Baduk Lakes

Baduk Lakes are a chain of three mountain lakes on the Baduk River in the Teberda Nature Reserve, between the Khadzhibey and Baduk ridges of the Western Caucasus. The smallest, first lake is about 80 metres long and 4.5 metres deep; the third and largest covers about 3.6 hectares (330 by 200 metres) and lies at an altitude of around 1,990 metres, while the second lake sits at 1,987 metres.

The lakes were formed by avalanche debris and are comparatively young, no more than 150-200 years old. Pine forest and crooked birch woodland grow around them, and trout live in the largest lake, although in summer the water warms only to 5-10°C.

A hiking trail leads to the Baduk Lakes from the Teberda-Dombay highway; the nearest settlements are the town of Teberda and the village of Dombay.