There are many amazing places in Russia, acquaintance with which leaves a lot of strong impressions. The Donzo tract also belongs to them. The lake with the same name is an artificial reservoir that arose on the site of one of the once abandoned limestone quarries with the memorable name Kyurlevskie. The springs that give rise to the legendary Oredezh River filled the workings with crystal clear clear water. This is how this lake was formed, becoming one of the vacation spots where many people aspire to go with the advent of summer.
The Donzo tract, which has the status of a reserve, stretches over 950 hectares. These places are famous for the abundance of underground springs and springs, an excellent set of plants, including endangered fauna listed in the Red Book, as well as rare fish species that have found refuge in the lakes of the Kyurlev quarries. One of these reservoirs will be discussed in our article.
Donzo - a lake with white shores
Located between the villages of Dontso and Pyataya Gora, Volosovsky district in the Leningrad region, the lake has long won the appreciation of fishermen and loversactive recreation by the water. The wonderful nature of temperate latitudes, indescribable sunrises and sunsets, cool crystal water and white sand of the coast in the edging of the lush greenery of the forest - all this attracts everyone who has visited these ancient mysterious places.
Nature generously endowed Lake Donzo. A beach covered with unusual white sand, clear, purest water from springs gushing at the bottom … A small pond area of 700 square meters. meters is compensated by the quality of water - crystal, rich azure color. The depth of the lake does not exceed 3.5-4 meters, and with the absolute transparency of the water, you can see the bottom in any weather. On hot days, the water warms up well, which is appreciated by swimmers.
Fishing on the lake
This is how the small forest lake Donzo appears before tourists. Fishing on it, according to experienced amateurs, is an exciting business, which, due to the transparency of the water, does not turn into fishing, but a duel “who will outwit whom”, as the potential prey that sees the hunter goes to secret places overgrown with underwater vegetation. Perch, pike, roach are found in the lake - a coveted object of every angler. But, I must say, the fish there are not large, no more than 300 g. The fishermen who have chosen the Kyurlev pits claim that local species of trout and grayling are found in the upper reaches of the Oredezh River.
Spearfishing
It is worth noting that Donzo (lake) is attractive for those who are engaged in underwater fishing. Fishermen-submariners are attractedcrystal clear water. However, experienced anglers find these places too easy, although careers are the best suited for training beginners, given the presence of rich underwater vegetation and potential prey. But not only underwater hunters hone their skills there. Divers value walks very much: the lake opens its arms to scuba divers, showing the amazing world of underwater inhabitants.
Bathing in the quarries
Despite the fact that the springs and springs that fill the lake are quite cold, vacationers appreciate Donzo for its shallow depth, which allows the sun to warm up the reservoir well. This is evidenced by numerous reviews of swimmers, among whom there are many children. Family holidays, according to vacationers, are excellent here. The lake has not only clear water, but also a flat sandy bottom. True, when the water rises in the quarries, the approach to the lake is difficult: you have to get to the water on clay. However, such changes usually occur in the spring, and by the bathing season everything returns to normal.
Lake Donzo: how to get there
Let's make a reservation right away that it will not work to get to these reserved places by public transport. It is so mysterious, this is Lake Donzo. How to get there by car? If we consider St. Petersburg as the starting point (and it is located 80 km from the Kyurlev quarries), then you should leave along the highway going in the direction of the southwest. After Gatchina, they turn onto Elizavetino and, having passed this settlement, they reach the village of Pyataya Gora. And from thereon a dirt road they reach the quarries.
There is another route - along the Kyiv highway. On it, tourists reach the village of Vyra, and then turn right, focusing on Zamostye, bypassing which they soon pass a bridge over the Oredezh River. It is necessary to turn off to the Kurlev quarries soon after him. Figuring out how to get to the lake is not difficult, but travelers going there for the first time are better off enlisting the support of a navigator.
In closing
For those traveling to the Kurle quarries for the first time, it is important to understand that Donzo is a lake located in a nature reserve, and there is no paved highway leading to it. An unpleasant surprise for "refined" tourists may be an inconvenient entrance to the reservoir. The dirt road leading to the quarries is an ordeal for a car, and every year it only gets worse. In addition, it will not be possible to drive close to the water, since about twenty meters from the shore there is a moat that cannot be overcome and located near the water with a car. In addition, one should not forget about the status of the reserve assigned to the Donzo tract. It imposes certain obligations and responsibilities on vacationers: fishing is officially prohibited here, and logging is also prohibited. In a word, the Kyurlev quarries are not a specially organized vacation spot, but a corner of untouched nature, and you need to behave there accordingly.
