Lake Medvezhye

Lake Medvezhye (Bear Lake) lies on the Dusse-Alin ridge in the Verkhnebureinsky district of Khabarovsk Krai, at an altitude of about 1,600 meters above sea level. It sits deep in the mountains, far from any settlement, and is part of the Bureinsky Nature Reserve.

Origin and relief

The lake is of glacial, cirque origin: it occupies the floor of a huge stone cirque carved by a glacier between the peaks Nepristupny (Unapproachable) and Parus (Sail) and the height Oryol (Eagle). The basin is enclosed on all sides by nearly vertical granite walls 100 to 400 meters high. The lake's depth ranges from 14 to 20 meters. It has no visible outflow of its own: the water disappears under the rocks and resurfaces again about 100 meters from the shore. Locally, Medvezhye is unofficially called a pearl among the mountains for the beauty of the place and the clarity of its water.

Nature

The water of the lake is notably clear. There are no fish in Medvezhye. Above the tree line around the basin lies mountain tundra. Right at the water's edge grows Rhododendron redowskianum, a species listed in the Red Data Book. Visiting the reserve where the lake is located is only possible with a special permit obtained in advance.

Legend

The lake's name is tied to a legend: the basin lies among the high cliffs as if in a bear's den, which is said to be the origin of the name Medvezhye ("Bear"). In 2008 the Dusse-Alin ridge, where the lake is located, was named one of the seven wonders of Khabarovsk Krai.

Getting there

Several tourist routes lead to the lake, including the "Lost World" route, a helicopter excursion, and a hiking route through the mountain camp Gremyachy Log. One trekking route runs from Khabarovsk through the valley of the Kerbi river, the Gremyachy Log and Vodopadny streams, past the lakes Medvezhye and Gornoye, then through the valley of the Nilan river to the village of Briakan. The best season for a hike here is late August to early September. A tick-borne encephalitis vaccination is recommended before heading into this area.