Manzherokskoye Lake, Protected lake near Katun River, Russia
Manzherokskoye Lake is a protected lake in the Altai Republic of Russia, lying close to the Katun River near the village of Manzherok. It is a shallow body of water surrounded by forest and rocky slopes on its banks.
The lake was designated a protected area after rare water plants were found growing there that had largely disappeared from other parts of Russia. In 1966, a Soviet-Mongolian friendship festival held nearby brought the place to national attention for the first time.
A song written about the lake in 1966 and performed at a youth festival gave this place a lasting place in Soviet popular memory. Many Russians today still associate the name Manzherok with that melody.
The village of Manzherok sits right next to the lake and is the easiest starting point for a visit. A ski resort nearby means the area stays accessible and active outside of the summer months as well.
The lake is one of the few places in Russia where water caltrop still grows, a plant listed as endangered that has vanished from most of the country. This rare plant is actually the main reason the lake received its protected status.
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