10 Stunning Lakes In Russia Worthy Of A Visit

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Traveling to Russia usually includes visiting the historic cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Great cities, to be sure, with wonderful cultural sights and attractions. But visitors shouldn’t overlook the impressive natural sites, including several stunning lakes in Russia that are worthy of a visit.

Boasting a variety of landscapes – forests, mountains, plains – we think you’ll enjoy these 10 stunning lakes in Russia worthy of a visit:

1. Lake Baikal – Located in southern Siberia, between the Irkutsk Oblast and the Buryat Republic, Lake Baikal is one of the best-known lakes in Russia. Lake Baikal is the largest and the deepest freshwater lake in the world. When you think of an iconic and picturesque Russian lake, this one fits the description.

2. Lake Seydozero – Located on the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk Oblast, the name of the lake comes from the Sami language. Seydozero means “sacred lake” when translated from Sami. Those who have visited find it a fitting name for this tranquil and serene lake.

3. Lake Malinovoye – Located in Altai Krai, the name of this lake translates to “raspberry.” The surrealistic looking Lake Malinovoye is a bright color because of the Serratia salinaria bacteria which gives the water a purplish-pink color – just like a mod-looking raspberry.

4. Lake Onega – Located in the Republic of Karelia, Leningrad and Vologda Oblasts, this lake has an archipelago of over 500 islands. The most well-known island is Kizhi which has an open-air museum with a complex of ancient wooden churches and other historical buildings. One of them, the Kizhi Pogost, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

5. Lake Kezenoy-am – Located in the Caucasus Mountains, Chechnya and Dagetan republics, Lake Kezenoy-am is the deepest lake in the Caucasus Mountains. It sits at an altitude of approximately 6,135 feet above sea level, this is one Russian lake that’s going to be difficult to reach.

6. Lake Shaitan – Locate in the Kirov Oblast, Lake Shaitan is known for its floating islands, often called floating mats as they are cover with small trees, bushes, and brush. The water is crystal clear, making the lake popular for swimming during the summer season.

7. Lake Seliger – Located in the Tyver Oblast, this is actually a system of lakes interlinked with one another. Taken collectively, the multiple lakes encompass 82 square miles, making it one of the largest lakes in Central Russia.

8. Lake Ladoga – Located in the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Oblast, Lake Ladoga is about an hour and a half from St. Petersburg. This is a popular destination for locals and tourists and includes Valaam Island and Ruskeala Park. The waterfalls are also a big draw.

9. Jack London Lake – Located in the Magadan Oblast, there is a legend that gives rise to the lake’s name. According to that legend, the discoverers of this beautiful far-eastern lake found a Jack London book on its shores and decided to call it after the famous author. Sounds unlikely, but how else did it get the name?

10. Lotus Lake – Located in the Volgograd Oblast, this lake is about about 13 miles from Volgograd (formerly known as Stalingrad). The best time to visit Lotus Lake is during July and August when the exotic Indian and Caspian lotuses are in bloom.

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