The Nugush reservoir and the neighboring national park are the favorite vacation spots in Bashkiria. The body of water, often referred to as the "sea" or "lake", is surrounded by picturesque ridges. In the immediate vicinity of the mountains, surrounded by forests, amazing natural monuments of the Southern Urals, there are recreation centers, campsites, children's he alth camps and places to accommodate unorganized tourists who prefer to come to Nugush "savages".
Main hydrographic features of the Nugush River and the reservoir
Nugush - the right tributary of the river. White, flowing into the Kama. Translated from Turkic, the name of the river means "clean stream". The sources are located in the Yurmatau ridge on the territory of the Beloretsk region. The length of the channel to the confluence with the Belaya River is 235 km. The tributaries of the Nugush, which ensure its full flow, are the rivers Maly Nugush, Uryuk and others.
It is amazing that surrounded by industrial regions, this corner of virgin nature has been preserved. The Nugush reservoir belongs to the Bashkiria National Natural Park and limits 80 km of its territory from the northwest. The upper reaches of the Belaya are to the east ofof the South Ural Reserve, and the middle course of the Nugush falls on the territory of the Shulgan-Tash Reserve.
The appearance of a reservoir in this area is associated with the construction of a dam in 1965 and the commissioning of a hydroelectric power station in 1967. Behind the dam with a length of 2.5 km, 400 million cubic meters of the purest water are stored. The man-made lake is elongated from the northeast to the southwest, its length is 20 km, and its width is 5 km. The average depth of the reservoir is 15.8 m, the maximum reaches 30 m. The Nugush hydroelectric power station regulates the river level during floods, the reservoir serves to supply the population and enterprises of the cities of Salavat, Ishimbay, Sterlitamak, Meleuz.
Nugush reservoir: how to get there by car
The path to the Nugush reservoir for many travelers begins with a trip to Ufa. Arriving in the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan from the European part or from the east - from Magnitogorsk and Chelyabinsk, you need to drive about 250 km to the south - towards Sterlitamak and Salavat. It is better to pass these cities on bypass roads in order to quickly get to Meleuz - the administrative center of the district of the same name. From it you have to go about 35 km to the northeast to the village of Nugush. Those travelers who travel from Orenburg arrive in Meleuz and from here they are already going to the reservoir.
Nature around the reservoir
The Bashkiria National Park is located on the territory of three districts of Bashkortostan (Meleuzovsky, Kugarchinsky and Burzyansky). The area is 823 km2, of which 25 km2 falls on the Nugush reservoir. The western slopes of the Southern Urals descend into this region, there is a picturesque interfluve of the Belaya and Nugush rivers, the ridges of Bash-Alatau, Yamantau and others rise.
Mountain forests and reservoirs of the Southern Urals are important components of the unique natural complex. Its entire territory is a site of ancient folding with an amazing geological history. About 400 million years ago, a vast paleoocean stretched here, in which volcanic island arcs rose, reminiscent of the modern Kuriles. The remains of these islands have been preserved in the Magnitogorsk region, and the consequences of later geological processes - karst funnels, caves, rocks - can be seen in the vicinity of the reservoir. Mountain ranges and forests create reliable natural protection from cold air masses and winds.
Rest on the Nugush reservoir
The bottom and in some places the coast of the man-made lake is strewn with stone chips of various shapes and sizes rolled over by waves. Tourist bases have been built on many parts of the coast, there are rest houses with equipped sandy beaches, campsites. Fans of water sports are offered here:
- windsurf - entertainment, "hybrid" between sailing and conquering the waves on a surfboard;
- try your hand at kite flying;
- rush with the breeze behind the boat on a wakeboard;
- ride onjet skis and boats.
If you're lucky, in the summer on the water surface of the Nugush reservoir you can watch how the participants of the sailing championship of Bashkortostan compete. Various types of entertainment and rental of the necessary equipment are offered by recreation centers on the Nugush reservoir. Popular among tourists are boat trips along the rivers and the man-made lake, rafting, horseback riding and hiking along the mountain trails of the Southern Urals, surrounded by wild nature.
Recreation centers on the banks of the reservoir and in the settlements of the Meleuzovsky district
Good accommodation is one of the main conditions for a great holiday. About 30 tourist facilities are located along the banks of the Nugush reservoir, designed for travelers with different incomes. The well-groomed territories of the complexes are surrounded by forests and mountains, bordering the Nugush reservoir on all sides.
The recreation center "Nugush" attracts by the fact that it is located on the side of the National Park "Bashkiria". Good conditions for accommodation of tourists are created in a cozy building, those who wish can rent residential trailers "Quadro", designed for two people. The recreation center "Forest Fairy Tale" offers accommodation in two-story houses, "Solnechnaya" provides campsites for autotourists, "Birch" - spacious cottages and wooden houses. Most of the equipped beaches belong to recreation centers and sanatoriums, where there are dining rooms, water activities, sports grounds, rental boats and catamarans. The hostel "Sail" offers not only summer, but also winter viewsLeisure activities: snowmobiling, snowkiting, sled, ski and skate rentals.
Reserved places near Nugush
In tourist booklets, the Nugush reservoir is called the "Mountain Tale", the "Pearl of Bashkiria". In these places, it is possible to combine beach holidays with ecological tourism, sports, and get acquainted with national cuisine. Many include in their holiday program a visit to the Bashkir National Park, located almost on the border of the mountain forest complexes of the Southern Urals and the steppe zone. In the east, the Shulgan-Tash nature reserve adjoins the park. The creation of the National Park "Bashkiria" in 1986 had several goals. One of them was the streamlining of the recreational use of the beautiful mountain landscapes of the Southern Urals. Unorganized camping of tourists, amateur routes caused great harm to the vulnerable nature of the Urals. With organized visits, it is easier to ensure quality rest and reliable protection of unique natural monuments.
Kutuk tract - a landmark of the Nugush reservoir
In the national park "Bashkiria" nature has created many places that tourists visit with pleasure. The Kutuk tract, bounded by mountain ranges, the Nugush and Belaya rivers, is located at a distance of 20 km east of the Nuguz village. Here is the longest cave in the Urals - Kutuk-Sumgan, there are other interesting structures created by the chief architect - nature (karst tunnel, disappearing rivers, karst lake). ATAs a result of karst processes, the miraculous "Cuperl's Bridge" arose. The name of the natural monument was given by the name of the river, which disappears in an underground channel. A narrow limestone "bridge" 30 m long is the remnant of a collapsed vault of an eroded cave. Behind it, the river forms a cascade of waterfalls 3 and 15 meters high.
Reviews about the holiday
Visiting the Nugush reservoir and the territory of the National Park "Bashkiria" is a good kind of recreation surrounded by mountains and forests. Organized water activities, interesting land excursions and trips on the ship, boat. Tourists are especially attracted by its ecological and aesthetic value of the Nugush reservoir. Reviews of travelers who have visited the left bank with tourist bases and the right, where the "savages" rest, differ mainly in the description of accommodation methods. You can set up a tent in the forest, bring a boat or boat with you, leave your car in the parking lot. Many tourists note the large size of the reservoir, appreciate its cleanliness, and are happy to have the opportunity to fish, ride a boat, or jet ski. One of the main tips of those people who have already rested on the shores of Lake Nugush concerns the features of the beaches and the bottom. It is better to think about special shoes with a heel in advance, in which you can go to the reservoir and swim.
