridge is occupied by the Barguzinsky State Nature Reserve – the oldest reserve in Russia. It was created in 1916 on the northwestern slopes of the Barguzin Range to protect the Barguzin sable. Today it is a complex biosphere reserve, which studies not only the sable population, but also protects the nature of one of the regions of Lake Baikal. The area of the reserve is 374 thousand hectares. More than 50% of the territory is occupied by forests, about 900 species of plants grow here and 41 species of animals, 274 species of birds, 4 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians and about 50 species of fish live. The center of the reserve is the village of Davsha. The Museum of Nature is located here, where you can get acquainted with the diversity of the flora and fauna of the Podlemorye and the history of the creation of the reserve. The exposition of the museum includes a collection of minerals, a collection of original caps (anomalous growths on trees), a unique herbarium, a collection of birds and insects living in the reserve.
There are several routes offered in Davsha. Firstly, it is “Davshinsky Bay”. The route runs along the shore of Lake Baikal and introduces visitors to the coastal flora and fauna, as well as the history of the formation of the lake basin. Secondly, the “Shumilikha” route, passing through the valley of the Shumilikha River, covering all the high-altitude belts of the Barguzinsky Range – from the shore of Lake Baikal to the highlands. Here you will see intermountain river valleys, rocky areas in their upper reaches, sand dunes and shallows at the mouth of the Shumilikha River, picturesque waterfalls of the Shumilikha River and Losinoye Lake. The reserve also has opportunities for photo hunting, for example, Baikal seals and bears, fishing for valuable breeds of Baikal fish such as grayling. There are several sources of mineral waters on the territory of the Barguzinsky Reserve. The Davshinsky spring is located in the village of Davsha. Its waters are classified as chloride-sulfate-sodium with the presence of strontium, molybdenum, lithium, boron and nitrogen gas. The water temperature of the Davshinsky spring is +41..+43 degrees. Springs in the valley of the Yazovka River are also known. However, their mineral composition has not been fully studied, and the water temperature has not been precisely determined.
If you go from Kurumkan to the northeast, you can get to the balneological resorts of the Kurumkan region. They were created at the end of the 20th century on the basis of local mineral springs. The most popular resorts are Kuchiger, Umkhey, Alla, Garga and Buxehen. In Kuchiger, there are 17 springs with water temperatures up to +40 degrees. Their waters are sulfate-hydrocarbonate-sodium with a high content of hydrogen sulfide. They are used to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, gynecological and skin diseases. In addition, the resort has significant reserves of therapeutic hydrogen sulfide mud, which is also used for medicinal purposes.
Umkhei Resort is located on a small island in the middle of the Barguzin River. On its territory there are 146 hydrocarbonate-sulfate-sodium sources with a high content of fluorine, silicic acid and hydrogen sulfide. The water temperature in them is about +50 degrees. Umhei thermal springs are indicated for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, osteomyelitis, gynecological and skin diseases.
Within the Alla resort there are about 50 outlets of hot springs with temperatures from +50 to +77 degrees. The waters of these springs are indicated for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, skin diseases, gynecological diseases and gastritis.
The thermal water of the Garginsky spring has a temperature of +20 to +76 degrees. It is used in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, skin and gynecological diseases.
Buxekhen springs are cold with ultra-fresh water. Among the locals, they are also called “silver waters”, because a high content of silver cations was found in the composition of the waters. People come here for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral and central nervous system, digestive organs and metabolic diseases.
On the eastern outskirts of the Kurumkansky district, behind the balneological resorts, there is the Dzherginsky State Nature Reserve. It was founded in 1992 at the junction of three large mountain ranges – the Barguzinsky, Ikatsky and South Muya ranges. The area of the reserve is 238 thousand hectares. It is here that the Barguzin River originates.. 29 species of rare and endemic plants, 45 species of mammals, 108 species of birds, 18 species of fish and 3 species of amphibians have been identified on the territory of the reserve. In the reserve you can engage in fishing, rafting, photography and hiking. Among its attractions, one can single out the Amut Basin, with the ancient place of worship of the disappeared Bargut tribe located in it, the “rock garden” near the Ina River, where large blocks of granite up to 4 – 5 m in diameter rise out of the ground everywhere on a very flat area, and burials of the ancient Mongolian tribes in the form of slab graves (about 60 graves) of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages.
