Pearls of nature

Turochaksky Region

The Teletskoye Lake is the most significant sight of the Region. All illustrated albums and all catalogs of various travel agencies are full of photos with the sights of the lake. The Teletskoye Lake is often compared to the Baikal and is as famous as the latter. Mighty cedars grow along the shores of the beautiful lake, right near the water. Cedar groves make you breathe easier, here one realizes, what Siberian taiga factually is. Numerous tourist groups come to the Teletskoye Lake.

Altai State Preserve is the main scientific center of natural studies of the Teletskoye area.

There are several tourist itineraries in the neighborhood of the Teletskoye Lake; these routs do not require any special sports experience or training including even the ascent of the Tyalan-Tuu Mountain, excursions to the Third River, to the Kamenny Bay, to Korbu Waterfalls. Tourists may settle down at equipped tourist bases.

Warm and humid summer, snowy and relatively mild winters are characteristic of the climate of the Region. Average annual air temperature in July is not below +15C. Average annual temperature equals -0,3C. According to precipitation amount, the Region is one of the most humid ones in the Altai Republic (from 850 mm in the south to 1100 mm in the Teletsloye area). Abundance of humidity and warmth in the Teletskoye area make it possible to have an orchard somewhere in Yailyu and grow many southern plants including grapes.

One may get to the Teletskoye area (v. Artybash) from Biysk (268 km) and from Gorno-Altaisk (approx. 150 km a 4 hours' drive). There is an every-day bus to v. Turochak, in the summer, during the tourist season, there is taxies taking tourists from Gorno-Altaisk to the Teletskoye Lake.

Tourist complex "Teletskoye Lake", 1 km from v. Artybash. Capacity - 470 people.

Tourist guest-house "Edem. V. Artybash. Capacity - 30 people.

Tent camping "Milky Way" and children's camp "Patagonia". V. Artybash. Capacity - 30 people, tents. A wide network of summer and all-year-round cafes, offering national Altaian dishes, are at tourists' service.

There are motor-boats and horses for hire in v. Artybash; one may go horse-riding guided by an instructor.

Local population sells cedar nuts, articles of stone, tree roots. Several remarkable artists live and work in v. Artybash and make beautiful souvenirs of tree roots, cedar, stones.