The Springs of Tunka valley

The Tunka valley which by analogy with “ the Valley of narsans” of the Caucasian Mineral Waters frequently named “ the Valley of arshans” is unusually rich in the deposits of mineral springs and medical mud. The number of natural outputs on the surface of mineral waters is very great, but only some of them are used now.

In total 20 sources and 9 deposits of mud have been reconnoitred and described.. The part of springs are well investigated and explored, the infrastructure has been created around them, i.e. boarding houses have been constructed, rest and treatment have been organized. The other part of them are in the stage of exploration, at present the conditions for treatment and rest are created around them. Some sources are not investigated, they are used basically by local population.

Scientific researches show, that in the valley there is an opportunity of opening new deposits of valuable waters. Their exploration is one of perspective directions of the development of Tunkinsky resorts.

Springs:

• The Spring Arshan Tunkinsky (see the resort ofАршан)
• The Spring Nilova Pustyn (Nilov Desert) (see Nilova Pustyn)
• Тhe Tunka chink in the v. Zhemchug(Pearls) (see. Vyshka (A tower))
• The Zhemchug springs (see Khongor-Uula)
• The Kuntensky spring and medical mud are situated near the Koymor lakes, 1-1,5 km far from the right bank of the Kyngyrga-river, and 10 kms far from the resort of Аrshan. Mineral water emerges in the form of several griffons in the northern side of a small hill made of basalts (the rests of an ancient volcano). The type of water is cold hydrosulphuric hydrocarbonate natrium-magnesium- calcium. Water is considered to be medical, it is used by local people as a bath when they suffer from various diseases of joints in arms and legs.
• The Dalbay springs on the bank of Dalbay-river are located 25 kms far from the village of Turan. They include a large group of outputs of mineral waters with considerable contents of hydrogen sulphide. They emerge in a deep narrow valley on both banks of the Dalbay-river (a right tributary of the Irkut-river) 25 kms far from the village of Turan. The springs are actively visited by patients who drink water and also use it as baths.
• The spring of Suburga (Old Arshan) is 5 kms to the west of the resort of Arshan. The spring emerges in form of many sleeves on a small platform from the bottom of a ridge. The dеbit of waters is significant. According to chemical contents the spring is a thinly mineralized output of karstic waters. The spring is not investigated, but it is popular among local population and in summer many holiday-makers gather here.
• The spring of Papiy Arshan is 12 kms far from the resort of Arshan at the bottom of the ridge. The water of the spring is similar to that one of the spring of Suburga.
• The spring Mondinsky is located near the village of Mondy.
• The Khalagunsky spring is on the bank of the Halagun-river, 16 kms far from the village of Turan.
• The Kharbyatsky spring (Shermak) is on the bank of the Harbyaty-river, 5 kms far from the village of Harbyaty.
• The Zaktuysky spring is near the village of Zaktuy.
• The spring Obo-Arshan is near the village of Tagarhay.
• The Chink is near the village of Huraj-Hobok.
• The spring Koymorsky is in the area of the Koymorsky lakes.
• The spring Khutunsky is at the bottom of the ridge.
• The Bolshoy Khandagataysky arshan is on the bank of the river Bolshaya Khandagayka.
• The Dalakhaysky arshan is on the left bank of the river Irkut, 4 kms far from the village of Dalahay.
• The Arshan Engorinsky red stone is in the mountain gorge, 6 kms far from the village of Engorga.
• Famous are the springs of Khaluun-Ugun and Sagaan-Ugun.

Medical Mud

23 water basins of the valley contain medical mud, their stocks are considersd to have 950 thousand cubic m., under the condition of their regeneration they are practically inexhaustible. Having been studied some kinds of mud, from them the greatest interest represent sapropelic ones with mineralization 1 g/l, and sulphidic (hydrosulphuric), with mineralization 1 g/l. Mud is found in lakes of Sharlaj, Angara, Tsaganur, Chistokhal, Buluntayskoe, Ulbugayskoe, Shirshonka, Butakovckoe, and also in the area the Kuntensky pring. Now deposits are not well explored, their use is in the nearest prospects.

All the mineral springs of Tunkinsy valley (the Arshans) are the cult places. Local people believe, that each spring has its God – the master. Therefore, almost near every spring exists a small special place where gifts are presented, ribbons are tied, prays are spoken and sacred in Buryatia “ white food ”is left, first of all, it is milk, and also cookies, sweets, cigarettes, matches. Very often coins are left. Due to the ritual accepted here one should first give a gift to the god - master of a spring, and only then it is allowed to drink water from it.