Baikal ice is very similar to mica
Listvyanka and Slyudyanka are twin brothers. Both settlements are located on the shores of Lake Baikal near Irkutsk and are popular holiday destinations. People also come to Slyudyanka to conquer the Khamar-Daban mountain range and see the unique collection of minerals in the local museum.
Mineralogical paradise
The name Slyudyanka speaks for itself. In these places, mica was mined 300 years ago! Then this transparent mineral replaced glass in windows. At the mining site they set up a winter hut, which they called Slyudyanka. Since then, the settlement has changed its status several times - it was a fort, a village, a city - but the name remained the same each time. This is a real mineralogical paradise - in addition to mica, lapis lazuli and marble were mined here.
The town with the “mineralogical” name is located on the western shore of Lake Baikal and administratively belongs to the Irkutsk region. The population exceeds 18 thousand people. The city has a railway station through which the famous Trans-Siberian Railway passes. Slyudyanka is also a transit point on the R-258 Baikal highway.
Fish is the main wealth of Baikal
People have inhabited these regions since ancient times. This is evidenced by rock paintings found by archaeologists at Cape Shaman. The Huns, Kurykans, Buryats, and Evenks lived on these lands. Russians came here in the 17th century. These were pioneers who were looking for opportunities to mine salt and furs. In 1647, the first fort appeared here - that’s what small fortresses were called. In 1802, a winter hut was built on the shore of the lake and mica mining began.
An important factor for the development of the settlement was the construction of a wheeled road. Thanks to this, Slyudyanka turned into a postal station and goods transshipment point between Irkutsk and Kyakhta. The construction of the railway gave even greater impetus. In this regard, in 1899, the Slyudyanka winter hut received the status of a village. This year began to be considered the date of its foundation. Now the village is a popular place for recreation and tourism.
HOW TO GET THERE
You can get to Slyudyanka from Irkutsk by your own car along the Kultuksky highway (M55 highway), the distance from Irkutsk to Slyudyanka is 115 km and can be covered in 1.5-2 hours.
By bus (Irkutsk - Slyudyanka):
A regular bus runs from Irkutsk to Slyudyanka from the suburban bus station every hour. The bus station telephone numbers are information and ticket offices, the ticket price is 100 rubles, the route schedule is here.
You can also get to Slyudyanka by minibus from the Irkutsk railway station (Chelnokova St., 1; reference phone 8-902-767-8618). Travel time is 1.5 - 2 hours.
By train (Irkutsk - Slyudyanka):
Every day you can get from Irkutsk to Slyudyanka by train (several flights a day, schedule here). Travel time is about 3 hours.
Note to tourists
The main asset of Slyudyanka is the Khamar-Daban mountain range. A huge mountainous country stretches south of Lake Baikal. Its length is 350 kilometers, width is 60 kilometers. The highest peak is Mount Utulikskaya Podkova (2396 m). It is Khamar-Daban that is a point of attraction for climbers, skiers and lovers of extreme hikes. Every year a ski marathon is organized here, which is called the “Baikal Around the World”.
Khamar-Daban mountain range
The second key natural attraction is Shamansky Cape. For the Buryats this place is sacred. The Circum-Baikal Railway is a monument of engineering art. This is also an excursion site. The mineralogical museum “Gems of Baikal” is interesting. His collection numbers about 12 thousand exhibits!
Listvyanka has an excellent mineralogical museum
There is a local history museum in the city. Historical architectural monuments include the railway station and St. Nicholas Church. But Baikal is rightfully considered the main attraction. People come from all over the world to see it. There are more than a dozen hotels, guest houses and recreation centers in the city and its surroundings. There is enough space for everyone.
Entertainment
Climbing Chersky Peak or waterfalls on the Podkomarnaya River
How to get there: the start of the tourist route to Chersky Peak is located at the concrete dam on the right bank of the Slyudyanka River
Chersky Peak is located 17 kilometers south of Slyudyanka. The peak received its name in honor of the famous Russian geographer and explorer of Siberia Ivan Chersky. The height of the peak reaches 2090 meters. This is the highest point of the Komarinsky ridge of the Khamar-Daban mountain system.
From Slyudyanka to Chersky Peak there is a hiking route - one of the most popular in the Baikal region: thousands of tourists go to conquer the peak every year. Another advantage of the route is its accessibility for travelers of any level of training.
To conquer Chersky Peak you will not need to take any special climbing equipment with you. However, in bad weather it is easy to lose your way along the route, so it is recommended to hike to the summit from mid-May to September.
The total length of the route is 20 kilometers in one direction, the elevation difference is 1620 meters. On the way to the peak you can see lakes with waterfalls, noisy mountain rivers, rocky cliffs, and perennial cedars.
The path is divided into two main stages: the first - from Slyudyanka to the Khamar-Daban weather station, the second - from the weather station to the top of Chersky Peak. At the top, tourists are greeted by a rocky platform with a cross installed on it, as well as a picturesque panorama of Khamar-Daban with the surface of Lake Baikal visible in the distance.
After conquering Chersky Peak, do not rush to return to Slyudyanka. On the way back you can visit the most beautiful waterfalls on the Podkomarnaya River.
Climbing the mountain "Monomakh's Cap"
How to get there: from Slyudyanka you need to go to the “Warm Lakes” tourist center. The distance is 77 kilometers, travel time is just over an hour. At the camp site you can find out where exactly the route to the summit begins.
The small mountain “Monomakh's Cap”, covered with dense greenery, has a rare shape of a regular pyramid and is one of the lowest mountains on Lake Baikal: the peak is located at an altitude of 685 meters above sea level. At the foot of the mountain there are three Warm lakes. It is from the lakes that the tourist route to the top of Monomakh’s Cap begins, which from the ground seems impregnable. But the route is not as difficult as it seems at first glance: even unprepared tourists can overcome it.
The journey to the top takes about half an hour. The first third of the path is along a gentle serpentine road, the rest is along a steeper climb. But at the top, tourists will be rewarded - an observation deck with breathtaking views of the Warm Lakes, the bends of the Snezhnaya River and other mountains of Khamar-Daban.
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How to get to Slyudyanka?
The city is located in relative proximity to Irkutsk (110 kilometers by car) than to Ulan-Ude (345 kilometers by car).
You can also travel from both cities by train, the distance approximately corresponds to the mileage described above...
If you are coming from Irkutsk, you will come across a settlement on the way. Kultuk. If from the side of Ulan-Ude, then such Baikal settlements as the city of Babushkin, the village of Vydrino, the city of Baikalsk.
➡ HELPFUL INFORMATION:
- How to get to the lake Baikal from other regions, read here!
- You can compare prices on the most popular travel sites and book your holiday rental in Slyudyanka at the best price!
- Hotels in Irkutsk
- Hotels and camp sites in other places of the lake
- Review of the most interesting places of the lake on the website
- Description of Baikal from the first person
- Search for cheap flights
➡ PS +1000 to your karma,
