Unique places in the Sut-Kholsky district of the Republic of Tyva. Sacred Lake Tuva Sut Khol Kozhuun
Beautiful Mountain Lake Sut-Khol, which is located on the territory of the Sut-Kholsky kozhuun of the Republic of Tyva, above the Kyzyl-Taiga mountain, is considered sacred. Local residents are sure that it was under the influence of the lake that this region was fertile for the great wrestlers of the national wrestling “Khuresh”.
The area of the lake is 1400 hectares, and the depth in some places reaches 50 m. It is inhabited by Mongolian grayling, omul, peled, and vendace. The purity of the lake's waters is comparable only to Lake Baikal.
Shamanic rituals are performed here annually, during which the Lord of the lake is appeased so that he helps in obtaining a good harvest, prosperity and protects the population from diseases, jute (poverty, hunger and loss of livestock).
The lake has been considered sacred since ancient times; it is not for nothing that all Tuvan fairy tales and legends begin with the words: “A long time ago, when Lake Sut-Khol was a small puddle, and Mount Sumber-Uula (the mountain that is currently located under the lake) was a hummock...” . There is a legend that once upon a time the owner of the lake, “Kholdun kok Bugazy” (Lake Blue Bull), lived in the lake. When the owner begins to leave the lake, thunder rumbles, lightning flashes, waves higher than human height begin to travel across the lake and crash forcefully against the rocky shores.
Sut-Khol district located in the northwestern part of the republic. He borders in the south with Dzun-Khemchiksky, in the west with Barun-Khemchiksky, in the east with Chaa-Kholsky kozhuuns of the Republic of Tyva, in the north with the Republic of Khakassia.
District center- the village of Sug-Aksy - located in the middle part of the Sut-Kholsky district (kozhuun). Population Kozhuun - 7933 people (2016)
A peculiarity of the economic and geographical position of the Sut-Kholsky district (kozhuun) is its remoteness from central regions and the capital of the republic. The distance from the district (kozhuun) center to the capital of the Republic of Tyva - Kyzyl is 286 km, and to the nearest railway stations- respectively: 323 km (Abaza) and 730 km (Abakan). The main means of communication connecting kozhuun with other kozhuuns of the republic is motor transport.
In the central part of Kozhuun there is the Khemchik depression; in the north of Kozhuun there are high mountains. Most of Kozhuuna (51.0%) is occupied by forests in which cedar, poplar, larch, birch, bird cherry, aspen, as well as sea buckthorn, currants, blueberries and others grow. In terms of area occupied by sea buckthorn, the fruits of which contain a large number of vitamin C, kozhuun occupies one of the leading places in the republic.
The Khemchik River flows from west to east with tributaries Alash, Ak, Ustuu-Ishkin, Aldyy-Ishkin, Shele, Terektig, Shom-Shum.
On the territory of Kozhuun at an altitude of 1814 meters above sea level there is a mountain freshwater lake“Sut-Khol”, in which peled, omul, and Mongolian grayling are bred.
The main direction of kozhuun is agricultural.
Climate sharply continental. The lowest temperature observed in winter is 50°C, the average temperature in January is 30 degrees below zero. The winter period lasts about 180 days. The basin-like nature of the area's relief, with the general predominance of the anticyclonic regime in winter, contributes to the accumulation of cold air in the basin and its additional cooling.
Hot and dry summer begins at the end of May and lasts 85 days. average temperature July +20 degrees, maximum +38 degrees. There are no frosts observed during the summer. Spring frosts usually end at the end of the second ten days of May, but in some years they are observed at the beginning of June. Autumn frosts begin in the third ten days of September, and in some years at the end of August. The duration of the warm period (temperature above +10 degrees) is about 125 days. Generally, climatic conditions This area is harsh.
On the territory of the region (kozhuun), from explored mineral deposits, lime burning in the village is involved in economic turnover. Aldan-Maadyr, and the deposit of brick clays in the village. Ak-Dash is planned to gain momentum in the coming years.
Sacred Sut-KholAbout unique lake Amir Dulush, an employee of the Department of Culture of the Sut-Khol region, told about Sut-Khol and the Sut-Khol tourist base.
“Sut-Khol is a fresh alpine lake. The height of the lake above sea level is 1814 meters. Since ancient times, Sut-Khol has been considered sacred, and the name of the lake means “milk lake”, and milk among the Tuvans symbolizes purity. The lake is still considered sacred to this day; no one is allowed to swim there; if anyone disturbs the peace of the lake, clouds will immediately roll in and hail will begin. Maybe that’s why the purity of its waters is comparable only to Lake Baikal. And Sut-Khol is the birthplace of the most famous storytellers and the strongest fighters, and this is also considered the influence of the sacred lake.
No one really disturbs the peace on the lake, this sacred place. The guides tell all our tourists the legend of a sacred bull that came out of the lake to share its blood with people and save them from terrible diseases. The lake has very clean air and absolute silence. Therefore, we want to combine on the basis leisure with meditation.
Our project “Tourist base “Sut-Khol” has been working for more than 10 years. But for now only in summer time. Tourists live in a tent-yurt camp. We can offer vacationers any cuisine, national or European. We can deliver food to the yurt, we can cook it outdoors, we also have a dining room. Of course, we wanted the camp site to operate year-round. To do this, it is necessary to build good winter houses, organize ski trips, and amateur ice fishing. The lake is inhabited by Mongolian grayling, peled, omul, and vendace.
We have developed several horse and walking routes on historical and sacred places. Sut-Khol is the territory of 60 heroes; in 2013 we will celebrate the 130th anniversary of this uprising. Tourists will be interested to see the unique monument of cultural and historical heritage of Ulug Ovaa. This is a sign of the border between Khakassia and Tuva. Ovaa is assembled from special stones on which letters and horoscopes are engraved in two languages. And of course, you cannot pass by the Arzhaans, who are located on Mount Kyzyl-Taiga. All three sources are radon. For example, the water in Arzhaan Shaarash (Dorgun) is + 4.2 degrees, and is very healing, treats diseases of the endocrine, musculoskeletal and respiratory systems. You can get to the lake in two ways, one of them is on foot, passing through the Shaarash spring. And another route can be covered by car through the village of Bora-Taiga, the road to the lake is mountain taiga and very beautiful.
In the summer, there are shepherds’ camps around Lake Sut-Khol, so the development of rural tourism seems to us the most promising direction: many people want to relax away from noisy cities, in the silence pristine nature. The shepherd's camp combines scientific, cultural and ethnic tourism; this type of recreation is considered one of the accessible ones and does not require large expenses. In addition, rural tourism is an active holiday: tourists are invited to become participants in the traditional life of the Arat family, get acquainted with the life of shepherds and national cuisine.
Tourists from big cities will be very interested in immersing themselves in a completely different culture, milking goats and cows, learning how to tan hides, and sewing national clothes. Men will be taught how to lasso horses and national games. That is, you can keep people busy so that they definitely won’t get bored. And the holiday itself is like this picturesque place worth a lot.
Today, the main problem of tourism development in the area is the lack of investment resources and infrastructure. It would be nice to build cable car, in this case it will be possible to get from the regional center to the foot of the mountain in half an hour. Ideally, the construction of a roadway would allow any tourist to reach the lake by personal transport. But on the other hand, tourists who come to Sut-Khol expect to see a unique place. And the uniqueness of Sut-Khol, first of all, lies in its pristine perfection and untouched nature. It’s like being in a fairy tale, so vacationers honor our lake and follow all the rules. Many tourists come to us not for the first time, for example, participants of the Ustuu-Khuree festival, and simply enjoy such an amazing vacation. And horseback riding is exotic for many.”