The nature of the Urals is beautiful and interesting. Recently, the influx of tourists to the Chelyabinsk region has increased. There is something to see here: high mountains, unique nature, clear lakes and deep caves. A great place for leisure and communication with nature is the Dolgobrodskoe reservoir.
Description and Features
Dolgobrodsky reservoir is the second largest storage in the Chelyabinsk region after Argazinsky. The reservoir was created artificially on the Ufa River. Its length is more than 20 km, its width is almost 2 km, its depth varies from 6 to 25 m. The useful volume of the reservoir is approximately 0.275 km 3, and the area is slightly more than 35 km 2. Small rivers flow into it - tributaries of Ufa, among which:
- Big and Little Eugust;
- Shigirka;
- Dogwood;
- Sabanaevka;
- Couch.
Due to the fact that the Dolgobrodskoye reservoir was recently formed, tree roots and stumps are still found on its muddy and rocky bottom. In the immediate vicinity of the store, numerous bushes grow. The pond was built in mountainous terrain, therefore it has the wrong configuration with capes, bays, peninsulas. An interesting geometric shape is favorable for fishing: even in windy weather, the waves here are not large, and it is comfortable for fishermen to fish. The area around the reservoir is also used for recreational purposes.
History of the creation of the reservoir
The reservoir was built to improve the water supply of Chelyabinsk and the cities located next to it - Kyshtym, Kopeisk, Korkino. In 1977, Krasnoyarsk hydrogeologists developed a project according to which, in the event of severe drought, the level of the Argazinsky reservoir will not decrease due to the creation of an artificial reservoir. It was planned to combine the Dolgobrodskoe reservoir using a channel with Lake Uvildy, connected to the Argazinskoye reservoir, so that the water would then enter the Shershenevskoye reservoir. It was assumed that in the spring a new reservoir will accumulate water that can satisfy the water needs of the population of the Ural cities. Environmentalists considered the plan of specialists of the Krasnoyarsk Research Institute Sibhydroproject dangerous for the lake.
A new reservoir was established in 1990. Then, the Dolgobrodskoe reservoir appeared on the Ufa river south of the village of Nizhny Ufaley. Water management became more effective after the dam was built. The artificial reservoir is located 140 km from Chelyabinsk and 162 km from Yekaterinburg. A trial run took place in 2009, then some of the technical flaws of the project were identified. At the end of 2012, after careful refinement, the reservoir construction plan was fully implemented and included in the Program for the Development of the Russian Water Complex.
Hydrochemical characteristics of the reservoir
The hydrochemical component of the reservoir is formed to a greater extent under the influence of natural factors. When the reservoir was full, an increased concentration of harmful substances was observed in the water:
- easily oxidized substances - almost 20 times;
- phenol - 10 times;
- oil products - 2 times;
- iron - 12 times;
- ammonia - 2 times.
After 2 years, the hydrological analysis revealed an excess of methane, hydrogen sulfide, and oxygen, on the contrary, became less. Slow flow exacerbated pollution. To improve the quality of water, an urgent need was made to produce a siphon to discharge sewage from the body of the dam into the downstream. Recently, water quality has improved, but there is still a slight increase in the concentration of ammonium, silicon, and iron. This is due to leaching from rocks and intensive drainage of the soil.
Local nature and related stories
To create the Dolgobrodsky reservoir, a birch forest was flooded along the Ufa River and its tributaries. Nature in these places seems to be created for lovers of contemplative relaxation. There are no settlements within walking distance - continuous taiga and eternal peace. To the south of the reservoir are Shigirsky hills, famous for their beauty. Next to them you can see the remains of the iron-smelting and iron-making Azyash-Ufa plant of the industrialist Demidov, who was burned almost three hundred years ago by supporters of Emelyan Pugachev.
At a distance of 5 km is the Kurma mountain range (the name goes back to the Turkic male name Kurma, Kurmi, popular among Tatars and Bashkirs). This is a picturesque vast ridge near the village of Novy Ufaley in the north of the Chelyabinsk region, stretching from the northwest to southeast for 9 km. Its maximum height above sea level is 720 m, to the south it decreases to 541 m. The top of the ridge is decorated with rocks made of quartz rocks.
Local residents and guides pass on the story of the robbers hiding in the local caves. A popular legend is that a cannon was hidden in Kurm from the time of the Peasant War under the leadership of Yemelyan Pugachev. Many swear that they saw it themselves, but for hundreds of years the gun has grown firmly into the ground, and it was impossible to budge. At the same time, it’s not clear where it is now: someone managed to hide the gun, or it “became invisible” and is not shown to everyone …
Not far from the bridge to the reservoir is the old mining village of Slyudorodnik. Here, until the beginning of the 1960s, bauxite ores used in the defense industry were mined. Currently, the territory has been transformed into a recreational zone, consisting of an ecotropy and a reserved part. In these parts, tourists with interest descend underground, inspect the branched passages of old workings in the mountain or take a walk while admiring the beautiful scenery.
Along the western part of the ridge are the upper reaches of Ufa, distinguished by crystal clearness. Kurma has a wonderful view of the Dolgobrodskoe reservoir. In the vicinity of the ridge runs the border between the South and the Middle Urals. This place is interesting for its vegetation; here you can see thickets of maples rare in the Urals. In the nearby forests live wild animals and birds (owl, bearded, roe deer, wolves, foxes).
What to do on the reservoir
About how interesting it is to relax on the Dolgobrodsky reservoir, reviews of tourists say that inaccessible taiga forests seem to be specially created for a wild holiday. Residents of nearby towns often come here to spend the weekend away from the bustle of the city. They collect mushrooms and berries, inspect the area, photograph landscapes, sunbathe on the banks of rivers and lakes. Fans of outdoor activities play paintball, dive, ride catamarans and boats, ride ATVs. Many come here specifically to go fishing.
Reservoir Fishing
Fishing is a hobby that unites men and some women. It combines admiring amazing landscapes, a relaxing holiday away from the bustling city and exciting excitement in anticipation of a big bite. On the Dolgobrodsky reservoir, fishing is a popular type of recreation available throughout the year, despite the fact that the surrounding areas are difficult to access. Fishing is also conducted here. Different types of fish live in lakes and rivers:
- pike;
- zander;
- bream;
- burbot;
- ide;
- chebak;
- perch and many others.
To maintain the abundance of fish, spawning and stocking of the reservoir are used. Rest and relaxation on the Dolgobrodsky reservoir can be interesting and productive; feedback on fishing reviews on the forums confirm this. Anglers believe that in these parts the best nibble is at the end of autumn, when the first ice appears, or in the spring, when the ice begins to melt. In summer, most often you can catch scavengers and chebakov - with float, airborne or bottom gear. Perch and pike are caught in circles and trolling (trolling along the bushes here is one of the most popular types of fishing). Fishing is convenient both from the shore and from the boat. In the winter, for the fishing of burbot and pike, they use torches, and to pull chebakov, perches and bream, use hook-and-mouse gear. Pikes like the coastal strip, and bream - the old channel of Ufa.
