Lake Chokrak in Crimea: features and location

In the eastern part of the Crimea peninsula is Chokrak lake. This is one of the salt lakes of the Crimean peninsula, which is famous all over the world for its healing properties.

Lake Chokrak is located near the village of Spa. The lake has an oval shape. The length of this reservoir is approximately 4 km, and its width is 16 km. The average depth is 0.8 m, and the deepest point of the lake is 1.4 meters. The total area of ​​the lake is about 1000 hectares. The entire territory of the reservoir and the coastal zone is part of the hydrological reserve - Lake Chokrak.

The lake is fed by groundwater sources, mainly by hydrogen sulfide and sea waters, since the lake is separated from the Marines Bay (Sea of ​​Azov) by a small sandy isthmus. Also, low-water beams - Babchik, Plague, Kezinsk and Mysyr - flow into the lake. It is believed that the lake was previously the Gulf of the Azov Sea. The structure of the reservoir is divided into several layers. The first is water, which is a brine solution (rather concentrated). The next layer is black dirt. Then comes a layer of gray.

The shores are mostly rocky, but very picturesque, as they are covered with vegetation. Many healing herbs grow here. But the beaches around the lake are mostly sandy. On the banks of the reservoir is carried out centralized extraction of dirt, which is then used for medical and cosmetic purposes.

Also on the shores of the lake previously mined and salt. In the evening and night hours the shores of the lake are a favorite place for birds that fly here for the night. Here you can meet gulls, forty and even ravens. And in the thickets of the pond there are white herons.

Translated from the Tatar name of the lake Chokrak means "spring", and indeed there is a spring with mineral water that you can drink. Crimean Tatar warriors even carried with them special bags filled with mud from the lake. In case of injury or wound, they took out a lump and applied it to the wound, this helped them heal quickly.

For the ancient Greeks, the territory of the lake was sacred. It was here that the temple was built. Also in the medieval documents that have come down to our day there are records about a certain merchant from Kafa, who bought up the dirt of Chokrak Lake in large volumes, thereby spending huge sums on it. As it turned out, with the help of the “life-giving” dirt, he gave the slaves a “presentation” before the sale. Moreover, it had a very positive result, and the merchant in the slave trade had made a pretty good fortune.

It is worth noting that resort Chokrak is in demand among touristsEvery year a huge number of people from various parts of the world come here to improve their health. After all, the mud lake are healing.

Note that the healing properties of the lake have been known to people since ancient times. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians used the mud of Lake Chokrak for the treatment of wounds, as well as immunity.

The mud of Chokrak lake is used to treat the following diseases:

• various kinds of inflammation of the female genital organs;
• digestive diseases, but not during the period of exacerbation;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system, namely: rheumatism, arthritis, spondylarthrosis;
• diseases of the nervous system.

Mud procedures are recommended for men with the following urological diseases: chronic prostatitis, vesiculitis, orchitis, and other similar diseases.

Also, dirt is actively used for cosmetic purposes. Masks have a beneficial effect on skin color, making it more elastic. It is proven that dirt promotes tissue regeneration. The mud of this lake contains various kinds of minerals and trace elements, which have a beneficial effect on the metabolic processes in the body and blood circulation.

But healing is not only the mud of the lake, but also the water, due to the high content in it of hydrogen sulfide brine, silt, as well as various kinds of minerals and colloids. Also, salt water helps in the fight against respiratory diseases. Rinsing the mouth, nose and throat helps with rhinitis and many dental diseases.

But It is worth noting that not everyone can visit this “health resort”. Mud procedures are contraindicated in patients with a diagnosis of tuberculosis, and it is not recommended to visit the resort for people with diabetes, asthma, cirrhosis of the liver, and arrhythmias that have tumors.

Take a mud bath is not worth it during pregnancy, and even in the early stages.

Also, some people experience the following reactions at the onset of mud therapy:

• irritability;
• weakness;
• numbness of the limbs;
• feeling cold in the body;
• tingling in the body;
• temperature rise.

We draw your attention to the fact that during a mud procedure a slight increase in heartbeat, pulse, as well as changes in blood pressure is possible. Such a reaction in the early stages is quite normal.

Usually a full course of mud treatment is 10-12 procedures. The duration of one session should not exceed 15 minutes. For beginners, the duration of being under a layer of dirt is 5 minutes.

The optimum temperature of the applied mud should be 40 ° C. Therefore, the best time for such procedures is in the afternoon when the sun has warmed up the dirt pretty well.

Greyish dirt has the greatest healing properties - it is the lower layer. Therefore, it should be applied to the body. Wash off the mud with seawater, you just need to plunge into the sea. And to maximize positive effect, experts recommend taking a bath in salt water for 20-30 minutes.

The resort is interesting to tourists not only for its spa procedures. Due to the fact that this lake is not deep, and the water warms up quite well during the summer period, it is suitable for water procedures and children.

In the vicinity of the reservoir there are several attractions that are definitely worth a visit.

Pretty close to the lake Valley of mud volcanoes, which are small mounds, from which dirt is thrown to the surface.

Also you can always visit and protected area Osovinsky steppe.

To the east of the reservoir there is also a landscaped natural park called The Karalar Steppe.

Fans of hiking will be able to enjoy the beauty of the lake, rising to the crest of the mountain called Tashkelak.

Arriving at this resort, you can stay in one of the resorts, which are located near the village of Spa. Guests and visitors are offered a whole range of different kinds of medical procedures under the supervision of highly qualified specialists. The first specialized mud baths were built in this region as early as 1895, but this institution was destroyed by the German invaders during the Great Patriotic War.

You can also always rent for a while housing from local residents. After all, anyone can take a mud procedure on the lake, absolutely free of charge.

But lovers, the so-called wild holiday will be able to spread tent on the waterfront and enjoy the beauty of the scenery.

You can get to the resort both by public and private transport. From Kerch there is a regular flight to the village of Kurortnoye, from which you can reach the lake on foot. If you go by car, you will also need to get to with. Resort and then turn onto a country road, which will lead to the lake. The distance from Kerch to the reservoir is no more than 20 km. You can reach it somewhere in an hour, but this is in view of the good condition of the roads.

After visiting the mud treatment resort of Lake Chokrak, only positive feedback can be heard. Many have almost gone pain in the joints, there are those who mud procedures have helped in solving problems in gynecology. Some women note that after a full course of mud they got rid of infertility and were able to give birth to a healthy child.

The lake is located in an ecologically clean region, where there are no production. Therefore, air has become healing for many. And nature and silence allow you to retire and recuperate after a noisy multi-million metropolis.

Many tourists say that after visiting the reservoir they forgot what flu and cold are, as well as other infectious and viral diseases. In conclusion, I would like to note that a trip to Lake Chokrak is a unique opportunity to combine rest and treatment. The use of therapeutic mud will certainly improve your well-being. To get to any of the resorts during the season is not difficult.

Interesting information about Lake Chokrak can be found in the next video.