Description of the lake
Big Simaginskoye Lake is located in the Leningrad region, in the Vyborg district. It is popularly known as Beauty. This is understandable, because this body of water is distinguished by golden beaches, and along the picturesque shores pine, spruce and other trees stretch into the sky. Also, the green surface of the water in some places is bordered by unusually beautiful cliffs.
The lake stretches for 2.5 km, and its width is just over a kilometer. The total area of Beauty is 2.7 km2. The deepest part of the reservoir is 19 m. The eastern shores of the lake are very beautiful and high. The steep cliffs are densely overgrown with pine trees, and the forest reaches the Zelenogorsk highway.
From the south side, heading west, the shore of the lake begins to lower and become less steep. On its banks, in addition to pine trees, spruce trees appear, and in some areas closer to the water there are birch trees. Already on the western side, the coast becomes gentle and instead of forest there are sun-drenched meadows.
The beauty is replenished from the Yuli-Yoki River flowing into it. Also, Big Simaginskoe Lake has an outflowing river Alya-Yoki, which heads to the Gulf of Finland.
Since the lake has high banks, the water in it mixes very poorly. That is why in summer the upper water layers can warm up to 23 degrees, and already at a depth of 8 meters the temperature is no more than 15 degrees.
Today, dachas are being built around the lake in accessible places. There is also a former children's camp on the shore.
Big Simaginskoye Lake 10/20/2015 07:16
There are many fishing enthusiasts living in the Leningrad region. In any season of the year, they go to reservoirs where many species of fish live. One of the most popular places is Lake Bolshoye Simaginskoye. It is located eight kilometers from Zelenogorsk, near the village of Ilyichevo.
This reservoir also has a second name – “Beauty”. Everyone who finds themselves on its shores understands the accuracy of such an epithet. The eastern shore of the lake is covered with pine forest. Although it is small, it adds to the attractiveness of these places. But in fact, Lake Krasavitsa is a completely different lake, which is located in Kamenka along the A125 highway near the village. Vladimirovka.
According to scientists, the local natural reservoir arose after the collapse of a huge glacier many centuries ago. The shape of the lake resembles a large oval, stretching almost three kilometers in length. The width of the reservoir is about one kilometer. The depth of the lake does not exceed 19 meters. The presence of trees and sandy beaches contribute to the popularity of these places among vacationers. However, fishing enthusiasts are the most active. This is not surprising, since the lake is home to many species of fish, and getting here from the Northern capital is not difficult at all.
Holidays on the lake
In summer, most vacationers prefer this lake. The fact is that there are many wide (up to 4 meters) sandy beaches, and the water itself makes you feel like you’re at a resort. There is no garbage, bags or waste on the mirror surface. Average visibility at depth is 1-3 meters. You can also find mushrooms in the forests.
It is worth considering that there are no equipped beaches here.
general description
There is no detailed depth map, but Lake Beauty cannot be classified as deep. The average depth is 3 meters, the greatest is about 5. The bottom is mostly covered with sand, there are also sandy-rocky and muddy areas, but quite rarely. There is very little aquatic vegetation, the water is clear and clean.
The western bank is low and has swampy areas in some places. The eastern coast is higher and has sandy beaches. The Petlyanka River flows into Lake Krasavitsa, and the Kamyshovka River flows out. There are many settlements on the shores of Lake Krasavitsa: Kamenka, Kamyshovka, Vladimirovka, Starorusskoye and others. In addition, it is worth noting that military training grounds are located near the lake.
Getting to the lake is very easy, there are many approaches to it (especially on the eastern shore and the northern part). The lake freezes in November and is cleared of ice in April. In summer, the water can warm up to +25 +27 degrees, thanks to which the lake is popular among vacationers and swimmers from surrounding settlements (and not only).
Fishing on the lake
Many fishermen living nearby go to Lake Bolshoye Simaginskoye to catch their catch. Fishing here can be a pleasure, because the reservoir is home to pike, burbot, bream, silver bream, perch, rudd, and ruff. But it is best to go on such a “hunt” in the summer, since already at the end of spring the underwater inhabitants become active. You can use a boat for fishing, but shore fishing is also a good option. Large predators are very rarely seen here, but nevertheless no one is left empty-handed, because the bite is active.
Winter fishing is also practiced here, but the fish do not bite as quickly and vigorously, so the effectiveness in cold weather decreases.
Fishing on Bolshoi Simaginskoye Lake in the Leningrad Region
Lake Bolshoye Simaginskoye has long been favored by fishermen. They say the catch here is always excellent. The lake is inhabited by ruffe, rudd, perch, bream, pike, and burbot. They fish both from the shore and on boats.
Fishermen can be found here all year round, and these are not only local residents - people come here from St. Petersburg, as well as other cities and regions.
© Borisov Yuri
How to get there?
The issue of transportation may arise regardless of why you are going to Big Simaginskoye Lake. How to get to your destination? There are minibuses from St. Petersburg all the way to Ilyichev, but the flights are not frequent. Therefore, many people decide to first take a minibus to Zelenogorsk (the journey takes 1 hour). You can take a taxi from here. This will not cost much, since the distance to Ilyichevo is 12 km. Ask to stop at the bus stop, there is a bus schedule back here. After a 15-minute walk you will find yourself at the lake.
Features of Lake Beauty
On the shore of the reservoir there are the villages of Vladimirovka, Mamontovo, Starorusskoye and Kamenka, the village of Kamyshovka, and the cottage villages “Western Solntse”, “Russian Beauty”, “Mezhozernoe”. On the western side there are lakes Aleksandrovskoye and Pionerskoye, in the south - lakes Krasnoflotskoye and Zelenokholmskoye, and in the east - lakes Bolshoye Zelenodolskoye and Bolshoye Krasnoperskoye. In the north, the Kamyshovka River flows out of the lake, and the Petlyanka River flows in.
In the east, the Vyborg Highway almost closely adjoins the lake. The eastern shore is steep, with cliffs, and there is a pine forest growing there. There are sandy beaches on the western coast, where tourists mainly relax. The southwestern and southern shores are flat, sandy, spruce and pine trees grow.
The lake is famous for its picturesque shores and clear water, hence the corresponding name - Beauty.
© kolemikhail2011
Historical events
For some, Big Simaginskoye Lake is of historical value, since Lenin hid in its vicinity in the summer of 1917. He found refuge in the village of Yalkala, on the northwestern side of the reservoir. Back in the Soviet years, a memorial museum of V.I. Lenin was organized here, which in 1993 became a museum-reserve called “Yalkala”.
On the shores of the northern side of the lake there is the village of Ilyichevo. In this place, the State Hydrological Institute set up its experimental base in the 50s.
Fishing on a pond
If you prefer to relax with a fishing rod in your hands, try going to Lake Beauty for this. Fishing in this body of water is often successful. The waters of the lake are inhabited by roach, bream, pike, perch, and some manage to catch pike perch. The good bite begins in late spring as life underwater becomes active. A good catch is obtained from a boat, but even on the shore many are satisfied with their catch. People also come here for fishing in winter. Although during this period the fish are less active.
Some fishermen are lucky and return home with large predators. But it is worth noting that such a catch happens very rarely here. But the average fish is doing well.
Briefly about the famous
Well, we’ve been invited, so we need to find out where we’re actually going?
The lake is located in the Vyborg district of the Leningrad region and is called Bolshoye Simaginskoye. This is, so to speak, a Soviet name. Before the revolution, the lake was located on Finnish territory and was called Kauk-järvi (Beautiful Lake).
There is also an unofficial name - Lake Beauty. It is enough to visit this lake once and questions about the origin of such a name will disappear by themselves.
Moreover, in some sources the Finns are credited with another name that they bestowed on the lake - Lake of Horrors. It seems to be very insidious, and it is very easy to die in it.
It seems to me that such stories add charm to the lake, because you begin to diligently look for dangers... Regarding the dangers, there is no reliable data that the lake is more dangerous than its neighbors.
Another interesting fact related to these places is that in August 1917, on the shores of this lake in the village of Yalkala, V.I. was hiding. Lenin. He wrote his work “State and Revolution” (wow, they spoiled my blood because of this work at the institute, I still shudder), and hatched plans for the future workers’ and peasants’ revolution.
Traces of Lenin can still be found here. The house of the Finnish worker Parviainen, where Lenin lived for a whole week, was preserved and turned into a museum. In Soviet times, the village of Yalkala turned into Ilyichevo, and it still bears that name.
The lake itself is about 2.5 km long and about a kilometer wide. The depth reaches 19 meters.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to Lake Beauty in the Leningrad Region - by public transport, by personal or rented car, or by taxi.
Public transport
Every day, bus No. 827 runs from the Grazhdansky Prospekt metro station in St. Petersburg to the village of Kamenka, located on the shore of the lake. You will spend about 2 hours on the way (taking into account all stops).
Automobile
If you decide to travel by car, then it is best to leave the city along the WHSD (Western High Speed Diameter - an intracity toll highway in St. Petersburg). Follow the villages of Beloostrov along the Zelenogorskoye highway through the villages of Repino and Komarovo, then along the Primorskoye highway past the city of Zelenogorsk, the village of Serovo, then turn onto the Srednevyborgskoye highway. Follow along the Gladyshevka River, past lakes Gladyshevskoye, Polyanskoye, the village of Polyany, the village of Zapolye, and then straight to Lake Krasavitsa.
The distance from St. Petersburg to Lake Beauty will be 102 kilometers. The journey will take you approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. You can see the route laid out on a Google map.
You can also use the services of local taxi services - Yandex.Taxi and Uber.
Lake Beauty on video
