Perm is a densely populated and ultra-industrial center of the Ural region, one of the most “environmentally dirty” cities in Russia. Therefore, many Perm people ask one and the same question: where can one relax in nature? Fortunately, there are plenty of such places in the immediate vicinity of Perm. And we will tell you about one of them in this article.
Shirokovskoe reservoir: photos and general information
This incredibly picturesque reservoir has an artificial origin and is formed on the Kosva River. In addition, 11 other smaller tributaries flow into it. The reservoir is located in the Perm region, within the Kizelovsky and Gubakha regions. It features pure water and extremely rich ichthyofauna.
The configuration of the Shirokovsky reservoir is rather complicated, and the banks are strongly indented by narrow bays (see map below). It stretched along the Kosva riverbed for almost 25 kilometers. The maximum width of the reservoir is 3.5 km, the greatest depth is 36 meters. The reservoir bowl contains about 530, 000 m 3 of fresh water. Today it is actively used to generate electricity and water for nearby settlements.
Geographical position
Shirokovskoe reservoir is located in the foothill zone of the Middle Urals. The relief in the vicinity is hilly and dissected, the average height above sea level is 205 meters. The pond is located in a sparsely populated area surrounded by virgin forests, both coniferous and deciduous.
On the banks of the reservoir there are only two settlements - the village of Kuchek and the urban-type settlement Shirokovsky. In honor of the latter, by the way, the pond got its name. The exact coordinates of the Shirokovsky reservoir are as follows: 58 ° 55 '26 ″ north latitude and 57 ° 55' 30 ″ east longitude.
The reservoir is located 150 kilometers northeast of Perm. You need to go to him through the city of Chusovoy to Usva. Immediately after it, you should turn right and move to the village of Shumikhinsky. Further, having overcome another 12 kilometers, you will find yourself at the dam of the Shirokovskaya hydroelectric station, on the shore of the reservoir of the same name.
Pond history
When Hitler attacked the USSR, many Soviet enterprises were urgently evacuated to the Urals, away from the front line. For their full work required a huge amount of electricity. And it was planned to receive it just at the expense of local full-flowing rivers.
So, by the autumn of 1942, a project had been developed for the construction of a number of hydroelectric power stations in the Urals. These included the Shirokovskaya hydroelectric station on the Kosva River. At the beginning of 1943, work began on the construction of a waterworks and the station building itself. But due to the acute shortage of building materials, equipment and labor, the construction of the Shirokovskaya hydroelectric station was delayed. Ultimately, the reservoir was filled with water after the war, in April 1948.
The Shirokovskaya hydroelectric power station is successfully operating today, generating up to 99 million kWh of electricity per year. According to Russian standards, it is classified as a small hydropower plant.
Recreation and fishing on the Shirokovsky reservoir
All fishermen are satisfied after visiting this reservoir. Here roach, perch, pike, ruff, dace, burbot, ide and other types of fish are perfectly caught. Reservoir fishing is permitted everywhere, with the exception of only near-dam territory. Moreover, fish can be caught here both from the shore and from boats (including motor boats).
Due to the abundance of snags at the bottom of the reservoir, its waters are extremely rich in perch. In the catches of visiting fishermen, he almost always comes first. The average weight of perch, fished from the reservoir, is 250-400 g, although there are more weighty specimens. No less successfully caught pike. Moreover, here she feeds herself to an impressive size. As experienced fishermen say, a three-kilo pike is not uncommon for this pond.
Among other things, the Shirokovsky reservoir is an excellent place for summer recreation and swimming. Finding a suitable place for a camp or a picnic on its shores is absolutely not a problem. Unfortunately, the recreational and tourist infrastructure is practically not developed on the banks of the beautiful Shirokovsky reservoir. There is only one recreation center here - the Ural Bouquet. It is located on the northern side of the reservoir, on the eastern shore of Rassolny Bay.
