Dimitrovskoe Reservoir

The Dimitrovskoye Reservoir, also known as Chernovskoye, lies in the Ileksky District of Orenburg Oblast, Russia, 8 km south of the village of Krasnokholm and 80 km from Orenburg. The reservoir was built in 1986 on the Chernaya River for fish farming and irrigation. It covers an area of about 13 square kilometers.

Tourist recreation centers

Several tourist recreation centers operate around the reservoir, offering cozy beaches, a variety of activities on the water and on land, and everything needed for comfortable fishing. On the northern shore stands the recreation center "Dacha," which offers water activities and comfortable accommodation for visitors.

Natural attractions

On the reservoir's right bank lies a unique natural formation, Krasnaya Krucha (Red Bluff). This red cliff is composed of Upper Permian sandstone and rises 15-18 meters high. Krasnaya Krucha is especially beautiful at sunset, when its weathering forms and deflation niches stand out clearly. The formation also includes a deep ravine overgrown with bushes and trees.

Fishing and recreation

The Chernovskoye (Dimitrovskoye) Reservoir is popular among anglers for its variety of fish species, and fishing competitions are often held here. Besides fishing, many visitors come for picnics, swimming, and simply to relax outdoors.

Fish die-off

On June 14, 2024, a mass die-off of crucian carp occurred at the Dimitrovskoye Reservoir. Fishermen reported large numbers of dead fish washed ashore after storms that had passed through a few days earlier. No official explanation for the cause has been given. A similar event was observed some years earlier at the Iriklinskoye Reservoir, where experts found no significant anomalies and attributed the fish deaths to large concentrations of fish gathering at spawning grounds.

Getting there

Several routes lead to the Dimitrovskoye Reservoir:

• From Orenburg: follow the route airport - Saraktash - Isyangulovo - Krasnokholm - the reservoir.
• From Samara or Ufa: take the region's main roads to Krasnokholm, from which the reservoir is about 8 km away.
• From Yekaterinburg or Chelyabinsk: drive via Chelyabinsk, Plast, Magnitogorsk, Sibay, Baymak, and Zilair; the reservoir will come into view on the left side of the road.

Natural surroundings

Forests and hills surround the reservoir. The water is clean, and the surrounding woods yield plenty of mushrooms in season.