Lake Chany, Protected lake in Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia
Lake Chany is a shallow body of water in southwestern Novosibirsk Oblast, spreading across open plains and divided into several connected basins. Around seventy islands lie scattered within its waters, some covered with low shrubs and others bare and visible only during low water levels.
Rivers fed the lake for centuries and kept its water level steady until the second half of the 20th century brought dam construction upstream. The dams redirected much of the inflow, causing the water level to gradually drop and the shoreline to recede.
The name comes from a Turkic word meaning large vessel, reflecting how people saw these waters when they first settled the area. Fishermen still use traditional methods passed down through generations, working from small boats along the reed-lined shores.
Access is easier during summer when the water is calmer and the shores are passable, though strong winds can churn the surface quickly. Prepare for changing conditions, as water depth and clarity vary with season and wind direction.
More than twenty thousand waterbirds use the wetlands during breeding and migration periods, filling the area with bird calls in spring and autumn. The shallow bays and reed beds provide nesting sites for species that find few other suitable habitats across Siberia.
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