Lake Schuchye, Protected lake in Selenginsky District, Buryatia, Russia.

Lake Schuchye is a protected lake in the Republic of Buryatia, in eastern Russia, surrounded by forested hills and open meadows that reach down to the water's edge. The shoreline is largely undeveloped, and the lake can only be reached by unpaved roads, which keeps the area remote and quiet.

The land around the lake was home to Buryat nomadic groups for centuries before Russian administration reached this part of Siberia in the 17th century. During the Soviet period, the area was designated as a protected zone, a status it has kept to this day.

The lake's original Buryat name, Angir nuur, comes from angir, the Buryat word for the tufted duck, which nests here; Russians who settled the area in the 18th century renamed it Shchuchye. Today more than twenty tourist bases and four children's health camps line the shore, and entry to the recreation area is paid to fund its upkeep.

A few tourist lodges around the lake offer basic accommodation, but booking in advance is a good idea since options are limited. The area has few shops or services nearby, so arriving with enough food and supplies for your stay is important.

The Buryat name is Angir nuur, from angir, the shelduck that nests here; Russians renamed it Shchuchye in the 18th century. The lake holds perch, roach, minnow, spined loach and introduced Ural ripus, bream, mirror carp and lake whitefish. Its water composition is close to that of Lake Baikal.