Marble Reach of the Kamenka River

The Marble Reach of the Kamenka River (Mramornyy Ples) is a geological and hydrological nature monument in the Kvarkensky District of Orenburg Oblast, about 1.9 km northwest of the village of Kirovsk. Local residents call it Lake Kholodnoye (Cold Lake); it is also known as Kamennoye or Mramornoye. The protected area covers 6.8 hectares.

Geology

At this spot the Kamenka River cuts across steeply dipping marble layers of the Visean series of the Lower Carboniferous, ranging from white coarse-crystalline marble to dark-grey fine-crystalline marble. One of the dark-grey marble beds proved tougher than the rest and formed a barrier the river could not saw through, giving rise to a cascade of small waterfalls roughly 4 meters high in total. Below the cascade the river has carved out a plunge pool about 20 by 40 meters and 3.5 to 7.5 meters deep — this is Lake Kholodnoye itself. A twelve-meter cliff of grey and dark-grey marble with clearly visible layering rises above the pool; one of the layers forms a tilted overhanging ledge above the water. Further downstream the Kamenka flows through a scenic canyon.

Nature

The marble banks of the river support typical petrophytes — plants adapted to living on rock: Marshall's cornflower, Mugodzhar thyme, simplest oak-leaf (Onosma simplicissima), hybrid stonecrop, ashy cinquefoil, needle-leaved pink, and Helm's milkvetch. The Marble Reach is a popular spot among locals for swimming and fishing.

Getting there

The easiest route goes through the village of Kirovsk: from the district center of Kvarkeno, drive to the village, go around it from the southwest side and continue north along the road. After about 1.6 km the road turns northeast; follow it to the bank of the Kamenka River, where the reach is located.