The incredible lake Tserik-Kol: the blue abyss of the Caucasus

In the mountains of Kabardino-Balkaria, 40 kilometers south of Nalchik are the picturesque Blue Lakes. This is a group of reservoirs consisting of five karst lakes, the most interesting of which is the emerald lake Tserik-Köl (Lower Blue). People do not bathe in it, fish are not found, and the locals avoid this pond and call it the "bottomless lake".

It is noteworthy in that, despite its modest size (only 230 by 130 meters), this pond is one of the ten deepest lakes in the country, and among karst lakes it has no equal in Russia in depth. As it was possible to find out the research expedition during the last dive, the depth of Lake Tserik-Köl is 279 meters, although before that they called the value of 258 meters. Scientists warn that this is not the final figure and, most likely, it will change in a big way. The thing is that this is the maximum depth that we managed to descend this season, so it is possible that this is not the limit. In recent years, scientists have become interested in the amazing lake, and each new expedition reports more and more sensational details from the life of this reservoir.

For example, Lake Tserik-Köl has no tributaries, and a small river flows from it, although it takes in more than 70,000 cubic meters of water. For a long time it remained a mystery from where the lake takes so much water daily. And recently, this secret was revealed. It turns out that at a considerable depth, underground rivers flow into the lake through crevices 1.5 meters in size, which replenish the water reserves of Lake Tserik-Köl.

The water in it is surprisingly clear and cold, and its temperature throughout the year is kept at + 9 ° C. In the summer heat and in winter cold, this indicator remains unchanged. Most likely, the reason for this constancy is the regular flow of large volumes of cold water from underground rivers. And because of the incredible depth, the pond does not have time to warm up even in the heat and freeze at low temperatures.

But you will not meet a person with a fishing rod on the shore of this picturesque lake: fish are not found here. The whole point is the concentration of hydrogen sulfide beyond the limits of life, which gives the lake an emerald color. Of all living things, only the gammarus crustacean and the simplest algae could adapt to such conditions. Many tourists and travelers note that the smell of hydrogen sulfide is clearly felt on the shore.

In addition to underground rivers and hydrogen sulfide, in the depths of the lake there are many more interesting things. For example, there are voids and underwater caves, at least three, whose studies have not even begun. This is understandable: with depth would be sorted. The lake annually attracts divers from all over the country and even from abroad. But here daredevils, who ventured to look deep into the underwater cave, have not yet been found.

This lake and folklore did not pass by. What legends people don’t tell about the lake Tserik-Köl. In different historical times, people drowned here: the defeated dragon and the cavalry of Tamerlane with numerous treasures, the troops of Alexander of Macedon and fascist tanks, as well as a truck filled to the top with bottles of port. But the latter, by the way, should not cause smiles. The fact is that during one of the last dives on the bottom of the lake, sunken cars were discovered. One of them turned out to be a truck, and they really found port in it. True, only one box.