Scientific adviser, Ph.D.
The Tuva Republic has enough a large number of unique, unique places on their territory, which are rich not only natural resources but also historical monuments. One of these places is Sut-Kholskiy kozhuun (district). It was officially created only in 1983, before that the territory of the Sut-Khol district was part of the Dzun-Khemchik district. The total area of the district covers an area of 669125 hectares. It has 7 sumons: Aldan-Maadyr, Ak-Dash, Bora-Taiga, Sug-Aksy, Kara-Chyraa, Kyzyl-Taiga and Ishkin. The regional center is the village of Sug-Aksy, which is located in the middle part of the Sut-Khol district. The region itself is located in the northwestern part of the Tuva Republic. It borders in the south with Dzun-Khemchiksky, in the west with Barun-Khemchiksky, in the east with Chaa-Khol kozhuuns of the Tyva Republic, in the north with Khakassia.
On the territory of the Sut-Khol kozhuun there is a beautiful Mountain Lake Sut-Khol, which is located next to the Kyzyl-Taiga mountain (the height of the mountain is 2400 meters above sea level). The area of the lake is 1400 hectares, length - 8 km, width - 3.5 km, depth - 35 m, the lake is located at 1814 m above sea level, the lake is inhabited by Mongolian grayling, peled, omul, vendace. Kozhuun got its name precisely in honor of the lake - Sut-Kholsky.
In Tuva there is a national wrestling "Khuresh". At the traditional festival of livestock breeders (Naadym), wrestling competitions are held annually. All the great fighters in the national wrestling "Khuresh" come from Sut-Khol, and this is considered by the locals to be the influence of the sacred lake Sut-Khol. The purity of the water in the lake is comparable only to Lake Baikal. Since ancient times, the lake. Sut-Khol is considered sacred, it is not without reason that all Tuvan tales and legends begin with the words: "A long time ago, when Lake Sut-Khol was a small puddle, and Mount Sumber-Uula (the mountain on which the lake is currently located) was a hummock ...". In the area of the lake, shamanic rituals are performed annually, during which the owner of the lake is coaxed to help in obtaining a good harvest, prosperity and protect the local population from diseases, jute (poverty, hunger and death of livestock).
Wild animals live on the territory of the kozhuun: red deer, roe deer, wild boar, musk deer, hare, etc. Birds: black grouse, wood grouse, partridge, duck, goose, snowcock, eagle, kite, etc. The rivers Khemchik, Sep, Ak, Alash are rich different kinds fish.
Ulug-Ovaa is a unique monument of cultural and historical heritage. Ovaa is a traditional place of worship of Tuvans to various spirits of nature, where a mound of stones with sticking dry branches is formed, on which ribbons are tied as a sign of worship. Ulug-Ovaa is located on the border between Khakassia and Tuva. It is assembled from special stones on which letters and horoscopes drawn up by lamas are engraved in two languages (Tibetan and Tuvan). Ulug-Ovaa has been a place of worship since ancient times local residents... Today it is more often abandoned. And earlier the road to Tuva passed by him because of the Sayan mountains.
In Tuva, the holy spring is called arzhaan. On the territory of Sut-Khol there is arzhaan Shaarash (Dorgun) - a radon source, which is located in the territory of the village of Kyzyl-Taiga. The water temperature in Arzhaan is + 4.2 degrees. It treats diseases of the endocrine, musculoskeletal, and respiratory systems. People come here for treatment not only from Tuva, but also from other regions of Russia.
In the village of Aldan-Maadyr there is a monument dedicated to the uprising of 60 heroes. The author and manufacturer of the monument is Saryglar Ortun Ertineevich. In the area of the village in 1883 - 1885, an uprising of 60 heroes took place - this is the largest uprising of the Arats against the Manchu oppression and local feudal lords. The monument was erected in 1993, made in the form of a huge quiver for arrows, 68 names of the rebels are lined with metal on it. The monument is a landmark of the village.
Mount Kizhi-Unmes is located near the village of Ishkin. Translated Kizhi-Unmes means a mountain that cannot be climbed by a person. Kizhi-Unmes is the most high point Ishkinsky Khor-Taiga, 2650 meters above sea level. According to the observations of local residents, it is on this mountain that the weather is born. Local residents believe that if clouds gather over the top of the mountain and a blizzard begins, wait for bad weather. It is always windy at the top, so you can climb there only in clear weather. Before the ascent, it is considered mandatory to perform the rite of worship of the mountain. It is noticed that if a person climbs a mountain, then after that it rains or snows for several days, it is believed that the mountain is angry. In 1953, a plane with an expedition of geologists crashed here. The plane crashed into the mountain because of the fog. One of the passengers of the plane survived and crawled through the taiga for several days to the shepherd's parking lot, where he received help. In the light of this event and various signs of the local population, a special attitude is formed towards Mount Kizhi-Unmes.
In the picturesque place of Nizhny Ishkin, there is a stone stele Dash Kozhee, about 2.5 meters long. As a local resident of the village of Ishkin Koshkar-ool Ondar says: “The oldest inhabitants of these places said that two brothers once lived here - Borbak-Sat and Churek-Sat. During the war with neighboring tribes, they died. In place of their yurts, the wives of these fighters erected a stone statue of Dash Kozhee. " However, Koshkar-ool Ondar claims that the stele was originally twice as high. Apparently she could not stand the weight of time and broke off. Although this fact, as well as the names of those for whom, according to the stories of the old-timer, it was erected, speaks of the comparative youth of the monument. Stone sculptures of Scythian times look different. There are several burial mounds not far from the stele, each with a diameter of 15 - 20 meters. They are not looted, as they are in a hard-to-reach place.
Sut-Kholskiy kozhuun is one of the most beautiful areas of the Republic of Tuva, in kozhuun there are not only unique places of nature, but also historical monuments, around many of them legends and legends have been composed since ancient times. The residents of kozhuun themselves are proud to live in Sut-Khol. It is necessary to preserve historical heritage, cultural monuments, and traditions of the area.
Bibliographic list
1. Tuva. Guidebook "LE PETI FUTE" - Moscow: Avangard. - 2001 .-- S. 148-149.
2. Aldan-Maadyr. In memory of ancestors. - Kyzyl: 1997 .-- S. 12.
3. Biche-ool V.L., Shaktarzhik dugayinda chugalar. - Kyzyl: 2C. 139
Lake Sut-Khol is located in the Sut-Khol kozhuun of the Tyva Republic in the spurs of the Western Sayan near the stormy Khemchik at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level.
The length of the lake from west to east is 7-8 kilometers, width - 2-2.5 kilometers.
On the shores of the lake, there are larch trees, slender spruces, and handsome cedars. On the green moss, there are pink flowers of round-leaved pears, lingonberries, and badan. In the vicinity of Sut-Khol there is a rounded, forested mountain Bora-Taiga, the rocky top of which is crowned with a wooden pyramid built by topographers. From the south, the dome of the Kyzyl-Taiga mountain rose over the lake, from where a magnificent view of the Khemchik depression opens.
Sut-Khol is remembered by everyone who has seen it at least once. Fancy shape the peninsulas go deep into the surface of the lake, wild rocks and white clouds are reflected in the water, as in a mirror.
Small rivers flow into the lake from the west. Their banks serve as the usual camp site for shepherds. In the southeast, from Sut-Khol along a picturesque gorge surrounded by yellowish rocks with trails of stone scree, the Khol-Ozhu river rushes out, forming in places small waterfalls. Bushes of red and black currants hang over the river, irises, bells, lilies bloom, wild gooseberries are found in the crevices of the rocks.
Not far from Sut-Khol, the arzhaan Ulug-Dorgun beats. The water temperature in the spring is +4.2 degrees. According to the old Tuvan custom, the trees near it are hung with offerings to the spirit of the mountains. In the summer, the tents of the tourists are located near the arzhaan, who not only drink the water of the spring, but also take a shower.
The lake is very rich in plankton. It contains many amphipod crustaceans that omul feed on. Ichthyologists launched fry of Baikal omul, Mongolian grayling, peled, ripus, vendace into Sut-Khol. Scientists believe that Sut-Khol - perfect place for breeding these fish.
The lake has very clean air and absolute silence. Since ancient times, Sut-Khol has been considered sacred, its name of the lake in translation means "milk lake", and Tuvan milk symbolizes purity. To this day in sacred lake no one is allowed to swim. It is believed that if someone disturbs the peace of the lake, clouds will instantly come and hail will begin. Perhaps that is why the purity of lake water is comparable only to Lake Baikal, because no one dares not only to pollute the water, but also to leave garbage on its shores. On the lake, no one really breaks the peace, this is a sacred place.
Sut-Khol is also the birthplace of the most famous storytellers and the most powerful Tuvan fighters, which is also attributed to the influence of the sacred lake.
There is a legend among the people. In ancient times, an old witch woman settled by the lake. She cooked medicinal decoctions from Sut-Khol herbs, chanted spells, sent a thunderstorm to the taiga. Once a witch threw a large vat of milk into the waters of Sut-Khol. In the morning, people did not recognize the lake: it became snow-white, as if filled with milk. Since then, people began to notice that on the Sut-Khol pastures, cows give a lot of milk, thick as cream. Not for nothing, Sut-Khol is translated into Russian and means - Milk lake.
One of the best places to tourist rest in the Tuva Republic, one can name the Sut-Khol lake, located on the territory of the Sut-Khol kozhuun. This picturesque reservoir hid from prying eyes in the spurs mountain range Western Sayan, at an altitude of 1.8 kilometers above sea level, surrounded by spreading firs, larches and cedars. The beauty of these places is simply mesmerizing. Not far from the lake rises Mount Bora-Taiga, the top of which is crowned with a man-made wooden pyramid, installed here by topographers. The surrounding forests are replete with currants and lingonberries, which can be collected in whole baskets, and berry, wintergreens and other flowers grow in open areas, pleasing the eye with their variegation. In the immediate vicinity of Lake Sut-Khol there is a tourist base of the same name, which has been receiving guests for more than 10 years. Here you can stay in a yurt camp, equipped with all the benefits of civilization, and taste Tuvan cuisine, which will be delivered to you directly to the yurt. Alternative options are three meals a day in the dining room, and barbecue on the grill.
Peculiarities
Even Baikal can envy the purity of the water of Lake Sut-Khol, but, unfortunately, you cannot swim in it. The fact is that this reservoir is considered sacred among local residents, and ablutions in it are punishable by terrible curses. Believe in these legends or not is a private matter for everyone, but it is clearly not worth neglecting them, if only out of respect for the traditions of Tuvans. It is noteworthy that next to the lake is located mineral spring Ulug-Dorgun, whose water is allowed to be used not only for drinking, but also for bathing. However, its temperature barely reaches 5 degrees, and such a test can only be done by real "walruses". Recently, Sut-Khol began to be used for fish farming. Fry of grayling, ripus, peled and omul were brought here, which have taken root well in the new place and have already managed to give birth to offspring. Small crustaceans, which are found in huge quantities in the lake, have become the main food source for these fish. On this moment fishing on Sut-Khol is prohibited, and vacationers come here only for rest and health improvement. The most beautiful landscapes of these places often become the backdrop for photographs, and the most successful angles can be caught on the southeast coast, at the source of the Hol-Ozhu River, which forms a gorge with waterfalls and bizarre rocks.
Legends
One of the Tuvan legends says that the reservoir got its name thanks to an old witch who lived in these places in time immemorial. During the preparation of the next broth, she threw a vat of milk into the water, and the whole lake turned white. Since then, the cows grazing on its banks began to give thick, fatty milk, similar to cream, and the reservoir itself began to be called "Sut-Khol" - "Milk Lake". Another legend tells of a mythical creature - a bull that lives in the depths of the lake and helps people in their misfortunes. Every time the bull comes to the surface, the lake begins to boil and foam, and a thunderstorm begins in the sky and a squall wind blows.
How to get there
Nearest locality to the Sut-Khol lake - the village of Sug-Aksy, which can be reached from the regional center by a good asphalt highway. A country road leads to the shores of the reservoir from the village, which is often washed away by rains, and even an SUV cannot always drive along it. On the way, you will have to overcome a steep pass, which is possible only under favorable weather conditions.
The beautiful mountain lake Sut-Khol, which is located on the territory of the Sut-Khol kozhuun of the Tuva Republic, above the Kyzyl-Taiga mountain, is considered sacred. Local residents are sure that it was under the influence of the lake that this land turned out to be fruitful for the great fighters in the national wrestling "Khuresh".
The area of the lake is 1400 hectares, and the depth in some places reaches 50 m. It is inhabited by Mongolian grayling, omul, peled, vendace. The purity of the lake's waters is comparable only to Lake Baikal.
Shamanic rituals are performed here every year, during which the Lake Master is appeased so that he helps in obtaining a good harvest, welfare and protects the population from diseases, jute (poverty, hunger and death of livestock).
The lake has been considered sacred since ancient times, it is not without reason that all Tuvan tales and legends begin with the words: "A long time ago, when Lake Sut-Khol was a small puddle, and Mount Sumber-Uula (the mountain that is currently under the lake) was a hummock ..." ... There is a legend that once upon a time the owner of the lake "Kholdun kok Bugazy" (Lake Blue Bull) lived in the lake. When the owner begins to leave the lake, thunder roars, lightning flashes, waves larger than human height begin to walk along the lake and break with force on the rocky shores.
