Lake near Svetloyarovka

The lake near Svetloyarovka is a small body of water in the Chernigovsky municipal district of Primorsky Krai. It lies next to the Svetloyarovka railway siding of the same name and a few kilometres from the village of Sibirtsevo, among the forested hills of this part of Primorye.

History of the siding

The Svetloyarovka railway siding was built during the construction of the railway line running through this part of Primorsky Krai. Today the siding belongs to the Sibirtsevo urban settlement and lies about 5 km southeast of the village of Monastyrishche, the nearest larger settlement. Some sources simply call the lake Ozertso: this is a colloquial name reflecting its modest size rather than a separate place name.

Next to the siding there is a village with the same name, Svetloyarovka, listed separately in reference sources and located right beside the siding, away from the village of Sibirtsevo. Because of this, maps and various sources show two close but distinct objects sharing the same name — the siding and the village — which is worth keeping in mind when looking for the way to the lake itself.

What it looks like now

A dirt road through a forest section leads to the lake. The road is generally passable, but driving a regular car is not always convenient: the forest terrain and rough patches on the dirt track make this way of reaching it impractical. The route is better suited to those travelling by bicycle or willing to cover the last stretch on foot.

Getting there

According to the travel guide, the total length of the route to the lake is about 55-60 km, which is worth keeping in mind when planning a day trip from the nearest towns of Primorsky Krai. A dirt road about 7 km long runs from the village of Monastyrishche to the Svetloyarovka siding. From there the way continues towards the siding itself and then along a forest dirt track to the lake. The Svetloyarovka siding and the village of Sibirtsevo serve as landmarks: the road from the highway leads in their direction.

Given the length of the route and the state of the dirt road, it is best to plan the trip in advance: bring enough water and fuel, and allow extra time, especially if travelling by bicycle. There is no paved access along the final stretch leading to the lake itself.