Shaytan, Protected lake in Kirov Oblast, Russia.

Lake Shaytan is an oval karst lake in the Bushkovsky Forest reserve, measuring 180 by 240 metres, with an area of about 2 hectares and a depth of up to 12 metres. Its surface is deep blue, bordered on the far side by a dark green conifer treeline. The shores are swampy and overgrown with floating mats, from which drifting islands carrying bushes and small trees break away.

In the 1800s, a landowner named Mosolov used unconventional methods to protect the surrounding forests from logging and poaching. Those caught breaking the rules were forced to swim in the lake as punishment, a memory that locals still discuss today.

The lake's name means "Devil" in Russian, rooted in folklore and local legends that have shaped how people think about this place for generations. Visitors often hear these stories from local guides and residents who keep the traditions alive.

The lake lies 39 km from Urzhum, in the Bushkovsky Les nature reserve. On foot, the usual approach is about 2 km from the village of Indygoyka; by car the track is passable only in dry weather. The hollow is wooded on three sides and the shore itself is bog, so waterproof footwear helps.

The lake's drifting islands began as rafts used in the early 19th century to soak linden bark for bast fiber. When the surrounding lindens were cut down, the rafts stayed on the water; peat and humus accumulated on them, and grasses, shrubs and even small trees took root. Up to twenty such islands float on the lake, and the largest can bear the weight of three or four people.