One of the most wonderful and colorful places on earth is Peschanaya Bay (Baikal). Thanks to the dune, which forms a white sand beach, it also got another name - the Siberian Riviera. And thanks to the fabulous nature and mild climate, this paradise attracts millions of tourists from all over the world.
Location Sandy
Sandy Bay (Baikal) is one of the delightful and unusual corners of Eastern Siberia. In the form of a sandy slope covered with pine forest, it smoothly descends to the water. The silence of this amazing place, like two sisters, is protected by rocks - the Big and Small Bell Towers.
The bay is located on the expanses of the southwestern coast of Lake Baikal. On the north side of it is the village of Bolshoe Goloustnoye, and on the south - the village of Buguldeyka. The nearest train station and airport are in the city of Irkutsk at a distance of one hundred and fifty kilometers.
Favorable climatic conditions
Sandy Bay (Baikal), among other things, is alsoand the warmest place in Eastern Siberia. A mild microclimate prevails here with a considerable number of sunny days a year, just like in the resorts of the Black Sea coast. The average annual air temperature in the bay is four degrees above zero, while in Irkutsk it is nine degrees below zero. In summer, it is generally hot here. The air temperature reaches thirty degrees above zero, and the water warms up to twenty-two degrees, becoming the most comfortable for swimming. However, the most favorable months for visiting this paradise are July, August and March.
Lighthouse on the rocks
Sandy Bay (Baikal) is framed by rocks in the form of pyramids - the Big Bell Tower, with a height of eighty meters above the lake level, and the Small Bell Tower, with a height of sixty meters.
In the nineteenth century, an automatic lighthouse stood on top of one of them. A wooden staircase led to it, turning closer to the top into a vertical metal one. On the right side was a chute made of wood, with the help of which acetylene cylinders were raised. Before that, simple kerosene lanterns were used here. They were lit and extinguished manually, for which it was necessary to climb up twice with long stairs.
In the early 90s, after the destruction of the lighthouse, the administration of the tourist base transformed the surroundings. And in order to prevent the desire of vacationers to climb to the top of the cliff, the dilapidated and dangerous stairs were removed.
Local Attractions
Eastern Siberia is famous forwith its beautiful spaces. Peschanaya Bay (Baikal) also belongs to them. On the map of the Russian Federation, this place is quite noticeable.
Peschanaya, perhaps, is the only area on the Baikal coast, where there is a huge accumulation of stilted trees that have exposed their roots. These mighty giants grow predominantly on the sandy slopes on the northern side of the bay. Both wind and water are constantly removing sandy soil from under their strong roots. Centuries-old larches and pines with twisted crowns rise majestically above the ground. Between the roots of these dancing trees, a full-length man can freely stand.
It is interesting that the sand of this area is of different colors. For example, in Akademicheskaya Bay it is white, and in Peschanaya Bay it is yellowish.
During boat trips, majestic rocks pay special attention to themselves. Marble ledges and ancient rocks are visible among the forested slopes.
Known routes to the bay
For those who wonder where Peschanaya Bay is located on Lake Baikal, how to get to this luxurious place, the following suggestions will be most suitable.
Initially, you need to get to one of the big cities of the Baikal region, for example, to Irkutsk, which is located seventy kilometers from Lake Baikal. There is regular transport to it. There are three ways to get to the necessary point on the coast of the lake. The first is rail transport.- Trains and trains. The second is to get to the bus station, which provides the movement of buses and fixed-route taxis. And the third is the movement on yachts and motor ships provided by the pier "Rocket".
If you get to Peschanaya by water from the fairly well-known resort village of Listvyanka on Lake Baikal (located eighty kilometers from the bay), then the travel time by boat will be four and a half hours, and by boat - about two hours. And this is not the only way. You can also get to the bay by land, starting the route from Maly Goloustnoy. The length of this path will be about forty-five kilometers before Baikal appears before the traveler. Peschanaya Bay, a photo of which everyone tries to capture as a keepsake, will show its beauties only after overcoming a difficult route. It has a considerable number of fords through streams, windbreaks and swamps.
In winter, a winter road is laid to Peschanaya from the village of Bolshoe Goloustnoye on the ice of Lake Baikal, the length of which is thirty-five kilometers.
Rest in Sandy
In the summer, everyone tries to have an unforgettable time. Namely, this will be the rest on Lake Baikal. Peschanaya Bay, bewitching with its stunning landscapes, will not leave indifferent any tourist. Here you can sunbathe on white-sand beaches, swim or just fish, get carried away with photographs of colorful water, walk along the extraordinary mountains or along the coast. Of course, kayaking or boating to the coastalgrottoes, as well as boat trips. Not far from the bay, near the Shumilikha River, you can admire the cascade of picturesque waterfalls as much as you like.
