Turtle Rock (Kamen Cherepakha)

Turtle Rock, known locally as Kamen Cherepakha, is a natural geological monument on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal: a boulder shaped like a turtle with an outstretched neck. It stands in the water a few meters from the shoreline, between the villages of Turka and Goryachinsk, in the Pribaikalsky district of Buryatia. The rock lies about 160 kilometers from Ulan-Ude. Since 2020 it has been included in the "TOP-100 Attractions of the Republic of Buryatia" list, alongside other natural and cultural sites of the region.

The boulder's resemblance to a turtle's shell and outstretched neck is the main reason the rock became a local landmark and one of the most recognizable natural features on this stretch of Baikal's shore: it is photographed by visitors and included in excursion routes along the eastern coast of the lake.

Legends of the Turtle

Several legends about this boulder on the shore of Baikal are told by local residents and guides.

According to one of them, centuries ago a great turtle lived in the depths of the lake, which the Buryats consider sacred. The turtle was a symbol of peace, kindness and love, and it guarded a White Pearl.

Another version of the story turns the turtle into the beautiful Angara, daughter of Baikal. In the form of the turtle, she came ashore to fight the Black Shaman, the embodiment of dark forces. Having defeated him, the turtle broke the Black Pearl and turned to stone herself, forever remaining at the water's edge.

Local beliefs hold that on the spring full moon the Turtle comes alive for one night a year. Those who reach the rock and touch it with a pure heart are said to have their wish granted.

The rock today

A birch tree once grew on Turtle Rock and became its unofficial symbol, a recognizable detail in photographs. In 2017 vandals cut the tree down, and a new one was later planted on the boulder.

Today the rock is a popular spot for tourist photographs on the eastern shore of Baikal and part of local excursion routes.

Getting there

Turtle Rock stands between the villages of Turka and Goryachinsk in the Pribaikalsky district of Buryatia, a few meters from the shore of Lake Baikal. The distance from Ulan-Ude is about 160 kilometers.