Bakhura River

Bakhura is a small river in the Dolinsky municipal district of Sakhalin Oblast, flowing into the Sea of Okhotsk on the eastern coast of Sakhalin Island. The river is 17 km long, with a drainage basin area of 55 square kilometers. By hydrological zoning the Bakhura basin is assigned to the Amur water management district, although the river itself flows independently and is not a tributary of the Amur.

The river

Bakhura rises north of Mount Sokolskaya, part of the Susunaysky ridge, and flows eastward through a valley covered with fir-birch forest. Two tributaries, the Shuya and the Zunga, join it from the left.

The mouth

The main reason people come here is the mouth of the river itself. It is a scenic spot: a sandy beach stretches along one side, while a low rocky bluff rises on the other. The sea here is clean and clear, and interesting rock formations show through the sand on the bottom. Among them are layered rock beds and smooth bluish boulders streaked with white quartz veins — stones that visitors and locals alike enjoy collecting and photographing. The combination of beach, bluff and clear water makes the mouth of the Bakhura one of the notable spots on the coast near Dolinsk.

Getting there

The mouth of the Bakhura can be reached from the town of Dolinsk through nearby dacha settlements. The distance by road is about 27.65 km. In dry summer weather the road is generally decent and passable for almost any regular car, without the need for an off-road vehicle. During rainy periods and the off-season the dirt road can be in worse condition, so it is best to head to the river in dry weather.

Good to know

The main point of a trip to the Bakhura is the mouth with its beach and bluff; upstream, the river remains a small forest stream flowing through a valley covered with fir-birch forest. It is best to plan the trip for dry weather, when the dirt road through the dachas is passable for an ordinary car.