Nugush Reservoir

Nugush Reservoir is a picturesque man-made reservoir located in Bashkortostan, near the southern spurs of the Ural Mountains. One of the most attractive recreational areas in the republic has been created on its banks. Part of the reservoir is included in the structure of the Bashkiria National Park. These lands entice tourists with the prospect of recreation by the water surrounded by wooded landscapes, excellent fishing, sightseeing of natural attractions, the opportunity to go rafting, explore karst caves.

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Video: Nugush Reservoir

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Highlights

The Nugush reservoir is famous for its ecological purity. There are no industrial enterprises in the protected region, and local authorities are actively developing tourist infrastructure here. On the coast of the man-made lake in the vicinity of the village of Nugush, guests are welcomed by mini-hotels, campgrounds and cottage settlements with landscaped beaches. Residents of Meleuz, Salavat, Ishimbay, Sterlitamak often come to Nugush on weekends and holidays, so on Saturdays and Sundays prices for accommodation in local hotels increase significantly. Fans of romantic hikes with a backpack on their shoulders also come here. Tent camping sites are equipped for them, and several hiking trails are open in the reserve.

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The peak of the vacation season on the Nugush reservoir falls in July-August. Planning a trip to this period, you should take care of booking accommodation in advance. But in early June and mid-September, tourists are not too many, in these months here will be comfortable for lovers of solitude.

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In winter, tent camping and budget campgrounds are closed. But a number of all-season recreation centers, having cottages with heating, welcomes guests all year round. Tourists are offered a wide range of winter activities, from traditional ski runs and ice fishing to traveling through the protected forests on snowmobiles.

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History of the Nugush reservoir

The hydrosystem on the Nugush River was built near the village of the same name in 1967. A 2187-meter-long and 31-meter-high dirt-and-stone dam covered the floodplain of the full-flowing river, creating a vast lake with an area of 25.2 km². The dam structure includes a bypass channel to release excess water during floods. The hydroelectric building houses generators that produce a total of 32 million kWh annually. The warm water of the canal and the adjacent small lake simultaneously serve as a nursery where locals raise valuable breeds of fish.

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In September 1986, the Bashkiria National Park was established in the vicinity of the Nugush reservoir. The park covers 82,300 hectares and stretches to the mountain ranges in the north. Its territory includes part of the reservoir’s coastline and about 2,500 hectares of its water area. In 2012, 5 specially protected locations were allocated in the reserve. They received the status of the international biosphere reserve “Southern Urals” and are under the auspices of UNESCO.

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The reserve with its natural attractions and the vast man-made lake attract tens of thousands of travelers. In recent decades, the village of Nugush has become a genuine ecological resort with a dynamically developing infrastructure.

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Geography and climate

The Nugush reservoir lies in the depression of a foothill valley surrounded by forested hills. The landscape is dominated by broadleaf tree species, Siberian firs and pines. On the banks of mountain streams there are thickets of relict spruces. The animal world of these age-old forests is characterized by diversity. There are wild boars, bears, moose, wolves, foxes, and many birds.

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Nugush tributaries flow into the lake: from the north – Uryuk and Chubratka, from the south – Akkavaz, Kurgashly, Yurmash and others. The source of the Nugush River is located in the mountains of the Yurmatau Range, a spur of the Southern Urals. The total length of this tributary of the Belaya River is 235 km, and the altitude difference exceeds 500 meters. Above the reservoir the Nugush current is quite turbulent. In summer in the picturesque canyons are organized rafting and canoeing.

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In 7 km from the resort village of Nugush, on the southern bank of the reservoir, within the reserve “Bashkiria” is the village of Sergeevka (190 inhabitants). There are no other settlements in the vicinity of the lake. The nearest town with a railway station and industrial enterprises is the district center of Meleuz, located 42 km southwest of the Nugush settlement. A regional road with an unimportant surface leads to the district center. Meleuz, as well as Salavat (45 km to the northwest) and the even more distant cities of Ishimbay and Sterlitamak are supplied with electricity from the hydroelectric units of the Nugushskaya HPP.

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The Nugush reservoir is located in a humid continental climate zone. Summers here are warm, and winters are cold and snowy. In the region there are significant temperature fluctuations, the southwestern wind prevails. The coldest period is from January to February. In this period the air temperature drops to -25…-20 °С, there are frosts under -40 °С. In summer the weather is comfortable, thermometer columns usually record +20 … +25 ° C, but in abnormally hot days, they can reach 35-degree mark.

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In July and August, the water in the man-made lake Nugush warms up well, the temperature fluctuates within +20…+23 °С. Where tributaries flow into the reservoir, the water is cold and turbid – mountain rivers carry a lot of silt from the forests.

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Entertainment

Most vacationers on the shores of the Nugush reservoir do not deny themselves the pleasure of fishing. In the reservoir in abundance there are pike, catfish, pikeperch and other fish. On fishing is better to go on a rented boat.

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The coast is strewn with cobblestones and large boulders, making it difficult to enter the water from steep slopes. The shores are overgrown with trees and bushes. The bottom of the lake is clayey, stony, its water is murky but clear. Actually, there are few convenient places for bathing here. Only recreation centers and camping sites can boast of equipped beaches with imported sand. On the territory of private beaches there are piers with rental of boats, catamarans, jet skis. For outsiders to enter the beaches paid (from 100 rubles).

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At any campground you can order a boat trip on the lake. The cost of a two-hour mini-cruise – 500-600 rubles per passenger. In winter, a large skating rink is organized on the ice of the Nugush reservoir. Entrance – 50 rubles, skates for rent – 150 rubles/hour. Rental of cross-country skis works. You can ride a sled with a horse-drawn carriage, on a snowmobile (200 rubles/5 minutes). Extremals go winter fishing.

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The Bashkiria National Park offers tours to impressive natural attractions. Among the popular destinations are hikes to the karst formation “Kuperlya Bridge”, inspection of mountain caves and waterfalls, traveling to the Bear Glade, in the tract of Kutuk. Open access to archaeological sites of the Neolithic era.

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For safety reasons, tourists should register, obtain written permission to visit the reserve, and pay a small fee. The visit center of the national park is located in the village of Nugush, at 1 Abubakirov Street.

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In summer you can join groups going on rafting tours along the Nugush River, on jeep safaris through forests and foothills with visits to little-explored karst caves. The adventure ends at a tented parking lot with a bathhouse and dinner cooked over a fire. As a rule, a grocery store is open at the parking lot by the time the group arrives.

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One of the most popular one-day routes is a trip on off-road vehicles to the three-tiered waterfall near the Kuperlya karst bridge. The program includes an hour and a half trip with a tour of natural sights, walks, swimming in the river, and a picnic. Renting an off-road vehicle will cost 6000 rubles.

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For climbers organized route “Seventh Sky”. The group is taken by jeep to the 200-meter cliff. From its top you can see the mirror of the Nugush reservoir, vast protected forests, distant Ural ridges. The cost of participation in the tour – 600 rubles per person.

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Where to stay

On the tourist site of the village of Nugush registered about 40 campgrounds and campsites, several mini-hotels and guest houses. Some of them are not equipped with heating, so they do not work in winter. Local residents willingly rent travelers their own dachas or individual rooms.

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Recently in the village was built a new 5-story brick building of the hotel “Azur”. There are arranged a swimming pool, bath, works cafe. Nearby are located stores. A choice of standard economy-class rooms (from 2000 rubles per day), several suites equipped with kitchenettes (from 3000 rubles). For large companies is designed two-story log house, designed for 8-10 guests. Rent a log cabin – 8000 rubles per day.

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Recreation Center “Forest Fairy Tale” has rooms and comfortable houses. There is a sauna, there is an indoor pool, a restaurant. Guests are offered walks on the reservoir by boat, you can rent a catamaran, jet ski. The cost of daily accommodation in a double room on weekdays – 6700 rubles, on weekends the price rises to 8600 rubles. Cottage with 4 beds, living room and veranda is rented for 11 100 rubles (on Saturday and Sunday – 13 700 rubles). The tariff includes breakfast and lunch in the restaurant.

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Cheaper you can stay at the base “Sunny”. Rooms are equipped with bathrooms, refrigerators, TVs. Three-bed rooms are rented here for 2000 rubles, two-story cottage for 5-8 beds – from 5000 to 7200 rubles per day. For the installation of your own tent is required to pay 700 rubles.

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On the territory of camping “U Ildar”, “Sunny Beach”, “Pirate Bay” you can put your tent for 100 rubles a day. You will have to pay the same amount for parking. The price includes the use of a sandy beach, toilet, shower stall. Rent a gazebo with a barbecue will cost 800 rubles.

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In Nugush there is a floating vacation home “Ark”. The debarkader is moored near the coast remote from the village, belonging to the national reserve “Bashkiria”. There are 8 beds, a kitchen with a gas stove, a bathhouse and a toilet on board. Electricity is generated by an autonomous generator. On the second deck there is a recreation area with a gazebo and tables. Fishing rods, fishing gear and a motor boat are available for rent. Ark guests are transported from Nugush by boat. The cost of accommodation – 1500 rubles per day per person.

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How to get there

To get to the Nugush reservoir will have to change planes. The most convenient option: fly to Ufa, then take a train on the route Ufa – Tashkent or Ufa – Andijan. These trains stop in the city of Meleuz, where the nearest railway station to the village of Nugush is located. Buses also run from Ufa to Meleuz. From the bus station of this district center (Levonaberezhnaya Street, 2) there are buses on the route Meleuz – Sargai. They stop in the village of Nugush. Distance – 42 km, travel time – 1 hour.

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In Meleuz you can take a cab. The trip to Nugush will cost 600-700 rubles.

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