Kjurlevskiye Quarries, lake of Russia

Kjurlevskiye Quarries is a group of flooded limestone pits in the Volosov District of Leningrad Oblast, often called Lake Dontso. The pits are 3–4 m deep, and the Oredezh River rises here from springs that keep the water cold all year. The village of Dontso stands on the shore.

The quarries were dug after the Kyurlevo bog was drained in 1935, to extract gaja, a powdery lake lime used for waterproof and fireproof plaster, including in the finishing of Gatchina Palace. In 1939 water from the Izhora aquifer broke into the pits, creating the lakes. The Oredezh River rises here.

The quarries were dug for gaja, a powdery lake lime used to make waterproof, fire-resistant plaster; that plaster was used in the finishing of Gatchina Palace. The lake is also called Dontso, after the village on its shore. Swimming is not allowed here, although the regional consumer-rights authority lists Lake Dontso among waters safe for bathing.

The lake can be reached by car or on foot from Elizavetino train station along unpaved tracks. There are no facilities on site, so bring your own water, food, and sturdy footwear, as the ground is rocky and uneven in places.

The Oredezh River begins right at the lakeshore, fed by underground springs that keep the water exceptionally clear year round. These springs are rare in the region, and the river that starts here goes on to flow across a large part of Leningrad Oblast.