Republic of Khakassia: Lakes, Rock Art and Ancient Sites

The Republic of Khakassia brings together lakes, salt landscapes and striking traces of earlier cultures. At the Ivanovskie Lakes, small waterfalls connect four freshwater lakes; elsewhere, rock art, burial mounds and archaeological finds tell of a long history. Nature experiences, hiking and cultural sites offer different focuses for a trip. When looking for a vacation rental, it helps to decide first which of these experiences should guide your choice of location.

Lakes, Mountains and Salt Landscapes

The Ivanovskie Lakes are located in the Kuznetsk Alatau at an altitude of 1,300 metres in Ordzhonikidzevsky District. Four freshwater lakes are fed by glacial meltwater and connected by small waterfalls. The area has been a specially protected natural area since 2021. In summer it attracts hikers, while in winter it draws freeriders and snowmobilers. The third and fourth lakes are accessible only to prepared or experienced tourists; conditions may vary depending on the season.

Lake Itkul is in Shirinsky District, three kilometres from Lake Shira. Its exceptionally clear freshwater is often compared with Lake Baikal. The lake and its surroundings are protected as part of the Khakassky Nature Reserve. A visitor centre with exhibitions about wetlands is located on the shore. The centre can be visited only by prior arrangement and accompanied by a reserve specialist.

Lake Shunet offers a different landscape: it lies at an altitude of 390 metres in a narrow mountain hollow, 18 kilometres southeast of the village of Shira and eight kilometres south of Lake Shira. Deposits of therapeutic mud up to one metre thick lie in the centre of the lake. Its location and salt landscape make Shunet markedly different from the region’s freshwater lakes.

Trails and Visitor Information

The Tuimsky Collapse was formed at the site of an underground mine that closed in 1954. It is about 1.5 kilometres from the village of Tuim. There is an observation platform at the edge of the chasm; a suspension bridge crosses the hollow and is dated 2023. Check that the visitor facilities are currently operating before making plans.

A multifunctional visitor centre opened at the start of the “Tropa predkov” (“Trail of the Ancestors”) in 2023. It offers information and advice about attractions in Khakassia and the trail. The centre is accessible to people with disabilities; there is also a car park and a toilet nearby. The hiking trail is 3.5 kilometres long and follows an out-and-back route.

Hikers may want to compare this trail with the third and fourth Ivanovskie Lakes: the “Tropa predkov” is 3.5 kilometres long, while access to the two lakes is reserved for prepared or experienced tourists. This can help you base your vacation rental search on the activities that matter most for your trip.

Rock Art, Museums and History

The Sunduki mountain range is a natural and historical monument of republican significance in Ordzhonikidzevsky and Shirinsky Districts. In addition to the rock carvings, there are structures for observing the sun and moon and tracking calendar cycles. Researchers believe that in ancient times they served as an open-air observatory. Numerous petroglyphs have also been found on rock outcrops in the Oglahty mountain range; several hundred burial mounds and other historical monuments lie nearby. Oglahty is on the left bank of the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir.

Visits to routes in the Oglahty protected area, including the steps up the mountain, are permitted from May to October. A permit must be obtained in advance, and the routes may be visited only with a guide. Archaeologists discovered a Neolithic settlement site in the Proskuryakov Cave. The finds are up to 24,000 years old; the ochre drawings on the walls are dated to around 4,500 years ago.

The Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas menhir is about 4,500 years old and dates from the Okunev culture. The Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas Museum in the aul of Ankhakov, Askizsky District, houses the Im Tom Eco-Ethno Lab in a yurt, with an exhibition on Khakass folk medicine. The museum is at 1 Shosseynaya Street, on the Abakan–Ak-Dovurak road. Check current visiting arrangements with the museum in advance.

The Kazanovka Museum Reserve offers short guided tours of exhibitions in the Khakass aul, including a visit to the White Stone, as well as excursions to rock art, graves and other sites. The reserve is in Askizsky District, about 132 kilometres from Abakan and five kilometres from the village of Kazanovka. For tastings of national cuisine, the menu and order must be discussed or placed several days before the excursion; also ask about current availability.

The Poltakovsky “Khaya Khoos” stellarium consists of 93 stone steles bearing around a thousand depictions, including animal figures and runic inscriptions. The Great Salbyk Kurgan is a major feature of the open-air complex “Drevniye kurgany Salbykskoy stepi” and dates to the 5th–4th centuries BC. These differences between landscapes, archaeological sites and exhibitions can help you choose a focus for your trip and tailor your vacation rental search to the experiences you have planned.

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