Chokrak Lake in Crimea: Features and Location

In the eastern part of the Crimean peninsula is Chokrak Lake. This is one of the salt lakes of the Crimean peninsula, which is famous throughout the world for its healing properties.

Chokrak Lake is located near the village of Kurortnoye. The lake has an oval shape. The body of water is approximately 4 km long and 16 km wide. The average depth is 0.8 m and the deepest point of the lake is 1.4 meters. The total area of ​​the lake is about 1000 hectares. The entire territory of the reservoir and the coastal zone is part of the hydrological reserve - Lake Chokrak.

The lake is fed by underground sources, mainly by hydrogen sulfide, sea waters, since the lake is separated from the Bay of the Marine Corps (Sea of ​​Azov) by a small sandy isthmus. Also, low-water beams flow into the lake - Babchikskaya, Chumnaya, Kezinskaya and Mysyrskaya. It is believed that previously the lake was a bay of the Sea of ​​Azov. The structure of the reservoir is divided into several layers. The first is water, which is a saline solution (fairly concentrated). The next layer is black dirt. Then comes a layer of gray.

The shores are mostly rocky, but very picturesque, as they are covered with vegetation. Many medicinal herbs grow here. But the beaches around the lake are mostly sandy. On the banks of the reservoir, a centralized extraction of mud is carried out, which is then used for medical and cosmetic purposes.

Also, salt was previously mined on the shores of the lake. In the evening and night hours, the shores of the lake are a favorite place for birds that fly here for the night. Here you can find gulls, magpies and even ravens. And in the thickets of the reservoir live white herons.

Translated from the Tatar name of the lake Chokrak means "spring", and indeed there is a spring with mineral water that you can drink. Crimean Tatar warriors even carried with them special bags filled with mud from the lake. In case of injury or wound, they took out a lump and applied it to the wound, this helped them quickly recover.

For the ancient Greeks, the territory of the lake was sacred. It was here that the temple was built. Also, in the medieval documents that have survived to this day, there are records of a certain merchant from Kafa, who bought up the dirt of Lake Chokrak in large volumes, thereby spending huge amounts on it. As it turned out, with the help of "life-giving" mud, he gave the slaves before the sale a "presentation". Moreover, this had an extremely positive result, and the merchant in the slave trade made a pretty good fortune.

It is worth noting that Chokrak resort is in demand among tourists, annually a huge number of people from various corners come here to improve their health. After all, the mud of the lake is healing.

Note that the healing properties of the lake have been known to people since ancient times. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians used the mud of Lake Chokrak for the treatment of wounds, as well as strengthening immunity.

The mud of Chokraki Lake is used to treat the following diseases:

• various types of inflammation of the female genital organs;
• digestive diseases, but not during the period of exacerbation;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system, namely: rheumatism, arthritis, spondylitis;
• diseases of the nervous system.

Mud procedures are recommended for men in the presence of the following urological diseases: chronic prostatitis, vesiculitis, orchitis, and other similar diseases.

Mud is also actively used for cosmetic purposes. Masks have a beneficial effect on skin color, making it more elastic. Mud has been proven to promote tissue regeneration. The muds of this lake contain various kinds of minerals and trace elements, which beneficially affect the metabolic processes in the body and blood circulation.

But healing is not only the mud of the lake, but also the water, due to its high content of hydrogen sulfide brine, silt, as well as various kinds of minerals and colloids. Salt water also helps in the fight against respiratory diseases. Rinsing the mouth, nose and throat helps with rhinitis and many dental diseases.

But it is worth noting that not everyone can visit this "health resort". Mud procedures are contraindicated for patients with a diagnosis of tuberculosis, and it is also not recommended to visit the resort for people with diabetes, asthma, cirrhosis, arrhythmias with neoplasms.

It is not worth taking mud baths during pregnancy, even in the early stages.

Also, in some people, the following reactions are observed at the start of a mud treatment:

• irritability;
• weakness;
• numbness of the limbs;
• feeling of cold in the body;
• tingling in the body;
• temperature rise.

We emphasize that during a mud procedure, a slight increase in heart rate, pulse, and also changes in blood pressure is possible. Such a reaction in the first stages is quite normal.

Usually a full course of mud treatment is 10-12 procedures. The duration of one session should not exceed 15 minutes. For beginners, the duration of being under a layer of dirt is 5 minutes.

The optimum temperature of the applied mud slurry should be 40 ºС. Therefore, the best time for such procedures is in the afternoon, when the sun warmed up the mud pretty well.

The greatest healing properties have grayish-colored mud - this is the lower layer. Therefore, it is precisely it that must be applied to the body. Wash mud mud with sea water, for this you just need to plunge into the sea. And to maximize the positive effect, experts recommend taking a bath in salt water for 20-30 minutes.

The resort is interesting for tourists not only for its balneological procedures. Due to the fact that this lake is shallow, and the water warms up quite well in the summer, it is suitable for water procedures and for children.

In the vicinity of the reservoir there are several attractions that are worth a visit.

Pretty close to the lake Valley of Mud Volcanoes which are small mounds from which dirt is ejected onto the surface.

You can also always visit reserved territory of the Osovinsky steppe.

To the east of the reservoir there is also a landscape natural park called Karalar steppe.

Fans of hiking can enjoy the beauties of the lake, climbing the crest of a mountain called Tashkentelak.

Arriving at this resort, you can stay in one of the boarding houses, which are located near the village of Resort. Guests and visitors are offered a wide range of various types of medical procedures under the supervision of highly qualified specialists. The first specialized mud baths were built in this region as far back as 1895, but this institution was destroyed by German invaders during the Great Patriotic War.

Also always possible rent temporary housing from local residents. After all, anyone can take mud treatments on the shore of the lake, and absolutely free of charge.

But lovers of the so-called wild vacation will be able to throw tent by the pond and enjoy the beauty of the scenery.

You can get to the resort both by public and by private transport. There is a regular flight from Kerch to the village of Kurortnoye, from which you can reach the lake on foot. If you go by car, you will also need to get to with. Resort and then turn onto a country road, which will lead to the lake. The distance from Kerch to the reservoir is no more than 20 km. You can get to it in about an hour, but this is taking into account the good condition of the roads.

After visiting the mud spa resort of Chokrakskoe Lake, you can hear only positive reviews. Many have practically gone away with joint pain, and there are those to whom mud procedures have helped in solving problems in gynecology. Some women say that after a full course of mud they got rid of infertility and were able to give birth to a healthy baby.

The lake is located in an ecologically clean region, where any production is completely absent. Therefore, for many, air has also become healing. And nature and silence allow you to retire and regain your strength after a noisy multi-million city.

Many tourists note that after visiting the reservoir, they forgot what the flu and colds, as well as other infectious and viral diseases. In conclusion, I would like to note that a trip to Lake Chokraks is a unique opportunity to combine relaxation and treatment.The use of therapeutic mud will certainly improve your well-being. To get to any of the resorts during the season is not difficult.

Interesting information about Lake Chokrak can be found in the next video.