Barguzinskaya valley

Barguzinskaya valley, unique due to its beauty of landscapes, riches of natural complexes, history, and culture is considered to be one of the most perspective tourist directions of the Baikal region. The way from lake Baikal to the Barguzinsky range, springs and resorts of Kurumkansky region cross this valley. Experts of the World Bank included it into the number of the most optimum ecotourist territories, and authors of the international Russian-American project "The Complex program of policy of land tenure for the Russian territory of water basin of lake Baikal" (“Project of Davis”, 1993г.) offered to transform the valley into the national park.

The valley gradually becomes a relatively independent tourist area, closely adjoining to another tourist area – Podlemorye. These areas are closely connected in nature, geography, economy and recreational activities, they have one common tourist centre - the settlement of Ust-Barguzin through which tourists travel in different directions. The tourist specialization of the Barguzinskaya valley is active tourism in the Barguzinsky mountain range (hiking, skiing, rafting, mountaneering etc.), water tourism on the river Barguzin and its tributaries, health-improving tourism with the use of hot and cold mineral waters, nature-cognitive and cultural - cognitive excursions, rural tourism and ecological tourism.

The picturesque nature, comparatively warm climate, the fertile lands attracted people long since.The name of the valley, and also the name of the river Barguzin originated from the name of the Bargut tribes who used to inhabit the valley, that was the northern frontier areas of the country Bargudzhin-Tukum. The valley has a great number of cult (sacred) places belonging to different tribes and peoples.

The annals of the Barguzinskaya valley abound with events. Some of them are described by historians and regional specialists, the information about others is contained in legends. One of the main relics of northern Buddhist world - mountain Baraghan is located here. The Buddhist datsans and orthodox temples were built in the valley. Before the October revolution Barguzin used to be the place where the imperial government of Russia banished the political opponents among whom there were also the Decembrists. Barguzinskaya valley is closely connected with the history of gold mining in Transbaikalye. Gold was mined in taiga and sent to the centre of Russia and to Israel. Copper also was found here. During Civil war the valley was the place where the partisans’ groups were formed which resisted the army of ataman Semyonov. According to one of the versions the ashes of a great Hungarian poet - revolutionary Shandora Petefi lay here.

The valley is located in the intermountain hollow on which the river Barguzin flows. Along this river aside Baikal lake from time to time blows the wind Barguzin, which is mentioned in the well-known song “Glorious sea - sacred Baikal”. In the middle of mountainous taiga extensive steppes with typical steppe plants are located. The significant areas are occupied with meadows, bogs and plots of sand. There are also some mineral springs which are known for their high medical properties.

The valley of the Barguzin-river is bordered by two mountain ranges: the Barguzinsky and the Ikatsky. The ranges are covered with thick forest - taiga. Adjacent plots of the Barguzinsky, Ikatsky and Severomuysky mountain ranges are connected with passes; it creates opportunities for the organization of tourist routes different on complexity.

Barguzinskaya valley has some sights the part of which are considered to be nature sanctuaries. Its territory is the place of functioning of especially protected natural territories as the Dzherginsky reserve and the Ulyunsky reserve. According to the present administrative arrangement of the Republic Buryatia the Barguzin valley is divided into two regions: the Barguzinsky region with the settlement of Barguzin in its centre and the Kurumkansky one with the centre in the settlement of Kurumkan.

The extension of the Barguzinskaya valley is 230 kms, the final settlements are the settlement of Ust-Barguzin located 270 kms far from Ulan-Ude, and a local resort Umkhey (on the territory of Kurumkansky region) located 500 km far from Ulan-Ude. The motorway Ulan-Ude – Umkhey (the Barguzinsky highway) has asphalted and unmetalled plots. It passes at the bottom of the Barguzinsky mountain range along the right bank of the Barguzin-river. There is a bus service between settlements of Barguzinskaya valley and Ulan-Ude. There is also a motorway along the left bank of the river but it hasn’t been repaired for a long time and some bridges over the river were destroyed. Anyhow some parts of this road can be used for traffic. There is a motorway from the resort Umkhey to the north of Baikal lake, but it is passable only for supersize lorries.

The settlements of Barguzinskaya valley are located basically along it. As for the Barguzinsky and Ikatsky ranges which frame the valley, there are no any settlements. In the village Ust-Barguzin functions the visiting--information centre "Podlemorye” of the administration of the Barguzinsky region which possesses the information about hotels, tourist camps, guest houses and can assist in accommodation both in Ust-Barguzin and in other settlements of Podlemorye and Barguzinskaya valley. The centre works out tourist routes, organizes tourist trips and excursions. The settlement has a group of Search and Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Measures of Russia and Administration of State National park "Zabaykalsky”. The settlement is conveniently located on the shore of the Barguzinsky gulf where one can find a fine sandy beach, and so it is a popular place for visiting in summer.

Libraries, village houses of culture, clubs, cultural - leisure associations, musical schools, schools of arts, national music collectives and theatres and museums function in the settlements of the valley. The centres of children’s creative activities and the centres of the Buryat and Evenk cultures possess valuable information and collections.

Now the development of tourism in the valley is only on the initial stage. Tourist centres and zones of tourism have not developed yet. While there are no comfortable hotels and tourist centers or tourist organizations which have the license. So it is better to charge the organization of tours in the Barguzinskaya valley and Podlemorye to the tour operators represented in the list of tour agencies of Buryatia, to the visit - information centre “Podlemorye” or to the chief information centre of tourism in Ulan-Ude.