"Blue Lakes" or "The Eyes of Beauty Katuni"

One of the wonders of the Altai Republic is the “Blue Lakes”, located on the territory of the Chemal district, near the Lukovka Mountain on the left bank of Katun.

The depth of the lakes is up to 9 m. The water temperature is about 8 degrees Celsius.

From spring to autumn, these lakes are closed by the waters of Katun, and with the arrival of autumn, the river becomes shallower - the lakes open. In winter, a path leads to them along the ice "bridge" and you can see how the lakes feed on warm springs, which do not allow you to freeze even in winter in the most severe frosts. The mineral composition of spring water is unique. Water from the springs is healing - it cures vision. This property of lakes was known in ancient times. Visited tourists on the lake celebrate a great surge of energy after swimming. Water removes negativity from a person and charges health, beauty and strength.

There is a legend about these lakes:

“When the only daughter of Altai Khan, the beautiful Katun, grew up and became a beautiful girl, she fell in love with the young man Biya and, with the blessing of her father, rushed to him, carrying her love and purity. At the junction of Katuni and Biya, Ob, the daughter of their love, is born. Katun carries its waters to the unique places of the Altai Mountains. And she wanted to see these beautiful places and asked Altai Khan, her father, to give her eyes. The father thought and said, “Daughter, I will grant your request, but you will see only in autumn and winter, when the sun is low above the ground and its rays will not burn out your beautiful eyes.”

So there were Blue lakes, which are popularly called “Eyes of the beauty of Katun”, and open their piercing blue gaze with the onset of golden autumn, and close it under the ruddy color of bagulica.

About Askat

The village of Askat was founded in 1866 by Old Believers, translated from Altai means “stone placers”. The village is located in the Askat valley, which is uniquely powerful energy. Perhaps the reason for this is the large underground lake of artesian water and Katun. In the Askata area, Katun makes a northerly turn and part of the energy received by Katunya on the slopes of Belukha fuels the Askat valley. This place opens the creative abilities of many people who live here or come to relax. To confirm this, we recall that in 5 km. from S. Askat is located in the village of Anos, where the famous G.I. Choros-Gurkin lived and worked - Altai artist - landscape painter, one of whose creations is the painting "Blue Lakes Katun".

Askat has its own microclimate, which distinguishes it from other villages of the Chemal district. Many types of fruit trees grow: pears, apple trees, cherries, plums and even grapes. Winters are warm, mild, there are no winds, there are no mosquitoes in summer.

In Askat lived a man by the name of Shutov, who had a natural talent - the ability to build unique wooden bridges across the stormy Altai rivers. He grew up in a large family with 16 children. Didn't go to school. During his life, he built 11 bridges in the Altai Mountains, some of which still serve today.

At present, Askat is the Buddhist center of the modern branch of karma-kagyu Buddhism. Here in 2002, the building of the center was built, which is a two-storey wooden house and serves to study Buddhism, conduct spiritual practices. There are many Russian and foreign Buddhists here. Every two years, the center is visited by its spiritual leader Lama Ole Nidal.

Today, a large number of talented, artistically gifted people who have come here from different parts of the country live and work in Askat. Askat is famous for its craftsmen of wood carving, masters of artistic ceramics, painters.